October 1, 2015 carnegie newsletter

a

FREE Do

~J~~~.~.

OCTOBE R 1,2015

C NE~~S!T~~gi e (:.

CRUNCH c-!tes Wf. LL. ,,,s...-r v~£W A

.

1\

rlN Ai.. Cl.

,

.~

a.n Street Vancou ver Canada V6A 2

web _

AJ

-

T7

sue carne gieuewsl tt email carnnews\a! he er.org ea _.'s aw.ca rnnews";;-' ~~.vcn.bc.ca

index

8MNK •..

..•.

so MANY ISSUES •• •

SO

LITILE TIME!

Main 'n Hastings Intersection all sorts of humans walk run glide glow across the crosswalk to Carnegie to & fro shorebirds coast just above these heads oblivious to land - born rulers occasionally an errant feather falls on the crowd linking the two transit types a variety of music & sounds surround Carnegie Centre: profound and another day erupts in the dtes all ready to ever surprise!

John Alan Douglas

THE 8TH ANNUAL OPPENHEIMER PARK COMMUNITY ART SHOW: IN BETWEEN! At Gallery Gachet (88 E. Cordova)

Homeland: Battleground Gentrification ain't no fun & games. The poor and homeless most always lose, like in a shady poker game, with neighbours 'n hoods being uprooted, displaced, cast off. Where to go? Where to live? When the condo kings shout, "Get lost! Buzz off!" Say no way: This plan, this scheme fiendishly devised to wipe us out is warped & worn but never abandoned because we're the ones they despise. It's driven by greed, crashing down and crushing empty storefronts with too-high rents & putting in hoity-toity 5-star (?) restaurants & designer clothing stores that both sell over-priced crap to local wannabee gentry. Ifwe protest this seam their wannabee cops set up perimeters, patrol the street market while their betters make deals with no taxes, no hassle, no salespitch spiel. Fast food bistros pop up daily, here & there. I suggest that the Sally Ann & UGM have much better fare ...

The war on the poor is far from over. These relentless corporate bigwig heir politico's greed never ends; it doesn't matter how many millions or billions they already have to spend. You see they all have tunnel vision yet consider us the most in want, in need .. as collateral damage. That's what they act on; what they truly believe - that it's not worth the time to talk or listen, just to coral & surround us with micromanagement. They have won some battles but I guarantee they will never win the defining war 'cause we ain't going anywhere soon, nor ever. We are not moving.

We are standing our ground. These 'uppui-class' prima donnas just better get used to us forever shout ing, campaigning, protesting, forever stickin' around.

ROBYN L1VINGSTONE.

Exhibition runs: September 11th-October 25th, 2015 Oppenheimer Park and Gallery Gachet are pleased to present In Between! this year's annual exhibition showcasing artworks from the Oppenheimer Park community. Included are painting, drawing, print, sculpture, carving, textile, mixed media and video works. This year, the exhibition takes on "in between" as its focus. In Between! represents a variety of perspectives (between languages, places, nations, cul.tures, life etc.). 35 artists' diverse interpretations of in-betweenness will be featured in the show.

Public service union helped save library's documents from the dumpster The Stephen Harper government shut down another research centre library, throwing reports, journals and other documents into a dumpster.

[Google Harper's War on Data]

It's painfully true BUT A potentially explosive parliamentary investigation into the Harper government's so-cal\ed "muzzling" of .government scientists shows no signs of being released before the federal election on Oct.19, despite Canada's Information Commissioner digging into it for more than two and a half years.

"Voters need to know what the result of that investigation has been," said law professor Calvin Sandborn, .with the University of Victoria's Environmental Law Centre. "I think the public needs to know the extent of the muzzling ... Our submission is that it runs very deep in government. n' In February 2013, the university law group, together with Democracy Watch, filed a formal complaint to Information Commissioner Suzanne Legault, alleging federally employed scientists, with expertise from fisheries to fracking, are under a gag order from sharing their taxpayer-paid expertise and scientific findings with the press or public.

Two months later, in April 2013, Legault agreed to investigate the Harper government information restrictions as possible violations of Access to Information laws. She pledged to look into complaints at seven different government insitutions: • Canadian Food Inspection Agency • Department of the Environment • Department of Fisheries and Oceans

3

• Department of National Defence • Department of Natural Resources • National Research Council of Canada • Treasury Board Secretariat But oddly, since then, there's been nothing.

National Observer has been writing the Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada for months, asking: 'Will this report come out before the election?

Why has it taken more than two and a half years? Is the office understaffed? Is the report itself being muzzled by the Conservative government?'

Via spokesperson Natalie Hall, the Office of the Information Commissioner has responded stating that "due to the strict confidentiality provisions of the Access to Information Act," the commissioner cannot discuss the investigation nor its completion date.

Hall also assured that all of the commissioner's investigations "are conducted independently from government... [as described in the] Communications Policy of the Government of Canada."

The trouble could be cooperation.

Earlier this month, it was revealed that the information commissioner is taking the Prime Minister's Office to court, accusing it of refusing to release documents about four senators embroiled in scandal: Mike Duffy, Mac Harb, Patrick Brazeau & Pamela Wallin.

For journalists, long flummoxed by their inability to get the most basic' of scientific information from government, the long-delayed report is not surprising, says the vice-president of the Canadian Association of Journalists.

