February 1, 2018 carnegie newsletter

FEBRUARY 1, 2018

CaRrnOegie t: NEWS LETTE R

carnnews@vcn.bc.ca

401 Main Street, Vancouver BC V6A 2T7 604-665-2289 ernail: carnnews@shaw.ca Website/catalogue: carnegienewsletter.org

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¡A A NOTE

Jenny Kwan, MP

TO THE COMMUNITY

The 27th Annual Downtown Eastside Women's Memorial March will be on Wednesday, February 14th.

Families & friends of missing and murdered women are welcome to share stories of their loved one. It starts a 10:30 am in the Carnegie Theatre.

The march itself starts at 12 noon on Main & Hastings. Everyone is welcome. It is also a ceremony of its own, the March. Placards of missing or murdered women are welcome. No placards with any political affiliation. Remember we are honouring & commemorating missing and murdered women.

The walk takes about 4 hours so bring water&snacks.

It's a long day but it's worth it. Please, remember self care. Talk to someone or go out for a cup oftealcoffee or whatever to unwind. We are only human; it's okay to laugh or cry - it's part of cleansing our spirit.

Stay beautiful at heart. You are loved. Hugs2all Priscillia Mays gitsxan - wetsuwet'en

MONTGOMERY (I once loved a redneck) In the beginning I had a great fondness for you. I crawled out of the gorge, that place I suffered most and for a summer I felt my heart balloon. Then 1 saw you, quite different, backward, not the picture 1 had of you at all, chewing your thumbnails down to the quick, spirting on sidewalks and inhaling cigarettes into black lungs. ou with your baseball cap and hockey jersey, Thanksgiving spent learning to use a knife and fork. Then came your speech on East Indian drivers and mail order brides and how illegal immigrants were taking over Surrey. Did r come from a culture of snake charmers, was my mother uneducated, poor but happy, speaking "Hindu" as India, dirty, chaotic trudged along with bony cows that roamed the roads and belly dancers that entertained its guests? It is funny how blind my love was as it turned to such great disenchantment because after we broke up I heard you joined the Clan. Tell me, what did you want? Compliance?

Indifference? Or was I just the flavour of the month?

Ruby Diamond

Vancouver East Immigration, Refugee Citizenship Critic

NDP and

2572 E Hastings St Vancouver,

BC VSK IZ3

T: 604-775-5800 F: 604-775-5811 Jenny.Kwan@

arl. c.ca

Out of the Blue The Vancouver Public Library has this thing called an Inspiration Pass. You put your name on a list and . eventually you get 12 days of free entry to museums, the Art Gallery, Science World, the Aquarium, maybe a concert, some Parks venues and more. One entry at each but it's for up to four people, so all these places that would be costly to check out are open to you.

Which is why this is a note on the Museum of Vancouver's current show - a history of protest in the Lower Mainland. It's a few rooms with various photos almost life-sized of rallies, protests, strikes, marches & every other gathering where people rose up to say enough or we demand or just No. The exhibit goes back'b the early 1900s with Native . resistance to.white restriction, has a series over the Relief Camp workers and their supporters, parts about fish & logging & mines and a lot about unions striking for fair conditions. What fascinated me were the images from many incidents/events in the Downtown Eastside, including the Gastown riot, housing demos and of course the Women's Memorial March. On the wall are items that spent time in the office here on poverty, housing & homelessness and the 3-year opposition to the 2010 Olympics.

There was a law passed, either municipally or provincially, making it a crime to say anything negative about the Olympics. That's hard to swallow in a free country but the Games would be over before it could be scrapped in court. Organizers of the Anti-poverty Olympics came up with very creative ways to voice people's concerns - so much so that we were getting cal!s from around the world.

Anyway, if you get a chance, go to the Museum of Vancouver. It costs over $10 to get in. You'll likely see people you know in the photos projected.

.

PRT

NOTICE OF AN EXTRAORDINARY NOTICE IS HEREBYGIVEN that an Extraordinary Association (the "Society") will be held at the:

Meeting

MEETING OF MEMBERS3

of the Members

of the Carnegie

Community

Centre

Carnegie Cornmunitv Centre 401 Main St. Vancouver, BC on Thursday, February 1, 2018 at 5:30 pm For the following purpose: to adopt a Transition Application of the Society's Constitution Societies Act of British Columbia (copies available at the Front Desk).

We have to have a minimum

of 30 members

and By-laws to the

in order to pass the vote so please make an effort to attend

Happening in Carnegie Centre and the community Sharing with you the following information and good news.

In compliance with the BC Societies Act, Carnegie Community Centre Association will hold an Extraordinary Meeting of Members on Thursday, February 1st at 5:30 pm in the Carnegie Theatre for the purpose of adopting a transition application of the Society's Constitution and By-laws to the Societies Act of British Columbia. This meeting will be followed by our regular monthly Board Meeting. Please join us and hear what's happening in the Centre.

We celebrated our 38th anniversary on January 20th with a subsidized lunch and membership drive which was very successful- on that day alone, we had 56 new or returning memberships purchased. If you haven't already done so, please purchase your 2018 Carnegie Membership for $1 at the Information Desk on the Main Floor. A membership supports all the wonderful programs & events the Centre offers, and provide access to free phones, programs, out trips and more! Join today!

The Camegie Kitchen renovation is in full swing and so far on schedule. The gym is open and operating as our temporary cafeteria during the renovation and so far so good - although the menu options are not as extensive as our usual fare, we will do our best to create and serve as tasty and nutritious meals as possible. We are going to try to stick with our weekly themes and favorites: pasta for dinner on Mondays, burgers for lunch on Tuesdays, fish for Thursday dinner and Vegetarian meals on Friday's.

We will try and bring back some of our home-made baking too! Thank you for your continued patience and patronage - we really appreciate it. If you have any questions or concerns, please see Sharon Belli, Director or Karla Kloepper, Assistant Director as we would be happy to answer our questions or resolve your concern.

