February 1, 2009, carnegie newsletter

FEBRUARY 1, 2009 carnnews@vcn.bc.ca www.carnnews.org www.harvesters.sfu.ca/chodarr 401 Main Street, V6A 2T7

604-665-2289

2009 Poverty Olympics SUNDAY FEB. 8 12:30 Torch Parade starts at V ANDU 380 East Hastings lpm Opening Ceremonies at the Japanese Language School 487 Alexander St

Family Friendly

Free Admission

The event will include mascots Creepy the Cockroach, Chewy the Rat and Itchy the Bedbug; Opening & Closing Ceremonies; contests like Skating around Poverty, the Housing Hurdles and a special appearance by a developer. Cockroach Cake will be served. Everyone welcome!

A Small Mountain Town Fights (jentnucauon Robert William Sandford lives in a small town in the Rocky Mountains. Long-time residents of his town are being forced out of the community because wealthy people are buying houses and condos there, and it is becoming too expensive for local people to live in their own homes. Sandford was so distressed and angry at this threat to his small mountain community that he wrote a book called "The Weekender Effect- Hyperdevelopme in Mountain Towns." (I) He dedicated the book, "To people everywhere who have sacrificed socially and economically for the places in which they li ve and to which their identity is inextricably tied." Many of the new wealthy people only live in the mountain town on weekends, or for part of the year. That's why Sandford called his book "The Weekender Effect." Because the process of gentrification happene.d so fast, and was so upsetting, he added the phrase "Hyperdevelopment in Mountain Towns."

The Downtown Eastside is like a small town.

Adrienne Clarkson saw that immediately when s visited our community while she was the Governor-General of Canada. We know what Robert Sandford meant when he said that the local residents of his town didn't want to be "di spossessed by those who wou ld buy us out and take away from us everything that has meaning in relation to where and how we live." (Weekender Effect, p.23 Sandford has lots of advice in his book for communities fighting gentrification. I will focus on four points that he makes, and show how people i1 the Downtown Eastside have been thinking along s imilar lines. (l) Remember your history. Remember the personal stories. Write down your story. Remember, also, the history of our community. We are part o the inspiring Downtown Eastside struggle for dig路 nity and human rights by the many groups that have li ved here. That's one reason why the Do town Eastside is the soul of Vancouver. Diane Wood has edited a small book of poems called

"The Soul of Vancouver- Voices From The Downtown Eastside," and Paul Taylor, editor of the important Carnegie Newsletter, has edited a powerful collection of Downtown Eastside writing called "The Heart oftlte Community- The Best of

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the Carnegie Newsletter."

(2) Take the threat of corporate real estate development (gentrification) seriously. We do take it seriously in the Downtown Eastside. That threat has united many groups that fight for the human rights of low income residents. I have never seen so much unity in the Downtown Eastside as there now. We know that not only homes are dewith gentrification. A circle of friends is JrlP路c:tr,,.,,,.,rJ a neighbourhood, a s mall world in itself, a world that people who are dispossessed cannot rebuild, Citizens become refugees in their own ~ land.

(3) Beware of collaboration with profit-driven corporate development. Of course, we must always try to start an honest dialogue, but Robert Sandford said that collaboration with the development industry was difficult because "collaboration processes employed in the planning and development of the town I (Sandford) live in paralyzed any hope of a tenable future for locals by killing any practical vision of the future that was not consistent with ... the growth proposed by the largely outside development community." (Weekender Effect, .68) Sadly, we know the truth of Sandford's statement. James Lorimer alerted us to the danger of unrestrained corporate development as early as 1978. He wrote in his book, "The Developers," that "Whenever there has been a choice to make between providing people with what they want and need on the one hand, and pursuing a strategy that would increase the short term and long term profits of the development corporations on the other, the developers have chosen to purs ue the ir own interests ... The consequences of this arrangement, however, is that the corporate city is des igned not to provide a humane and liveable city, but rather to maximize the profits to be made from urban land and to capture as much control over the process of urban growth as possible for the development industry." (2) (4) You must put into words the vision you have for your community. Sandford saw the need for a language that would defend the community by articulating what is important about it, its way of life, its hope for the futu re, and the effect gentrification was having on it. He felt that his mountain town didn't find that lang uage until it was almost too

late, and he thought that the local politicians were helpless because they, too, didn't have the language to describe what was happening to the town with regard to hyperactive corporate development.

Sandford's book, "The Weekender Effect," is an excellent contribution to finding language that will help small comm unities protect themselves from the monster of unrestrained gentrification . In the Downtown Eastside we have been searching fo r a language, and an analysis, that wi ll protect our small low income community from profit-driven developer interests. The Carnegie Community Action Project (CCAP) has been doing visioning workshops. The annual Heart o[tlze Citv Festiv(l/ shows Vancouver citizens the creative and vibrant culture of the Downtown Eastside. The citizens' o rganizations in our community, such as the Carnegie Community Centre Asociation (CCCA), the Downtown Eastside Residents' Association (DERA), the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU), the Downtown Easts ide Women's Centre, Pivot, WISH, the Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House, the Carnegie Community Action Project, the City Wide Housing Coalition, and many others, all demonstrate the courage, end urance, caring and inc lusiveness of the Downtown Eastside. Our local politicians, Jenny Kwan MLA, and Libby Davies MP, know the language that will defend our low income community. We need to take our vision to all the citizens of Vancouver, to all the citizens of Canada, and to all the citizens of the world.

In writing his book, Robert William Sandford was fig hting back. He wants all the people who li ve in communities under the threat of gentrificatio n to fight back, and to preserve what is meaningful about their way of life. Like Bruce Eri ksen, Robert Sandford never, ever, gives up. Check out the library to see if his book is there.

By Sandy Cameron ( 1) The Weekender Effect- Hyperdevelopment in Mountain Towns, by Robert William Sandford, pub. by Rocky Mountain Books, 2008.

(2) The Developers, by James Lorimer, pub. by James Lorimer & Co., 1978, page 79.