"The Harper government has increased information control -both in terms of its control over the bureaucracy, the rules of engagement with the public and journalists," says Sean Holman, ajournalism professor at Mount Royal University in Calgary. ."It's not just about our ability to access scientists. It's .not just about our ability to access scientific information. It's about our ability to access government information writ large."

Professor Sandborn says the controls even impair' Joe Caller' from getting basic info from government.

"It became obvious to me as I phoned civil servants and asked, 'Hey, how does your regulatory system work on dealing with carcinogens?' You used to be able to have a conversationcitizen to scientist, and they would tell you," said the legal expert.

"Now [they] tell you ... you'll have to file a written

request, and then they give you a big runaround. Then it goes to [handlers] ... to see ifthere's going to be some political angle on whether or not Joe Citizen can have information, that Joe Citizen paid for!" Sandborn added.

In one incident, an Ottawa Citizen journalist asked the National Research Council about Canada's joint research with NASA about snow. Although the journalist quickly got information from American government officials in a phone call, he was given the run around by the Canadian NRC and ultimately denied an interview.

In another example, this summer National Observor attempted to reach one of Environment Canada's top climate change modellers, Greg Flato, with questions about extreme weather trends. His credentials are impeccable: his government bio notes that he leads "Environment Canada's global and regional earth system models," and chairs a World Climate Research Programme.

But an Environment Canada media relations officer said flatly: "Unfortunately we will not accommodate your interview request."

Note the words "will not." Not even "This scientist is busy," or "Can we help get you this information another way?"

In return, Environment Canada was asked why it "will not" respond. The department obfuscated, sent unhelpful United Nations reports, and concluded, "we believe that we have satisfied your request."

The crackdown on information flow has everything to do with a "Media Relations Protocol" introduced in 2007 into Environment Canada, about a year after Stephen Harper first became prime minister.

A federal present tion about that protocol (displayed at the bottom of this story) shows that reporters' questions on politically sensitive topics such as "climate change, wildlife, water quality and supply" or "the polar bear and caribou" have to first be vetted by "the Privy Council Office for approval."

The environment minister herself, Leona Aglukkaq, can flatly reject a reporter's request to speak to a federal scientist.

The Professional Institute of Public Service of Canada-the union that represents 14,000 federal government scientists -says the Harper information controls are frustrating, "countless" and part of a larger Conservative push to control and "spin" all information that flows to Canadians, especially on matters of

environmental protection, oil sands development, and climate change.

Taxpayer-paid scientists who have dedicated their lives to understanding the health of Canadians and the environment are routinely "treated as second-class citizens by their own employers - chaperoned to conferences, and not allowed to present their own research to the public or journalists," said the union's spokesperson Peter Bleyer in Ottawa on Thursday.

For some former federal scientists, the information commissioner's report can't come soon enough.

Thirty-two-year-veteran DFO fish biologist Steve Camapana says he was "disgusted" by the federal government's "unethical" clampdown, and only spoke out about it after he retired this year. He then moved to Iceland to resume his research there, where he can easily share his scientific findings with the world.

"The intent of the muzzling seemed to be more to demoralize government scientists than anything," Campana wrote fromReykjavfk last week.

"I'm not aware of any government scientist who would be stupid enough to criticize government policy to the media, at the risk of being disciplined," he added.

NDP MP Laurin Liu said taxpayers have a right to know the scientific information that taxpayers have paid for. Her party put forward a bill, supported by the Greens, to establish the position of Parliamentary Science Officer.

"When we get elected into government, we will unmuzzle scientists," Liu said from her Riviere-desMille-Iles riding north of Montreal. ''It's incredibly important that our scientists have the ability to talk to the public about their findings. We can't just make decisions based on ideology - but on fact."

Liberals have also pledged to create a Chief Science Officer for Canada, and to let government scientists speak freely about their research.

"Canadians expect their government to embrace fair, evidence-based policy. Liberals are committed to reestablishing a respectful relationship with government scientists and making their publicly-funded research accessible to Canadians," said Liberal critic for Science and Technology Ted Hsu in May. Conservative campaign director Kory Teneycke was asked to comment on this story Friday. He did not respond.

By Mychaylo Prystupa

Federal ElectlonIb: Have yours ready 5 Three options to prove your identity and address 1 Show one of these:

driver's licence, provincial or territorial ID card or any other government

card

with your photo, name and current address

2

Show two pieces of ID (At least one must have your current address.)

• health card

credit card

- Canadian

debit card

passport

• birth certificate

employee

-certificate

student

of Canadian

citizenship

- income card

identity

insurance

card

- vehicle

library card

card number

card

liquor identity

Indian status card band membership

parolee

card

-Veterans

Affairs

-old age security

identity

health card

card

-rnedical

clinic card

-Iabel on a prescription container -Identity bracelet issued by a hospital or long-term care facility -btood

donor card

I-

card

firearms

,-licence

card

-hospitat

card

policy or

issued by a or university

licence or card issued

trapping

for fishing,

of confirmation of residence from a First Nations band or , reserve or an Inuit local authority

• letter of confirmation of residence letter of stay. admission form or statement of benefits from one of the following designated establishments:

I

I·

statement

credit union statement

I·

- student

credit card statement

,. personal

cheque

~.government

statement

of benefits

of

I.letter

_

or hunting

,- utility bill (e.q. electricity; water; telecommunications services I including telephone, cable or : satellite)

!- bank

public

• targeted revision form from Elections Canada to residents . long-term care facilities

t

.CNIB

certificate,

• letter from a public curator, guardian or public trustee

-card issued by an Inuit local authority

or

ownership

• correspondence school, college

card

Forces

or statement

tax assessment

• 'nsurance statement

card

Metis card

-Canadian

contract

• property tax assessment evaluation

card

public transportation

-cirizenship social

,. mortgage

-

I

-

'

residence

seniors' residence long-term care facility shelter soup kitchen

If your ID does not have your current address, take an oath Show two pieces of ID with your name and have someone who knows you attest to your address This person must show proof of identity and address, be registered in the same polling division, and attest for only one person

Elections Canada will be at Carnegie Centre to register people to vote in the upcoming Federal Election. The Revisal Agents will be set up at the long wooden table by the Info Desk on the Main Floor on the following dates: Thursday, October 1st from 10:30 - 12:30 Friday, October 2nd from 2:00 - 4:00

THE CHARTER OF RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS: PEOPLE'S ULTIMATE RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS IN CANADA lames LymBumer will lead a discussion on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 2:00 PM Camegie Community Centre in the Art Gallery 1. The Canadian Charter of Rights: Origins Magna Carta and Common Law; Positive v Normative Concepts in Criminal! Common Law,The Supreme Document: (,Charter Cards') - What are they?

2. Relationships: OTES, Vancouver, BC & Canada Government & Their Employees - Politicians, Civil Servants, Police: Professionals and Others.

3. History & the Current Environment: 1688 Features & Today: Now on the streets of Vancouver and the streets of the world.

We have just done the inventory for the Bud Osborn Poetry Library, and there are 140 titles available for the public. Folks can offer their library card or Carnegie Centre card and enjoy them in-house!

And, the Learning Centre will be the host for the Bud Osborn Social Activism library on level 3, in the book case just outside the classroom. There are almost ISO titles inventoried for that collection, to be read in the Learning Centre. Those books should be available soon. Great progress! Enjoy.

Natalie Porter, Carnegie Branch Head Vancouver Public Library

From the Library Homelessness action is obviously not confined to one week, but the goal of October 11 - 17 is to offer services & support to those in need, and more awareness & empathy. While the library is not often considered a front-line service, the space itself is unique because it aims to be safe, dry, inclusive, and welcoming, not to forget all the resources.

VPL has also confirmed that our pilot project called "The Access Card" (a Library card that requires no address or l.0., without library fines, with a 2 item limit) is to be made official across the system very soon. If you've typically had a "Carnegie Card" do consider this option, as it allows for check-outs at all 21 libraries. As well, library perks include interesting programs such as the "20th Amnesty International Film Festival" at the Central library, Oct IS(5-9pm).

If human & animal rights documentaries are of interest, consider checking these out:

Occupying Vancouver: An insider's look at homelessness (OVD - 2012) - In 2011, during the Occupy Vancouver movement Andrew Fiore, who has life experience both on the street and in SROs, conducts his own investigation. Six homeless people are featured, as well as protesters connected with tent city.

They Call it Myanmar: Lifting the Curtain (OVO2012) - Novelist and filmmaker Robert Lieberman presents incredible footage of one of the most isolated countries with an exclusive perspective from Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi. The Ghosts in Our Machine (OVO - 2013) - A film that looks into global industries that involve animals (from food, fashion, entertainment to research) and asks questions about animal rights as property or as sentient beings.

Something to Eat, a Place to Sleep and Someone Who Gives a Damn (OVO - 2008) - Oirectors Les Mersen and Ken Villeneuve explain that "the road from having a home to living in the street is much shorter than most people would suspect." The documentary is set in the OTES, includes many interviews and exposes the level of ignorance that many people have.

Your librarian, Natalie

Carnegie Newsletter

~

This is the design selected from the nine submissions in the Bookmark contest.

It's been copied on glossy cardstock & 150 were given away at WORDVancouver. This leaves 250 from this 'first edition' for giving to everyone throughout The Heart of the City Festival and future events. The artist is TARA *Balcombe, who will get a cash prize determined by how much in returnable empties the editor got by Sept 15. [$6.55+a friend's gift of 4 milk bottles+1 found loonie.) (~

lori Shenher: T at lonely Section of Hell That Lonely Section of Hell: former police detective Lori Shenher will talk about her personal account of sexism, racism and mishandling in Vancouver's missing and murdered women investigation, the largest serial killer investigation in Canadian history.

A panel discussion will follow - Shenher, community stake holders and Sen. Larry Campbell, a former Vancouver mayor and chief coroner, will discuss the deeper causes of this tragedy, the many ways the system broke down and what still needs to be done to protect vulnerable people in our communities. Moderator: Vancouver Observer editor-in-chief Sandy Garossino. (90 min) MONDAY, aCT 5 Central Library I Alice MacKay Room, Lower Level

7

P.M.

Carnegie Community Action Project (CCAP)

1JOMÂŁfÂą~1TlbafJlj Newsletter im~R October 1st, 2015 New displacement tower at 105 Keefer Street Chinatown might soon be the site of yet another high-end condominium development. The Beedie Group wants to build a 13 floor condo tower at 105 Keefer Street, the site is currently known to most of us as the parking lot at the intersection of Keefer and Columbia.