With kind support and a big thank you to the Carnegie Newsletter and CCCA - we are now using the TV screen on the 2nd floor for important information about community events, and Carnegie programming.

Don't worry, we will continue to make our beautiful posters and use the bulletin boards also.

Please join us for the 10th Anniversary of the HomeGround Festival which kicks off on February 7th and continues through to February 9th. This year's festival theme is celebrating culture and the weaving of culture in community. There will be amazing day time programming and evening performances and entertainment.

We will also offer a free breakfast daily @ 8 am. Lunch is served at 12 pm & 1 pm, Dinner is served at 4 pm, rpm & 6 pm - tickets are available 1 hour prior to meal service. Meals are prepared by Vancouver Community College. We have also partnered with the Binners' Project to ensure we are a GREEN event and as always will have lots of volunteer opportunities for community members.

Sharon Belli, Director

JOIN

RAISE THE RATES

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Coffee, Snacks, Conversation

NIGHT:

The road to 58 W Hastings

By Lama Mugabo Coast Salish Territories - For more than ten years, 58 W Hastings has been the site for political organization and advocacy for affordable housing on behalf of low income residents. The most symbolic and tragic event that comes to mind in the history of this struggle is the death of Oar rei Mikasko, a homeless man who burned to death trying to keep warm after being turned away from a Kitsilano shelter, in 2008.

Downtown East Side (DTES) housing & social justice advocates have continued to fight against gentrification that prices out low-income residents and displaces them from their community. Single Room Occupancy (SRO) Hotels are sold to the highest bidders. Once renovated, nothing prevents landlords from raising the rent in the absence of a rent control mechanism. Rent control ties the price of the unit to the room, not to the tenant.

On Aug 2, 2016, Mayor Gregor Robertson visited Carnegie Centre and made a promise to the OTES community: "58 W Hastings will be built as 100 % welfare/pension rate community-controlled housing".

Shortly after, a community advisory committee was formed. It was made up of Our Homes Can't Wait members (OHCW) and city staff with the task to come up with ways the project could come to fruition.

The advisory committee was told that the construction will cost $65m. The city committed the land & Chinatown Foundation was brought in as a partner and offered to contribute $30m. At that time, the Liberal government wouldn't talk to us. The Min of Housing called OHCW a bunch of "whiners". The likelihood of the provinciaL government making up the difference was slim. The liberals had to go. When the NOP replaced the Liberals, we were hopeful to fulfil the dream for 58.

As time went on, the meetings with city staff became fewer. The community was left in the dark. We didn't know whether the city had dropped the project or not.

An Open House was announced without consulting the community. The community learned that City staff were proposing a social mixed building that included tenants who were not on welfare or pension. Under the proposal only 1/3 ofthe units will be at welfare and pension rates. The community was angry; it felt that the city had moved away from the community vision that called for 100% welfare and pension rates.

OHCW decided to disrupt the Open House and orga? nized a teach-in, instead. The coalition used the event as a teaching moment, to educate the public about the importance of community vision for 58 and the Mayor Gregor's failure to honor his promise to the residents ofOTES. The city canceled the Open House. Several weeks passed, there was no communication between OHCW and the city. We thought the city had given up on the project.

After the NOP government was elected, OHCW invited the Housing and Social Assistance ministers to visit the community and gave them a gentrification tour. They were pleased with the tour and assured us good news was on the way.

When the housing minister announced the founding of the four projects in the OTES, she was pleased that OHCW received the money it needed. But there was a twist. The funding gap had grown from 30m to 60m.

As such, 58W Hastings could not be built at 100% welfare and pension rates. The rezoning application called for 50% shelter rate ($375) and 50% at HILLS ($1,272).

Under this proposal, not all low-income tenants will be able to I~ve there. It was not the community vision we had proposed. Speaker after speaker, citizens urged mayor Gregor to honor his promise and find the money to house those who need housing the most.

First Nations speakers homed in on the fact that "if the city of Vancouver wants to reconcile with First Nations, it should start by building homes that people can afford. In the OTES. The majority of homeless in the OTES are First Nations.

We are almost there. We need to keep pushing to ensure that the city finds a way of deepening the affordability so that 58 W Hastings is implemented to meet the community vision we have fought for for so long.

The OTES is a culturally diverse and inclusive community. The struggle for 58 W Hastings ensures that this cultural diversity is preserved and that Iow-income residents are not displaced to make room for the wealthy.

Hum

101

-

UBC

..•...•."--........• ....•.•. ~~

Public Programme Series Hum's study groups, workshops, field trips and film series are lively forums for exploring and discussing subjects of mutual interest. These groups meet every week or twice monthly, and are open to everyone.

Participants are free to join these groups at any stage: no registration necessary. Groups are facilitated by Hum students, alumni, staff and volunteer teachers, plus people from the wider community. Snacks and refreshments are provided at all groups. For an up-todate schedule and more information, please visit the Hum website: humanites 10 l.arts.ubc.ca, or contact us at h.u.m@ubc.ca, or 604-822-0028.

"Wednesday Women's Writing Workshop" (Women only) When: Six Wednesday sessions, 3:30-5:00 PM: January 17; February 7, 28; March 7, 14; April 4.

Where: Downtown Eastside Women's Centre, Wellne ss Room, 302 Columbia St. Facilitator: Maureen Phillips In this series of90-minute writing workshops, we will explore some of the different genres of writingjournaling, memoir, personal essays, fiction and poetry. Each week you will be given a writing prompt to help you get started. After each period of writing, you will have an opportunity to read aloud and share your work with the others, if you like. These weekly sessions will give you an idea of what kind of writing you would like to do, how to go about it, and how to keep up a good l'ractice of writing.

"Doing Science and Theology" When: Wednesdays, 5:30-7:30 PM. Where: Carnegie Centre, room 2 on the third floor, 401 Main St. Facilitator: Mathew Arthur Most people think that science is about finding out what makes up the natural world and how it all works.