The Stroll

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I know full well my sight is out of shape through 路 crooked eyes, disbelief is sanitised for sanity's own sake; I stroller 2 stroller 3 that's what greeted these tearful orbs today. Selfis hists & selfdestruction are o nly I or 2 generations away. I take my daily stroll time means nothing to these people whose kids will help out wi th earth's expiry date 4 stroller 5 stroller losing control now complete disorder 6 stroller 7 stroller oh my god is there some heaven where all strollers are stopped at sanity' s border, like a designated diver finding yo ur car but good news travels only so far (that would be until they looked inside) 8 stroller 9 is turned over so much for occupants of said car. Another thing I've noticed over the tears, those I0 precious stroller people from 20 years ago arc the up-to-date photos taped to the windows of every store with words like "DON ' T approach, much less go near", if this were food for thought we'd all be 900 pounds of g rief in knots neve r to be untied sometimes the truth is as good as a lie.

HOLD IT kids, just one last stroller to drag extm extra read our version about it as the letters are washed off in the rain yet the owner of reality is too content to complain.

Another day one more stroll I' m thinking of the live-in-a-box people - these are friends of mine ya know?!

Expensive cars dogs & cats mark out their land while the legless hopeless crippled blind or worse must stand in some shape or form a glimmer of a chance li ke Saint Minus himself ruling out all donts & cants and maybe just maybes but maybe this civilisation will get one more chance to rig ht many wrongs of o ur own accord when money is just paper ti me is the o ne thing we cannot afford.

One final item from the last stroll last nite,: if insane breeding habits can be cured for a couple decades or so this so-called Future could maybe*possi bly*positively*correct you are s ir! This li fe could be oh so bright. .. goodnite!

By ROBERT McG ILLIVRAY

"The foolish race ofmankind is swarming below in the night - they shriek and rage and quarrel and all of them are right!" -Heinrich Heine

Their Spirits Live Within Us The February 14th Women's Memorial March needs your help ...

The deaths of many vulnerable women from the Downtown Eastside continues to leave family, friends, loved ones and community members with an overwhelming sense of grief and loss. Many other women have vanished from the streets witho ut a trace. The February 14th Women's Memorial March is an opportunity for the community and those that support us to come together to grieve the loss of our beloved sisters and remember the women who are still missing.

The February 14th Women's Memorial March is sponsored by organizations and individuals like you and is held to honour the li ves of women who d ie each year due to violence and to remember more than 40 women who are still missing. Each year the Memorial March committee must raise funds to pay for such things as hall rental, sound system, food, red & yellow roses, memorial brochures, blankets, posters, candles, tobacco and other expenses. If you wou ld like to s ponsor a component of th is year's March call Marlene at (604) 665-3005 Please make cheques payable to the Downtown Eastside Women' s Centre, Women's Memorial March, 302 Columbia St. Vancouver, BC V6A 4J I. All donations over $10.00 wi ll be gratefully acknowledged with a tax deductible receipt.

We thank you in advance for your su pport and look forward to you joining us at the 18th Annual February 14th Women's Memorial March. It wi II be starting at I 2:00pm at the Carnegie Community Centre Theatre, 401 Main Street, Vancouver, BC. Please respect the march and leave yo ur age ncy banners at home as the Women's Memorial March carries five banners to honour the women.

Thank you very much for your time and attention marlene.george@vancouver.ca.

On behalf of the organizing committee of the 2009 February 141h Women's Memorial March

For more information call Marlene George at (604) 665-3005

JOB: CO-ORDINATOR for the Neighbourhood Small Arts Grants Program for the DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE: 2009- 2010 We are looking for a motivated, part-time coordinator for a newly-formed community small arts grants program sponsored by the Carnegie Community Centre and funded by Vancouver Foundation. A contract position will run from March 2009 to June 2010 with work timeline to be determined. The contract is for $18,000 in total (March 2009 to June 2010 The successful applicant needs to be very familiar with the arts and cultural community of the Downtown Eastside which includes Chinatown, Gastown and Strathcona. Familiarity with the Neighbourhood Small Grants Program is also an asset. The coordinator must be capable of working on his/her own, have good communication skills and some computer skills and the ability to encourage and engage community residents. Good organizational skills, knowledge of community development processes and some report writing are also required. The ability to communicate in more than one language is an asset.

The Neighbourhood Small Arts Grants Program will support individual local artists with funds of up to $1000 towards the development and presentation of their work. Artists of all disciplines are encouraged to apply. There will be two intakes of proposals- spring and fall- and presentations will take place approximately six months after grants are allocated. The coordinator will help to form a community advisory committee comprised of organizational representatives and individual artists and work with the committee to promote, identify and approve projects for funding and to assist in evaluating the program and organizing final presentations.

Please submit your letter of application and resume to: Rika Uto, Arts & Education Programmer, Carnegie 401 Main Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6A 2T7

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Deadline for submission: >5 pm, Friday, Feb 13, 2009 rika. uto@vancouver .ca

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Carnegie Centre is looking for an Intern in the Artist in Residence Project!

Carnegie Centre is happy to announce its Artist in Residence for 2009, vocalist, voice teacher, composer and music educator Beverly Dobrinsky. The Artist in Residence Program is a partnership funded by the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation and Community Centre Associations. Each year different community centres host residencies.

Carnegie and Dunbar Community Centres were selected for 2009.

Beverly Dobrinsky will be directing the Carnegie Village Project which begins with the gathering of songs and stories from the people of the Downtown Eastside that reflect the various cultura l roots that define our collective community. These songs and stories will then be presented in various ways, including through the creation and performance of a new work. Beverly will also offer regular vocal workshops and lessons, as well as ear training and deep listening sessions, to build a strong foundation for the singing and spoken voice.

We are looking for an emerging artist to work with Beverly as an intern to ass ist in this project,. The intern will be involved in all phases of the project and, under Beverly's guidance, will gain experience, skills, knowledge, and contacts in facilitating community arts projects in the future. The intern will in turn be instrumental in the success of the project.

Some of the skills and abilities desirable in the emerging artist selected for internship include: organizational skills, interpersonal and community outreach skills, individual art practice particularly in the area of performance art, past participation in community-based arts projects/programs, and knowledge of the Downtown Eastside. Ability to s peak other languages prevalent in the community

will be an asset.

The intern will receive a and should be prepared to spend at least 200 hours on the project and be wi lling to work flexible hours.

To apply, please write a letter with the following information: -Why you are interested in the internship -What skills and experiences you bring -What you hope to gain from the internship -Contact information of two references Please forward the letter to: Rika Uto, Carnegie Community Centre 401 Main Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6A 2T7 rika.uto@vancouver.ca Tel. (604) 665 3003 Deadline: Wednesday, February ll

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at 5:00PM

The successful applicant will be selected in an interview by Beverly Dobrinsky, Carnegie Board members, and Carnegie staff. Only those who are selected for an interview will be notified. Preference wi ll be given to capable, qualified applicants from the Downtown Eastside.

