November 15, 2006, carnegie newsletter

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N EWSLETIE R .

401 Malf! Street, Vancouver V6A 2T7 (604) 665

. NOVEMBER 15, 2006 . www.carnnews.om be

350 square feet!

My own bathroom!!

A small kitchen!!!

A table, a chair, a closet!!!!! •

The Minister signs {someone's} a letter Dear _ __ _ :

October 2006

Thank you for your letter requesting an increase in BC Employment and Assistance (BCEA) rates. I am pleased to respond.

Please be assured that this ministry is committed to assisting people temporarily while they find work and individuals who are unable to fully participate in the workforce. As you may know, income assistance is meant to be a temporary measure for employable adults and is an income- and asset-tested program of last resort. Therefore, rates for employable clients reflect the ministry's expectation that clients move as quickly as possible towards full-time sustainable employment by participating in programs and services designed to enhance their employability and self-reliance. The ministry strongly believes the best way to prevent poverty is for people to be in the labour market. To this end, the ministry invests over $70 million yearly in employment programs.

To reflect the ministry's expectation that employable clients find and maintain sustainable jobs as soon as possible, ministry policy does not allow an earnings exemption for employable clients. Research shows that earnings exemptions increase the length of time individuals spend on assistance by encouraging them to combine part-time work with assistance rather than seeking fuJI-time employment.

Please be assured that income assistance rates are reviewed annually within the context of the provincial government's budget spending and revenue decisions. The rates reflect policy choices about how to best allocate limited public resources between competing social objectives.

The current job market is thriving and unemployment rates have dropped significantly. Since more job opportunities than ever are available for those seeking work, we want our clients to take advantage of those opportunities as they are able. In fact, the majority of the ministry's former clients already earn more than the minimum wage due to the competitive job market. .

At the same time, our ministry recognizes that some individuals face persistent barriers to employ. ment or are unable to become self-sufficient through

employment. One of our top priorities is to achieve the best system of support in Canada for individuals with disabilities. The ministry is working to ensure that these SCEA clients have s~fficient m_onthly Income to meet their ongoing nutritional, housing, and other personal needs.

In January.2005, the .disability assistance rate was increased by $70 for single clients and by $140 for couples. You may be interested to know that British Columbia's disability assistance rates are now the third highest among the provinces. Since March 1 2006, clients with the Persons with Disabilities ' (PWD) designation and those in the Persons with Persistent Multiple Barriers to Employment (PPMS) category have been able to earn up to $500 each month in addition to receiving their full shelter and support payment from the government. This is a 150 percent increase to the exemption since 200 1.

The ministry works hard to ensure that BCEA services are accessible for individuals and families most in need. Our numerous Outreach Programs across the province provide services to connect homeless or "at-risk" individuals with ministry supports..outreach services include conducting intake mtervtews, helping to complete application forms, and connecting clients with community services for housing infonnation. These services help the ministry to connect with typically hard-to-reach people who may be homeless or have mental health or addictions problems.t _In addition, the ministry conducts numerous Emerg~ncy ~eeds Assessments (ENAs) that help to provtde .asststance to individuals in need as quickly as posstble. For example, when a person indicates an immediate emergency need for food shelter or . treatment, ministry staff will' schedule ' an medtcal immediate application appointment. When individuals are eligible for ENAs, they are exempt from the three-week work search. Currently, 58 percent of new clients access assistance through the ENA Since the issue of the minimum wage rate does not fall under this ministry's mandate, I have forwarded your letter to the Honourable Olga llich, Minister of Labour and Citizens' Services, for her .review. .

Th~. you ~ain for writing. I can assure you that the mmtstry wtll take your comments into considera• t10n as we review ministry rates and programs in the future.

Claude Richmond, Minister

"Outside the box", Claude How to counter some of the Ministry of Employment and Immigration's arguments against Raise the Rates' demands: • Increase welfare rates by 50%; • End the barriers that keep people in need from getting on welfare; • Allow all people on welfare to keep the first $500 they earn; • Raise minimum wage to at least $1 0/hour and end the training wage of $6/hour.

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1. Claude Richmond says: "70%) of the caseload is comprised of persons with disabilities and persons with multiple barriers to employment who receive much more than basic income assistance."

First off, Richmond's "much more than basic assistance" is hardly "much more". People with multiple barriers to employment receive merely $607.92 a month, which amounts to only an extra $97.92. They are still expected to pay rent and utilities for $325, as well as the extra costs that result from their disabilities. Even taking into account the $70 increase introduced last year, disability benefits now only match those in 2000.

Secondly, though 70o/o of the caseload may receive more than the basic income assistance, that still leaves over 27,000 BC citizens who are expected to survive, look for work, and look after children if they are parents on totally inadequate incomes of $510 a month for single people and $968 a month for a single parent with one child. Those figures are 30% lower, after inflation, than in the mid·1990s.

Many of these 27,000 BC citizens are welfare recipients who are being denied access to the slightly higher levels of income assistance because they have disabilities that are not recognized by the Ministry (for example, head injuries, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome) or the process for getting the disability recognized is so full of red tape that people cannot get the proper designation.

The Ministry itself has acknowledged that virtually everyone who remains on assistance has some barrier to employment and is likely to be there for a year or more, far longer than in previous years, so it is now more urgent than ever to address the inadequacy of the welfare rates.

2. Richmond: "We know that employable people "'< are much better off working than on income as- _, sistance."

This comparison is m~an~ngless. unless two conditions are met: First, the wages and job conditions related to the employment must be sufficient to raise the person·or family out of poverty ... Second, the income assistance rates must be sufficient to provide for the person or family's basic needs. Otherwise, there is no sense to the claim that people are better off when employed; indeed, on this logic, if there were no income assistance at all, people would be "better off' earning 5 cents a day. (Excerpt from Patricia Cochran's letter to Claude Richmond).

Neither of these conditions have been met. Accord.. ing to the National Council of Welfare, " .. . many jobs do not pay enough to keep a family out of poverty." With BC' s minimum wage of$8 an hour and $6 an hour for first time workers, and with the average rent for a bachelor apartment at about $654 a month, it is very difficult for minimum wage workers to support themselves, especially if they have a family, or can only work part-time.