Likewise, theology is usually described as the "science" or systematic study of what is before, beyond, or after the natural world-the supernatural. Instead, we will read texts that consider what it means to do science and theology as practices that are always making or transforming the world around us-rather than

thinking of science and theology as disciplines that /,) discover something about the way reality already is.

With the question "what kind of world do we want to make?" guiding our time together, we will read aloud from texts by Science Technology and Society (STS) theorists and contemporary theologians who show that. there are other ways to do science and theology that do not rely on discovering "facts" about a reality that is separate from our ways of being, knowing, and do ing in the world.

"Popular Music through the Decades" When: Fridays, 3:00-4:30 PM. Where: Carnegie Centre, room 2 on the third floor, 401 Main St. Facilitator: Margot Mabanta Want to discuss musicians and their impact on popular culture: everything from the fun songs they created, to the style they promoted, to the political issues they brought up, and how they influenced society. In this group a new theme in music will be discussed each i week: one-hit wonders, super groups, protest songs, fashion, rock n roll, Canadian artists ... and more.

"Documentaries for Thinkers" When: 2nd and 3rd Saturday of the month, starting at 6:00 PM Where: C;all~egie Centre Auditorium, 401 Main St. Curator: Terence Lui Twice monthly, on the 2nd and 3rd Saturday of the months, the Carnegie Auditorium is filled with eager viewers looking to catch the latest scintillating documentaries from some of the best filmmakers across the globe. These films cover politics, nature, art, society, philosophy, science and more.

"Elevenses: Eating and Reading Tolkien"

When: Sundays, 11:00 AM-12:30 PM. Where: Vancouver Public Library, ngca7mat ct . Strathcona Branch, 730 East Hastings St, Nellie Vip Quong Room (2nd floor) . .Facilitator: Reuben Jentink "Elevenses: Eating and Reading Tolkien," centres on J.R.R. Tolkien's masterwork, The Lord of the Rings.

We will meet weekly on Sunday mornings at 11:00, to read together, aloud. Attendees are encouraged to volunteer, if comfortable, to read for the group. Heeding Tom Bombadil's wise assertion that "long tales are thirsty. And long listening's hungry work," before . settling in, we'll begin each meeting with some baked

treats from the Unofficial Hobbit Cookbook.

"A Taste of The Middle East" When: Mondays from 6:00-7:30 PM Where: The Gathering Place. 609 Helmcken st.

Facilitator: Shahla Masoumnejad Middle Eastern countries have a rich culture, and although they are frequently identified as one region, each country represents a distinguished culture that is rooted in ancient traditions. In this study group, we enjoy the beauty of these cultures and explore the differences that make each country unique.

"Grammar with Hum" When: Wednesdays 2:30-3:30 PM. Starts January 31 Where: The Carnegie Centre. Learning centre, 3rd floor. 401 Main St. Facilitator: Gilles Cyrenne In this introduction to grammar mini-series, Hum alumnus Gilles Cyrenne will teach the nuts and bolts of English grammar. Whether you are learning English as a second language, or want a refresher, this structured course will work through the fundamentals of Engl ish grammar.

1

"Out'n About in Vancouver: Monthly Field Trip Series" Museum of Vancouver: City on Edge When: Friday February 2at 11.00 a.m.

Where: Museum of Vancouver (MOV): 1100 Chestnut St, Vancouver, V6J 3J9 Join us for a self-guided tour of MO V's temporary and permanent exhibitions. City on Edge: A Century of Vancouver Activism is a visually stunning photobased exhibition exploring how protest demonstrations have shaped Vancouver's identity. The exhibit depicts moments when the city stood up, took to the streets and rallied for change and is a unique opportunity to access rarely seen images capturing epic moments of Vancouver's protest history.'

How To Get to MOV By Bus We're just one stop from downtown! Plan your route on Translink.

1. From downtown Vancouver, take bus #2 or #22 from multiple locations along Burrard 2. Exit bus at stop #50101, westbound at Cornwall and Cypress 3. Walk North on Cypress 4. Turn right at Whyte .

5. Turn left at the Gordon MacMillan Southarn Observatory just after the EasyPark lot'

Maxie's Boots were Made for Walking

By Debra McNaught One of the joys in writing this column are the accidental discoveries, the glimpses of people who flash past like a highway marker in the dark, a brief illumi- , nation and gone again, faded back into fading history.

And that's a shame because anyone like Maximilian 'Maxie' Michaud who walked from Montreal to Vancouver sounds like a life worth noting.

Michaud was born in Kamouraska, QC "around 1850," or maybe 1840 (by my deduction). He walked across Canada in 1862 (when he was 12 <snort> or 22) or in 1869 (age 19 or 29). He was married, or not married, or he went back East on a visit and married a Quebecois woman; or he married a local named Frisadie who was of Indigenous and Kanaka heritage.

He died in 1882 making him 32 (or 42), or he died in 1960 making him 120 years old. He had no kids and three kids and this is what happens when armchair historians (myself included) don't do their homework & keep repeating inaccuracies until they become record.

That he really did journey the 3700 km (2300 miles, as the bird flies) appears to be certain, but how much actual walking occurred is moot. In 1862 a group of people blinded by Gold Rush Fever did journey overland from Ontario to the Cariboo in hopes of striking it rich like Billy 'Barkerville' Barker. With no Trans-

Canada highway to follow, no CPR train to catch, the group travelled by American rail to Winnipeg, rattled all the way from there to Edmonton in Red River carts, hired Indigenous guides with packhorses to get over the Rockies, and then rafted down the Fraser River to Prince George. By the time they got to Williams Creek all the gold claims had been snapped up and the party was over. Some headed for Kamloops and other central interior points, some proceeded further: to Hope, to New Westminster, to Victoria.

Michaud was probably among their number.