POETRY EVENT Come write a poem with World Poetry Theme: "The ManY faces Of LoVe" At the Vancouver Public Library Main Branch, 350 W. Georgia, Level 3- Literature section During library hours from Feb 20-27

Protesting Street Sweeps Significant street sweeps have been occurring in the DTES from increased and aggressive ticketing for things like jaywalking to complete gentrification of Pigeon Park. Leading up to the 20 I 0 Olympics, such measures are meant to 'cleanse' the neighbourhood and to intimidate DTES residents.

We are standing together to show that we will not be scared- stand for the DTES! Organized by the DTES Women Centre Power of Women Group: We are a group of women from all walks of li fe who are either on social assistance, working poor, or homeless; but we are all living in extreme poverty and are dedicated to rais ing our voices and raising awareness about social issues in our communities. Many us of are single mothers or have had our children apprehended due to poverty; most of us have chronic phys ical or mental health iss ues for example HIV and Hepatitis C; many have drug or alco hol addictions; and a majority have experienced and survived sexual violence and mental , phys ical, spiritual , and emotional abuse. For indigenous women, we are affected by a legacy of the effects of residential schools and a history of colonization and racism.

For more information, contact project@.dewc.ca or call 604 68 1 8480 x 234.

Are we free yet?

A Downtown Eastside Women's Centre Hum I0 I Study Group for women students and alumni of Hum 101 , Hum!OO and Writing 101 with Eri n Graham, UBC Grad. Student and staff at DEWC This study group will wrestle with ideas of freedom. What is it, how can we get some, can we find it on Craigslist? We will talk about our own lives, and about what freedom means to us, and we'll talk about (read and discuss, that is) people who wrote a lot about 'structures of freedom'; 'freedom and responsibility'; and whether it is something you can j ust be in your own self, or something you do with other people. We'll approach these questions and related issues by doing artistic things and writing and reading and going to galleries and other interesting places, and by generally creating together.

The sessions are scheduled to take place at the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre, at Columbia and Cordova. They started on Sunday November 16, and met on Sundays in the winter - please contact Hum 10 1 for the new meeting times and dates for spri ng 2009.

Women's Only Basketball (a safe place for women to sweat it out)

Peter Golletz DERA Tax Service 9:00-11 :OOAM 1:00-3:00 PM Mon Tues Thurs & Fri 12 East Hastings Street Msg. 604-682-3269 ext. 7727

"I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. As a result of the war, corporations have been enthroned. An era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power will endeavour to prolong its reign by working on the prejudices of the people until wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the republic is destroyed."

Abraham Lincoln

Every Monday, 6-Bpm Carnegie Centre Gym Starting Monday, February 16th Meet and greet Healthy Snacks and shakes for participants

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Housing Update by Naomi: Illegitimate Recovery Homes Ever tho ught of leaving this area? Getting clean?

Did you ever attempt that at one time? How many of you have experienced a recovery ho me out in the suburbs? What was your experience there?

In 1998, after co ncerns were ra ised about poorly run recovery homes in the lower mainland, the NDP government required that all facilities c laiming to be recovery homes needed to be licensed .

Four years later, the Libera ls deregulated the very same industry, whic h again a ll owed these facilities to run with -o ut a license.

So what is the di ffe rence between having a recovery home that is li censed compared to one that isn't?

Some say that a licensed fac ility is more consistent in terms o f programming and meals, bas ically every day you have group, yo u have meetings and you work on your steps. Most importantly you are guaranteed a healthy , tasty meal three times a day, plus snacks. Licensed recovery homes also have affiliatio ns that are more reputable like Safeway Pharmacy, Fraserside Community Serv ices as well as pre-employment programs such as, Hope Bridge and New Start. Not to me nti on that one place I spoke with has two tra in ed addictions' counselors onsite. Ano ther bonus to some places is that some of the staff there are actually c lean and sober women who have been thro ugh the very same program.

One place I spoke with that isn't li censed seemed to have consiste nt programs, but lacked reputab le affiliatio ns and gave out methadone w ithout a license Is there that much of a difference to argue over? Some peo ple who have started recovery homes o n the ir own witho ut a license have complained that getting a license can be expensive and a long process . Wh at if these are people who really want to offe r help because they are recovering addicts themselves a nd the only thing that is preventing them is a costly license?

The issue necessarily may not be about whether a place is li censed or not, but about who is running it, what pharmac ies do they use, the staff, the food that is served there, what kind of polic ies are in place, do they have professiona l staff and most importantly do they have programs and meetings fo r

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yo u on a co nsiste nt basis?

T hese are qu estions yo u need to ask because even if your worker o r a service provider gives you a number to a recovery home, it doesn't mean that this place is safe or is repu table. Why? Because most likely, these people haven't been there themselves.

If you are thinking of going in to a recovery home, please ask other women at the centre if they have been in recovery ho mes . Which one did they go to?

What is the name? Simple questio ns. A lso, if you are g iven a number to a place, pho ne them and ask the m yourself.

• Is it free? If not how much w ill staying there cost you? What is the method of payment and what is your money pay ing for?

• Are meals inc luded ; if so what do they serve? Are they serving fresh fruit and vegetables and meat and everything that is needed in a healthy diet?

• Most importantly - what kind of programs do th ey run? Is it a 12 ste p program? Are there meetings?

Are there gro up s? Do they have onsi te pharmac ists, counselors or o ther reg istered health pro fess ionals wo rking there?

It is a lso an indicator that when you start asking these q uestions th ey get nervo us or defensive. This is usually a bad sign if they cannot answer these basic questions.

Tfyo u do not ha ve time to ask these questions Access Central links women like you to detox and housing services. They serve the lower mainla nd and have terrific staff. Access Central is part of Vanco uver Coastal Health and so when you get a re ferra l to a recovery home fro m them it is most like ly guaranteed that the places they recommended are accredited and legit. If you do go through Access Central and they mention a p lace, you can always ask for that home's individual number if you have specific questi ons or concerns.

Be prepared to wa it a while, but the wait is worth it.

If you do not have time to wait you have the option o f leaving a vo icema il and they w ill call you back w ithin a day. They are open from 9:00am to 9:00pm 7 days a week.