In addition, the ministry requires single parents to look for work no matter how many children they have. Working at low wage j~os dep1~ :es children of the parent's work at home and can create a lot of stress as parents try to balance work and their children' s daycare, school and other needs while still living in poverty.

3. Richmond: "BC's economy is booming and there is virtually a job available for every individual who wants one."

There are many reasons why people may not be able to access these jobs: • Some people are not allowed to work; for example, refugees awaiting a work penn it.

• Som~ people can only work part-time and cannot support themselves on part-time minimum wage jobs.

• Many of the available jobs require training, i.e. those in the construction industry.

• It is practically impossible to get a job if you have no address.

• Other factors also make it very hard to get a job, such as having no recent job history, having a criminal record, not having the

means to buy work clothes and other supplies, etc. â&#x20AC;˘ Addiction, mental-health or other sorts of social and health problems.

Also, reiterating the point above, the fact that "there is virtually a job available for every individual who wants one" is not good news unless having a job can guarantee a Iife free from poverty.

4. Richmond: " .â&#x20AC;˘. studies show that earnings exemptions encourage a longer dependence on income assistance- risking generational welfare dependency for individuals and their children."

It is unclear which studies Richmond is referring to. The fact that BC is the only province that has no earnings exemption for non-disabled people shows that the other provinces consider it a valuable tool for encouraging people to work. Even the right-wing Fraser Institute criticizes the elimination of an earnings exemption, saying that it "creates a disincentive to work". (While we may not agree with the notion that welfare recipients need incentives to work, this is still a powerful argument to counter right..wing beliefs.)

The lack of an earnings exemption leads to a situation in which many people in poverty are criminalised. Income assistance benefits are too low to live on so welfare recipients need to earn more money in order to survive. Without the earnings exemption, these people cannot declare their earnings and have no alternative but to work 'under the table'. Earnings exemptions help them get back on their feet legally.

The Minister himself has acknowledged that most people now remain on welfare for a year or more so this top-up is even more vital now.

5. If there was an earnings exemption, what's to stop people having an easy life by receiving welfare and only working part-time?

If the earnings exemption was set at $500 as we are asking for, then this person would be trying to live on a maximum of$1010 a month, which is still only approximately 80o/o of a single person's mini~um living costs; this hardly constitutes an 'e~y h~e'.

Even if there are people who choose to hve hke ..this, why penalise those who need the earnings exemption to raise themselves and their families out of poverty and off welfare?

6. The government can't afford an increase to welfare rates. We simply don't have the money, or, if we increase welfare we'D have to cut some¡ thing else.

According to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, increasing the welfa.re rates by 50% would cost $500 m.illion. The closing surplus this year was $3 billion~ and the forecasted surplus for next year is the same, so it's clear the money is there. It comes down to the choices the provincial government is willing to make.

7. We can't increase the welfare rates because we have to remain competitive with other provinces -we don't want people moving to BC for our welfare system.

Currently, Quebec, Ontario and Newfoundland have higher welfare rates in absolute dollars than BC, even though the cost of living is lower in Quebec and Newfoundland. In the spring budget, the Newfoundland government indexed welfare rates to inflation so they will increase accordingly each year. It has never been the case that people come from other provinces to access the BC welfare system.

8. Government can't do anything that reduces the incentive to enter the labour market (from meeting with ministry statl).

For at least 300 years governments have been keeping welfare low so that it wilJ not interfere with people's desire to take low wage work even when wages are so low that people can't survive on them. Nowadays, with more and more jobs being part-time, casual and short term, governments want to keep welfare so low that a person working part time at a minimum wage, casual job will be better off working than on welfare. The key here is to increase minimum wage so that working people don't have to live in poverty, not to keep reducing welfare so that people are forced into deeper and deeper poverty.

9. Richmond: "The work search and two-year independence test are in place for people who are able to work, to encourage them to take responsibility and look for employment before turning to taxpayers for their support."

On the MEIA website itself, it states that looking for a job is a full-time job in itself. How, then, can

someone undertake a job search to the stringent standards required by the MEIA before being even considered for welfare, while at the same time fmd· ing food and shelter every day for three weeks?

Generally, when people turn to welfare, they have already been looking for work and have exhausted all of their options.

The two-year independence test has nothing to do with encouraging people to look for work. It' s an arbitrary barrier that blocks access to welfare to those most ...in need, such as those who have irregular employment histories, who may not have the kind of documentatjon MEIA needs as proof of employment, youth over 19 who have just left horne, etc.

10. Richmond: ''we are investing more than $70 million a year in employment and training programs designed to give clients the supports they need to find and keep good jobs."

This $70 rniiJion is being used to fund for-profit employment placement companies such as JobWave.

These companies receive payment when clients do not return to welfare so they only choose the most employable welfare recipients. Most of these people have only recently entered the welfare system and 80% would likely have found work on their own.

Some pertinent quotes from the ministry's own evaluation of the primary employment programs: • "unclear if all clients benefit- program design/payment structure encourages services providers to focus on clients least in need of assistance."

• "appears that referrals are driven by contractual targets, not client needs.''

• "difficult to clearly ascertain if client's successes are due to program services."

In light of these findings, the ministry is in a transition period re-designing these programs. It remains to be seen what the outcomes are.

Welfare recipients without disabilities cannot attend post-secondary education while on welfare so training for higher-paid 'good jobs' is clearly not realJy a priority for the ministry.

11. The government has recently committed $1 million per year for the next three years to exP.and a successful pilot program in which workers connect with homeless people and get them on to welfare (i.e. Judy Graves' pilot)

The fact that the government has had to embark on this is a phenomenal - and expensive - admission that its application system does not work. This program proves our point - the system is so complicated that the government is now needing to send advocates out on to the street to seek out all the people who couldn't manage the process on their own (or think there is no point even trying), and in many cases this program is having to waive the Ministry's own rules, in recognition that its one-size-fits-all rules are leaving too many on the streets. But the problem is that these street workers can't help people as fast as the Ministry is pushing them away. It's a hopeless game of catch-up without end, unless something is done to change the entire process.

