September 15 , 2006, carnegie newsletter

FREE

SLETTER 401 Main Street, Vancouver V6A 2T7 (604) 665-2289

"... on the cover of the Carnegie Stone!"

SEPTEMBER 15, 2006 carnnews@vcn.bc.ca www.carnnews.ore

John Ferguson (on the left), head of Carnegie Security,' thinks he's retiring on September 29th.

[See centerfold] ..

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-- Jl-~!~~ The Vancouver Sun and Gordon Campbell Literacy Hypocrisy According to The Vancouver Sun, Premier Gordon Campbell hopes to lead British Columbia to become the best educated, most literate jurisdiction on the continent. (Premier wants B.C. to become literacy leader, Vancouver Sun, Sept.8, 2006) The Premier also endorses the Vancouver Sun's annual Raise-aReader Day which will be held on September 28.

This event raises money for children's literacy programs in B.C. Well, that's O.K. Underfunded literacy programs need the help. But private charity won't end illiteracy. According to the respected adult educator, Carman St. John Hunter, "It is by addressing poverty itself that a nation creates a climate for literacy.

Poverty is the underlying cause of illiteracy. Equality and justice are the real issues, not just literacy."

For years The Vancouver Sun has refused to allow an open discussion in its pages on the sociOeconomic background to illiteracy. Because ofthe powerful effect of poverty in the process of sociali. zation, such a refusal is irresponsible. Mr. Campbell

and The Vancouver Sun talk of fostering literacy, yet government legislation, which the Sun has supported, has widened the gap between rich and poor.

Examples of legislated poverty·are keeping the minimum wage low; keeping welfare rates low; making it difficult for people in need to obtain welfare; cutting support services for immigrant and refugee children in school, and giving tax breaks to corporations and the wealthy.

British Columbia, to its great shame, has the highest child poverty rate of all the provinces. The richer half of Canadian families have 94.4 percent of Canada's personal wealth, while the poorer half of Canadian families have 5.6 percent of Canada' s personal wealth. This enormous gap between rich and poor is unacceptable in a democratic country, and the gap is even wider in British Columbia where the richer half of families have 95.7 percent of the province's personal wealth, while the poorer half of B.C. families have 4.3 percent of the province's personal wealth. (Rags and Riches- Wealth Inequality in Canada, by Steve Kerstetter, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, 2003) Research study after research study has shown that . great inequality destroys community, undermines democracy, fosters illness, makes learning difficult for poor students, and increases despair, alienation and street crime. (The Impact ofInequality, by Richard Wilkinson) It is cynical and hypocritical for the Premier and The Vancouver Sun to claim they are fostering literacy while they are putting forth and defending legislation that deepens poverty. Poverty is the underlying cause of illiteracy. Poor kids don't have the money to do the things rich kids can do. How is a parent supposed to buy books to read to children when she/he doesn't have enough money for food and rent? How are families going to visit libraries if they don't have transportation money? How are low income parents going to pay fines for late or lost books? These difficult questions aren't asked in the elite world of Vancouver Sun managers.

The way in which The Vancouver Sun has turned the subject of literacy into a self-promotion event for itself, and for Premier Campbell, trivializes this critical issue. This is a good example of how the corporate media actually makes it difficult for us to ·think seriously about important social concerns by blocking out the solid, well-researched information

on the socio-economic background to illiteracy that we need to make intelligent decisions. See, for example, the book "Education and Inequality," by Caroline Wersell, or " The Impact ofInequality by Richard Wilkinson.

Here is a letter I wrote in response to The Vancouver Sun 's article "Premier wants B.C. to become literacy leader" (Sep.8, 06). The Sun didn' t print it.

Editor: Vancouver Sun

If Premier Gordon Campbell is serious about helping B. C. become the most literate jurisdiction on the continent, he must address the issue of poverty.

(Premier wants B.C. to become literacy leader, Van Sun, Sept. 8, 2006) British Columbia has the highest child poverty rate of all the provinces. Adult educators, such as Carman St. John Hunter, tell us that poverty is the underlying cause of illiteracy, and the Canadian Teachers' Federation has warned that unless we citizens address the economic inequality that lies behind much of the failure in school, our school remedial programs will have little effect. The best way to foster literacy in Canada, and in the world, is to end poverty.