If some of you have had horrib le experiences at any recovery homes a nd wo uld like to make th at public or to have your story in o ur newsletter, please contact Housing Outreach staff at 604 681 8480 ext 239 or 604 7224280.

(This article appears in the DE Women's Centre's Dec.2008 Newsletter.]

inquiry about housing Hello Rain City. I have a friend who is homeless because he lived in the building at 90 Alexander St. which had a bad fire. He is desperately trying to get into decent social housing, preferably a unit with a washroom and kitchen. It looks like your building that's next to United We Can is opening up now and I'm wondering it there is a space there for him. He is a good community res ident and volunteers a lot in the DTES. I don't think he needs any "s upports. " Thankyou. JS Hello JS. The building next to United We Can, called the Lux, has two referral streams: YCH for the 24 transitional suites, and BC Housing for the 68 supported suites. Here is the contact information to get on the wait lists for these two streams: YCH - 1.866.658.1 2 11 BC Hous ing - 604.439.4159 That number for BC Housing is their Hous ing Registry number, but w hen you speak with someone there, ask about the 'Supported Housing Registry Service', as that is either the new name for the registry, or is the new service for applicants for this particular building.

Unfortunately, RainCity Housing has no say to who gets on the two lists.

Good luck!

Bill Briscall Communicati ons Manager RainCity Housing and Support Society 191 Alexander Street Vancouver, BC Y6A 188

DEADPAN HANDS Do I do that or was that you missing a beat, I hear colony collapse coming from the doubt beneath our feet, now articulate your disgust for the absolute truth I would tell you voice to voice but alas no phones much less booths. Everything today & forever is halfoff or free like fields of trees real grass+ dirt doesn ' t hurt but real trees are a necessity don ' t we need them to breathe? Now check out or up on these "undoped" athletes achieving all those awards & being hailed as winners look one in the eyes nothing but pinners, the future is just the past & the present put into a blender maybe something pleasant for all to fear, obey & see.

Saint Minus just sniffs but Darwin the Apostle & I will try the impossible to be whoever the hell we want to be except selfishists or gangs whether it be cops or Hell's Angels of course that first bang is free now if these selfishists started changing their lifestyle now look at what unpredictable behaviour gets you, how many hands would be out to help break the fall ?

None zero you're the only one here at all like a favour you needn' t have done turning into hell I guess just like luck a good day does not exist, like coming 4 1h in any Olympic event feelings of rejection let alone nothing to show off or mention back horne now that's gotta hurt quite a bit.

Are there award shows in heaven there are enough of 'em in hell for cowards & liars who can create the largest campfire, wear clothing made from burning tires the amount of the dead from just one lie, make it a good one & what belonged to them now belongs to thy; it proves the Big Bang theory or just the Bang you' re dead theory too many people haven' t the time to worry I've got time to dangle means & motive in 1 front of your mind & now you're all mine, like 20 h century chalkboards with real fingernails attached will now be a 21 51 century crime, of all the king' s horses and all the king' s men they chose me as a messenger boy & by the way Creation denied I'm so sorry for what must be done then again fatefully I am only one - for now!

By ROBERT McGILLIVRAY "Looking foolish does the spirit good; the need not to look fooli sh is one of youth's many burdens."

-John Updike

A FAIT ACOMPLI Hand-outs, giving, having doubts, hidden within, hanging out, cool steady beats, walking to nowhere really in particular, somewhere true for sure, not fake like paper roses, crocodile tears flowing no way I'm not fooled, freedom's tough to get, hard to keep, haunting is so deep that I can't accept sterile prophesies, incomprehensibilities forever there, within, without positive vibrations/energies hard to get way out of reach trying to hunt them down like tracking breezes floating up above in high, thin rarefied air.. where to look. I think don't bother quite impossible.

Will it ever again flow through me in a gathering storm, delirious constant anchored destiny like captured bursting empowering dreams contained once more- turnabout is fair play.

Released from the shackles of complacency with no iota of malice, to scram away from complacency I remain honour-bound to me, myself and I. And that I can tell you in certainty, to simply carry you in a closeknit frame-of-mind with dark visions gone (at least for now). I'm deaf and blind to them, mute, so far, now as it stands. Hope and wishes are scattered far behind like blasted confetti all askitter and arrayed like polka dots, falling raindrops never to return, don't bother to knock, forget the phone, and just don't watch the clock; No More ... you thinkin' like coming 'round- don't bother I'll just stick a note on my door sayin' for instance "Get Lost Old Friend! because I just left town, maybe gone for good, don't know, can't say; to leave, exit, this long time 'hood to push on, move out, buzz off, take a powder" DON'T scream .. shoot at me .. stop it.. getting louder.

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Don't ask don't tell, no questions if you please and dispense with the rhetorical tone of voice not to mention the sleaze. I'm on to your tricks, seen 'em all, ya catch my drift; seen the entire show where life is fast, where minds and thoughts spin deathly slow, and seen so many hits and misses that were too close to call. .. you know it's true. No? Just go: take along, look around, I believe you cannot possibly square a circle cause that just jives with my law of physics that just can't be computed- cant get my head around it yet it just figures that all works out in the bitter end.

I get profoundly perplexed confound it; time to go again I can tell you now with much regret perhaps you've heard about so many so numerous goodbye schemes but they get ratcheted down to so many dreary daydreams. From downbeat to upbeat, from low blows to higher ground, something awful was lost, cast-off forever and maybe to new world gained, unto a treasure imperfect and yet precious found ROBYN LIVINGSTONE

MR. FANTASTIC I was gonna call this s tory. Mv Brother- The RETARD. But I thought that even though it wou ld g rab so me eyebrows it would be very demeaning and would a lso not be the message that I want to pass along about probably the greatest person 1 know. His name is Clarence Asham and I haven't li ved w ith or even v isited him in a little over 50 years. He lives with a g reat little ex-nurse named Lilian O ig who has been hi s matro n and friend fo r the last 20 or so years. As I talked with Lilian over the day or so that I stayed with them l found out some very interest ing facts. S he probably needs C la rence as much as he needs her if not more. . l w?u ld defY anyone a nd everyone to spend a day With h1m and not be amazed by his wit and sense of humor. .As Li lian and I talked, Clare nce (altho uoh 0 not paymg attention to us) would often throw in a phrase o r two seeming ly from out o f nowhere. Now you may think that's normal a nd it probab ly is in any normal situat ion. On the o th er hand Clarence was born in July 1952, at least that's what l think and as the newspaper artic le says "Wh ile Asham's mother was pregnant she co ntracted rube lla which left Asham born disabled and blind. At the age of6, the Selk irk native was placed in the Manitoba Develop -mental Centre in Po rtage La Pra irie. C larence lived for 28 years with people who didn't s peak so hi s own speaking ab ili ty was severely compromised."