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12. But how many of these people are drug addicts or just refuse to accept the help they need?

Some are drug addicts, and some aren't. But let's unpack your comment. Some people on welfare, let's face it, aren't the most sympathetic people. But welfare isn't supposed to be a popularity contest. It's supposed to help people in need.

One of the things the CCPA 's Denied Assistance report found, ironicalJy, is that the more middleclass you are, the better able you are to present yourself well and have your paperwork in order, the more literate and computer literate you are, the more likely you are to get assistance.

But it is the very people who most need help people with mental health problems, or addiction problems, or with some sort of social and health problems - who are less likely to be able to navigate the system and get the help they need.

We need a system that isn't cookie-cutter - is able to deal with individuals and their unique needs.

Submitted by Jean Swanson on behalf of Raise the Rates

Jean Swanson Carnegie Community Action Project

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Dear Jean, Thank you for sending me a copy of the CCAP Report on Affordable Housing in V~couver. It is~ excellent and comprehensive outhne of the gravity of the crisis and what needs to be done.

I commit to doing everything I can to make the federal government be part of the solution, not part of the problem. This must involve area-investment of federal funds in an achievable national housing strategy that has as its primary focus, not-for-profit social housing and cooperative housing. The NDP has supported a dedication of 1 % of the federal budget for housing.

In addition l strongly support increasing income assistance rates by at least 50% and believe that the federal government must lay down clear standards for welfare, based on access and an adequate living income.

1 will work with the community and advocate for these changes.

1 believe CCAP's work and report is incredibly im portant and you have my full support.

Sincerely Libby Davies MP, Vancouver East

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How Should J Know? ·

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I don't know. Don't ask me. Don't s how me.

I cannot te ll and I will not sellout. ~

. You'll neve r be tha t wa!:J. J like to keep secrets

in the dark,

H idden d eepi!:J away, about what: J really believe about you, and what J want to

actually say to !:JOU.

Know what it's kind o f about?

C lose !:JOUr e!:Jes and think t o r a minute, J ust tor something to do, Like !:JOU've got too much time on _your hands.

S low everything way, way down And pounce on a moment, Any one ot them, take y o u r pick. .

Y ou are tree to stand s t ill.

Flush the p ills, relax to chill.

A

different point of view,

And you'll wonder a t the benefits That will a maze, tha t wills top you in your tracks.

The:~ will accrue like longed-tor, desperate wishes, F ast a nd present. And so J sa3,

AMBLESIDE ORCHESTRA Ambles·ide Orchestra of West Vancouver makes a return visit to Carnegie Centre. The woup will entertain the members with light classics ranging from ·Faust's Ballet Music and Cbopints Les Sylphides, to the popular musical uouys and Dolls", and sophisticated jazz stylings of Duke Ellington. There will be something to delight every musical taste!

. Wednesday, November 29th .

7:30- 9:00 PM . . C •

le Theatre

What do !:JOU know about that?

- R.obyn Livingsto ne

A comment: In 1936, Adolf Hitler staged the Olympics - to show the world what a brilliant and caring man he was. He fooled a lot of people.

I think the same can be said about Bush (USA) with the Olympics in Atlanta and now with Campbell (BC) - it's the same theme of rounding up the homeless, rounding up the undesirables. Campbell and his farm team at City Hall in Vancouver, but province-wide, is just starting earlier.

Larry Mousseau

GETAJOBBUM Get a job bum!

I work, I do, day by day, 路 Some times they even pay.

When they do it isn't enough.

To pay for a room, plus other stuff.

Will you help?

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Well sir, I had one.

Defending our country they liked to say.

In reality, keeping obstades to greater wealth at bay.

After dosing me with depleted uranium, Too sick to fight I' was given an ultimatum.

Honorable discharge for this son, And with me, my country was thus done.

Will you help?

Get a job bum!

Get a job bum!

I'm trying to,

But l don't look decent enough to work in a zoo.

No place to sleep, 1've been up all night.

Afraid to sleep out of shear fright.

Wet and soaked to the bone.

Cold and without a place to call home.

Hungry, dirty, feeling and looking like hell, Who would, to me, give a job pray tell?

Will you help?

Get a job bum!

I had one, it paid the bills so well, Then one work day became a trip to hell, Worker's Compensation to me did proceed to tell, "You'll be better after a spell," It never happened like they say, And the pain still won't go away.

Then WCB cut me off one day.

Will you help?

Get a job bum!

Born a child pure.

Molded by a life of obstacles too great.

Change is too little and too late?

Broken to bits, has been my lot, What you see is what you've got.

Will you help!

Get a job bum!

My will to persists falters, Interest in tomorrow wanes The lowest reaches of the social system, truly pains.

Alcohol, drugs and out of this world fantasies I've thus路made my latest gains.

Will you help?

Get a job bum!

In the dead of night, While you're sleeping tight, I dumpster dipped till dawn.

With pickens so slim, I was soon hungry again, Try as I might, to survive is a fight.

Will you help?

Get a job bum!

I volunteer, every time,

None of which pays a dime.

With hope every day.

My talents will become known.

And I can get a job of my own.

That will actually pay.

Will you help?

Get a job bum!

Maintaining a sense of meaning To this life I live today.

A little self worth oft seems so far away.

Please can't you hear me screaming, I'm not here by choice, Please hear my voice.

Please help?

Colleen Caron

Save the celel!rations...

ANTED

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

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Small illustrations to accompany articles and poetry Cover art - .Maximum size: 17cm (6-3/4") wide x 15 em (6") high Subject matter relevant to issues pertaining to the Downtown Eastside is preferred, but all work will be considered.

Black and white printing only Size restrictions must be considered (i.e., if your piece is too large, it will be reduced and/or cropped to fit) All artists will receive credit for their work.

Originals will be returned to the artist after being copied for publication.

Renumeration: Carnegie volunteer tickets.