In 1859, after Queen Victoria declared New Westminster the Royal City, Governor James Douglas made it the capital of the new Colony of British Columbia. As' a pit stop - first for the fur trade, then for the excited hordes heading to the Cariboo goldfields New West was a happening place by the early 1860s.

Lots of boat and paddlewheel traffic, lots of trading and warehousing goods and supplies for points further up-province, lots of money changing hands, and the best place to stay while in town was the Colonial Hotel. Owned by the Greely brothers, the Colonial was central to the social life of New West. Michaud makes his first verifiable appearance working as a cook (?) at the Colonial in 1862. Some accounts have him working as a bartender; given Michaud's later reputation, his early association with the 'spirited' side of hotel management seems entirely plausible.

The Colonial's dining room was 'the' social setting, but the Greely's outdid themselves in July 1862 with the opening of their billiards room" ... 27 feet by 70 feet with a ceiling height of 17 feet, and that ceiling had three large skylights to greatly enhance the daytime lighting of the room." Three first-class billiards tables, a roulette table, 15 crystal gaslit lamps, and champagne and free plays on the house for opening night made a great social splash.

Major lS Mathews might have been a tireless cheerleader for the British Empire but his lifelong passion informally archiving much of Vancouver's early history (until officially appointed the first City Archivist in 1936) has added much to our understanding of early Vancouver. He spoke with Michaud's great-nephew JE Michaud in 1934 (your grandfather'S brother is your great-uncle) but even he didn't have the whole picture of his great-uncles story: "Very little is remembered of Maximilian Michaud, save that he was one of Vancouver's first hotel men; was a staunch Catholic, and patriotic citizen; spoke

English well, but with a decided French-Canadian accent; and was a congenial and popular figure with the earlier pioneers."

Michaud was ambitious and in 1869 he purchased the New Brighton Hotel from Oliver Hocking. The hotel was one of an eventual two in Hastings, which we now know as Brighton Park; butcher George Black (the "Laird of Hastings") would later build Brighton House there. In that same year Michaud established the first post office in what would become Vancouver, setting aside a corner of the hotel kitchen for that purpose. The hotel was informally known as 'Maxie's' and was by all accounts popular with day trippers who came to enjoy the boating, swimming ('bathing') and well-stocked bar. Although the properly loathed In'dian Act didn't come into existence until 1884, by 1868 federal statutes were already dedicated to "prohibiting the sale or barter ofliquor to Indians." Yet, in Making Vancouver, Robert AJ McDonald reports that Michaud was "notorious" for selling alcohol to Indigenous peoples and yet impervious to any and all charges brought against him.

By the late 1870's Michaud's health was on the decline. He sold the hotel to Oliver Parent and retired to a sweet little house he had built in New West where he died of heart problems in 1882, age 42. His brother Joseph had a~so come West and lived in Langley with his three sons, which is where the great-nephew eventually comes in, along with a Marcelin Michaud, also known as Maxie, just to muddy the waters even further. Best guess as to where Michaud was buried would be Fraserview Cemetery, which lies between the river and Sky train, just before the 22nd Avenue station on your way to New West. Might be a 'day trip' in my future, to stand and reflect over the last resting place of a man who walked halfway across Canada to get here.

Sources include: City of Vancouver archives (JS Mathews), Making Vancouver: Class, Status and Social Boundaries by Robert AJ McDonald, www.publications.gc.ca for info on the Indian Act, and the New WestminsterRecord.

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February is packed with interesting programs from the library. Please join us for one or all of these events: Friday Feb. 9th (5pm - 6:30pm): Philosophers' Cafe . in the Learning Centre with Mark Stewart. The question posed is "How are the opposites - sacred and profane - intermingled in your everyday experience?,,_) •

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FEBRUARV 2018

11.1011&*

ARNEGIEC M ACT ON â&#x20AC;¢

Lama Mugabo, CCAP community organizer leads a gentrification tour on Hogan's Alley with students.

Mugabo stands on Main & Union Street where Hogan's Alley once stood. Photo / Lenee Son

AN INTERVIEW

MONTH,

WITH LAMA MUGABO

RACISM & HOUSING,

Meet Lama Mugabo The Downtown Eastside (DTES)has been close to my heart for several years. I am a community planner, community organizer with CCAP, and eo-founder of Carnegie African Descent Group. Ijoined the fight against gentrification because I feel housing is a human right, not a commodity that people make money off of.

Housing is an essential -- everything starts with housing and it ends with housing. When you don't have reliable housing, things go wrong.

Black History Month Black History Month in February is always ironic because it's the shortest month of the year.

Black folk celebrate our history everyday but because February has been identified as Black History Month, we've taken this opportunity to raise awareness of the role Black people played in the history of this country and in particular, British Columbia. Very few people know that Black people have been here for the last 160 years. In 1858, Victoria had a Black governor named James Douglas who was of Scottish and African descent ancestry. Douglas was sensitive to the plight of Black people south of the border and he invited Black people to come up here. About 400 people from San Francisco came up and settled in Victoria, Salt Spring Island, and eventually Vancouver. We have a long history and for us, it's important for us to use this month to tell the history of Black people not only in Canada but also Black people around the world.

Hogan's Alley History At the turn of the century, Black people started coming to Vancouver. Most were porters from Halifax who worked on the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR)and settled in Hogan's Alley near CPRon Main Street & Terminal. Due to racism, the porters were not allowed to rent outside of Hogan's Alley. Eventually Hogan's Alley became a vibrant community and a major centre for food, culture, music, and entertainment. Then the City wanted to "clean"

ON BLACK HISTORY

AND HOGAN'S

ALLEY

Hogan's Alley by removing the people who lived there. The City enforced an Urban Renewal Policy targeting inner-city Chinatown and Black communities. The communities were displaced and discouraged after the city allowed Hogan's Alley to disintegrate. Vancouver's only Black community was destroyed after the city put in the Georgia viaducts.