This latest development proposal comes in the midst of an unprecedented level of condo development in Chinatown. In 2015, 427 condos and 298 market rental units are either approved, proposed or under construction in or near Chinatown.

A delegation from Carnegie Community Action Project (CCAP) met with the developers and architects of 105 Keefer on September 10th. According to CCAP volunteer Harold Lavender who attended the meeting, "the condos

are being marketed as the new Yaletown and an investment opportunity. This is ruining Chinatown."

Unregulated development in Chinatown As condos increase land values, rents in several privately-owned SRO hotel units surrounding the proposed tower are likely to increase, pushing out low-income residents. Yet, when the Beedie Group initially submitted their rezoning proposal one year ago this Page 1

month, they were not planning to build a single unit of social housing, let alone any affordable rental housing units.

This initial proposal was enabled by the fact that, unlike the Downtown Eastside Oppenheimer area, there are no zoning regulations in Chinatown requiring developers to build social housing as part of new developments. As a result, the overall ratio of condolmarket units to social units being built is 69 to 1 in Chinatown.

In response to the rapid gentrification of Chinatown and the staggering number of proposed condos in the area, residents of Chinatown and Downtown Eastside marched on city hall earlier this year and delivered a 1,400 person petition demanding a moratorium on all market . development, including the 105 Keefer project. Mayor Gregor Robertson received the petition, but made it clear that the city would continue with its plan to permit new developments.

Due to the public backlash last year, the public hearing initially scheduled for spring 2015 was postponed and the developer has now submitted a new and revised rezoning proposal.

The new revised proposal includes 25 "non-market" housing units, 2

representing 19% of the total number of units.

Social housing units not affordable to tenants on welfare The non-market housing would be operated by the housing society SUCCESS, "underwritten" (financed through loans) by BC Housing, and designated for Chinese seniors. Yet, when the delegation from CCAP meet with the developer, it was not clear if the non-market units would rent at welfare rate. Any low-income tenants will most likely be expected to qualify for grants.

By promising to finance the nonmarket component of the condo project BC Housing is giving the developer the political edge necessary to push'the development ahead at city hall, putting hundreds of surrounding low-income housing units at risk of being lost.

CCAP firmly believes that new social housing units should not be contingent on private developments, nor should it come at the cost of hundreds of low-income SRO rooms.

As Jean Swanson told the developer at the Sept 10th meeting, "what we need is buildings with 100% social housing at welfare rate."

The developer donated 22 million to SFU's business school in 2011.

Surely, they can afford to build more than 25 non-market units and ensure that all the non-market units rent at welfare rate.

CCAP will hold an alternative open house on the pavement outside 50 E Pender, to highlight the low-income housing units at risk of being lost if the project goes ahead. Please join us!

A community open house is scheduled from 5: 00-8:00pm on Tuesday, October 6, 2015 at the Chinese Cultural Centre Auditorium (50 East Pender Street).

SRO TENANT CONVENTION

You're invited

to the

SROTenant Convention An event about

tenant

!i!IIIlB 10 F.l18 B ..l:lf 10 ~~Tlf 5 a~

SUNDAY, OCT 18 I lOAM - 5PM VANCOUVERJAPANESE lANGUAGE HAU 487 ALEXANDER ST IAT JACKSOH AVE)

;:.~¥B*~lr~~~ 487§!HLlJ;km,fJilifi

rights

487 Alexander

aoarn-azpm Tables: BC Housing, pest control and more Free reading glasses (bring your prescription) Get your stamps for the cash draws!

Snack bags stew

and bannock

.t'f 10IIn~~'f 12~ ¥.A.8'1lJlIUUIR 1l!l1llE!l7i~..l.1JIJmtiHtII~ ~tlt~

coffee

mnllltl&.A.M§li5:

r--------,

12pm-sPm Elders ceremony. lion dancers SRO Collaborative presentation Open mic of most pressing problems Eviction prevenlion workshop Lunch Collective decision-making about next year Wheel of Misfortune gameshow Childcare on-site ASL and Chinese interpretation

door prizes music cash draw!

St

.W~~lI~ iaIU.ffl:tiIHT ~ltitif!ll ~fUHI (~;t..lffa;!r.J~mLtIU!) "nfU! 1I}r~Ii) i!.A.iiii'JJiJ!ll

~il ?~IIIJ~±I&ffll;!l • .A.±

ilfiJ!$! ~'f 12~3n'f 5 ~ IiJH!~a~~J~!lit. ..lmil fII.A.l5ffl3!lIl!nltFtlH~ fil.A.ffl3$C:;t1t

.lIiI~BIl~!r.Js<m m:tltll~

5lafi_.A..m ltillflll!!I\'¥i!C..l&lIa!i I fiIliliDiJ Ejij;~;ltl!!t!!l'i, iJ.t'f 10B~m8*~ii!I.€t~/NIL -1liJi\iJ118*&!i'S~1i1. i5'K1iJilll~fMi1«;, ill.A.115iHHiHiI:

778,889.3088

3

West hotel tenants busy prepping for $70,000 case against hotel owner

The SRO collaborative and the tenants of the West Hotel recently filed the largest joint complaints against a landlord in BC's history. Altogether, 93 West tenants are seeking $70,000 in compensation for loss of services from the building management company Community Builders. and the owners of the building.