Please make submis~ion~ tq: Paul Taylor, Editor Carnegie Newsletter

Mustc foy A NovembeY

6VeV\,t~

Saturday, November 25th, 7:00 PM Carnegie Theatre Come join Elliott and Colleen for an evening of uplifting flute and piano music. Featured on the pro-

~;~WI~·~ll~bie~:5S5!!553ee:=:==::=:=:=SIJ • • • ,. _

Suite for flute and piano by Claude Bowling Concierto Pastoral by Joaquin Rodrigo Nocturnal Spirits by Mark Annanini and some new piano works by Colleen 1 & 2 and Rainfall) Muriel •

The new Rental Assistance Program being pushed by the gov't guy, Coleman; in the words of lawyer David Mossop, "raises a number of legal 'issues. First, there is a requireffi!}nt that you have resided in BC for 12 months. to qualify. Second, we!fare recipients do not qualify. n

I On a really positive note, the Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House has recognized Kelly (Carnegie poet, photographer, and more) as their 2006 Volunteer of the Year!

Call for 4 Curious Poets ~,Take Two" is a new project featuring four poets

from the Carnegie Centre area and four from The Writers Studio at Harbour Centre.

Each poet will write and workshop 3 new poems.

Then, working in pairs, they will write riffs, spinoffs, or ''translations" of each other's 3 poems.

"Take Two" will culminate with the publication of a chapbook and a celebratory reading.

Poet, author and teacher Betsy Warland will lead the project. Interested? Call Betsy right away at 604773-0737 or email her at bwarlru;td@s.fu.ca.

Although "Take Two" will happen this winter, we need to confrrm participating poets now.

Cause and effect, effect and cause, and Catch 22 Last September, the City of Vancouver conducted an 'On Line/Fax/e-mail' survey as a consultation regarding public/street disorder issues. The survey included specific questions and one open space for additional comments or suggestions. The four specific questions were: 1) How would you describe City Council's efforts thus far to address public disorder issues?

2) How do you think Vancouver's reputation has been impacted by public disorder?

3) In your opinion, over the last 5 years, public dis.. order has: Increased; has remained constant, or has declined; and 路4) They asked about public disorder issues of most concern and ten options were provided (littering; aggressive panhandling; sleeping/camping in public parks or on beaches; noise infractions; open drug use in public places; graffiti and tagging; cyclists not wearing helmets; public urination/defecation; excessive garbage on streets and in alleyways; jaywalking; and other). The survey on line was available in English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese and Punjab.

The survey was accompanied by a letter signed by Vancouver's Mayor, stating that: "this is a new, coordinated and integrated approach to street disorder issues; a 'Made in Vancouver program' in order of bringing forward recommendations to City Council later this Fall." Also expressed that 'this initiative is not intended in any way to lessen Council's resolve concerning the violent crime and the open drug market, stating root causes of crime and public disorder, such as: poverty, homelessness, drug addiction and mental illness.' That letter also said that the feedback will be sent directly to the Mayor's office and will be considered in the development of a new public order program to be introduced at Council later this Fall and involvement from the entire community will be essential to this program's success.

Other cities such as Amsterdam!> San Francisco, Montreal, Paris, Barcelona, etc, have been conducting integral public consultations on this matter. But in this case -Vancouver- we are not sure to what extent the 'On-line approach" promotes the involvement from the entire community. When it comes to

public consultations, one suggestion for the City is that surveys must not be limited to on line/fax contact, because this illusion (that anyone with anything to say either owns a computer or knows how to type and can use the limited public ones) could not be the best way to reach more population. When surveying, it is a fact that the more points of contact -face to face- with the population, the more representative the results are. Furthermore, it is important for the people to know about the standards and how the survey was processed (How to know if one person using different e-mail or different names from the same email, has filled the survey more than once?), if the survey has been certified (ISO norms), and ho9w results will bring benefit to the community, not the contrary. When social programs started facing further drastic reductions at Provincial level five years ago, many citizens, academics, organizations and community workers expressed their serious concerns about the huge impact that such budget cuts to health, education and social aid would have in the

socioeconomic context of Vancouver. This is relevant considering that the letter issued by the City implicitly cites such realized concerns as exacerbating the root causes of crime and public disorder. If the police force is sent to chase the materially poor, the homeless, people with mental illnesses, etc, the jails will overflow (insufficient and highly expensive) while serious criminals prey on and/or recruit these victims. In this context it's important to recall that our DTES community has one of the highest densities of liquor licences in the country, and some licensed establishments remain open long after midnight. People from all over the Lower Mainland come here and many have the attitude that criminal activity is acceptable or condoned here.

A report published recently and entitled "Social Sustainability in Vancouver" by Merrill Cooper and commissioned by the City, along with United Way and The Vancouver Foundation, has found that "adult and child poverty rates are among the highest in Canada; homelessness has doubled; housing prices have soared out of reach of middle income earners; and the immigrant community is often shut out of the job market". Mr. Cooper writes: "If Vancouver wants to offer all residents a share of its prosperity, it will need renewed investments in healtoh, education, settlement programs and social services to make sure basic needs are being met". It

is important to consider the results of the City's survey in this matter, but equally important to consider seriously the fmdings of Merrill Cooper's study.

If poverty, homelessness, drug addiCtion and mental illness are root causes of crime and public disorder (as mentioned in the City's oletter), cutting provincial funding and resources for programs which try to promote and implement humanitarian alternatives for the population overwhelmed by socio-economic conditions will lead only to aggravation of the problems. This is an obvious instance of government creating and transferring a huge problem for one smaller instance of low budgets. Cause and effect, effect and cause and Catch 22!

Policing with an iron fist, demolishing buildings & closing Hotels that offer shelter to the poor will not solve any problem; it just illustrates less creativity . and Jack of good heart. In other words, if some of the causes are not addressed in the Humanitarian context, if they are left unattended, or if govern, ments use the approach of Denial, the effects will keep re-producing themselves, even to a greater degree, and that is something which does not match properly with standards required for a geographical region touted as the best place on earth to live.

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By Jorge Escolan-Suay

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SUGGESTED READING LIST

(Documcmtary Nights on Saturdays is a growing hit with people sick of just mainstream media as the only source for mediation between reality and you.)