However o ne of his nurses, Z iggy Brasauskas, was a man who used to bring his accordion to amuse the patients on th e ward. Asham used to wander around in his own world, banging on th ings with a spoon, seeming ly ma king his own music. Z iggy tried him out on the accordio n. A month later Asham had maste red the musical ins trume nt. Z iggy recog nized that Ash am had a special tale nt fo r music He began teaching him the accordio n. Soon C larence and Z iggy were on the m usical circuit p laying music togethe r in Manitoba. In I 987 C larence left the

schoo l and moved in w ith Lilian. S he g ives a truly amazing account o f how that was the only time in her life that C larence could poss ib ly fi t in. A few month s e ither way and she would not have been ab le to accept the position. As ham needed to be ta ken care of24 hours a day, seven days a week. You'll have to hear her story and maybe someday I'll write more about her. Of course you should realize that Clare nce still can't communicate except thru his music and probably on ly about music. He can't reason as norma l people do. His vocab ulary is very limited a nd he still has uncontrollab le head movements. The only thin g norm a l about hi m is his abil ity to enj oy the music he creates. Let me te ll you he rea lly does ENJOY IT. Here's a little story that Lilian to ld me and remember she hasn't any tech abil ity. C larence has a new electric organ that she hasn't any idea of how it works. As I said Clarence has a severe learning disab ility. I don't know how but he is able to figure out how things work. He has a vo ice read-o ut time te ller. Someone couldn't figure out how it worked so he gave it to Clarence not reali zing what he had done. A while later, Clarence had not only set it but he also knew how to work it proper ly and he uses it to this day to know when his favorite programs are on th e radi o or tv. Also he taped mus ic on his o rgan and was play in g it back when Lilian asked him who was play ing. With a little laugh he said "Clarence Asham" was playing.

T his fro m a man who has been cons idered mentally retarded a nd had an IQ of aro und 32. Another is a related s to ry about a woman who uses a pen to tell her story a nd they can't figure o ut how s he is able to write. She has written a book about her li fe and it has become a huge inspiration. But back to Clarence. I had a lo t of doubts about go ing to see this fo rgotten Asham. Had I abandoned him even tho ugh he was umeachabl e as my sibling? The answer is most definite ly yes. Even to this day I can't converse wi th him a ltho ugh Lil ian does. He doesn't seem to not

hear me although Lilian will use the same words and the same voice that I had used and he answers her. Is it a mental block or a defense mechanism that he uses to protect himself?

I guess I'll never know the answer to these questions but I'm so happy to be around him. He is very unusual because although he is listed as retarded, I think everyone else is retarded and he is what a complete human being should be. He has a great smile that no ne can remove and he is always saying intelligent little things that you have to be really on the ball to catch. I missed a lot of it because I'm not operating at his well defined approach to lifestuff.

His sense of humor is deep and untouchable. His is a world of goodwi ll and he never complains. He seems to look for the good in everything and everyone. When someone he knew has died, he just says that they are go ne to heaven . It doesn't matter what he person was about. If they're dead they're gone to heaven. Truly he is a well mannered person and I'd give a whole dollar to be more like him in his attitude and demeanor. There ain't no-one like him and I doubt if I will ever meet another who is so friendly and full of grace. Now the reason I'm telling you about Clarence is because he is a world class musician and I would like to get him to come and playa concert here. He once played for the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and has been a friend of Peter Gzowsky. You should hear the tape I heard. You would all be invited. I'm hoping. sometime in early April and yo u wou ld be meeting one of the richest men in the world. His attitude is what makes him rich. He will always have something that we can only search for. He is a truly happy person. When you see him you will know what I'm talking about.

I'm planning an afternoon of informing a little about him and then letting him give a concert and finally doing some requests from the audience. I'm hoping Lilian wi ll give us a few more of her revealing stories. I'm sure that everyone will enjoy this man of a thousand smiles. And 1 know that he will enjoy entertaining you. l think he plays about 3 or more hours a day. He's always ready to playa song for you. And he does it with compass ion like you've never seen. Please come and enjoy my brother. It's his greatest joy to entertai n. He lives for the music and in the music. Have a nice day. --- hal

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!!29 YEARS!! - Carnegie as a comm unity centre opened on January 20, 1980. ANDY HUCLACK then began selling coffee in the Seniors Lounge.

Andy has decided to retire, after 29 years, because he' s too busy raising hell to be a nice volunteer!!

Maybe you can start your recovery . ..

We've got some new books on recovery from addiction and recovery fro m a busive re lationships, including Gifts of Sobriety: Wizen the Promises of Recovery Come Tru e by Barbara S Cole (362.29);

News from the Library I've left it a bit late this year to make New Year's Reso lutions, so I' m th inking that I' ll start now, at the beginning of the Chinese Year of the Ox. If you're thinking of doing the same, here are some books that may help or inspire you: And if you' re stuck for a New Year's Resol ution of your own, maybe you co uld promise to read more? Remember, a Carnegie library card is free, you don' t need an address or fancy lD to get one just somethi ng with your name on it - and we don' t charge late fees on overdue books.

Maybe yo u can try to improve your re lationship:

Hold Me Tiglzt: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime ofLove, by Sue Jo hnson ( 158.24) clai ms to be a new kind of relationship therapy that can " pave the way toward a deepl y fu lfilli ng and end uring bond."

Maybe you can learn about things the history books don't tell you ...

Breaking the Cycle ofA buse: How to Move Beyond Your Past to Create an A buse-Free Future

by Beverly Engel (362.82); A ddiction and Recovery for Dummies (362.29) and Beginning to Heal: A First B ook fo r Men and Women who were Sexually A bused as Children (362. 76).

Talki ng of reading, the Main & Hastings Book Club is taking a break fo r February. We' ll start up again in March. If you' re c urio us to join, or ifyou have ideas fo r the kind of book club you'd like to see, please stop by the library and chat to me.