Sandy Cameron References:

Primcorp made to pay attention

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[Kudos to Lesa Dee Tree] It is unlawful for a guard to ~arass anyone on public

property. The incidents of reported misconduct and harassment and assault have resulted in the removal of offe.nding companies from the area and the revoking of licensing, not to mention lawsuits.

It is unlawful for a security guard to carry arms this includes: batons, guns, knives and tasers. Incidents involving sexual harassment by security have been reported by female residents in the downtown eastside. These reports of assault and harassment have subsequently been directly dealt with; the company in question is no longer in business.

All reports are taken seriously and immediately acted on, for anyone wanting to report you can contact Enforcement Investigator Special Provincial Constable, Olev Rannaoja directly at 604-572-8423 .

Dance 101 Karen Jamieson offers Dance Workshop At Carnegie Community Centre

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(I) Left Behind: a comparison ofliving costs and employment assistance rates in B.C., 2005, by SPARC, B.C. (2) Low Income In Canada: 2000-2002, b Human Resources and Social Development, Canada, June, 2006.

(3) Myths and Realities of Literacy/Illiteracy, by Carman St. John Hunter, in Convergence, an International Journal of Adult Education, Vol. XX, No. I, t 987.

(4) Children, Schools and Poverty, by the Canadian Teac ers' Federation, Ottawa, 1991 .

Movies for Th i nke r s

Starting Friday September 291 Carnegie Community Centre Gymnasium

FREE and part of HUMANITIES 101

FREE

6:00pm on the 2ND, 3RD & 4Til Saturdays CARNEGIE'S 3RD FLOOR

Fridays 3:30- 5:30

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Saturday Night At The Documentaries

If this proves popular we will do it all winter.

Come learn what really happened on September 11th 2001, (frrst movie), and see what the popular media doesn't want you to know.

Sponsored by the Vancouver foundation.

Coffee, tea served; door prize!

Free and open to people at all levels Requirements are: An open mind, Loose clothing, bare feet and A willingness to explore movement, rhythm and connections within the body For more info call Rika at 604.665.3003

A reprieve or a stay of execution?

P.NCE Pto&titutlon A..matlVti

C04111Mflltl EciLKl Ilion

Sex Workers Support Group TUESDAY'S 4-6PM #416.:119 W.PENDER ST. .

Sex Workers Addictions Support Group THURSDAY'S lOAM- 12 #416-119 W.PENDER ST. ' .

You don't have to feel alone!

SNACK: ~NO ~QFFEE PROVIDED For information: 604-872-7651 Everyone at PACE - staff, members, or visitorshas the right to be respected and safe while here. *Street issues/business stays on the street.

• No yelling, no insults, no threats. *No abuse or violence: verbal, emotional, physical.

ohn Ferguson, I am honoured to have met you. l am sorry to see you leave. I've been here a couple years and have seen you as a compassionate, sincere, respectful and huggable man. .

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I've enjoyed the dances where you performed with your band. I've seen you around children at parties and you have a caring heart for everyone.

I know Carnegie Centre chose you for very apparent reasons and I know those shoes will be hard to fill. Please remember you are loved and enjoy your retirement.

Don't be a stranger! Come and visit and please sign up for the dances. I love the voice you carry. God bless you! Love & kisses, Nonna Jean B. '

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Hey Ho! Insite, the community (North America's only) supervised injection site has gotten an exten~ion of its manda~e .-being able to·legally have any tllegal substance InJected on the premises- until December 31, 2007.

There was such intense pressure put on the Conservative government- by scientists, doctors (medical, p~ychological & psychiatric), social workers, police, htghly respected and credentialed institutions across the country and many experts on drug use (not least of whom are the intravenous drug users themselves).

The federal Minister of Health, whoever, kept dancing, dodging and trying to slide through a moral morass thrown up by yadda-Harper when campaigning: "We disagree with having taxpayers support such an illegal and immoral (sic) activity and will let it [Insite] close at the end of its 3-year trial period." The blank then tried to make brownie points in trust by throwing a crumb of doubt out - "Then we will decide what to do(!)"

But it is not over and we can't say we've won the recognition necessary to expand this program into other cities. This minister added his. caveat to the capitulation, saying "We need to do more research with independent reports to get an unbiased picture."