Terrorism Trap 322.42 P221 Dangerous Dealings 323.49d 63u Theageofterror 973.931 A26t Crossing The Rubicon 973.931 R94c Human Rights Watch 322.42h84h Silencing Political Dissent 323.40973 D45s Inside 9-11 What Happened 322.42 159s (Chomsky Recording) 322.42 C54 Critical View 322.42c 931 Rogue Nation 327.73s4 32r • Why The Towers Fe/1624.111 W62k Lost Liberties 323.409 731 88b War And Globalisation 322.42 C55wl 9-11 The Big Lie 322.42 Mbln The New Pearl Harbor 973.931 G85n (It seemed like the usual rumblings - a government conspiracy - until the overwhelming amount of evidence gave 9-11 Revealed 322.42 H 520 ·me pause: check these:] Aftermath 973,931 A25m 5 Unanswered Questions 322.42.H52n •

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You are invited to attend opening night or any performance.

Audience-interactive Forum Theatre created and performed by people who have struggled witt) meth addiction We all hear about crystal meth's ravages, stories of instant dependency and psychotic episodes, increased.crime and shattered lives. These are effects of addiction. What are the causes?

METH begins with the premise that addicts come from somewhere: our communities. It is within our communities that solutions dwell. Meth is a chance for people to come together, to seek grassroots solutions for an issue that is profoundly affecting families throughout the Lower Mainland.

Nov 30 • Dec 3; Dec 6 -10, 2006 Directed and Joked by David Diamond

Information and reservations 604.871 .0508

Japanese Hall. 475 Alexander St, Vancouver Pay what you can. Reservations recommended

All performances at 8pm: www.headlinestheatre.com Come be a part of the qonversation r·- ··- ··- ··-··- ··-··-·· -·a-.· M·-··-··-··-··-· ·-··-··- ··-··-· ·-··-·· ~··-··-· ·-~

Humanities 1OJ Series

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:talk by PACE (Prostitution Alternatives Counselling and Education).

Speaker TBA. 7pm, 3rd floor of the Carnegie.

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Carnegie Centre presents

Three Centuries of Chamber Music r

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·Annual -W inter Sale

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Friday, ·oecember 1st, Noon- 7pm

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Victoria Drive Community Hall 2026 East 43"' Ave, Vancouver

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(New location!)

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! Ceramics, Pottery, Paintings, Prints, M Cards and more... ii Info: 604-811-9788; www. V£h.calllrogmm§{.art_stt!fi.fps.htm !' ' -· . -.... _....-.. -- ...--.. -.... -- .. -··- ' :..j .·- .. -.......---·· -·.-··- ...-....- ··- ... --.- ....-.. ·- ··- ·.. -·.. -.... -.... --·-·· ~

A comment:

Clarinetist Johanna Hauser, flutist Elizabeth McBurney, and guitarist Michael Strutt will perfonn music

by Sammartini, Kreutzer, Debussy, Robinovitch, Mourat, and Barcos.

Friday, Novemb~r 24th at 3pm in Carnegie Theatre •

It's interesting to hear the term wage inflation and never the term profit inflation, maybe because it isn't in the lexicon of the analysts spewing their skewed view of economic conditions.

I am very suspicious because of motivation, and reinforcement framing social prerogatives and attitudes concerning.such areas of interaction.

I am a capitalist but have no more business being included in economic analyses than if I am a nudist. ·.Yet it doesn't seem to occur to that person just how .i irrelevant their views are after making such a claim, nor to many interviewers asking for these people's • vtews.

Ken

~ Homelessness- Please DON'T Pass The Buck

Down and out on their luck, While governments pass the buck.

Out in the rain night and day, While tax money goes for war games to play Making folks homeless here and half a world away.

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The homeless in numbers here and there do swell.

It's a story our Media seldom will tell.

Of the rich getting richer while poor live in hell.

Of our economy, it's not in any trouble they say.

While all are encouraged at Olympics to play With hopes that the poor will just move away.

While the ranks of the homeless do swell, Of the government's actions I'd like to tell.

Is it to help the poor, alleviate their pain?

Hell no, it's to help the rich in.crease their gain.

And their status quo maintain.

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Companies ~etting rich selling toys for war.

Our governme.u~.; .:;upport, buying tools of horror.

Arming squat teams to the teeth to keeping the sweJJing angry masses at bay.

Is the government's response when their created poverty has something to say, Maintaining order, the status quo They firmly believe it's the only way to go.

Because greed and more is all they know.

Of their momentum they wish not to slow.

Their quest for mammon continues to grow.

Will we see all this come soon to an end?

Or is our future as we see in Oaxaca dear friend?

Look for the answers in solidarity, not in false hopes of charity.

While Governments may cho~se to pass the buck, Helping friends in high places increase their luck.

In unison we need all speak up.

Having weaJth put to work for the good of all.

Can't be an order all that tall.

Yes, a vecy few a long way must fall.

But it'll be for the good of most of us all.

Waging piece.my friend, makes a better world in the end.

• Colleen Caroll

WATER SQUATTERS

Documentary screening on November 24th, 7pm at Video In (Main and 5th Ave.) 1

What happens when a person's inner sense of identity conflicts with society's expectations? When False Creek live-aboard residents learn that a new law threatens their whole lifestyle, they decide to confront their challengers. Water Squatters is the first complete picture of a series of events that changed the course of their lives forever.

Meet Jordan, Jackie, David, Anselmo, Barcy, Susan, Brian, Bill, Donna, and Andre: a garden~variety of artists and entrepreneurs that refuse to be limited by their difficulties or to be defined by labels. After leaving the usual trappings-large homes and shabby hotel rooms-they moved to makeshift boats and cutting-edge yachts. Their crime: love of freedom, self-reliance and boats.

Who stole Jordan's boat? Unfolding within the political arena of powerful economic interests and hostile landed neighbours, Water Squatters recounts the dramatic season that a community traditionally viewed as powerless took the future into their own hands. Part documental)', part suspense, follow director Leon Kaplan as he jumps into the water with sea legs bravado and a handheld camera to share with you every detail about the obstacles boatdwellers encounter to anchor near Vancouver's coastline and to gain control over their lives. Without a doubt, Water Squatters will change forever the way you think and talk about squatters.