Anti-black racism and housing Black people are visible because we stand out but we are also invisible in the sense that we don't have resources, we don't have opportunities, and we are not at the decision making table. A lot of people think racism doesn't exist in Canada but that's untrue. In terms of housing, Black people are excluded based on rental prices. Even if you have the money, landlords often discriminate against you because of the colour of your skin or where you come from. You can talk to someone over the phone and they'll say, "Yea, come on down!

We have a vacancy." But as soon as you show up, the place has suddenly been taken. When we talk about the future of Hogan's Alley, affordability is really pivotal. We recognize that Black people were displaced out of Vancouver because of this Urban Renewal Policy, but they were further displaced because of pricing.

Hogan's Alley Future In 2015 the city decided to tear down the viaducts. Last year, the community started to organize and work with the city to see how we could bring back the community that was displaced. We have to make Hogan's Alley affordable so that people can come back.

Hogan's Alley has to be an inclusive community.

We want to end the isolation of Black people.

The fact that there are few Black folk in BC, people are scattered and we don't see enough of each other. We are less than 1% of the population in BC and the elderly are isolated, young people are also isolated. We hope that Hogan's Alley will bring back the community.

, 2018 BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Feb 1, 2018. 6:00 PM Official Launch.

Vancouver City Hall, 453 W 12th Avenue Feb 1-28,2018. Art Installation: Artist Nanyamka Lewis will present an installation titled "The Feels."

Cheeky Proletariat Storefront Gallery, 320 Carrall Street, Vancouver Feb 2,2018. Album Release: Khari Wendell McClelland's Freedom Singer Album Release. 8:00 PM. The Cultch (Vancouver) 1895 Venables St, Vancouver Feb 2, 2018. 6:00 PM. Workshop: Blind Tiger Comedy, POC Night - Try Improv with Blind Tiger Comedy!

Little Mountain Gallery, 195 E 26th Avenue, Vancouver, BC. Friday, Feb 2,2018. Movie screening: Shirley - isions of reality. Director Gustav Deutsch. (Canada, 2013, 92 min), Vancity Theater. 1181 Seymour St, Vancouver Feb 3, 2018. 2:30 - 4:30 PM. Dance Workshop: African Dance Workshop with Merlin Nyakam. The Wise Hall.

1882, Adanac Street @ Victoria Drive.

EVENT CALENDAR

Feb 3,2018.5:00 - 8:00 PM. PAL Studio Theater. African Fashion & Arts Movement Vancouver 8th floor -581 Cardero Street, Vancouver, BC V6G 3L3 Feb 3,2018. 7:30 - 10:30 PM. ISSAMBA: African ROOTS, The Ultimate Experience. The Wise Hall Lounge (Vancouver) 1882 Adanac Street, Victoria Drive.

Feb 3,2018. 7:30 PM. "7th Annual "Stayed on Freedom" - A Musical Celebration of Black History Month. St Andrews Wesley United Church, Vancouver. 1022 Nelson St, Vancouver, BC V6E 4S7 Feb 3 to 10, 2018. 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Youth Workshop: Afro-Futurism Trading Card Workshop Series for Black Youth (aged 13-24) Vancouver Public Library, Britannia Branch, 1661 Napier St, Vancouver, BC V5L 4X4 ) Feb 5 to 11,2018. Film Screening: Whose Streets. 6:20 PM. Vancity Theater. 1181 Seymour St, Vancouver, BCV6B2E8

2018 BLACK HISTORY MONTH

EVENT CALENDAR

Monday, Feb 12, 2018. 6:30-8:00 PM. Movie screening: Anita. Ft Angela Marie MacDougall, Executive Director, BWSS on Panel. Vancity Theater, 1181 Seymour St, Vancouver

Feb 22,2018. Movie Screening: Black History Month in partnership with the Hogan's Alley Society: Ninth Floor, Vancouver Public Library Central Branch

Feb 17, 2018. Community Event: BIV Black Panther Movie Night - Feb 17, 2018 @7:30pm @ Cineplex Cinemas Marine Gateway and VIP (Vancouver)

Feb 23,2018. 7:30pm. Movie screening: Sweet Dreams.

Documentary, drama, history.

Directors: Lisa and Rob Fruchtman, (Rwanda, USA, 2012, 1hr29min).

Screening will be followed by a drumming workshop led by Jacky Yenga Essombe. Waterfront Theatre, 1412 Cartwright St, Vancouver

Feb 19, 2018. Talk: The Congo Crisis 5:00pm @ SFU Harbour Centre, Vancouver. Congolese Civil Rights Acitivist & Journalist, Luc Malembe, speaks on importance of free-speech during times of conflict and war.

Feb 19, 2018. 7:00 PM. Talk: Building Peace and Well-Being Through Education w/Alice Nderitu. SFU Morris J Wosk Centre for Dialogue, 580 W st Hastings Street, Vancouver Feb 19, 2018. 7:30 PM. Talk: A Conversation with Abdullah Ibrahim.

A legend in modern jazz, South African pianist & composer Ibrahim talks w/CBC Music's Michael Juk about his journey as an artist.

Vancouver Community College Auditorium (1155 East Broadway at Glen Drive)

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Feb 26; 2018.8:05 PM. Tell them we are rising. Director Stanley Nelson.

(USA, 2017, 85 min). Vancity Theater, 1181 Seymour St, Vancouver March 1, 2018. 7-9pm, Book Launch and community panel: hosted by Black Lives Matter Vancouver, No One Is Illegal Vancouver, BC Civil Liberties Association, SF PIRG, Social Justice Centre at UBC, Amnesty International. @ Simon Fraser Humanities Department Simon Fraser, Harbour Centre

WE'RE HIRING! CHINESE COMMUNITY ORGANIZER AND ADMINISTRATOR

The Carnegie Community Action Project (CCAP) is hlrino a bilingual/multilingual Chinese community organizer and administrator to work with Chinatown Concern Group (CCG) members to build towards a Chinatown that centers on its low-income working-class community. This includes building the leadership of working-class community members in the fight for their neighbourhood, against gentrification and for affordable housing. CCAP is a project of the board of the Carnegie Community Centre Association and the Chinese Community Organizer and Administrator will report to the board.

