March 1, 2010, carnegie newsletter

carnnews@shaw.ca

NEWSLETTER 401 Main Street, Vancouver V6A 2T1

MARCH 1, 2010 www.carnnews.org

(6041665-2220

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.. Margaret Prevost (1956- 2010) Celebrate her life with friends on March

4th

MARGARET PREVOST The Memorial will be on Margaret's birthday, March 04, 1956- February 06, 20 I0 March 4, at 1 p.m. in the Carnegie Theatre.

Our Princess Margaret, fondly known as the Mayor ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!~ of the DTES, had the cutest little giggle. She was the sweetest, most guiless, bravest. courageous, determined, giving person (in spite of her own suffering), whom I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. She was truly a remarkable human being in so many ways.

In the face of thinking about Margaret. who she was. what she did. what she went through, words seem a lacking medium to properly express our love, respect and sadness of her passing.

Rest in Peace dear friend and sister, Co lleen Gorrie Dear Friends.

It is very sad to know that our dear friend, advocate, comrade, and truly great person, Margaret, has passed away.

Margaret and her life make me believe that there is justice, there is hope, and there is goodwill in our world. She embodied the best of everything and her compassion, strength, and determination are things all strive for. \\'e'll miss you, Margaret - for you touched each of us, and Carnegie, and all its pillars and friends feel this loss.

Yours Sincerely, Libby

Margaret and one of her brothers came to live with me in January of 1968, when Margaret was eleve~.

1 was teaching in the Alert Bay school.. .. my fi rst job in Canada after arriving from Australia. Although she was with me for just five months, we remained friends for life.

1 was always in awe of the fact that ~1? matte~ what life dealt her, Margaret remained poslllVe, active ~nd most of all cheerful. She had no time for chrome complaine~. Even when I saw her in YGH last December, she was tossing off funny comments at the nurses as she wheeled her way out of the room 路 If there is one main lesson that I have learned from Margaret it is that we are here to give to each other, not to take. She will remain one of the most memorable people 1 have met in my lifetime.

Colleen Elson

Margaret Prevost was a very effective force in the Downtown Eastside for many years in focusing on and bringing forward to the media and politicians the needs of the Community.

Phillip Owen [When Phil Owen was the mayor of Vancouver, margaret would watch his televised speeches or talks then call his direct line the next day and tell him he owed her a dollar for every time he said "um'. Idon't know if any money ever changed hands but it made them buddies. Ed.) I am saddened by Margaret's death. My thoughts are with the community on this loss. She was an amaz1ing person.

Senator Larry W Campbell

" ..so I sits down bes ide her at an outdoor table during the Gastown Jazz Festi val 1989. I says "hiya I'm John." She says" I'm Margaret".

I go "Hey that's my mom's name! Cool."

She says "cooL.." then we clacked our beer g lasses together and fe ll deeply in love. Okay maybe that last part is exaggerated. But I was hooked.

Still am.

My beauti fu l friend, I miss you.

We talked at least once a month. The Lions. The Canucks. The I 00 dollars she never paid me for a bet we almost made.

Margaret NEVER bitched . NEVER fe lt sorry for herself. Always fun ny. Even a time in the hospital when she was all bloated up and suffering. Nothing! Peace sign! Big smile!

Funny! "Take a picture of me". So I d id.

She tuld me of her residential school horror. I think I couldn't have coped.

S he'd call between periods to complai n about Luongo.

Or, ifht:: was playing good, to praise him . We always laughed out loud and then it was back to the game.路 Never complained! (except about the Canucks etc.)

Peace sign.

Un believeab le!

She worked so long and so hard fo r Carnegie and the fo lks in her neighbourhood . The stories of her are legion. The rice wine/cooking brandy battle that she took on. She drove them to stop.

U nrelenting and unafraid.

We worked together. 16 years ... the best!

She rolled into my office ten or so years ago and closed the door and said "play me a song Johnny". I grabbed the guitar and sang Buddy Holly's "I Guess it doesn't matter anymore:' ... she clapped and said "Wow! " When she drove out I said" ... and slow down out there, you're scaring the pedestrians!"

"Ya Ya" Too young. Too beautiful. Too good! to be gone ...

Jo hn Ferguson; friend

In response to your request, here are a few of many personal memories of our dear Margaret: -She never let me forget that during my interview for Carnegie Director she had to interrupt me to explain the big words I was using. I guess my explanations were okay because I got the job.

-When we first were planning the Carnegie IOOth Anniversary and had a meeting coming up with some prominent business people for money she told me clearly that she was not going to be the DTES "poster child"' for fund-ra ising.

-Maybe not "poster-child"' but anyone who walked with her as she wheeled around the community knew she was well respected and well loved. Everyone greeted her. City llall politicians and staff, community agency people, the police - all had a high regard for Margaret.

-One of her proudest accomp lishments was gening police action on the illegal sales of rice wine in some of the stores of the area.

-Margaret ran a tight meeting. The monthly board meeting took exactly one hour and after that she was out of there.

-Margaret took a personal interest in so many people.

She was "den mother" to many, especially her brothers. But she took time to call me at home just to see how I was doing or, when Barb became ill, to check in on her health and wish her the best.

-Once, when visiting her during one of her many hospital stays, Margaret tearfully expressed her helplessness and frustration with her pain and what was happening to her body, but just as quickly she would en-

quire about other people's health or have something funny to say to the nurse.

A poster child of the DTES she was not. She was a combination of Mother Courage and local Mayor. !learned much from Margaret and she gave me so much in making the most of life.

Michael Clague (Director 1999-2005)

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Margaret Prevost, R.I.P. Margaret, Marg, Margie, Princess Margaret. The mayor of the Downtown Eastside.

By whatever name we knew her, Margaret Prevost was one of a kind. And when she died Feb 6 after a heart attack at the age of 54, she left a great. gapi ng hole in the neighbourhoo d and a fee ling of profound loss among her many friends.

She wi ll be remembered for her sweet temperament, her fi erce champion ing of the neighborhood and her impish sense of humour. Quite a package.

Margaret was a common sig ht cruising llastings and other byways of the neig hborhood, on the lookout for people who were down and needed help. Her everpresent cell-phone would put her in touch with the services they needed.

She was born in the 'Namgis (N impkish) Fi rst Nation community of Alert Bay, off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island, a me mber of a large extended family. Throughout her life, she was a pillar of support for her siblings and other relatives.

And she wore her heritage proud ly. Not just the outward signs of aborig inal culture, but fig hting for the rights of aboriginal women- those missing and those still struggling on the streets of the Downtown Eastside.

As many people know, Margaret was involved in catastrophic auto accident when she was 18 years ol She was asleep in the back seat when the car hit another vehicle. She was injured so severely that she wound up in a wheelchair for the rest of her life.

That was tragedy, but it didn't stop her from living life to the fullest. She was a natural athlete, and became a member of Canada's national wheelchair basketball team. In 1992, she and the team went to the Pan A merican games in Spain and won a gold medal.

Eventually, Margaret moved to Vancouver. At first,

1

she was disoriented in the cig city, winding up in temporary shelters. .