The tenants are seeking compensation for the loss of the following services: • 108 days without elevator service; • 73 days without 24hr front desk staff security leading to a

•

double homicide at the Hotel on March 14, 2015; • 49 straight days without hot water.

"Everything was nice here, everything worked; it was nice and clean," said long time tenant Evelyn Brazee. " The elevator would break down periodically but they would get on the phone right away and get it fixed right away. Its not like that now. I broke my ankle on the stairs while trying to get back to my room. The bathrooms are always broken down. The only thing they listen to is money. So we are going for compensation and hoe that makes Page 4

them take us seriously and fix this place up." ''These SROs are not perfect but we need them," said another long time tenant, Bruce Sauer. itA lot of problems could be solved here if our hotel was leased or purchased by government. Then they could put in extra money for good maintenance and a real professional management group that is accountable and gives good services. We are hanging by a thread here."

West Hotel tenant Dan Zimmerman has done much of the work for the complaint, helped by the newly formed SRO Collaborative group. While interviewing about 50 West tenants to prepare for the legal action, the SRO Collaborative found that many of the tenants had serious and chronic health conditions and disabilities. One tenant,

for example, is deaf and blind. Many tenants reported that their health was significantly worsened by the poor housing conditions and that the loss of services severely compromised their day-to-day needs and routines including getting groceries, doing laundry, going to the bathroom and meeting friends.

Last week, on Sept 23rd, the Residential Tenancy Branch made a preliminary decision regarding the dispute. Instead of considering the complaint as joint, the arbitrator decided that each application will be considered a separate proceeding.

This will make the process considerable more time consuming and difficult for the tenants, who have already experienced a lot of hardship.

A preliminary hearing will be held on October 5th to discuss the hearing procedures, â&#x20AC;˘

Province ends lifetime ban on receiving welfare If you have been banned by the government from receiving welfare, you should try to apply again if you still need assistance.

That's because, on Aug. 1,2015, the BC government quietly amended the province's welfare legislation (the "Employment and Assistance Act," and the "Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act") and

removed the lifetime bans on welfare eligibility.

While the ban has been ended, it has not been publicized and many people do not know about it yet. If you know someone who has been banned from receiving welfare, encourage them to try to apply again and mention to the worker that this ban has been eliminated.

5

Z)~

&a4t4ide

&\fLfL ©&\OO lIDUlID&\1r~® ~~~1rUOO@J CONSERVATIVES· James low· dediKd COMMUNIST PARTY· Peter Marcus .~ GREEN PARTY· Wes Green • ~ INDEPENDENT· Alex Millar .~ LIBERALS· Edward Wong • ~ NDP • Jenny Kwan • ~ MARXIST-lENINIST • Anne Jamieson • ~ Do you have a question for the candidates?

Submit your questions in the box on CCAP's bulletin board on the second Roor.

7-9PM, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7th CARNEGIE THEATRE - 401 MAIN The event is organized by Carnegie Community Action Project & the Carnegie Community Association on Unceded Coast Salish Territories

Page 6

Vancity Victory at the Lion Hotel

Albert from the Lion Hotel is congratulated by Godfrey Tang, SRO Collaborative Organizer for taking his landlord to court and winning $1,000 compensation for damages related to mould.

In addition to the monetary compensation, the landlord has been ordered by the Residential Tenancy Branch to: .

• hire a licensed contractor to replace the walls and ceiling in the rental unit and fix the cause of the mould build-up; • give the tenant 7 days written notice prior to the contractor

Support for this project does not necessarily imply. Vancity's endorsement of the findings or contents of this newsletter

•

•

•

commencing work on the repairs; provide alternative accommodation for the tenant for the period of time the repairs are being made either in a comparable secure room in the rental property or paying the tenant the cost of hotel accommodation elsewhere; assist in moving the tenant's belongings to a secure comparable room or storage facility; and, repair the room by act 23, 2015.

Page 7

Gallery Gachet receives massive funding cut Gallery Gachet learned two weeks ago that after twenty-one years of receiving core funding from the Provincial Ministry of Health that their contract with the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority is being severed, with ninety days notice. The financial cut amounts to half of the organization's overall budget, and represents the majority of wage and operational resources.

A press release issued by VCH on September 3rd indicates that contracts in the Downtown Eastside "without a strong health mandate" or who are offering "stand-alone services that lack formal connections to the health care system are unlikely to be renewed".

Gallery Gachet are one of the only

truly peer-led spaces in the Downtown Eastside. The news of the cuts are truly terrible news for the Downtown Eastside Community.

Please take time to send a letter to the representatives who are responsible for this decision and/or who should hear more about the quality of Gallery Gachet's work and the need for our continuity. Please indicate your connection to Gallery Gachet and how the space has contributed to mental health care and to the Downtown Eastside community.

Submit the letter directly to Gallery Gachet or to the CCAP office on the â&#x20AC;˘ second floor of the Carnegie. CCAP will send the letters to the representatives responsible for this decision.

VANDU city-wide housing march

I Noon,

Saturday, Oct 10th

VANDU City-wide housing march will take place on Saturday, Oct 10th. The march will start at noon at 955 E Hastings (Hastings @ Campbell Avenue), the soon-to-be site of a mega condominium development by Wall Corp.