This was taken as a direct insult and grunt idea that all the research, reports, studies etc. done doggedly over the past 3 years aren't good enough! In fact, this bozo dissed all the scientists, doctors eta/ mentioned before, saying bluntly that their work, their expertise and their objectivity isn't worth shit when · it comes to politics.

Bets that 1) there'll be a different minister come December 2007 who will claim not to have a clue or ' to know better than anybody that this whole project has proven zilch and drugs are still a tool of Satan; 2) little factoids on parliamentary procedure have set Insite up for a blank wall come the end of December in '07 because the deadline of the 31st makes the last few weeks an empty hole with all federal politicians off on their Christmas/New Year break. No one will be available to make a decision before Insite's doors have to close. 3) Conservative ideology is non existent when the smoke 'n mirrors of actually heeding public concerns are removed, so look for drugs and drug use to be included under the rubric of ''terrorist · activities" by late '07 or early '08.

PAULR TAYLOR

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Welfare study shows need for guaranteed income HUGH SEGAL Special to the Toronto Star

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Congratulations to Downtown Eastside poet, Maxine Gadd, on the publication of her new book, Backup to Babylon. The book was launched at Spartacus Books (319 W. Hastings) 111 on September 8 • Maxine read several selections from the book during the launch party, which were warmly received by the audience. Her caustic sense of humour delights many.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • -Congratulations to Randy and Gladys on your mar¥ riage on August 26, 2006. Hope you love your new • home. Keep in touch.

Norma Jean -My beautiful grandson was born on September • S.and weighed 71bs.3oz. Love you Shane & Emily!

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Canada's on-again, off-agai~ relationsjlip with a guaranteed annual income (GAl) has made the rounds for many years. The most renowned recommendation for the GA I came out of the 1985 report of the Royal Commission on the Economic Union and Development Prospects for Canada, chaired by Donald Macdonald, known as the Macdonald Commission.

The report stated unequivocally that a universal income security program is "the essential building block" for social security programs in the 21st century ...

For more than 30 years, I have been a relatively lonely Conservative proponent for a guaranteed annual income, or a basic income floor. I do not believe that, in a country such as Canada, fellow citizens must live so far below what we consider a poverty line that they are unable to provide the basic necessities of shelter, food and clothing for themselves and their children. And based on the current allowances provided by the welfare system, I also refuse to accept that people purposely choose to avoid employment in order to ~~osist on _•tch a paltry income.

Individuals who tum to welfare do so as a last recourse. Whether the situation is the result of abuse, job loss, lack of education or training, addiction or single-parent households, our dut-y as Canadians and human beings is to guarantee an income that allows people to provide for themselves and their families while affording them a level of dignity that boosts confidence and inspires hope.

Detractors of a guaranteed annual income will invariably point to its price tag. However, the municipal, provincial and federal governments are currently footing the rather hefty price tag of poverty as it

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • translates into health-care costs, an overburdened judicial system, a myriad of social services that often duplicate each other and the basic loss of human productivity.

We all should know that diversity makes for a rich And then there is the prevailing, subjective assesstapestry, and we must understand that all the threads ment of the welfare recipient. As the Council on of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their Welfare report points out, the stigma attached to, colour. and the perception of, those on welfare has in some -- Maya Aneelou measure inured us to the harsh realities of their plight. From a patronizing perch some have taken

permission to ignore the human toll taken by poverty. In our rush to judgment, we paint all welfare recipients with the same brush to smugly justify our .mactton. . .

Surely the time has finally come to seriously consider a guaranteed income, financed by the money now in irmumerable other programs. It is time to simply recognize that to be a Canadian should mean to be free of the fear that inadequate food, shelter, clothing, recreation and basic necessities of life cannot but impart.

Poverty is rarely, if ever, a choice. Tolerating its worst consequences in a society awash in surpluses federally, provincially and in the priv~ sector is an abomination. )

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Living in the Downtown Eastside is not only street drugs, violence and prostitution ... it is also an oasis of programs, volunteer work, work a:nd .schooling.

Carnegie Centtre has a music program in which I am involved. I volunteer at the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre on Friday afternoons. Each point I make helps me towards a gift certificate which helps me to buy groceries week by week. I also work parttime at United We Can, a business which not only has a good name but which allows those who have very little chance of working in "society." Beginning tomorrow I oren the math teacher at the Downtown South Gathering Place learning centre.