But two things happened that helped her to Oounsh.

She found a place to live in the Four Sisters I lousing Co-op, and she found Carnegie Centre. They gave her a stable home and a community to relate to - two necessary ingredients for a healthy life.

Margaret was involved in so many activities. It's hard to remember the m all.

She spearheaded the campaign to have ~cadi~ rice wine brought under control, and she lobbied vigorously to get the curb ramps that improve access to city sidewalks for disabled people.

Of course, she was a long-time Carnegie Board member, serving as vice-p resident and then president for years. only retiring in 2008. when health problems made it impossible for her to continue.

She was on the board o f Vancouver Native Health Society, an active volunteer in the Community Policing office, and a mainstay of the Out-To-Lunch Bunch o f Alcoho lics Anonymous.

Her efforts were recognized when s he was awarded the Queen's Jubilee Medal for community service.

Margaret loved her specia l accessible plot at the Strathcona Community Gardens, experimenting with her crop of tomatoes from year to year, and each year planting different fl owers for color and variety.

I remember back in the early'90, when Margaret barnstormed the province with the Downtown Eastside Poets. We would call ahead to hotels, and of course they wou ld tell us they were accessible. When we got there it was different story. She couldn' t even get into the bathroom. So she borrowed a screwdriver from the c lerk and got to work taking the door off.

She was like that - nothing fazed her. l' llleave the last word to Lisa David, who knew her so wel l: " Like many people in our community, Margaret struggled with some serious challenges in her private life. I admire how she maintained her grace throughout those challenges.

"Thank you. Margaret, for everything that you have done for us. The Downtown Easts ide is lucky to have had you."

Margaret's memorial service will be held Thursday, March 4, at I pm in the Carnegie Theatre. All are welcome Bob and Muggs

BEAR STORY

In less lhan two monlhs the B.C. government will open the sport hun lin~ season for bears in the Great Bear Rainforest.

Trophy hunting of bears is not supported by most British Columblans. Coastal First Nation oppose the trophy hunt for cultural and sp1ritual reasons ' Carry a gun in the mountains • the old prospector said. ' 'Grizzly bears live here, and the only good bear is a dead bear.'

I tried to carry a gun, a 30-30 lever action, but it was no good.

The strap slipped off my shoulder.

The barrel hit the back of mv head.

When I put the rifle down to do some serious prospecting, I had to backtrack to find it.

So one day I decided to leave it behind.

As for grizzly bears.

Native Elders had taught me to speak well of them.

'Those who ridicule the bears are being arrogant,' they had said. ' Be respectful; the bears were created before us; they are our older sisters and brothers· there is much to learn from them.' ' On June 30th I left carnp without a rifle, but armed v11th positive thoughts about bears.

Up the side of a mountain I went prospectmg step by step, the sky clear, the day warm through the timber across meadowland with its mountain flowers bright as stars, up talus slopes over huge rocks towards the top, the falling away of earth the opening up of heaven.

Stepping around a rock bluff into a saddle between two peaks

I met a standing sideways to me fifty feet away silver-tipped a mountain in himself.

For a ~omen! the world stopped.

No vo1ce to call no legs to run no me to move.

Then silently we listened, the bear and I, at seven thousand feet on a ridge between two peaks under the summer sky. ' Be polite to the bears,' the Elder, 'They are our relatives.

They have been here longer than us.'

'Excuse me,' I said.

'I didn't mean to intrude.'

The bear sniffed the air , but he didn't charge. ' ' You have climbed the mountain to escape the flies or to cool off or to catch a whistler • I continued. '

' Don't fear me; I am a stranger who will leave no track.'

The bear listened. not mov1ng.

As I talked I began to back down the talus slope, avoiding the rock bluff around which I'd come.

To disappear suddenly would be dangerous.

'We share the same sun • 1said 'and the beauty of this m'ountain'.

The wind that cools you also cools me.'

The bear began to move along the ridge towards the further peak.

Then he stopped.

The huge head turned again, watching.

'This day we have mel' 1 said 'and we have mel fore~er.' ' The bear moved away again, and as I crept down the talus slope we lost sight of each other.

Then I ran to the campsite and made a cup of tea.

The old prospector returned soon after 'Did you see any bears?' he asked. · 'No,' I replied.

'Did you lake the gun?' ' No,' I said. ' No more gun for me.'

Sandy Cameron

Write.or call Gor~on Campbell, the Premier of British Columbia, and le~ him know that it is time to end the trophy hunt of b~ars m the Great Bear Rainforest.

Email: premier@gov.bc.ca Phone: (250) 387-1715.

Concord Pacific gifts cast pall over City Hall When I was in journalism school, my instructor began a lesson one day with the following statement: "Municipal politics is really about one thing--land."

As students, we were intrigued. But it was old news to anyone familiar with Vancouver politics.

Due to a booming real estate markel this town is rife with development money. And due to Vancouver's political party system. where party fundraising machines receive donations from "i nterested" industries, developers routine ly drop big bags o f cash on the steps of city hall.

Take Concord Pac ific, for instance, the real estate giant responsible for many developments around the city, including the colossal Concord Pacific Place on the old Expo '86 site. During the 2005 civic election campaign, Concord gave money to Vancouver's three main political parties: $48,250 to Vision Vancouver, $38,500 to the NPA and $9,250 to COPE. Concord, and its subsidiary Pacifi c Place Developments Corp .. later gave Vision an extra $3 1,000 to help pay off the party's debt.

We don't yet know how much Concord has spent on the current civic election campaign, which ends on election day Nov. 15, but--as revealed by the Courier earlier this month--Concord president Terry Hui has lav ished city councillors from all parties with gifts such as Canucks and concert tickets and invitations to swanky yacht parties.

The optics arc unseemly.

Hui relics on development, building and zoning permits from ci ty hall to do busi ness. He wines and dines city councillors. A five-year-o ld could understand this relations hip.

Only Hui--a publ icity-shy figure who shuns the media--knows why he gives and gives and gives. Council lors, on the other hand, must face the music. Why would they accept g ifts from a developer? Why would you risk tarnishing your reputation for a few freebi es?

When pressed on the issue, many councillors pivot into a conversation about campaign fi nance reform-an issue trumpeted by Vision mayoral candidate G regor Robertson.

Vision Coun. Raymond Louie, Robertson's chief campaign adviser, enj oyed a three-course dinner and cruise on Hui's yacht this sum mer and received rwo free Cirque du Solei! tickets worth $440.

Louie says spending limits may help quell public suspicions. "I think that the perception of influence would be lessened greatly.''

Well, Raymond, I know another way to lessen the perception of influence: don't accept Cirque du Solei! rickets from developers. And limit your yacht cruising to non-developer-owned vessels.

Councillors also use the "face time" defense. We need o ne-on-one meetings, they say, with the city's most prodigious developers. I couldn't agree more.

But wait. Don't taxpayers pay for office space at city hall--outfitted with receptionists, water coolers, computers--so councillors can meet with business people and other concerned citizens? Or do councillors require the electric atmosphere of a Canucks/Fiames game to heighten their acumen?