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~OlfE8

I have high friends in low places; I've raked the seven sins I can walk on fire but can't walk away from the position I'm in Cowering beneath the sun my left is alright but my right is all wrong Pick the days off like they were flies on the wall; I asked for the shorter version and it's still to love.

When God was handing out happiness my coat was stuck in the gate When God gave out his love alii got were scraps of hate Shot me upbut don't shoot me down, Eternal Jones I deserve & display my illustrious crown, Eternal Jones.

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I wish I could hold 10 seconds of eternity just to throw it in your face I wish I could lose 10 seconds of uncertainty but 1 realize this isn't my place I am excess baggage on the carousel of life; so what if my smile is upside..down?

It's like being trapped in a maternity ward dressed as a clown.

Robert McGillivary •

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The Learn to Act, Intert

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Community Opera: Condemned- A Work in Progress

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Heart of the City Festival October 2,...~ 28111 and 29t•

Condemned - A Work in Progress was wonderfully brought to life by the Carnegie Centre Players with involvement and encouragement by so many it' d be impossible to name them all here, with the exception ofSuzannah Uchatius, Ethel Witty, and Darlene.

It's a play based on some real true-life incidents that actually happened in the Downtown Eastside concerning the responsibility of both a so-calJed civilized society and all levels of government to protect and to keep safe all citizens, and to guarantee basic human rights, i.e. sustenance and shelter allowances.

This production's message was beautifully realized by all of the actors, musicians and the entire crew, and quite accurately by a stellar group of long-time Downtown Eastside resident writers, with words and music written by Earle Peach, along with the opening and closing song penned by Mike Richter and Stan Hudac; all under Earl Peach's direction.

This opera pht~'""n to ~acked houses on all four performances, including the dress rehearsal. The clamour at the theatre for the waiting list for tickets was amazing to watch. After the Friday night performance, there was a very informative question and answer session. After the final performance, a Sunday matinee, there was a magical celebration with all of the actors receiving a long-stemmed flower.

Thank you so much to everyone involved for your incredible dedication and time commitment. The standing ovations you received after every performance were most certainly well deserved. No doubt. about it, this opera, 1 predict, will be a perennial favourite, hopefully to be filmed and shown or performed anywhere and everywhere possible, especially schools. It is a keeper! .

Robyn Livingstone

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FilmNideo: Finding Dawn : ·:;,,:.::"· Heart of the City Festival Carnegie Theatre - Saturday, November 41h

Finding Dawn, a National Film Board of Canada production, was screened to a standing-room-only house in the Carnegie Theatre. The film was directed by Metis filmmaker, Christine Welsh, who was in attendance. Before the movie was projected, there was a special appearance by the Red Blanket Singers, who treated all to an honour song after the traditional Squamish welcome.

The project starts out to be about a family trying to find their sister/daughter/relation who went missing in the Downtown Eastside, and ultimately ends up being a chilling, shocking and frightening chronicle of the tragedy of missing and murdered women throughout Canada.

It becomes a national documentary in scope, and perhaps a subtle and damning indictment of theCa~ nadian justice system, and alleges negligence, incompetence, or disinterest in many aspects of this terrible tragedy.Over five hundred aboriginal women alone have gone missing or have been murdered over the last thirty years. Far too many cases, at this time in history, remain unsolved.

Christine Welsh's film takes the viewer through some of the missing women's heartbreaking life experiences, and is a tribute to these precious human beings whose flames of life were snuffed out senselessly at, sadly, very young ages. She meets relations who bravely carry on after losses and others who will never give up hope until they get some answers, to receive some form of closure. Even closure doesn't really mean amending to memories and regret. After the film ran, some of the principles in attendance, including Dawn's strong and proud older sister, graciously answered questions for a short period of time; receiving many hugs and words of en· couragement. It was a very tearful evening. When it was all over; there was literally not a dry eye in the house. See this film soon!

Robyn Livingstone

it an~ put their stamp on the evening with a standing ovatiOn. It was a fitting tribute to Bruce Eriksen and the least we could do to show him our appreciation for all he did and was.

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The Tippin& Point •Cabaret- at the Festival ......

This night was a truly exhilarating evening of spoken word, song and dance, with music performed by The Bill Sample Trio.

The whole evening was largely a love-in and tribute to Mr. Bruce Eriksen, all extremely well orchestrated by Theatre In The Raw's Jay Hamburger, Heart of the City Festival's artistic director Terry Hunter, and Carnegie's own Bob Sarti, author of "The Tipping Point", and with music composed by " Earle Peach.

Bob led off the tribute with a short history of the IS- Downtown Eastside, and the powerful movement ' that transformed it from having the insulting term and label Skid Road to the vibrant and creative neighbourhood it is today. It's not perfect- nothing is - but it's sure getting there fast in a most wonderful way and, for the most part, by those who live and work in the area. · Almost in spite of the "powers-that-be" the area ! has risen from the ashes, so to speak, like a golden phoenix. Bob, working from memory, a slide show and personal experience working as a Vancouver .

Sun reporter in the 1970's ... the entire presentation was most informative. Bruce Eriksen almost singlehandedly spearheaded the growing activist move~ ment, along with Libby Davies (now M.P. for Vancouver East) and Jean Swanson (now coordinator of 1 the Community Action Project -CCAP- worldng out ' of Carnegie Centre).

Mr. Eriksen passed away in 1996. His legend lives on - as the founder of the Downtown Eastside Residents' Association, and as the saviour of the Carnegie Centre - with a fine building of social housing at Main & Hastings named in his honour.