The march is still being planned at meetings every Tuesday, 12.30pm, second floor of VANDU. Everyone is welcome to join the planning meetings!

Page 8

word

vancouve

.:1J;' ..

"'"

.... t.

\

FREE VENDOR TRAINING SESSIONS Attend a FREE training sf!ssion to become a vendor.

The Hope in Shadows calendar features photos

Sessions are one h~ur long:

and stories that come out of a contest for Downtown Eastside community members.

.••)~,~~~~.I:fQN~ PI VO T I"

pi

III

., ,"

HOPEINSHADOWS.COM

You'll get a license to sell and 1 FREE CALENDAR to get you started.

OCTOBER Thursday, Oct 8

lOAM

Thursday, Oct 8

1 PM

Friday. Oct 9

1 PM

Wednesday, Oct 14

1 PM

Friday. Oct 16

lOAM

Monday, Oct 19

lPM

Friday, Oct 23

3PM

Please sign up in advance.

Monday. Oct 26

SPACE IS LIMITED.

Friday, Oct 30

lOAM

1 PM

a rainy day #3 Uncle Bill My Uncle Bill went to school in Battleford, Saskatchewan where he won a scholarship - he was the smartest one when he passed Grade 12. Then he went to study Criminal Law at McGill University. He was called to the bar in 1952 in Saskatchewan, thus becoming the first Native lawyer in Western Canada, fulfilling his childhood dream.

In 1958 then-Premier Tommy Douglas asked Uncle Bill to work on the Provincial Minority Groups Committee. That summer he visited 56 Indian bands across the province & organised a conference on what the Province could do for Natives. When band representatives agreed to ask for provincial voting rights & access to liquor, the premier introduced legislation to grant their requests.

Uncle Bill spent the next few years working on getting electricity & then telephone service to reserves.

SaskTel didn't want to do the telephone proposal because "nobody would pay the bill," so Uncle Bill said" "Put in a payphone booth." This they did.

Uncle Bill set up his law practice in the '60s in Calgary to handle both Criminal & Family Law cases.

His first daughter is now the Dean of the University in Winnipeg. The other four children have professional I occupations in academia & education, media, law and . civil service. ; In 1961 Uncle Bill was elected the First Chief of the: National Indian Council, held that position until 1965 ' and still has the Eagle Feather that came with the job.

In 1966 Uncle Bill defended a case that led to changes in the laws against homosexuality.

My Uncle Bill put me in a treatment centre in Port Coquitlarn, The doctor said I would pass away when I first went into St.Paul's hospital but I prayed. I used to drink rice wine; when Uncle Bill came to see me he always brought an ice-cream cone.

Years ago I was in a wheelchair for a long time and couldn't walk. Uncle Bill told me I could walk, giving me hope, and I struggled to learn again. It seems like a miracle - no more wheelchair! I really love my lovable & intelligent Uncle Bill.

By Marlene Wuttunee PS: Uncle Bill never lost a case.

another day another bar you smiled as our eyes met and undressed my heart care lest a kiss from your lips M~": create a dynasty of smiles to savour in our enjoined old agp;J\~". \. ! .... your fisherman dreamer . tI, waiting for your smile again. \.':;;

~l'

~Tan

kalee's dive brilliant blue white clouds welcoming lake inspiration beckons you from your perch I see you in a perfect arc dive off the cloud to enter the water silently

.~.

the choreographed solitude defeats emptiness and longing to beget a motion clothed in magic this moment with you i will cherish forever

~

early morning a yawn brings tears to both my eyes aiyah starving damn realization only instant noodles dreamed of fetching toisan girls steaming hot tasty filling and familiar conjuring down home country cooking Sid Chow Tan

DIffuse Like an Ashley Madison Family nite 'bring the kids & your guns' make sure what remains of your conscience is burnt in the fire that is Priority #ONE as this is an evening not to be missed, what about an allatheist vs god-fearing people barroom fight all proceeds to scientology .. while all administrations are beset with condemnations it kind of makes living an impracticality as dignity let alone dollars becomes scarce unless locked tightly in your fist, vows get broken like windows in a school riot the shards you can use to slash those anxieties out on your flesh - go ahead, try it - relieve all those pretty promises be it Conservative, NDP or Liberal there is more than enough ignorance to share, there are Parties that'll find you but never leave you & Parties that'll leave you once they've used you (is this good or is it bad?) you look to your conscience Oh Yeah! You got rid of that will we ever learn they've already learnt to not care, As Victoria pumps 8 million litres of raw sewage into the ocean every day the bullshite campaign has that being used for fuel .shoveling it in & out. but we get to choose who we will have to pay as the price of anything goes up not a single thing will ever go down one cent, like a Macedonian census taker with migrants running for life kind of reminds me of all the people coming here illegally jumping in line we have enough problems within our own society it's not that we do not care but the rich keep raising our rent, Never has so little been unsaid while so much has