Please. If I lui's willing to drop $96,000 during the 2005 civic election campaign, he won't mind mak ing the two-mile trek to city hall from his office on West Pender.

In September, I wrote about a proposed Concord development at 58 West Hastings. The development, which wi ll receive a greenlig ht from c ity hall later this fall, includes 160 units of only market housing.

The NPA vocally supported the development. which conveniently aligns with their phi losophy of more market housing in the Downtown Eastside. But Vis ion was strangely silent on the issue. Surely Vision councill ors would at least complain about a lack of "neighbourhood consultation" or the NPA's callous disregard for homeless people. But no. Not a peep.

Maybe Vision agrees with NPA philosophy.

Or maybe, just maybe, discussions about 58 West llastings took place on the deck of Terry I lu i's yacht, or in his box at a Canucks game. We can only speculate because those details never s how up on mandatory gift disclosure forms.

When my o ld journalism instructor warned about the influence of developers on our democracy, he also st ressed the need for campaign finan ce reform. But before counci l ponders legislation to restrict the rights of individuals to donate money, council should adopt a no-gift policy based on commo n sense and integrity.

Until those virtues are practised at city hall. the future of Vancouver will continue to be shaped by major players like Terry I lui. While the rest of us watch from the cheap seats.

Mark Hasiuk, Vancouver Courier mhasiuk@vancourier.eom

BC Liberals Attack Seniors

By Rolf Auer Although this story didn't unfold in chronological order, that is how I am going to recount it. It began on October 8. 2009. in the BC Legislature when thenMinister of Health Kevin Fal con announced rate increases would pertain to some seniors li ving in residential care facilities starting in January of2010.

Immediately. the online news association, www.thetyee.ca, jumped on the story: "Health Minister Falcon hikes residential care rates," by Andrew MacLeod. ( I missed this story at that time. As far as I know, it was not in the mainstream press.) The seniors paying the most rent would sec their rate increase from 拢74.30/ day by $22.1 0/day to $96.40/day, nearly a 30 percent increase and a resultant rate being the highest in Canada. These higher rate increases would apply to the higher income 75 percent of seniors living in care facilities. The remaining lower income 25 percent would see their rates drop from $29.40/day by $1.50/day, a negligible decrease. Those paying the hi gher rates would be allowed to keep $275/month for expenses, while those on income assistance (and I assume this refers to the bottom 25 percent) would be allowed to keep $95/month. At least, that was the plan. It played out a little differently, as we will see.

BC NDP ll calth critic Adrian Dix questioned Falcon about this (shall we say, mean-spirited) move, and got not much by way of response. T he real point here is that those whose rates are being dramatically raised have incomes that fall below Statistics Canada's defini tion of the poverty line.

As is ortcn the case with Tyee articles, there were comments following the story. I thought I'd share some with you. "frccbcar: I can't wait to share residential care facilities with all of the old and retired MLAs! May actually have fist fights between some of the residents to look forward to!" " DPL: Next thing due out will be a reminder to seniors that they have overstayed their welcome and can arrange for a nice ice floe to spend some time on. This government is cruel." "off-the-radar: that is a huge increase for seniors and their spouses on fixed retirement incomes. And what happens to spouses that are relying on the

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spouse-in-care's retirement income? !! Are they being reduced to paupers?"

Fast forward to January 25,2010. An article appeared in The Vancouver Sun titled, 路路BC Seniors face huge care-cost increase,"' by Jody Paterson. (I hadn 't seen the Tyee article or Falcon/Dix exchange yet.)

The only thing that caught my attention was the huge fee increases. Not fair, I thought, but didn't act at that time . Shame.

February 5, 20 I 0. An article in The Province titled, "Rising rent hits BC seniors." by John Bermingham.

In it, there is a report of one senior whose rent rose higher than his income. I was certain this wasn'tthe only case! And I was immediately incensed!

I threw the newspaper down, j um ped on my computer, and fired off an angry e-mail to my MLA, BC NDP member Jenny Kwan. I wrote, in part: "That the BC Liberals should prey on our most vulnerable citizens in this manner is beyond belief. I can only surmise that were it not for the 20 I 0 Olympics, this despicable means of raising government revenue by picking the pockets of frail, elderly, defenseless seniors would not be necessary. I have to ask myself, who is next in the BC Liberals ' target list? The disabled? The mentally ill? I mean, surely, if they' ll go after feeble seniors, why wouldn't they go after the latter groups also?"

I sent copies of the letter to BC NDP Leader Carole James, Deputy Health critic Sue Hammell, BC Liberal Health Minister George Abbott, and BC Premier Gordon Campbell.

Within a week, Jenny responded to my letter. She

agreed that the BC Liberals ' changes were anything VANCOUVER 2010 but "fair and equitable." She pointed out that the (An Elizabethan sonnet in iambic pentameter) revenue grab would leave many seniors unable to pay for many of the personal items as they had done beThe dream of Gold on l lastings di' d today When Silver spoons in mouths of babes became fore. As for the Olympics being a factor, she wrote she had made a request for an independent audit on The voice of apes tann' d Bronze along the way With Coke igniting cash on Pepsi's flame. record. and the answer to this would reveal the truth.

Jenny's e-mail provided the Falcon/Dix Hansard Inside a room beneath a Maple Leaf exchange link, and, follow ing up on that, I came A woman cries herself to sleep againacross the Tyee story.

Olympic glory fades with Her belief T he BC Liberals have been bringing down a lot of Of younger days in love devoid of pain. funding cuts . $10 million for the Ministry of Children 0 Zeus the Great please give my voice a wing and Family Development. $300 million for Special To soar above the street where I belong Education needs in Schools. Community Centres, Bestow'd with laurels hear my children sing Park Boards, Daycare Centres, Women's Centres, and A dance divine-the whisper'd people's song.

Libraries took a huge hit. They're bringing in the The world is One and no malign event Poor Person's Tax. the liST later this year.

Can stop a bolt of Him that's heaven sent.

• ..

Fight back! Jenny Kwan is the MLA of the VanJoseph Patrick Whelan couver- Mount Pleasant, and, in particular, the .;;· ;t:.,:. '..:' ~; . , • ,_~ Downtown Eastside. Let her know your concerns! E1 mail her, write to her, phone her: all of it strengthens ·~~'b, :r·-- ":;: ~ her positions! Like it says in The Newsletter: Jenny Special thanks to all the people I've met from differKwan: Working for You. (Remember that in the next ent nations. It was great meeting a young man from provincial election!)

Germany. lie was well-mannered.

I met people from Victoria BC. They were nice ladies Vancouver (A Lethal Fool's Paradise) to exchange photos of each of us with, being proud to be a Canadian.

1986 - During Expo 86 a 9-year-old g irl was crushed So, people from all countries, thank you fo r your gen· to death at the Canad ian Pavil ion theatrc.(A revolving erous kindness. I hope all have a safe and secure trip table was s hut down after the accident, but was put going back to your homeland. Salute and good-bye! back in service with new safety measures)

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1990 - At the Molson Indy Vancouver inaugural race a track worker was run over and killed in the pit stop area. (Stronger supervising measures put into place.)