1 It was a fine evening with songs sung by The Group of Six, a dance, a game show spoof; my favourite song was "Do the Reach, Otherwise we're 1 Poignant. The packed theatre loved every minute of

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,.Many years ago the white man came for the first tim~. They cut down all the big trees to build ships, and then they left. HWldreds of years later they build pu)p and paper mi11 in Espanola, cut down all the Uttle trees, nothing left but rocks. And now by god back for the rocks!" Elder, northern Ontario

Aboriginal Cultural Sharing This is always one of my favourite events at the Festival, and all year round, yet this one seemed extra special. . It was a full house in the Carnegie Theatre, organtsed by Marlene George (newlywed and Carnegie community planner). It was dO amazing ceremony of sharing including a feast, an awesome drum circle . . ' an open mtcrophone for storytelhng, prayers - whatever anyone felt like they had to share with the audience. The Red Blanket Singers, a sundance group, were very strong and powerful, as if casting the entire audience in a trance of universal togetherness, all wrapped in a warm blanket.

There were some incredible guest performances particularly one woman and her group who sang ~d drummed of being almost down & out on Hastings Street, on to_recovery, then ultimately to redemption It w~ beautifully rendered as well as empowering.. espectally with audience participation.

Volunteer Coordinator Colleen and the many Carnegie volunteers, including Egor Marov as technician, did a wonderful job of keeping the theatre neat and clean.

Make sure you do not miss the next Aboriginal Cultural Sharing event; be swept up into the ~auti­ ful m~dicine and sacred spiritual d~mming and chantmg. It was truly an uplifting evening event.

By Robyn Livingstone

Hello Paul; The following is a statement l gave to CBC Radio on comments made about my right to be in the Carnegie Opera Condemned: a work in progress.

There have been some comments made about a few of the members of the Condemned opera cast. I'd like to take a minute to set the record straight. I am told it has been said I should not have been in the Opera because I am not a resident of the Downtown Eastside. I would like to clarify why I was actually in Condemned.

John Ryan and David McConnell appeared at the Carnegie Program Committee in September 1983 to start up a Music Program in Carnegie. I was a member of the Program committee at that time, and had been for two months so I was able to discuss this appeal to the Program Committee and give my suoport for the Music Program's creation. Since that. point I have been actively involved in the Carnegte Music Program.(with the exception of the time spent attending the 1~~~.g Edward College Music Program.)

I helped create the Carnegie Music program and for a period of two years I ensured the program continued when no one else would do the work to keep it going. Prior to staff being hired to run the program it was dependant on a Volunteer to set up and take down the equipment and facilitate it. When a staff person was hired there was no longer a need for this volunteer position. However, I am presently the volunteer for the Music Program's Jam Sessions.

Many times over the years I have had to address my rights as a volunteer in Carnegie. What has always been the important thing is, if you LIVE or WORK in the Downtown Eastside. Work includes VOLUNTEER WORK. I have done way more than my fair share of Volunteer work in Carnegie alone, not to mention all of the other work done before and since walking into Carnegie in June 1983.

I have been homeless in my life in very cold weather. I slept in parked cars, in garages, in hallways and stairways of buildings, in boxes in behind shopping p1azas and so I can say I understand the issue of homelessness because I have been without any roof many times in my younger life. 路 As to the issue of my not living in the Vancouver Downtown Eastside I have one more thing to say.

From 1988 to 1995 I lived in Mavis McMullen Place across from Oppenheimer Park. This is women's housing and was created for single elderly women and women and their children from the Downtown Eastside, who had eitJier no decent homes or no home at all. I was one of the women this housing was initially created for. In 1995 after much work, I moved into Mavis McMullen Housing Society's second building housing women, as assistant to the manager.

Some of our women and their families really needed to live in a home that is not surrounded by bars and drugs. Condemn me for that.

In my life I have spent thirty years as a social, political and environmental activist working for people in predominantly poor areas. Twenty three of these years have been in Carnegie Centre and I have the documentation to verify this. How could there be a question presented about my right to perform the part of a ranting political activist in the Opera Condemnetl1

Another point I would like to leave you with. As I do not go around telling people about my work even the people hiring for the Opera did not know about the work I began doing in 1981 and 1982 on the housing issue prior to beginning to volunteer in Carnegie. No one was even aware about my work before I started volunteering at Carnegie in 1983. It was not until I was interviewed for CBC Radio during our practices and was asked a question about how my part paralleled my life. I was honest and explained some of my work.

I believed it was important for some of the Opera's organizers and teachers to know about my work in this area after I was interviewed. I just showed them my documentation for that work. Hope this clarifies why I was in the Opera Condemned and why I had a right to be there.

It is probably a good thing I did not see the article .that was written questioning the rights of people in the Opera to be there. It alJowed me to feel very good about what we had done until the Heart of the City Festival was over.

If you have any comment to make to me about this article contact, Bharbara Gudmundson at Carnegie Centre, 401 Main Street in Vancouver, BC Bharbara Gudmundson

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Some Thoughts at Sheila Baxter's Book Launch Carnet:ie: Nov.4, 2006 :

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Sheila had hoped that this book launch for her play, "Death In A Dumpster,'' would take place in Victory Square, beside the cenotaph that was built to remember and honour Canadians who died in war.

Victory Square has seen many homeless people over its long history and Canadians who fought and died in war were hoping to make things better, not worse.

Because of the rain, we're holding this book launch at Carnegie. There's lots of strength, hope and caring in this community centre.

In the Second World War, the .First Canadian Division was made up of men who had lived through the bitterness and violence of the Great Depression.

Gathered at the cenotaph in Victory Square in 1935, unemployed, hungry men, most of them quite young asked for food and shelter. Mayor McGeer replied by reading them the Riot Act. One million Canadians were in unifonn in 1945 at the end of the Second World War, and their dreams for a better world were expressed in the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights and that includes the right to food, clothing, housing, medical care and social services · le

25). These are human rights as expressed in this document which Canada has signed. l was a young teenager' when men and women came back from the Second World War. I heard them talk about their hopes for the future. They said, "Never again wilJ we have the unemployment, poverty and homelessness of the 1930's." Yet today we see poverty~ hunger and homelessness everywhere.

Sheila's play was written in remembrance of one homeless young man who was killed in a dumpster.

Over the past decade, many people have died on the streets in Canada. This is a national disgrace, and it is also a disgrace to the memory of Canadians who have died in war. Veterans fought for the human rights of all our citizens, and not just for the corporate elite.