This is a 3.5 day per week position for at least 2 years.

Administration Manage and track budget with support from accountant and other staff Manage funding and year-end funder reports together with CCAP coordinator Seek grants and write grant applications together with CCAP coordinator Publishing & speaking Speak and support others to speak at meetings, events, classes, city hall, news events, tours. (i.e. external requests) Write bulletins and newsletter articles

Community organizing Organize weekly CCG meetings with members and supporters Organize and plan campaigns and actions arising from CCG Meetings Prepare materials (i.e. flyers, posters) with CCG members as needed for events Organizing low-income residents to attend relevant City of Vancouver events (i.e. council meetings, open houses) and to speak out through other venues like news conferences.

Interpret (English and Mandarin required, Cantonese preferred) for members so they can participate in community events Coordinate community organizing work with Chinatown allies such as Chinatown Action Group Build on multi-racial alliances, solidarity relationships, and coalitions in the community, such as Carnegie Community Action Project, Our Homes Can't Wait Coalition Member and supporters coordination: Support CCG members to lead, plan, and participate in meetings and actions Support members to act and speak out for and with their community ProviJe training and educational opportunities for CCG members (i.e. educational workshops, presentations, discussion) and provide support for them to step into leadership roles in the community Base-building: developing a better "membership" and outreach structure to CCG (i.e. building a network database) Develop volunteer/supporter base to support ctG's work (i.e. building

the support committees including communications, research, translation/ interpretation, etc).

Building relationships with and supporting members (i.e. including organizing socials) Communication Assist in the maintaining the CCAP and CCG website Assist in maintaining CCAP and CCG social media accounts Help write and assist in the layout of the monthly newsletter insert Research: Track actions of city hall, province and federal governments related to poverty, housing and homelessness.

Help with producing CCAP's annual hotel and housing report, and other reports that CCAP undertakes Please submit your application by Friday, February 16 and include: Resume Cover Letter (as part of your cover letter, please include a half-page response to the question: "What is your vision for the future of Chinatown?")

Two references who are familiar with your work and community involvement.

Email your application to: info@ carnegieaction.org We encourage people from underrepresented groups to apply for the job including trans and gender variant persons, Indigenous persons, persons of colour, persons with disabilities and lowincome Downtown Eastside community members. We will prioritize these applications in the hiring process.

CARNEGIE

COMMUNITY

ACTION

PROJECT 111:15 AM EVERY FRIDAY

The Carnegie Community Action Project (CCAP)is a project of the board of the Carnegie Community Centre Association. CCAPworks mostly on housing. income. and land use issues in the Downtown Eastside (DTES)of Vancouver so that the area can remain a low income friendly community. CCAPworks with english speaking and Chinese speaking DTESresidents in speaking out on their own behalf for the changes they would like to see in their neighbourhood.

Join us on Fridays 11:15 am for our weekly volunteer meetings! Downtown Eastside residents who want to work on getting better housing and incomes and stop gentrification are welcome to attend. Lunch is provided'

CARNEGIE

AFRICAN

DESCENT GROUP

III AM EVERY 2ND TUESDAY

The Carnegie African Descent Group (CADG) is pleased to invite you to a bi-weekly lunch gathering at the Downtown Eastside Neighborhood House. Come. cook. talk and enjoy African dishes with us. The lunch will take place every Tuesdays.from 11:00 am till 1:30 pm. The group has the same mandate as CCAP.but with particular focus on issues that Black and African Descent community members experience. DTEScommunity members who identify as Black and or as of African Descent are welcome to the lunch. For more information. contact: Imugab07S@gmail.com

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CHINA TOWN CONCERN GROUP

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CONTACT

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Office: 2nd floor of the Carnegie.

401 Main Street. Vancouver Phone: 604-665-2105 Email: info@carnegieaction.org Website: www.carnegieaction.org

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Thank you to Vancity for supporting CCAP'swork. Support for this project does not necessarily imply that funders endorse the findings or contents of this report.

~- This one seems so relevant asthere is an individual reading something sacred inthe library in quiet meditation, and someone swearing up a storm in the alley, Saturday Feb, 1011l Cl:30pm - 3pm): We're celebrating Black History month with a film screening of Unarmed Verses (Theatre} This film was named Best Canadian Feature documentary, about a shy girl from Antigua who discovers the power of music, poetry and her own voice. Through these outlets she copes with her family's relocation, and the "relentless gentrification and lack of concern for existing residents" in Toronto. Hmm, sounds familiar.

Saturday Feb. 1011l C4pm - Spm): Author reading with Susan Boyd of her new book Busted: an illustrated history of drug prohibition in Canada (Theatre). You may recognize Boyd, as she was co-author with Bud Osborn for Raise Shitl: Social Action Saving Lives.

This presentation tracks the history of drugs from the 1800s, through the Reefer Madness era, the psychedelic movement, to the current legalization of medical cannabis. Should be enlightening!

I

In terms of book recommendations, check out our new inspirational display for 2018 ... we have everything from learning B ushcraft 101, acrylic painting, yoga, jazz guitar, computer basics to crochet!

Your librarian, Natalie

An Evening with the Northern Lights.

You are on the far horizon, mountains nearing the end, resembling huge lions by the door. Neither my father nor [ read in English Extraterrestrial Civilizations by Asimov. Father said he had plenty of time to read but the library is an empty place. [ continued to orm a single point in space, combined to make strange what has been and what might be yet to come.

Later after our conversation, he went out for a smoke, and saw ribbons of green light swirling across the night sky.

I plowed ahead, with each step the blisters on my heels. I am always shedding, to emerge, determined and much too strong, hoisting a white flag.

Those shimmering illuminations, are the ghosts of the night sky, dancing beams that glow in the evening.

Even [ stood up to take notice.