been promised as so many lies distort the facts for it is the little truths that get left behind or pushed so far ahead, tens of thousands are dining on the tin-canned rations as premiers & ministers eat 3 solid meals plus snacks & smoking the expensive brands of smokes some things never go out of fashion, like the fact they'll keep us alive to vote then we will be worthless & dead, one will legalise pot the moment he's elected but booze which is the worst drug for your body as both your senses & liver become infected as a family member gets scraped off the street, as that metallic embrace shall never wear out its welcome while another hopeful wants to pay you & me to pump out more kids at $250 a year for every child is this insane then when we have a Food Bank shortage we'll be the ones to blame Ever Wonder why they call it disposable income if you're waiting for a free lobotomy have a seat, then there is the figurine head himself who's done nothing in 9 years of rule he helps no one but his bank account & ministers in greed we are not a bunch of fucking fools but who will lead us out of our economic misery", r will to a certain point we are better off than a lot of other nations ye drowning immigrants is no way to strengthen our continental relations is the answer democracy & is that a gift or just repeating human history, yes it is better than dictatorship, lawlessness, Fascism (sic) or transparent corruption we have 3 idiots who want the world to revere their name but they are playing with our children's future & this is no game as the day draws near, it's like we're on The Newlywed Game as the hidden 3 share ignorance this ~ountry deserves better like the Minister of Encouragmg Words forgetting his task as he has already forgotten most of his letters it's the ones in power we must fear, like the hazardous chemical warehouse fairy leaving cyanide briquettes under your pillow I night a swimmer doing the heatstroke no one comes in first will we all come in last place without a fight Freedom for All it is not a heinous crime, Like the sound of janitors cleaning the world & its oceans get out & vote we have a loser to be removed so let's do it together what an awesome notion don't you think that this is our time?!

By ROBERT McGILLIVRA Y "When the future is doomed to be a repeat of past evils be it in pig's clothing or in politician-wear-skin . we must change & accept this & then accept nothing less than every kind of more." -Saint Minus

iz" Annual

Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival

Wednesday

Thursdays

October 28 to Sunday November 8, 2015

Writing

Collective,

2014 Heart of the City Festival. Photo: Tom Quirk

WE ARE GETIING READY! .

- .

To recognize the abundance of talent, wisdom and power of our home community, the theme of the Festival this year is 'Nourished by Community.' As we face the challenges and opportunities of the coming years, we are inspired by the neighbourhood's indigenous stories and feel proud of the art forms, artists, values, heritage and exciting communityengaged art generated in Vancouver's founding community.

The Festival takes inspiration from the words of the late much beloved Downtown

Eastside

poet and activist Bud Osborn: Our purpose is to live in community, and community is care, care for one another, care for those least able to care for themselves, care for all, care in action.

An abundance of events include original music from DTESmusicians; a daylong celebration of poetry, spirit lifting dance, taiko drumming and First Nations song, videos, talks, walks, fashion, art, stories, theatre, readings and more!

Watch the next Carnegie newsletter for program highlights!

For more information The Downtown

contact 604-628-5672 or www.heartofthecityfestival.com

Eastside Heart of the Festival is produced & Association

of United

Ukrainiari

by Vancouver

Canadians working

Moving Theatre with the Carnegie

with a host of community

partners.

Community

Centre

Looking for Participants for Against the Current (the FishStix) Project for the Downtown

Eastside Heart of the City Festival!

Rehearsal Dates: Sunday, October 25 and Thursday November 5 Performance Date: Friday, November 6 Originally produced by Vancouver Taiko Society & Powell Street Festival" Society, Against the Current will have a performance again at this year's Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival! We're adding more stories and music. We are currently reaching out to participants who made salmon props and/or participated in the 39th Annual Powell Street Festival performance. We are also recruiting 20 additional performers for additional propcarrying at the performance.

To Participate: Participants must be able to attend one rehearsal on Sunday, October 25 afternoon, a technical rehearsal on Thursday November 5 evening and the performance on Friday, November 6 evening. There will be an honorarium for participating performers. Contact Kay at fishstixworkshops@gmail.com or call 778-235-8935 (9am - 5pm).

About The Against the Current Project: A collaborative cross-cultural performance, Against the Current, is created by Chibi Taiko, Katari Taiko, Sansho Daiko, Sawagi Taiko and Vancouver Okinawan Taiko, with storytellers Rosemary Georgeson (Sahtu Dene/Coast Sal ish) and Grace Eiko Thomson, the Salish singing group Tzo'kam led by musician and composer Russell Wallace, narrative contributions by Hiromi Goto, John Endo Greenaway and Savannah Walling, and over 25 Downtown Eastside community performers with community-made papier-mache salmon. Against the Current explores the role of salmon in Japanese and First Nation history, culture, fishing industry & the shared experience of swimming against the current.

The performance will feature colourful papier-mache salmon made by Downtown Eastside residents, students and visitors at the Oppenheimer Park Field House, Camegie Community Centre and the Vancouver Japanese Language School.

"To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness ... "

Howard Zinn

AMBLESIDE: ORCHESTRA CONCERT Wednesday,

October Carnegie

14,7:00 - 8:00 PM Theatre

The Ambleside Orchestra - conducted by Nicolas Krusek - is a growing, multigenerational Community orchestra that brings music to the community in fin accessible and affordable way.

NO REHAB FOR UNFIT MOTHERS' Fear of public shame may be the reason so many women in British Columbia have not fought against removal of their children. Has any woman sat on the steps of the B.C. Legislature to protest?