- Spectator killed by flying wheel 2010 - Nodar Kumaritas hvilli' was flung off his luge, where he came to a deadly stop against an unpadded concrete pillar. Anyone who witnessed this could tell that Nodar felt no pain from his death, but some of us thought of his family and friends in Georgia who would soon be in an unbearable world of agony.

With proper training and anticipatory inspection by qualified officials. these deaths would not have occurred. But blind ambition forced the onslaught of neglect of our leaders so we could qualify fo r "World Class" status.

Garry Gust

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All my relations, Bonnie E Stevens

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Hi to all of you dedicated anti poverty /olympic activist.. people. Thankyou for the hard work and dedication, I am so proud of you all. I have medical prob lems but I do my best; I don't get to planning meetings but I come to marches and demonstrations in quiet s upport .... it is ok to be just a body ...

So much good organ izing going on .... For 35 years I have been a peaceful activist but I don't see the politi· cal will changing much ... .just maybe this time ...

Can't give up the fight hugs and thankyou sheila baxter

Carnegie Community Action Project (CCAP)

Newsletter Find us in the Carnegie Association office (604-839-0379)

Mar 1, 20 10

Poverty Olympics big hit locally and internationally Thanks to the nearly 100 volunteers of the 2010 Poverty Olympics. What a success! Volunteers pushed (and kayaked)the torch from Langley to Vancouver's Poverty Olympics opening ceremonies, made placards, practiced and performed in skits, wrote scripts, made props, made buttons, wrote fact sheets about poverty, shopped for costumes, made sandwiches and a fantastic cockroach cake and so much more. Special thanks Old Hands and Robert Bonner for opening up the games, to Trish Garner and Rider Cooey from Raise the Rates who organized the Province wide torch relay. Also thanks to Bernie Williams and Gladys Radek and others who

drummed the Poverty Olympics torch over the Lion' s Gate Bridge and to V ANDU who lit our torch at the Japanese Hall.

~ ~ 1 Photo of 1 l ~ Muriel (in • character) featured in Globe and Mail article called: "The 1 grinch steals the games."

And a special thank you to the groups and individuals that performed: Streams of Justice, CCAP Action group, Four Sisters kids and the Power of Women group, plus Hendrik Buene and Muriel Williams, Gena Thompson, Precillia Tait and Bob Sarti, our wonderful mascots and MC's. None of this could have happened without the behind the scenes work of Jean ( Co"h "'ue o\ o "' P~e.. ~}

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Swanson, Rose Keurdian and Donald McDonald, our fearless stage managers.

It was truly a community effort.

Not only was the Poverty Olympics fun, there was a big benefit. Our point of view was heard across Canada. The international media covered our issues too.

The German coverage was exceptional - right on message about the shocking problem of poverty in a rich country like Canada.

For about 2 weeks leading up to the Poverty Olympics, we met with reporters from around the world: Sweden, England, Finland, Germany,

France, Japan to name a few. My Aunt who just lives up the street here, turned on the BBC one day and saw us there.

My one friend who lives out of Canada, in France, said she heard our message there a few times.

In Canada, friends in Toronto, Ottawa called to say the message was coming out loud and clear. A young woman in Gatineau Quebec found CCAP' s phone number and then started a petition at her college to stop the Assistance to shelter act and to get a National Housing Program. So we had some of the world abuzz for a while. Way to go Poverty Olympics!! - wp

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Councillor Woodsworth spoke out for DTES at city hall meeting Last month I wrote about the City Council decision to allow more tall buildings and condos in the Downtown Eastside. I should have said in the article that, while the majority vote was in favour of allowing more height and taller buildings, Ellen Woodsworth of COPE, consistently voted against increased height in the DTES and spoke out strongly against it.

She also moved the motion, which did

pass, calling for a meeting of the city, community groups, and SFU about displacement of low-income residents by the new Simon Fraser University Art School at Woodwards. And she made several amendments supporting CCAP positions, calling for an impact study to be done before height recommendations are approved, for a committee of low income DTES residents in proportion to their population on a local planning steering committee, and for a definition ofaffordability proposed by CCAP. Unfortunately, the other counci lors voted against these amendments.

--Jean Swanson

Bob Rennie, DTES condo king, connects Olympics and real estate While most people think the Olympics is about athletes from around the world competing with each other, I'm discovering that fo lks in the real estate business consider the Olympics to be a $6 billion marketing campaign designed to sell Vancouver homes and condos to rich foreigners.

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.Conhl'\u.d. f-yom. ~0-.9e. 3 late chair o.f the 2010 Bid Corporation, "If the Olympic bid wasn't happening we would have to invent something."

O'Brien went on to say, " It is hard to imagine any fantasy that fits better than the Olympic bid if you are into real estate development."

Just as the

According to Bob Rennie, Vancouver's Condo King, who sold out the condos at Woodwards, " ... Vancouver has become a resort city where rich foreigners Jive a few months per year ...

It's a trend, whether you like it or not, the Olympics is likely to accelerate." 路'With BC and othe!' broadcasters set to beam images of Vancouver around the world, the city will be promoted as never before," Rennie explained in a Vancouver Sun article. In an earlier, January, article in Xinhua, Rennie speculated that people who see the Olympics on TV will go from saying, "I want to spend two to five months in Vancouver' to 'I want to send my children to school here. "' And way back in 2002 Frank O' Brien wrote in the Western Investor, June 2002, "The real purpose of th.e 2010 Olympic bid is to seduce the provincial and federal governments and long suffering taxpayers into footing a billion dollar bill to pave the path for future real estate sales."

In the same article O'Brien quotes Jack Poole, real estate developer and the

According to Bob Rennie, "everything will be alright."

This slogan is lit up in lights at tlte back of his private art gallery in Chinatown Olympics were starting, the Vancouver Sun and Province published 17 days, the best guide to the games as an insert in its daily paper. One section of the booklet inc! uded "17 reasons to live in Vancouver or buy real estate here." Almost a11 of the 17 reasons were designed to appeal to rich foreigners: Vancouver is the "bridge between Asia and the rest of North America", Vancouver has direct flights to 110 cities, Vancouver is a top livable city, Vancouver has stable property values; it has skiing, sport fishing, sailing, and golf. And, get this, Vancouver has "constrained land supply." This means there is " limited 4

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bm. pÂŁl9e.. if make land between Vancouver and Pemberton more attractive for development because getting to and from Vancouver will be faster.

The $2 billion transit line to the Airport will be handy for business people and part time residents who commute to other countries. The almost $1 billion Trade and Convention Centre will also serve this crowd.

I wish this was all just real estate hype, but fear that it's not. I don't recall having an election where we voted to make Vancouver into an "urban resort."

I can' t remember ever voting for the type of city where even policemen, firemen and nurses can' t afford to buy homes, as Rennie admits. And, in a time of global warming, it's not really a great idea to be promoting international commuting on carbon spewing airplanes.