Ruby Diamond

Assumptions and confessions and compassion and faith

By George Byron "Assumptions." The man sat on the sidewalk looking homeless & disturbed in his eyes and to me he seemed an easy target of a violent need to express my outrage at my own limited ability of self expression. Over the past few years I have seen him wild-eyed begging on the street a few times the past few years that [lived in the downtown Eastside of Vancouver. Initial reaction on my first few times on seeing him was fear. I feared that he would reach out, touch me with his dirty hand and scratch the surface of my skin and thus infect me in a way unknown to me. This person means nothing to me, other than he is the victim of my raging inadequacy, need for relief, and pain and rage, dishonor, depression, & mostly acute unexpressed faith in humanity. This figure means nothing to the previous incident that hurt me causing me to storm out into the darkness of the night down the sidewalk past the Starbucks on the corner in'front where he sat beside the city trash can. [ trust that his crazy wide eyes, scruffy beard, his dirty ball cap, blackened jeans with dirty features signal he is not a threat and is the real deal. The lowest of all other people. "Fuck offl" I said growling angrily to him. As ifhe would understand the context of the process. I was experiencing a incident that happened 15 minutes earlier out on him with my blatant moment of weakness. With that said I checked over my shoulder and I ogled the sidewalk across and all four corners at the building and intersections; because my ego had to feel safe and of any more validated in my reckoning and victimizing toward the man on the street. Finally, the beggar there on the corner solely to help me figure out my unexpressed ragging internal pain. When the cross-legged man sitting on the ground with the hat in his hand asked me "if you have any money to give" I scoffed him with my dirty words & walked on relieved at his still blank stare and deaf ear. The dirty figure sitting out front of the Starbucks received my stressed out, joyless, "Fuck off!" without even batting an eye lid. Blank stare, " who is he" and "who am I" we are both guilty to receive my mistake, assumptions, faith.

Staircase Theatre wants to hear what you have to say ... .. .about the intersection and interaction

of Vancouver's privileged & underprivileged

citizens.

It might be about the diversity movement, the gentrification of some neighbourhoods, the spread of social & supportive housing out of the DTES and the housing crisis that is affecting all walks of life in the lower mainland. We provide the theme, you provide the topic and we all contribute to the discourse surrounding events and movements happening within our city.

Our FOURTH Movin' On Up will be held on August 25, 2018 at CBC Studio 700! We are now accepting submiss ions of play ideas as well as full, one act plays for our never boring and always surprising staged reading event.

Do you have a play, half-written on the back burner that you can't wait to see on stage? We want to read it!

We want everyone to send us a cover letter. Tell us how this play aligns with the theme and our mandate as well, as a bit about your previous writing experience, and a short bio. We are committed to diverse and inclusive company practices and we encourage artists of all backgrounds to apply If you have a play idea send us the following: • a one page summary demonstrating your clear, well laid out story.

• a character breakdown (include their age, gender, ethnicity as you see it and defining characteristics) • a 10 page sample of this play (it doesn't have to be the first 10 pages!)

If you have a first (or second) draft of a full length one act, send a one page summary; a character breakdown; The whole play!

LIS

the following:

Important things to think about. If you would like to submit, but don't have access to a computer to write on, please get in touch and we can come up with creative solutions together. Also, we're a small company with limited means and we aim to pay our artists (including you!). Small casts ~re·a must. Four characters or under is the deal. And plus, Four because we're Four! .

Email yoursubmissiontoinfo@staircasetheatre.com.

Subject line: Movin' On Up Submission, [play title].

Convert everything to a PDF before you attach and send it!

DEADLINE

FOR SUBMISSIONS

When the world was a simple place, we all lived in an atmosphere of weeded gardens and sundials and now we have decided to carry on and make a b-line to our cell phones like dodo birds with heads stuck in the ground. What has happened, exactly? Is it the fact that we are now all like robots, not at all in tune with each other's gestures and feelings but quite involved in our little stories about death and destruction and maybe a little Nietzsche? God is NOT dead. At least not in my mind.

The Victorian era had its ornate clocks, the post medieval era had its canon monastic bell, but I still think that he computer has launched us into a renaissance of sorts. The computer is changing our language and the

IS MARCH 31

way we relate to each other. Social media, our Facebook time and Linkedln pages are our new portraits.

The computer has made information the little god that we worship. But it has also allowed for greater democracy and real dialogue outside of two polar oppositional views presented to us by mainstream media.

We all have a personal library accessible at any time and anywhere.

I can say that I grew up in a time when there was no internet. That fact is not true for all future generations.

The computer is essential and necessary, I believe, for a new world government. The fact that the novel grew in popularity in the 19th century is something that I believe will die in the future. In its place will be come

The grownups table ...

I throw myself into my work it throws me back out there are those who throw their lives on a raging fire you best believe I am not one of those. Being god's gift to Smithrites I am a thermometer of hate going up & going down I've taken my share of75 billion straps you truly discover what you're capable of for instance I know I have a soul Now there are those who get punched in the face and run then others who punch first then reality sets in they marathon it to the other side of the sun does Fate plan dancing partners from start to the end? Like a salesman selling volatile floor tiling he says "It's the latest trend as environment meets establishment how unfortunate a compromise could work or at least be something to defend ... like a dog in a kennel waiting to make someone very happy or be put down based on 'does my eye catch his' from hopeful to hopeless but the world in my mind says not yet like a prizefighter father figure fathering several soon-to-be punching bags a woman can take only so much .. as for kids ahh they can go by themselves to the Vet, cemetery maps are up on the Stock Xchange evry god has definitively raised their price I lose respect for al these good-doers once they start preaching away from the grownup

table a certain living hell is ongoing right now I can't keep my mouth&fingers shut Doctor Phil.Anthropist has invited me to leave something about a conscience hanging from my sleeve what if I were to offer myself as a human shield pardon the pun but would I make the cut? I know growing up meaningless has become a horrific way of life every heart has its price like something I learned while hoping to wake up dead read Proverbs or Revelations in this book you may have heard of it opens a lot of people's eyes if hell is having to live while watching all you love die all the HarryPotterStarWarsFreedom Fighters may as well say good fate&goodbye you can not silence good will one way or another it creeks o'er the floorboards be it as an instrument paintbrush inks or the camera eye there is always another generation to appraise its beauty that is all it seeks. vanity&greed seem to age rather well (an appalling combination) though roadside salvation stores bad news again Father Time has become a hummingbird whose wings like our age break speeding laws one of our own many flaws meanwhile "For Geries 'R' Us" have had their biggest year using god & every other believed-in god if age is what you truly want you only have to wait for what you seek.