Why are male prisoners subject to rehabilitation and not "unfit" mothers? A psychiatric examination determines a male prisoner's release; he can resume his fatherly role. Women prisoners whose children have been taken by the Children's Aid Society cannot resume their motherly role due to length of time the child has lived elsewhere. It's presumed to be "For the good of the child."

The guideline, "For the good of the child" is not always adhered to. Children removed from their school,

playmates, customary surroundings and care-givers (mothers) must endure trauma. Certainly a child need not be placed in a family setting where children resent the time their mother spends away or that she's been labelled a 'disgraced' parent while the interloper can make them conform to her rules.

A woman who has a child apprehended is not necessarily subject to psychiatric examination. Social workers who undoubtedly are inclined to save money may be swayed by their class bias & interests- relinquishing a child to a poor mother costs more money.

The judge who makes the decision to remove a child is bound by social workers' reports. Where a child is transferred to another jurisdiction, his/her physician, associates & mother's friends may not be questioned.

Prostitutes in India have retained custody of their children. With the striking down of prostitution laws in Canada will children no longer be removed from their mothers?

Certainly many of the children of today may consider the situation of their great-grandmothers during the Depression of the thirties- the men rode the rails and women tried to raise their children by any means possible. In my opinion the greatest contributor to crime is being poor.

Each child that is apprehended needs the interest of the community. No longer should the decision to remove a child from its-mother be made through government appointees. The madonna complex attributed to immigrant women with children is in contrast to that of women in our midst. All must be respected.

By Velma Demerson

)< -------------------------.:..----~-._------,-------

----

.

(Publication is possible only with

.Here is my donation for the Carnegie Newsletter.

Send. the income tax receipt to:

Amount: $

now-necessary donations.)

----------------

Name: Address: Ciry:

-------------------------~------------------PosmlCode:

Please make cheques or money orders payable to the Carnegie Community and write "Newsletter donation" on the memo line at the bottom of the cheque.

_

Centre Association

Our address is: Carnegie Newsletter, 401 Main Street, Vancouver, B.c. V6A 2T7

aCk~~~;;d~'~~ ~~~~~~ity2~;t;~:' -~~d-

We C~megie this Newsletter,. are occurring on Coast Sallsh

:rerrltory.

:.• -, <•.

. THIS NEWSLETIER IS A PUBUCAllON OF THE CARNEGIE COMMUNITY CENTRE ASSOCIATION Artides represent the views of individual contributors and not of the Association. -

Next issue: SUBMISSION DEAOLlNE

WANTED Artwork for the Camegie Newsletter

• • •

• • •

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

MONDAY OCTOBER 12TH

Small illustrations 10 accompany artides and poetry.

Cover art -- Max size: 1700(6 ~·)wide x 15cm(6jhigh.

Subject maner pertaining 10 issues relevant 10 the Downlown ~lside, but all workconsidered.

Black & While printing only.

Size restrictions apply (Le. il your piece is too large, it will be reduced and/or cropped to fit).

AB artists will recei.ve credit for their work.

Originals will be returned to the artist after being copied for publicatiOn. Remuneration: Camegie Volunteer TICkets Please make submissions to Paul Taylor, EdHor. The editor can edit for clarity, formal & brevity, but nol al the expense of the writer's message.

COMPUTER ADVICE Ifancouver Community Network :ost-eff~~.computer & IT supportfor non-profits

ICN Teeh Team hUp:lltechteam.vCI1.bc.ca :;all778·724-0826 ext2. 705-333 Terminal Ave Van. .

.

DONATIONS 2015

-<

WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCfI01'l • AIDS • POVERTY • HOMELESSNESS •VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ABORIGINAl GENOCIDE • -TOTAlITARIAN CAPITALISM IGNORANCE and SUSTAINED FEAR.

\Terry & Savannah -$150 lVIichele C.-$100 Or Kevin -$50r----~........., -'leslie S.-$175 Bob & Muggs -$100 Leslie K -$59 Catherine C.-$100 Glenn B.-$200 Sheila B.~$150 Vancouver Moving Theatre -$200 Pat 0.$50 Harold & Sharron 0.-$100 Michael C.-$100 Eleanor B.-$25 Elaine & Oavid -$40 Ruth McG -$50 Vancouver's Margaret M.-$50 Jacqueline L -$75 Christopher R.-$100 non-commercial, Jenny K -$100 Robert McG.-$110 ) listener supported Penny C.-$50 in memory of Miriam Stuart community station.

Skateboarders -$50 Wilhelmina M.-$55 Jackie W.-$50 George H.$110 Ruth L.-$100 .

Barry M.·$250 Anonymous -$130 .

In Memory of Harold David - Will/Sharon C.-$50 'Barbara M.-$200 Gina F.-$100 Lori IBorys -$100 'Catherine B.-$50 Yukiko T.-$50 taylor 5.-$20 'Solidarity Notes Labour Choir -$25 'Kevin & Richard 0.-$100 CHIPS -$500 'Radiation Therapy Clerks -$40 Jacki S.-$15 'Roger C.-$100 Oenise 0.-$60 Lydia McK.-$100 KeJly F.-$50 in memory of Bud Osborn Catherine H.-$50 Laila B.-$50 Aideen McK.-$10 Aiden S.-$25 Yasushi K.-$50+ Jay H.-$lOO Mike J.-$1750 Linda 0.-$25