Alii am saying is [may have been here 4Yz years in the downtown eastside but I am not missing or dead or near death from certain diseases like some of the others but instead I have drunk of the clean waters of the oasis found here in the very core and have kept myself alive this way.

Remember.. in the midst of the fierce jungle there is stiII hope.

Annie Eskenazy

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Contact information for Claude Richmond, Minister of Employment and Income Assistance · Claude Richmond is the person responsible for income assistance rates in BC. You can write him at: Room 133 Parliament Buildings Victoria, BC V8V 1X4 Phone: 250387-7750 Fax: 250387-7292 Toll-free: 1-866-387-;3952 Or email him at Claude.Richmond.MLA@leg.bc.ca (Many people believe that written letters are more effective than emails.)

Tell Richmond you want his government to: . Raise income assistance rates by at least 50%; • End the barriers to getting on income assistance so that people in need will not become homeless; Allow everyone on income assistance to keep the first $500 a month that they earn; • Rai se minimum wage to at least $10 and hour now; and end the $6 an hour training wage.

Send a copy of your letter or email to: • Claire Trevena, the NDP critic for the Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance: Room 201 Parliament Buildings Victoria, BC V8V IX4, or email to claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca •

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Does welfare pay enough • to let you survive?

• to live in dignity?

• to let you look for work?

Tell or write your story about how you get by on the pitiful amount that welfare pays.

Time: Tuesday, September 26, 1 to 3 pm Place: Classroom 2, third floor, Carnegie Centre, 401 Main Street The Carnegie Community Action Project wants to make a strong case that welfare rates need to go up! We need stories of how people survive, or can't survive on the low rates.

Sponsored by the Carnegie Commu nity Action Project. For info, call 604 729-2380 .

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My Dog Named Sex Everybody l know who has a dog usually calls him "Rover" or "Spot". I call mine Sex. Now, Sex has been very embarrassing to me. When I went to the City HaJI to renew the dog's license, I told the clerk that I would like a license for Sex. He said, "I would like to have one too!" Then I said, "But she is a dog!"

He said he didn't care what she looked like. 1 said, "You don't understand .. . I have had Sex since I was nine years old." He replied, "You must have been quite a strong boy." When I decided to get married, I told the minister that 1 would like to have Sex at the

wedding. He told me to wait until after it was over. I said, "But Sex has played a big part in my life and my whole world revolves around Sex." He said he didn't want to hear about my personal life and could not marry us in his church. I told him everyone would enjoy having Sex at the wedding. The next day we were married at the Justice of the Peace. My family was barred from the church from then on.

When my wife and I went on our honeymoon, I took the dog with me. When we checked into the motel, I told the clerk that I wanted a room for me and my wife and a special room for Sex. He said that every room in the motel is a place for sex. I said, "You don't understand .... Sex keeps me awake at night." The clerk said, "Me too!"

One day I entered Sex in a contest. But before the competition began, the dog ran away. Another contestant asked me why I was just looking around. I told him that I was detennined to have Sex in the contest. He said that .I should have sold my own tickets. "You don't understand," I said, "I hoped to have : Sex on TV." He called me a show off.

Then my wife and I separated, we went to court to fight for custody of the dog. I said, "Your Honor, I had Sex before I was married but Sex left me after I was married." The Judge said, "Same here!"

Last night Sex ran off again. I spent hours looking all over for her. A cop came over and asked me what l was doing in the alley at 4 o'clock in the morning. I said, "I'm looking for Sex." -- My case comes up next Thursday.

Well now I've been thrown in jail, been divorced and had more damn troubles with that dog than I ever foresaw. Why just the other day when I went for my first session with the psychiatrist, she asked me, "What seems to be the trouble?" I replied, "Sex has been my best friend all my life but now it has left me for ever. I can't live any longer being so lonely." And the doctor said, "Look mister, you should understand that sex isn't a man's best friend. Go get yourself a dog."

Submitted anonymously.

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I was once told that GOLF stood for Gents Only Ladies Forbidden. Jsn 't that the story that wornen 'live everyday?!