By ROBERT McGILLIVRA Y "My way of joking is to tell the truth. It's the funniest joke in the world."

-George Bernard Shaw

the growth of poetry, short fiction and flash fiction, all literary forms that are formed in popularity and encouraged by the computer because whether EBook's or the lap top it is a fact that we can only really experience the computer screen one page at a time. It is not like a book.

I am not anti-computer because I think that like any technology, it can be used for evil or good. When the television came out, it was used by Hitler as a propaganda tool and worked effectively to carry out mass destruction of Jewish lives. Are we going to use the computer to liberate and reach higher consciousness?

Or use it to bully kids into committing suicide?

Those things we call cell phones are actually little

hand-held . 'computers. I believe, [ have to believe that the computer and other new technology is being used for the purpose of liberation and greater access to knowledge for all people. We need to realize that the computer's influence on human society so far is just a drop in the bucket. A hundred years from now we will have learned our lessons from this technology and ma~~e found the cure for schizophrenia. That is truly excitmg. And we probably will have changed so much that our language, the way we dress, our customs and our deepest core beliefs will be greatly influenced by this technology a hundred years from now.

By Ruby Diamond

HOMELESS CONNECT Oppenheimer Park February 62018

10:00am - 2:00pm

Connect with valuable community resources!

Wheelchair arid Bike Repair Free Sun Glasses and Free Reading Glasses Haircuts and Pet Care Breakfast served 10:00am + Lunch served 12:00pm

WePress

•• •

VANCOUVER COMf>.~UI'i'!ry COL

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VANCOUVER

For the DTES Homeless and Underhoused.

2018 February 7, 8 and 9 at Oppenheimer Park

Be a Volunteer!

-

Service your community - Develop professional skills - Receive staff meal, and event souvenirs - Have Fun, and share with talented people Sign-up stations for more detail: Mon. Feb. 5th: Carnegie Centre

11am-1 pm ...................

Tue. Feb. 6th: Oppenheimer Park Carnegie Centre

3pm-5pm 1Oam-1pm 2pm-4pm

(Or any time at the Carnegie Volunteer Office!)

The Year in Review in the Carnegie Learning Centre Another productive and fun year has passed in the Learning Centre. Last year we didn't have our usual Chinese New Year's celebration because we decided to celebrate our 33rd Anniversary at a party in February. We made a timeline of our 33 years and people signed when they first arrived in the Learning Centre. We go all the way back to 1983 and many students and tutors have enjoyed learning here. This is a picture of all of us at the party.

In June we received a Small Neighbourhood Grant to have a picnic in the park. Unfortunately, the day we picked il decided to pour rain. So we had it in the Learning Centre instead. This is Gilles and Amberlie, our emcees.

Everybody got up on stage and read a poem or a story.

Summertime our faithful volunteers deserved vacation.

kept the centre open most of the time while Lucy and Betsy took a well-

Back to school in September we started planning our annual Heart ofthe City event. This year we honoured all the women who contribute so much of their time and talents to the Learning Centre. I was real happy to be one of the honourees along with Phoenix, Diane, Priscillia and so many more. We all wrote cards to women that have been important to us in our lives.

During the year we had many workshops and guest speakers as well. The Firewriters Group meets every Wednesday throughout the year and have produced a chapbook which will be launched very soon in the new year.

Before we knew it, it was Christmas time, one of the busiest times of the year in the Carnegie. We had our End ot Year Holiday Party which was well attended as usual this year. A lot of fun was had by all. Songs and poems wen performed by some of our crowd.

I for one look forward to another awesome and busy year in the Learning Centre and encourage anyone who is interested in furthering their learning to drop by and see what we have to offer!

By Adrienne (long time learning centre volunteer)

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Carn~egiet: NEW S L E TT ER

W: acknowledge that Camegie Community Centre, and this Newsletter, are occurring on Coast Salish Territory.

oR.-nnewS@vcn.bc.~

THIS NEWSLETTER IS A PUBLICATION OF THE CARNEGIE COMMUNITY CENTRE ASSOCIATION Articles represent the views of individual contributors and not of the Association.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." -Margaret Meade

!SLAP (Law Students legal Advice Progra~'

WANTED Artwork for the Carnegie Newsletter • • • • • • • •

Small illustrations to accompany articles and poetry Cover art - Max size: 17cm wide X 15cm high Subject matter pertaining to issues relevant to the Downtown Eastside, but all work considered.

Black & White printing only.

Size restrictions apply (ie. 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.

The editor can edit for clarity, format & brevity, but not at the expense of the writer's message.

Website carnegienewsletter.org Catalogue em ail: carnnews@vcn.bc.ca carnnews@shaw.ca phone: 604-665-2289 address: 401 Main Street, Vancouver V6A 2T7

DROP-IN Call60~65-2220 for time

Next issue: SUBMISSION

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WEAPONS • • • • • • •

OF MASS DESTRUCTION

AIDS POVERTY HqMELESSNESS ;VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ABORIGINAL GENOCIDE TOT ALIT ARIAN CAPITALISM IGNORANCE and SUSTAINED FEAR

(Publication is possible only with

DONATIONS 2018 In memory of Bud Osbom -$40 Kelly F. Craig H.-$500 Winnie T.-$200

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