Beth, yo ur li brarian

PACIFIC BLUEGRASS & HERITAGE MUSIC SOCIETY presents A VARIETY OF BANDS PLAYING BLUEGRASS, FOLK & COUNTRY MUSIC

A Way of Life That Does Not Exist: Canada and the Extinguishment oftlze Innu , by Colin Samson (970.3 M75S I w) describes how the Canad ian gove rnm ent of the 1950s and 1960s forced the lnnu peopl e to abando n nomadic hunting, and settled them in governme nt-built villages. From then on, there was a staggering decli ne in the health and v itality, and now, the lnnu are faced w ith some of the highest suicide rates in the world, w idespread a lcoholism, and epidemics of gas-sni ffi ng among children.

Maybe you can learn a new skill ...

The Illustrated Ency clopaedia of Witchcraft & Practical Magic ( 133.4) is a vis ua l g uide to the history and practice of magic thro ug h the ages. T he book covers magic's origins, ancient traditions, and g reat practitioners. It also contains practical instructions for mo re than 60 spells, and advice on dowsing, runes, au ras, and scrying.

Wednesday, February 11, 7 - 9 pm Carnegie Theatre

Japantown Neighbourhood Celebration will be held during the day and evening of Saturday March 28 in various venues around this historic area. Activities are still in the early planning stages and we hope to include a procession, a cornrnemor• • ~~ation of the sakura trees in Oppenheimer Park, histJapantown Neighbourhood Celebration, ~~ ory walks, talks, discussions, storysharing, musical Saturday March 28th g~B~ performances, displays & other community events.

CONTINUATION AND PROMISE The celebration is produced by Powell Street FestThe area of Powell Street and Oppenheimer Park is 8~ ivai Society, Tonari Gumi, Vancouver Japanese the site of Vancouver' s earliest beginnings and cfh Language School & Japanese Hall and Vancouver remains a community that is intensely committed to g~ Moving Theatre. the place, its stories and its future. In planning for ~~ As the Celebration Coordinator I will be spending the heritage preservation of the area, the City of ~CJ the next few weeks connecting with community Vancouver conducted a Historical and Cultural %0 partners and individuals to gather programming Review that revealed a diversity of cultures, art, ideas. There are many opportunities for input, history and people all with strong connections to the involvement and participation so please contact me, Teresa Vandertuin, at 604-255-940 I or email: ne ighbourhood.

Following the city' s review and the desire to ~~ 8o~ thirteenofhearts @hotmail.com. ~ commemorate the 80th Anniversary of diplomatic &c ~~relations between Canada and Japan, conversation rgg00 ~; ~ led community members to create a collaborative, r: · community-based one-day festival to explore the Do.c%~ Q multicultural past and present of Vancouver's oc;; o08~€J Japantown and to contribute to its vibrant future.

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Volleyball Skills Training (learn how to play in a fun &safe environment)

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To drive a car, to type a write But now that I am getting o ld I start to wear my trousers rolled But I still east peaches.

Young, I dreamed of castles Knights on steeds A land where mig ht rewarded noble deeds The Knights they came and went Proving their ig nobility and fear of responsibility But not their forgettability They haunt me still.

Every Sunday with Emmanuel 6-Bpm, Carnegie Centre Gym Starting Sunday, February 15th Meet and greet Healthy Snacks and shakes for participants

Causes I es poused, giving purpose or pretense To keep the boogeyman away Now here am I on this darkening plain Alone serene unc hained by society other than my own Contemplating pain and Plato Still wouldn' t it be nice to ride a bike? !

Wilhelmina

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In a Perfect World (For Mis hy) Steven A Cardinal

In a pe1ject world there is no pain, no more jails, and no more chains.

It is a place you can slip n' slide like a child, have fun on rides, Way up in the sky where the Eagles fly.

It's a place offun where you never get tired, you're never late for work, so you could never get fired.

All you gotta do is just be yourself, and everyone is measured of equal wealth.

It's a place where you got your family, and they got your back, in a perfect world, it's just a fact.

In a perfect world there is no Death, there's no cocaine, and no more Meth.

There's no need for dealers, no need for drugs, there are no scary dreams, and no scary bugs.

In a pe1ject world you can laugh and cry, even with no particular reason why.

Everyone here is all the same.

There is no difference's because there is no race.

There's no need for police, because there is no crime, no pursuit offame, and no foolish pride.

Everything spoken is true, there are no lies; don't ask me why, but nobody dies.

In a perfect world I got a wife, who is true 10 me, in my pe1jectlife.

For my perfect wife, I'd write a pe1ject song; in this perfect world I could do no wrong.

In a pe1ject world there's no Bi-polar, there's no crooked cops, no restraining orders.

In a perfect world I continue living, even when locked up in a federal prison.

In a perfecl world, I am on the street, free ofprison and can 't be beat.

In a perfect world my life is good; I can raise my son in a safe neighbourhood.

Where I would treat my family the way I should. In a perfect world, the Lord knows I would.

In a perfect world, I thank God fo r rain, To wash away any tears ofpain.

When I am gone, they'll say, I've said ...

"My perfect world, is inside my head."

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Hello Humanities 101 students and alumni, Thanks so much for helping Hum I 0 I celebrate its I Oth anniversary at the party in November. Many students, alumni, teachers, volunteers and staff spoke about what the Programme means to them, and we hope you w ill continue to send in your words to be posted on the website. The day after the party there was a feature essay on Hum I0 I in the Province newspaper which you might have seen. lfyo u would like a paper copy, please let us know and we will send it to you. l hope that 2009 is a splend id year for everyone, and that you will e njoy taking part in Hum I 0 I courses, plus public programmes and Steering Committee meetings on the Downtown Eastside.

STUDY GROUPS P hilosophy of Science Study G r oup Introduction to Philosophy of Science with Kevin Bardosh, UBC student, in the Carnegie Clsrm II Sunday Feb I I 2-2 p.m Sunday Feb 15 I 2-2 p.m Sunday Mar I I 2-2 p.m Sunday Mar 15 I 2-2 p.m Sunday Mar 29 I 2-2 p.m This study group provides a varied introduction to science topics. The group will be supp lemented with both scienti ftc and historical readings with the a im of placing scientific discoveries in their historical and philosophical contexts. This reading/writing gro up is open to all. We encourage participants to attend regularly in order to get the most out of the group. Reading materials wi ll be supplied.