What does this have to do with the Downtown Eastside? As the value of property increases, more low income people will be pushed out. ... unless we can get more social housing built.

The Olympics were bad for low income people because the money spent on the games could have ended homelessness and reduced poverty a lot.

They were bad because we' re already paying for them with cuts to crucial services. But who of us non realtors knew that the one of the biggest impacts would be pushing up land prices and pushing tenants out of their own communities? - JS

space for new development" and, I assume, property prices can go nowhere but up.

Another Olympic insert in the Vancouver Sun was a special "20 10 commemorative edition of Westcoast Homes and Design." It included an article advising foreigners to buy real estate in Vancouver, saying "you get to keep most of the profit." One section of the article pointed out that all an investor had to do was fill out a fo rm saying "I expect $2000 a month, my expenses are $1900 a month. My net rental income is expected to be only $100. Then you only need to pay $25 per month to the .. . taxman."

Faux Condo King angers some residents when he shows up to pusIt for a condo tower at Hastings and Carra/1.

Many of the things the government spent money on for the Olympics will also help increase the val ue of property or add amenities that rich property owners might like. The nearly billion dollar Sea to Sky Highway upgrade, ostensibly for the Olympics will also 5

Olympic tent village takes up space on prime DTES condo property Have you seen the tent village? It's hard to miss. It's right across from Save On Meats on Hastings. I counted 150 tents last time I was there. It's has a life of its own separate from any DTES

Maybe its not too late to get this site for 100% social housing.

How does it relate to Pivot's Red Tent Campaign? This tent village was organized before the "red tents" were

group but has a strong presence made up of Streams of Justice, Power of Women and Vancouver Action members.

It' s located in a great spot- 58 West Hastings, the site that Concord Pacific, the biggest real estate company in Canada, has purchased to build 150 deluxe condos to sell at about $400,000 each. No building has happened yet.

made public. While the " red tents" are meant to draw attention to the need for a National Housing Program, the Olympic tent village has three demands: End Homelessness, Stop Gentrification and Stop the Criminalization of Poverty. Although the campaigns are different, there are areas of overlap where both efforts can support each

(IJYI.hV\Uecl 6

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V"'je. 1

Can we organize for power?

You may know this already, but there is a Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood Council (DNC) forming that hopes to reach out to all residents and honorary community members who want to work together to make changes in our area.

This is not going to be a coalition of agencies, but rather a council of residents. 140 people are signed up so far. We accomplished our first step which was to decide on a statement of unity and a structure.

Our next step is to elect an interim steering committee that will help us get going with a way to get lots ofDTES residents involved, help us form into a society and a board so that we have a way to operate and be transparently accountable. This is the structure we agreed to start off with: The Steering Committee consists of 19 possible seats, including: -Thirteen seats based on housing-type 5 SRO seats 5 Social housing seats

2 market housing seats l SNRF seat -One homeless seat (with 3 occupants to ensure participation) -Plus: Five at-large seats open to nomination from the general membership without consideration of housing-type, also intended to balance the SC with consideration for other composition concerns (race, gender, age, sexuality, etc).

The Carnegie Association helped kick start this bec-ause we're hoping this council will reach out to lots of residents, discover the common ground and then exercise our collective muscle to get what we want. I wonder what issues w ill unite everyone? Come and find out. Look on the cork board on the 2nd floo r at Carnegie fo r the next meeting date.

Vancity Support for this project does not necessarily imply Vancity's endorsement of the fmdings or contents of this report."

8

One of 12,000 to Carry Her High!

So there I was on the torch bearers' bus at 5:30pm on Feb.9th in Richmond. Dressed in my white torchbearer uniform and my lucky yellow Hollywood United Football jersey with torch in hand, I found myself surrounded by three fonner Olympians.

O ne former Olympian was Shirley Olafsson. She had been a high-jumper in the 1948 Olympics in London England. She told us how she had to travel for 22 days to London on the Queen Mary.

I felt honored j ust to be in her presence. I had to keep asking myself, "How did I get to be here?'' I had to assume it was due to my numerous charity projects and my devotion to volunteering.

As 20 of us entered our bus to be prepared to go to our designated starting poi I know I was a little

nervous. However that all ended rather quickly as our chaperone on the bus named Shannon prepared us all for the time of o ur lives.

Before our bus pulled out o f the parking lot, Shannon had us all singing and dancing in our seats. Even our bus driver, Andrew joined in the fun.

We first watched a short inspirational video on the history of the Olympic flame and then we listened to stories from the other torch bearers on what it means to be carrying the name .. Everyone on the bus was pumped and fu ll of energy as each of us was dropped off one by one to our starting po ints.

As the bus turned north on #2 Road, it was fin ally my time to prepare to carry the torch. I exited the bus

to enter the sea of people who had come out to see the torch. Many family members and friends were waving signs of "Go Jackie Go" and the sounds of shaking tambourines could be heard nearby.

Flashes from cameras were non-stop for at least five minutes. Shouts of "look thi s way" and more camera flashes s napped in my direction. I thought th is must be what Hollywood stars feel like on a regular basis.

It was at times a little overwhelming. but I must say I did enjoy the attention.

Soon I saw the light of the approaching torch runner with his torch preparing to pass the flame to me. I thought about the fact that I was now going to be one of only 12,000 people in a population of just over 32 million to carry the torch. Overwhelming pride and emotions ran through my body as my torch was ignited. I quickly turned to my fam ily, gave a quick wave then I just fel t my feet begin to run.

As I was running my 300 metres poetic words flowed through me. I am no Bukowski, but I like to piece together rhythmic lines occasionally.

The lines went together as I ran with the name.

I saw it coming It was the flame the to rch , its pride Soon I felt the excitement Then Swoosh ... my flame lit up the sky I felt the heat A nd my feet went to fl y I saw my family a nd friends faces in the crowd It ' s my moment, o ne of 12,000 to hold her high And r feel so proud It's really my mom ent to s hin e in t he nigh t I kn ow this truly must be a patriotic s ight l ran 300 metres bursting with pride but th e entire time it felt like one stride to commemora te this day I pledge to plant a tree!

The entire experience was emotionally breathless and a time I will never forget. I know I am changed by it.

To be a part of history is an amazing accomplishment.

The to rch I purchased. I will cherish for many many years before I pass it on to the youngest member of my family.

By JACKIE H UMBER

Vancil)' is on Lock

Reflection of Zelda

Vancity is on lockdown Police, RCM P, O ly mpic "Security'', Canadian Forces Six week, six month community courses Trained by "Wounded Knee goon squads."

A uniform makes you your own earth god A woot woot here and a woot woot there every corner every street.. stop your car I dare

Upside dow n morn ing this those who use phrases like " Do your own time'路 always the first to be bumming s mokes they're snotty when it suits them

"VanCity & Whistler and you & you too guilty of hosting the Games!

The whole two cities a security check point I want your rights and your names !" 路'Cayn't turn heeya. You cayn't go theya."'