There will be no peace in this world until there is justice. No justice I No peace. And if you' re not sure what justice is, then read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

"Lest we forget."

But those with great power and wealth have forgotten what Canadians fought for in the Second World War. Sheila's play, "Death in a Dumpster," would remind them, if they had the courage to read it. We can read Sheila's play, however, and it will remind us that there's lots of work to be done before we have a just and democratic Canada where human rights are respected and where human beings don 't die in dumpsters.

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Sandy Cameron chats with Sheila Baxter at Camegle. Photo by Kelly.

DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE YOUTH ACTIVITIES SOCIETY 612 Main Street

NEEDLE EXCHANGE VAN- 3 Routes: 604-685-6561 City- 5:45pm -!1:45pm .

Overpight -12:30am..:.. 8:30am Downtown Eastside - 5:30pm - 1:30am

604-251-3310 nww.carnnew~,ore,

carnoews@vcn.bc.ca ·

FREE

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2006 DONATIONS Libby D.-$100 Rolf A.-$50 Barry for Dave McC-$100 Christopher R.-$30 Margaret D.-$40 Bruce J.-$15 The Edge-$200 Mary C-$10 Penny G.-$50 MP/Jelly Bean -$20 RayCam-30 Janice P.-$30 Wes K.-$50 Gram-$$ Glen B.-$25 John S.-$60 Leslie S.-$20 Michael C.-$80 HumanitiesiOI-$100 Wm.B -$20 Sheila B.-$20 Ben C.-$20 Brian $2 CEEDS -$50 Joanne H.-$20 Wilhelmina M.-$10 Saman -$20 Phyllis L.-$200 Paddy-$ 125 Anne P.-$20

I THIS NEWSLETfER lS A PUBLICATION OF THE CARNEGlE COMMUNITY CENTRE ASSOCIATION Articles represent the views of individual contributors and not of the Association

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Contributors are not permitted to malign or attack or relegate any person or group or class., including drug users and poor people, to a level referred to or implying ' less than human' .

Editor: PauiR Taylor; cover & layout, Lisa David.

Submission deadline for next issue:

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Carnegie Community Centre

"Two coffees, one with flagrant exploitation ofLatin Ameri~an small farmers, one without.,,

.Jenny Wa/Ching Kwan MLA

Working for You 1070-1641 Commercial Dr VSL 3Y3

Phone:77S-0790 Fax:77S-088l Downtown Eastside Residents Association 12 ·E. Hastings St, or call682-0931 •

1-------------------~We acknowledge that Carnegie Community Centr~ and this 1 L N!w!!e~r~.!r~ha.£pe,2i'!,! O!!, S.S,u~m~ ~ti!n'! te!!"i~ry..:.. _I

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DO YOU HAVE A LEGAL PROBLEM? Come to our Free Clinic: on Carnegie's 3'4 floor USC Law Students Legal Advice Program •

Tues, 10am-8pm; Wed & Thurs. 10am-4pm

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Join us!!

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Saturday November 18th 2006 At the Carnegie Community Centre 401 Main Street Time: 4:00 to 9:00 pm ABADA Capoeira workshop ~ith Rasta, breakdanc:1ng •ith B.AW music, videosu.. and more TbU 1a 11 communhy naat spoawored by the DT£5/St:mthcoua N~ · Commltuc. Gmu.pa of oeJahbout~ who W&AI •o t,tmk ~her on emaU projtcce that «<hance- du·Jt ne:Jahbourhood. for inf9f~Mtion abo\l• ~ll'poeir" dN1Q "ri1i~ "WWW.iidJJW;ta.ca

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4-5 pm R.uta•a ABAllA aapoeita "-orkshGp 5-6 pm Roda, mu.ic ~7 pm re&ealunents and videos with A DADA Capoeita

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7-7:15 pm the breaker• demo with RAW .. llythm and Actions An" 7:30-9pm Dj The Stunt Man and Dj WHUT~ btullian beata 1Uld beak fusion

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Abanaki Terriyaki - yes Chika I call your name.

Living in Vancouver is a task! In the 3 years of my poverty I've become more whole. I want to give thanks to all the people on the street - for being there when no one cared and teaching me the ropes in order to follow and survive. In terms of change, look close - I know you can see it.

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. The more I think of the wonderful things I could write, the more it seems I could write forever; so I'll just stop while the nostalgia is good.

One final thing, to answer your question: Yes, I continually think of my Daughter.

Yours truly, Gregory Kaldan

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DTES comes together to show respect Drumbeats echoed through the streets of the Downtown Eastside as members of the community marched towards Victoria Square to honor Aboriginal veterans. This is the second anniversary for Aboriginal Veterans Day, held annually on November.8.

More than 100 people gathered in front of the cenotaph to give their respects to Aboriginal veterans who answered Canada's call. The Red Blanket Singers sang songs and performed drumming to begin the ceremonies. Lead speaker, Raual Old Hands, who was dressed in a traditional headdress, led the crowd in a prayer. Veteran's affairs regional director, Martin McDonald, came to show his support. 'lt is a real pleasure to be here today," he said as he shook hands with the people in the crowd.

Old Hands spoke to the crowd about the work of the ancestors. The crowd became silent as he spoke. c'Our people suffered and the Great Spirit gave us many ways to heal ourselves, through our songs, 4

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prayers and ceremonies. We have to remember that we have many ancestors who suffered so we would not forget who we are," he shouted.

As Old Hands walked to the front of the cenotaph, a trumpet player belted out The Last Post as drumming could be heard in the distance. Retired Army veteran Cpl. David Ward from the First Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment addressed the crowd about what Veterans Day is for him .. "I'm proud of this uniform. You should be proud of who you are.

My battalion is in Afghanistan right now. You may live down there, I did. Everybody is a warrior. So just enjoy your day," he said.

Michelle Morning Star Doherty from Tree of Life Business Development led a group of women to the front of the cenotaph where they began singing and dancing to the beat of the drums. The Red Blanket ,Singers continued drumming and singing to mark the closing of the ceremony.

By Jackie Humber