New Hwn101 series: W hat is 'gentrification'?

Wednesday Jan 28 6 to 8 pm in the Carnegie Centre 3rd floor classroom Wednesday Feb 4 same time and place, and with more sessions to come All are welcome to come to the first set of workshops in this series, What is 'gentrification'?, which started on December 3 at Carnegie Centre and will meet once a month. Long-time Humanities I 0 I teacher and architect Arthur Allen will teach participants how to read and make architectural draw-

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ings. Starting out with the idea of designing the cottage of your dreams, based on feedback from the first session, participants will now design one block of social housing with all participants' dreams drawn in: what participants would really like to see there. Please call 604-822-0028 or email hum I 0 l [at]interchange.ubc.ca for more information about th is set of workshops.

SPEAKING Of DANCE Speaking of Dance is an illustrated lecture series developed to enrich and deepen your experience of dance. The public lectures and discuss ion groups are a springboard fo r exchanging ideas and developing a deeper understanding of the dance world and of contextualizing the fo rm in the broader Vancouver community and the world of art and culture. Presented by artists, curators, art historians, critics, writers, academics and other creative th inkers, this lecture series will give you the info rmation, language and confidence you need to speak about dance.

Tuesdays, 7:30 - 9pm Lower Level, Vancouver Public Library Centra l Branch, 350 West Georgia St Admission is FREE. but Seating is limited.

February 10, 2009 Speakers Artemis Gordon -Artistic Director, Arts Umbrella Deborah Meyers - Dance Critic and Writer March 10, 2009 Speakers Barbara Bourget- Artistic Director, Vancouver International Dance Festival Henry Daniel - Professor of Dance and Performance Studies, Simon Fraser University April 14, 2009 Speakers Santa Aloi -Professor Emerita of Dance, SFU Emily Molnar - Independent Choreographer and Artist in Res idence, Arts Um brella

Why the Alberni Residential School Should Remain Standing

by Kevin D. Annett Not long after I had first seen the building that had once housed the Alberni Indian residential school, I spoke to a survivor of its horror: an aging woman who had been violated by one of its principals when she was only six years old.

"I've learned to Jive with what he did to me" she said, her eyes saying otherwise. "But you know what hurts the most? Knowing he died without ever having to face the music. So where do I take my pain?"

The former Alberni residential school building is a symbol of genocide that nearly wiped out an entire nation, and it should be left standing, for exactly the same reason that the crematoria and prison blocks at Auschwitz are now a public museum.

Without such monuments, history can easily be forgotten, and even rewritten by Holocaust deniers.

Without living remains of the former Indian residential schools, there will be nowhere that survivors, their descendants, and all Canadians can go to confront their own pain, or denial, and ensure that the crime will never repeat itself.

The former Albemi school is a particularly important piece of our history, for it was from there that the first group of survivors stepped forward in 1996 and launched the earliest class action lawsuit against the United Church and government of Canada - an act which forced the issue onto the national stage, and prompted all subsequent residential school litigation.

Destroying the evidence of a crime is a crime itself, under the law. And the move to demolish residential school buildings is happening now, I suggest, due to a panic by the government and churches - and their aboriginal accomplices- and their need to hide the growing evidence of the deaths of thousands of children in these institutions.

Hardly the "act of healing" claimed by some, destroying the remaining school buildings will wipe out the last physical evidence, besides the bones of those buried, that church and state are responsible for the deaths of half the children who were interred in them.

And that, of course, is the real agenda behind the upcoming demolition of the Alberni school building.

For my sources inform me that the February 10 demolition will be accompanied by the secret disinterring of the mass graves in the hills west of the

school, in which hundreds of children lie buried, accordino to a geological survey conducted in 2004.

Ever sin~e last April, when I released to the media a list of 28 such grave sites adjacent to former Indian residential schools, the RCMP and others have attempted to dig up these graves, including at the former Charles Camsell Indian Hospital in Edmonton and several schools in Saskatchewan and Ontario. I fear that exactly the same thing is about to happen at the Alberni site, under the cover of demolishing the old building.

Such a criminal attempt to conceal murder is not something that we should tolerate, if we truly are concerned about "healing and reconciliation" with those people our culture tried to exterminate.

I urge everyone of good will to turn out in Port Albemi on February 10 and try to halt the destruction of the Alberni residential school building - and the graves of children who died at the hands of United Church employees.

For us to do anything less will make us all silent accomplices in the worst crime in Canadian history a crime whose stain will never be wiped away as long as we continue to deny and destroy the evidence of it, and thereby protect those responsible.

[Editor's note: To answer those who either condemn Kevin Annett for his righteous obsession and claims or criticize me as editor of this newsletter for continuing to provide space for articles and notice of events I have this to say: You need only to look at the record of organized religion and the viciousness with which such dogma is forced on indigenous peoples everywhere to see where the shadows are, where, even though history is written by the victors, the truth of murder, genocide and attempted extinction of these same peoples has happened again and again. Murder has been mostly replaced with mental and political swill in North America, with the religious Right getting its coils around education and curriculae (schoolboards), charity supplanting social programs and the deliberate demeaning of anyone not born again or a fundamentalist fanatic. The female holocaust in Europe happened when the same dogmatic fanatics tried to exterminate spirituality by labeling its adherents witches. The same holocaust is gearing up with the intended suppression of the spiritual, scientific and common sense behind all the movements to deal correctly with environmental degradation, economic exploitation and advance spiritual enlightenment. PRT]

DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE

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ACTIVITIES SOCIETY

604-251-3310

Next Issue: February 15, 2009 SUBMISSION DEADLINE Thursday February 12 ' Free showers for homeless persons at 327 Carrall Wed 7-8:30am; Sat 7-10am; Women Only Fri 6-8pm miS NEWSLETTER IS A PUBLICATION OF THE · 1 -

CARNEGIE COMMUNITY CENTRE ASSOCIATION Articles represent the views of individual Contributors and not of the Association.

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Editor: PaulR Taylor; ' Cover art by Diane Wood.