Going all the way around .. airflights run aground so a woot woot here and a wool woot there all day all night.. it just ain't fai r!

but they come grovell ing when they need someth ing odd and lovely my gi rl with the skirt sensit ive, s he is a surprise s he's shy and girlish bashful.. you wouldn 't believe for a minute she's just an old whore- never no she's not, you don't see the girl inside, someone's little princess

First they said no bridge closures Security cameras taking pretty pictures

!Iuman rights rallies even has its own bubble "No freedom of speech" rules keep one out of trouble While no loudspeakers, just loud speakers!

1 pray for those in the core of the rubble.

Vancity VANOC amps up roadblocks?

But if Indigenous do. expect a door knock?

It is VA NOC's might and government right In the middle of the night you have no rights Diplomats, s ponsors, politicians, justice officers 'get a rose' for violations over our young men and women 's rights In the middl e of the night. you have no rights All the while Campbell discreetly rants & raves Coordinating with corporales from his Wizard ofOz cave .. " Let them know.. I'm available only for photo ops."

"Oh and bring one or two of those unifo rmed cops" & we little people? Must we hire ou r own guard Protecting ourselves from the c ities fines t..

Is that how we must play our card?

' Wait! Miss, what's that pretty poster you have there? so a woot wool.. oh whatever..

Salish Seas

AI February 16'h, 2010 Dear Editor.

Every time I see people ce lebrating the Olympics, I want to weep. I feel s uch a terrible depression about where this planet is headed. I low can so many human beings find such joy in an event that has devoured billions of dollars that could have otherwise provided aid and shelter to the poor in this city?

There are those previously opposed to the Olympics who are of the o pinion that we might as well enjoy the whole thi ng because it's here now anyway. I simply cannot conce ive how this is possible, for what kind of g lory is achieved at the expense of another?

That is not patriotism. It is s hallow-ism. That's like protesting against bullfighting and then showi ng up to cheer on the matador!

If we could have hosted the games and at the same time lifted our downtrodden from the depths of their poverty and despair, then I would be dancing in the streets with the rest of you, instead o f hang ing my head in shame. The evolution of a society is measured by how well it treats the least among its members, and it is a heart-wrenching statement of w here we are on the evolutionary scale when the speed of a skier down a hill generates a larger public reaction than does human suffering.

Maureen Kerr

L Volunteer C ommittee Meeting Wednesday, March 10@ lpm Classroom II Volunteer o f the Month is chosen by those at the meeting (not by staff) ALL VOLUNTEERS WELCOME! Your voice is needed and appreciated.

2. VOLUNTEER BANQUET STYLE DINNER Theatre, Wednesday, March 17th @ 4:30 Sharp!

Your contri bution and hard work is appreciated by the many people who bene fit by your services. Let us serve you! Skill testing questions for mystery prizes.

Get your ticket from the Volunteer Program Office.

3. Monday, March 22, 2010 BURRITO DINNER2ND Floor Concession Please pick up your ticket from the Volunteer Program Office

A wee note wishing happy birthday to Jean Swan son (in March) and our thanks for all you are and what you do in the struggle for social justice.

Volunteers o f th e Month of Februarv

Jim Bodnariuk, Kitchen Dishwasher Willie Dixon. Pool Room Monitor Quote for the day: "The mystery of evi l is too deep to be illuminated by the light of reason:'

"" ; - - Of corpses and dandy lio E d . h ac11 ; n upk 111d ~ e grass Long . . .or tod e .or K111 mg see s at 1ast Buthwh Yare we ~ 0 .Iost.

Is t ere . no preva1 h111 1ustory d Man IS ~ 1w;ys e.nc ante.

To try l lc J rst.tm~e ~ga~l Y~t~s~ehtl~em 111 : e ~r .c~rners Wtt t eJr spar s an stJc s But s.ugar r~ns 0.u~ Nothmg le 1 to he .

Jusy say no campaign W?n ' t ~o an:body any good Bnng them home Y~dung.

Bnng t em ome 0 h 1 A Iways remember never * d et t em go For Jesus never en1e a sou1

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forgiveness or to become whole.

M ichelle Lazal

[ •;Mohammed!Buddha/Raml... ]

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1

TEEPEE ARTIST CALL

Carnegie Community Centre and Oppenheimer P1 have obtained a brand new 18' teepee. We are seeki individuals who may be interested in painting their d esign on the teepee in time fo r National Aborigina D ay on June 21,20 10. su bmil· a sk etc11 o f your F'· 1rst N allons · d es1·gn (Wes coast or Prairie designs welcome) & your name and contact phone number where you can be reached A commit1ee from Oppenheimer Park and Carnegt will select four designs. one for each direction ofthl tipi , please state if your design is for the fro nt. back left or right side of the tipi on your sketch (four dire tions). Artists will be notified if the ir design is selected. Winning art ists wi ll then be paid a stipend to pai nt their art onto the tepee T his sketch call out is ope~ to any individual who interested in s ubmitting a s ketch for our new Teepee The open call is from March I through to March 31! · 1 pamtmg · · expected to beg m · ·111 early May (weatt w111 permitting).

Selection committee Teepee Art, Carnegie Aborig inal Prog ramming 401 Main Street, Vancouver, BC V6A2T7 A ttention Marlene George &/or Sandy McKeigan

Little Ado about Much It 's a barn .. it's a barracks .. it's a checkpoint, a guardhouse .. it's the new (improved?) Oppenheimer Park clubhouse. It may appear more welcoming close up, and when all of those fences are gone. Perhaps flowers may be planted to soften the severity of the fayade. Certainly Spring will come once again and life will return to the construction site. Already the gulls are venturing back and cherry trees are gearing up to blossom. Yet despite assurances by Park staff that the end result would justify the inconvenience of the park's closure early last summer to ensure it'd be open by the time of the Olympics, it doesn't. After a "grand opening" when people were herded through the fences for some speeches I some free food, the park is in fact still closed and guarded.

Over 1/3 of the park is now concrete. The oval of grass planted in the Fall has come up mangy while large areas around the perimeter either had not been planted or never sprouted. These areas were, a few days before the fake opening, quickly covered by mats of lush g rass unrolled on the sides of the oval.

Was this originally grass from Oppenheimer? It seems to be settling much better than the planted stuff, which is muddy and sparse. It's a funher piece of evidence that the w hole process of renovation was not really planned for the benefit of the neig hborhood but rather a blatant move to make cenain the park remain inaccessible to any protest efforts leading up to and during the Olympics.

All that will be old news by the time this issue of the Camegie Newsletter hits the street. What a relief that will be, but it is by no means the end of contention from our neighbourhood. Underlying the obvious glaring issues are the ethical ones. Has that become a

taboo word? And when does compromise become collaboration? It seems pretty clear to me that if anyone's not honest about process, they'll not favour truth in other areas; it isn't wise then to give them loyalty or trust.

Who is this park for anyways? A park should be for everyone. Over the decade plus that I've lived across the street, I've witnessed Oppenheimer pass through some shifts. A few years there were evening baseball games and Tai Chi in the mornings. and the totem pole was carved and raised. Then it seemed as if the rice-wine drinkers began to predominate, especially at night. When a concerted effort finally dealt with the situation, the park became a safe place for people to sleep when they had nowhere else to go. At one point, people were able to cobble together makeshift shelters that might remain for weeks.