I Collation & distribution crew: Harold, Liu Lin, Bill, Mary 1 Ann, Miriam, Rolf, Tina, Videha, Kelly, ~al •. Roby~, Nick, Jackie Matthew, Lisa, Red, Pablo, Ida, Pnsctlha. Lisa. r

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SERVING THE COMMUNITY

WITH PRIDE

CITY HALL 45J Wnr 12111 AVE. V5Y 1V4

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Phone: 604.873·7247

Jenny Wai Ching Kwan MLA

Working for You 1070-1641 Commercial Dr, VSL 3Y3 Phone:604-775-0790

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WANTED Artwork for the Carnegie Newsletter

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TIM STEVENSON CITY COUNCILLOR 1,,

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We acknowledge that Carnegie Community Centre, and this Newsletter, are occurring on Coast Salish Territory.

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Small illustrations to accompany articles and poetry Cover art -Maximum size: 17cm(6-3/4") wide x 15cm(6") high.

Subject matter relevant to issues pertaining to the Downtown Eastside preferred, but all work will be considered; Black & White printing only Size restrictions must be considered (i.e. if your piece is too large, it will be reduced and/or cropped to fit; All artists will receive credit for their work; Originals will be returned to the artist after being copied for publication; Remuneration: Carnegie volunteer tickets.

Please make submissions to: Paul Taylor, Editor.

oo you Have a Legal Probleto7 Are you charged with a crltoe7 VIsit the UBC Law Clinic In the 3rd floor gallery of Carnegie Centre for free advice &representation.

BC Law Students Legal Advice Program (LSLAP) Drop-In, Tuesdays, 7 - 9pm.

2009 DONATIONS: Barry M.·$150, Libby D.-$70 Rolf A.-$50, Margaret D.-$40, Jenny K.-$23, Sue K.·$30, Sandy C.-$25, Christopher R.·$180 Mel L.-$25, Greta P.-$25, Jaya B.-$75, Alayne-$25 Anonymous ·$1500

, a home less woman who chose to remain outside in extremely cold weather died in an accident caused by her trying to keep warm with a candle causing her makeshift abode to catch fire and bum her to death.

On December 19, 2008, new Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson said police, outreach workers and volunteers will make sure homeless people know where shelters are. According to a CBC news report, Robertson said, "There is an issue of civil rights there that we have to grapple with, and that is the challenge right now, particularly with people who choose to remain or are convinced that they belong outside."

There are good reasons that some homeless people choose to stay outside no matter what the weather conditions are. Violence and thievery are not uncommon at shelters; many are infested with bedbugs; and almost all don't allow people to bring in pets or shopping carts full of personal belongings.

Provincial Housing Minister Rich Coleman weighed in on the subject, saying that the Mental Health Act should be changed so people can be forced into shelters. There are some problems with that approach , according to a January 5, 2009 blog entry posted by David Eby on his blogsite. There is inadequate shelter space to allow such an action to have a meaningful e ffect. There is the problem of ensuring safety for the shelter providers. The resulting legislation could be seen as a desperate public relations move to distract attention away from the facts that the provincial government woefully underfunds mental health treatment, addiction treatment, or social supports for the provincially owned Single Room Occupancy hotels or the planned 1400 units of new social housing for Vancouver. The statistics from the coroner's office about homeless . deaths show that causes are more complex than the high profile deaths of the homeless woman and Darrell Mickasko, which could be solved by providing adequate supportive housing. There's no

chance of this legislation passing this winter, but maybe for 2010, and excuse me for being cynical but isn't that just a bit too convenient for the appearance of Vancouver during the 2010 Olympics?

And what about the Charter rights of homeless people? Are the police going to arbitrarily designate somebody outside in extreme weather as being in need of shelter and try to force them to go to one?

What happens if they don't go? Are they going to be arrested and thrown in jail? (Here's my cynic ism again, but isn' t this just too convenient for cleansing the streets of "undesirables" j ust in time for the Olympics?) Editorialist Allen Garr of The Vancouver Courier wrote as much in a January 7, 2009 entry.

Even right-wing Mark Hasiuk of The Courier wrote in a January 9, 2009 opinion piece agreeing with the previous paragraph, which (excuse my cynicism again) was written by an avowed left-winger. Concluded Hasiuk, " ... the greatest threat to public wellbeing is the zealous desire of government to disinfect those dangerous streets."

As if to confirm Hasiuk's opinion, The Vancouver Sun weighed in on a January 10, 2009 editorial titled "Giving police the power to force the homeless into shelters is wrong-headed." In it was this stunning quote: "This would effectively turn our shelters into prison camps, and would decrease the already shaky trust many homeless have in the police." Indeed!

The most famous incidence of a government forc ing people into encampments against their will that I can recall is Nazi Germany!

Continues the Sun editorial, "Fortunately, there is an alternative to this almost science fiction scenario. , To begin with, we need to ask homeless people what they need: Friends of the woman who died suggested that she did not want to give up her cart, which contained ail of her belongings, to enter a shelter ... .And her concern could have been noted had a mental health or street outreach worker talked to her, at length if necessary ....Thus this case once again raises the importance of ensuring that we have adequate mental health support on the street."

This last sentence underlines the necessity of Vancouver having its own mental health advocate, which is what the present city council is trying to do.

But that's another story.

By Rolf Auer

Healing Journey Asking for help is not to be shameful Getting advice from your Elders They will tell you all their knowledge They will tell you where your power comes from It may come from Mother Earth sources It may be an animal It may be the sun, air or water

Fire is also a good source of power It comes from you r heart Fight off all the evil thoughts Think of the warmth coming from the wind Trees are a symbol of life Never give up on yourself Water is to cleanse you Think of all positive things Clear one's mind from all things Be strong, bold, hold up your head You are stronger than you think I hope you will find the healing you so much need All my relations, Bonnie E Stevens

Facing the Downtown Eastside Drawings

by

JORGE CAMPOS

Carnegi e Third Fl oor Gallery Month of February Please Join Jorge at the opening reception Thursday, February 5, Spm Refreshments will be served!

Jorge Campos was born in a small town called Berlin in the Department of Usulutan El Salvador C.A. on the 201h of June 1964. Jorge is a self-taught artist who is influenced by his parents and sister who always talked and drew with him.

After the assassination of his mother Jorge moved to Costa Rica at the age of 15 where he completed high school. It was there that he was encouraged to draw and began to realize his talent Jorge moved to Canada in 1984. By 1992 he began drawing faces from TV and in 1998 he began to draw faces from the Downtown Eastside. Jorge feels it is his experience with people from a diversity of backgrounds that inspires him to draw scenes from everyday life . He has exhibited at Gallery Gachet, Carnegie Art Gallery and has been commissioned for many drawings.