Generally this was a peaceful period for the park, which was just big enough to accommodate various interest groups. Community activities included regular barbeques & entertainments. monthly health fairs in the fine weather, the Powell Street Festival and the lights on the trees at Christmas.

Some years were more peaceful than others, depending on whether the police were in round-up mode. I have witnessed police cars tearing up the field to harass folk who were 'loitering' at dusk, causing far more disturbance & no ise than those who just needed a s pot to rest for the night. The splendid & well-organised tent ci ty of2006 ended brutally, and the opportunity of working from there to solve some of the most pressing issues dissolved with it.

I was disappointed that park staff, who had seemed supportive, did not or could not intervene. For the most part, during the day, park staff were there to provide some suppon and diversion, and over the years they have helped many people through their commitment to mediation and harm reduction; their g reat soups & bannock; camping trips & outreach. llowever, as programs expand the outlook seems to narrow. It 's for "all of us" but I don't find myself included. Programming seems to be earmarked for the homeless & disabled. It's disconcerting: I certainly include this population as part of 'my' commun ity yet don't find myself included in 'theirs' at all.

One more question - Can community include us all?

By Delanye Azriel

MY PERFECT DAY It is February 19 2020 and the sun is shining through my front window onto the face of my beautiful niece, who is now ten years old. My entire family is sitting in my living room waiting for my husband to come home with my new born baby girl, Asia-Lee. My dad and 1 are both sober and have a very close relationship. He and my mom are very proud of where my life has taken me. I could n't ask fo r anything more I have been off work due to the birth of my daughter.

When she is old enough 1 will return to working with people in need. 1also own an animal rescue business.

It's a lot of work but I know it's what makes me happy. My husband continues to work on new projects.

The city has just accepted his latest design for the new hospital.

As I see my husband pull into the drive way, I make my way into the kitchen to help my grandmother to the door so she can be the first to see her new great granddaughter. I look as I see my grandma's eyes fill with tears of joy as she goes to pick Asia-Lee up ..

My entire fam ily gathers around the two of them as my grandma sits down in the living room. I look around and sec my family staring back at me instead of my baby girl. Their eyes are filled with joy, love, and care. At that moment I feel as though I have fulfi lled my life and that is where I am meant to be. 1 wouldn't have it any other way. My family means the world to me.

One day 1 hope to accomplish this.

Danielle

Dear Readers, This is a sequel to my article printed Jan. 15. Thi~ about the death of my baby sister Starla. Her eyes were violet and she had beautiful long blonde hair.

Starla passed away Dec. 12 at Calgary's Rocky View Hospital. What a terrible shock I got when m aunt phoned me. The funeral was Dec. I 9 at Wood lawn Cemetery in Saskatoon.

She had two daughters and one son, Linda, Dawn Billy Joe, plus two granddaughters. I shall love her forever.

Rest in peace my beautiful baby sister.

Many people are protesti ng the Olympic Games: 1 am one of them. What a laugh, transporting sno\1 from one mountain to the other. It's a waste of mor and the taxpayers have to pay for this. Do they thin about the homeless? I don't thi nk so, I know so.

This is for the Mayor of Vancouver: Tear down tt Brandiz Hotel.. it's not fit for human habitation.

There are rats, bedbugs and roaches in every room and the showers don' t work. I know; I lived there.

I moved out and sent the Health Inspector there. 1 next day I asked what happened. They said everything was OK!? Demolish it and build a centre fort homeless. Vancouver will be proud of you.

My court case is on hold for two weeks, due to the Winter Games. I will keep you informed.

Marlene Wuttunee

Come up to the Carnegie Art Gallery through the month of March to view the Vancouver Pari Board's "Remarkable Women" posters in hon路 our of International Women's Day on March 8th.

The women selected for this year's posters are athletes from the 1920's to the present day, from diverse backgrounds and abilities and representing different sports and levels of achievement.

DANCING YOUR EDGE Marc h 6'h a nd 20'1', 3 - Spm in Carnegie's Gym Mar. 6 will be aud itions for upcoming performances (Sec dancingvouredge. wordpress.com)

Karen Jamieson Dance Workshops February 2 • March 30 Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:30-5:30 Starting February 2 in t he gym Free! All are welcome!

1

I Iuman unity is purely an ideological unity, which means unity in the psychic sphere. Where there is psychic unity. physical unity will also occur. In the realm of unity. unity is always psychic - ideological unity means unity in the subtlest level of the mind. However, psychic or ideological unity may be affected if we encourage the exploitation of one group by another. So to avoid this there should not be any scope for exploitation [groupism] in society Now to materialize any principle or ideology, one requires firmness, especially those who provide leadership to society, those who are the pioneers, the vanguard of a new movement. "We must keep the goal fixed before us, and keep moving towards the goal.

We shall never deviate from our goal, whatever the obstacles or hindrances in the way. Once we start moving. we shall never stop or look back."

Pause means rhe gatheri ng of momentum for speed in the s ubsequent phase. If one closely watches the effect of speed on a particular community or the entire humanity. one sees that generally people eulogize the period of speed. However we cannot afford to ignore the state of pause, because by judging what the previous state of pause was like, we can discern the speed of the next phase There are some people who are pessimistic. They say that the soc iety around us is very bleak, that it has no expression of vitality and that is seems that everyone is in deep slumber. Pessimists say this because they have never made any detailed study of human history, nor do they care to. Had they done so, they would certainly be opt imistic, because if they had looked carefully at the symptoms of pause. they would have realise that significant preparations were being made for the subsequent phase of speed. So under no circumstances should human beings be pessimistic. That is why 1 am always an incorrigible optimist, because I know that optimism is life.

Shrii Shrii Anandamurti

Open to all levels of experience, studying the basic elements of dance through rhythm and improvisation.

For those interested, we will also be working towards a performance in March, an outdoor circle dance moving down Carrall Street!

Please see Rika Uto in the Carnegie Program office for more information or call Karen Jamieson Dance at 604.687.6675m

t%5 ~~

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Thursdays Writing Collective Begins Again The Thursdays Writing Collective is back refreshed and rej uvenated and ready to begin our 12 week spring course. We start on Thursday, March 18, 24pm on the third floor of the Carnegie Centre. Join us every Thursday from March 18 until June 3 for writing prompts, discussions and readings led by Elee Kralj ii Gardiner. This s pring we are planning in-class vis.its with poet Fiona Lam and novelist/ short story wnter Cathleen With. Everyone is welcome to drop in and write w ith us.

"Never doubt that.a small group of tho u ghtful rommitted citizens can change the wo rld . Indeed, it is the o nly thing that ever has." -Margaret Meade «ll Maia Stn:et, V6A 2T7

TliiS NEWsl..ErnR IS A PUBl.JCATION OF THE

CARNEGIE COIINUNITY CENTRE ASSOCIAllOH Mides Rplil$lnl the views ol iDdividual Contributors aad not of Ule Association.

Next Issue is Monday, March 15th

~~.nbnLt. Thursday, March 11

WANTED

Artwork for the ~megie Newsletter

•

Small illustrations to accompany artides !lid poe1ry Cover at -Ma;Umum size: 17an(6 Y.") wide x 15cm (6") high Subject m'!_lteJ relevant to issues pertaining to the Downtown Eastside, but all ~considered Black & White printing only Size resbidions wit apPy [I.e. if your piece is loa large, it will be reduced and/or aopped lo fit; AI artisls wiD receive aedit for Dleir worlt; Originals wit be returned to the atist alter beino ropti!OibrpuOti:aliln; .

Remuneration: Carnegie Volunteer tickets.

W~ ack;;~~led·g~ tha;Camegie C~~~~~i~ ·c-;~tn,: ~d· this ~ewslett~r'-"ar~ OCC\Jnin~ on Coast Salish Tenitory ., . ... . . . ' .. .. . . .. . . . :.: . :.: .•:: , Editor: Pau!R Taylor, Layout assistaoo-t.isa David Collation & distribution crew: Bill, Liu Lin, Harold, Mary Aon, Miriam, Kelly; Videha, Rolf, Jackie, Ida, '.isa, Robyn, Nick.

2010 DONATIONS: Libby D.-$50 Margaret D-$40 Sarah E.-$46 Rolf A.-$50 Barbara & Mel L.-$50 Sheila B.-$25 Laurie R.-$60 Jenny K.-$25

SHIATSU MASSAGE (Starting January 2:zU)

Fridays, 1-4pm, Carnegie Centre Gym H£Y,BRUTHA hey bra it's meyer ol' pal you know Ronnie from down the hall the one who's always askin' never payin' back but who counts eh bro? lissen l spent all my cheque on blow now I need yer's too and if you got any smokes. porridge, cream and sugar I'll take those two you don't mind hell you never do, that's why we· eze such tight bras, ' member it all comes back atcha right bra? lissen don' t sweat it you know weeze brutha, right? /\I

..:.

First come - first serve.

Please sign up with the Therapists §§Lifeline§§§

Jenny Wai Ching Kwan MLA Woritin g for Y ou

1070- 1641 Commercial D r , VSL 3Y3 Phone:604-773-0790

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A penny for your self-esteem the head fell off mine, a selfishist brings new death strolling down our town .. jusy try to exist on Main Street another point- blank pointless point of view but it's all mine; we've people doing a sixth of their timeless sentence which after a few (to be exact 22) months on an eleven-year repentance, who're the defenders have they lost their abundance? Now before this gets redundant I believe sexual assault was the crime my my & now the stubborn sky appears but please not that DAY CANCELLED look. like growing concern in a planter's box we'll die before it hits the sky!? And Scaffolds & Gardens we arc about to declare us the crust of the pie, yeah, this is the City that launched a thousand fists just try to exist on Main Street- you heard me Exist don't resist people get pissed how many friends can one lose, I'm too old to pick & choose now why does everyone scream & holler like brand new life being fitted with a GAP collar. calm yourself down before every red button on this planet gets pushed down every country every town now guzzle up the least I can do is buy the next round like fortunate mistakes one second you're yelling the next you're telling your best friend' s parents you're ok but their son is dead nope, not disease; Disorder. Disrespect. Is this the new order? Dismember. Disclosure. Dislocation to obtain said Dis-order in the court Discression's so Disheartening arc you on their list? Dispicable class is a state of mind yet this class act will never be dismissed. In between tomorrow word comes down classless act Dismissed! Like abandoned experiments words off in the distance ringing in those ears could it be Existence itself we all fear .. once3 you're dead I'm sure it becomes very clear now just reminiscing out by the tides the beginning with shaken & stirred hands invisibly tied all wrapped up & good-byed sign this with selfish pride while non-blinking eyes are now & forever looking to hide. Life .. . what a ride.

By ROBERT McGILLIVRAY Q:"We're in a giant can heading toward a brick wall & everyone's arguing over where they're going to sit."

-David Suzuki

DECADENCE PERSONIFIED 01) mpian hopes, are they really what they seem? Are they maybe nothing more chicanery and moneyed schemes to reach and touch the stars .. it doesn't happen for far too many. Yes true. many sadly just crash & burn in shards of their shattered dreams, some touch our hearts, we feel their pain, hurts us hard too to see they wil l not attain their cherished and yet desolate goals; and many are regarded as cannon fodder by the most sin ister and secretive IOC only to be replaced by a multitude of others who anxiously stand in a seamless and unending stellar line. No, never diminishing, pleading to be pushing their limits of extreme human endurance, although they take sacred and spiritual phony oaths about a foreboding and prefabricated human credo; something about right and wrong, and of those who cheat, and of those who want to keep it clean, to compete on a so-called even field.

Like so what's the deal of all this daredevi lish derring-do when all of these peculiar/bizarre things are said and done.

Like how many carefree, self-professed rabid fanatics of the self-indulgent, humongous and decadently expensive, wintry, insane, scary, mindnumbing cirtcus: it certainly appears to be an expressive extravagant shenanigan without a logical end or even a certain definitive purpose. hmmmmmmmmm Although I really think that I know where to find the bottomless pit and the end of the line - I just follow the money and find that it's really about those useless and uncontrollable and fiendish I.O.C. fat cats, and so as I write this expose there are a mere three days to go to be gone from here, from these parts, forever. Never to return, this obnoxious Olympiad, nothing to ever remotely compare to this almost snowless washout ' this extreme extravaganza of endeavours.

ROBYN LIVINGSTONE

Sunrise The phoenix that rises out of the ashes of darkness to give the world li fe is a symbo l, a mirror, of smaller occurrences, smaller victories in li fe.

Sunrise is like meeting someone after a long night of lone liness stretching over years, someone special, someone like the last person, years ago, who melted the ice of the world j ust by being present in one's li fe.

Steve C roft US Army, Afghanistan

There's people dying on our streets and you call it an obstruction Tearing down the buildings when what we need is reconstruction To build a community you need a solid Foundation We're not standing here asking, It's a father fucking dictation You ignore all the problems and take off on Vacation When people are forced to the street from 2010 gentri fi cation Community and support is lost to displacement And we're the only one's without housing throughout all the G8 nations And your solution to end it all is called Project Civil City It's not the people in the streets it" s only you it's benefiting I hear news from different sources about our inner-city Streams of justice, homeless nation and the Anti Poverty Committee Not to mention all the people that your project's already hitting And in preparation for what games -a 2010 circus event Filling our streets with racial profiling and unwanted law enforcement MacDonald's. Petro Canada and Coca-cola endorsement Find me one homeless person who you know 11 ill support it We're at the Tent Village shouting '路Homes for All' You got blood on your hands it's all through the '路ledge" and city hall Wish I could bring out the lies with just a spray of luminal Will end this endless cycle once and for all A POEM by LAUREN GILL fTaken from the Tent Village Voice. #I Vol I 20/2/10]