-Jessica

The Mayonnaise Jar and 2 Cups of Coffee ALONE A still leaf; Wind blowing Leaf is whirling Up and up Away Alone Still again Alone Calm Still Alone ...

A lady Feels sorrow All alone No friend No comfort; An abandon teddy bear Waiting for a snuggle Alone ...

So alone The lady is frail Feeling sad And Alone ...

Sandra Pronteau

A professor stood before his philosophy class and , had some items in front of him. Wh~n the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked' the students if the jar was full.

They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly.

The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded unanimously "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty spaces between the sand particles. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things--your fam.ily, your children, your health. ~r_., .. friends and your favorite passions--and if everything eJse was lost but these, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your .house and your other possessions.

The sand is everything else--the small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is nO. room for the pebbles or the golfballs. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the smaJl stuff you will never have room for the things that are important.

"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out for a good time. Take care of the golfbalJs first--the things that really matter. Set priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled.

"I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

Submitted by Gerald Wells

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September 11, 1973: Santiago de Chile: the diary of an unpublished genocide.

Acaoncagua is the highest point of a continent named after an adventurer known as Amerigo¡ Vespusio. This land was inhabited from north to south by what are now known as First Nations. A long Jist, among them: Salish, Inuit, Mohawk, Navajo, Mayan, Incas, Guarani, Caribbean's, Araucanos and many more ..

As Louis Riel, Atahualpa, Tupac Amaro and other brave warriors were killed just because they were trying to protect their people, land and culture, the name of Salvador Allende belongs with them and is to be remembered as long as we have our collective memory: our community.

On September 1 1, 1973 a horrendous genocide took place in Santiago De Chile; a criminal atrocity that the Mass Leaded Media does not want to be remembered. Problem for them: we are still here.

Not only was a democratically elected government brutally destroyed - with an incredibly well documented open foreign intervention- but many innocent people gave their lives fighting for the same ideas of Me....-tin Lnt~d King, Zapata, Steve Biko and Che. The name of Salvador Allende was added to the Iist of genuine people who honoured their words with their actions. It is not easy trying to imagine what the last thoughts and feelings of Dr. Salvador Allende were during the last 24 hours of his life. But one thing was eminently clear: He was not going to be taken prisoner. We recall Hemingway: a person may be physically destroyed but never defeated, because ideals resurface and go on and on.

Survivors of La Moneda -even the former soldiers sent by Pinochet and his masters (US corporate interests and the CIA), have provided welldocumented evidence to the United Nations about the brutality and overwhelming force used against brave resistance. Using Nazi-style tactics, the gang of Pinochet' s butchers took a group of prisoners -mostly unarmed civic employees that had fled the building with white flags in their hands- in place in the street on the pavement in front of tanks while their portable public address speakers bellowed "Unconditional surrender or these women and men are going t() be crushed by the tanks". At that point supersonic planes attacked the building and when the soldiers fin~lly managed to get into the building, they found a Body but not a prisoner. A clandestine funeral was

held, but Allende's widow shouted "Here they are burying Salvador Allende as an unknown man". And she repeated that on and on, until everybody passed the voice.

The rest: death squads, murder, torture, missing people, exile, repression and more repression, C~:ll began wit impunity on that day in September, 1973 in Santiago, the same land were the martyrdom of Chief Caupolican -leader of The Araucano's First Nation- took place by the Spanish hordes of invaderkillers.

But Allende's last words -broadcast among the bullets and bombs- are alive and sound, fresh and strong as if they would have been said just yesterday: "Let them know clearly: I will defend democracy even if I have to pay with my life. I will leave the building of La Moneda, only when I have fulfilJed the mandate that the people gave us in a democratic election". More than 33 years have passed, and intervention, invasion and repression are taking place in other places -business as usual- but it seems that there wiJI always be people who will fight back: Sitting Bull, Geronimo, Ho Chi Min, Rosa Parks, Sandino, Harry Rankin, Bruce Eriksen and Tim Louis.

Well Doctor Allende, you made your point. Your voice and ideals have survived, to give us encouragement even in the face of physical annihilation.

You likely did not imagine it on that day, but you are one member of our most appreciated, collective • memones.

By Jorge Escolan-Suay

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Someone, who will remain nameless, has tried to put the "huggable man" of Norma Jean's nice note together with John Ferguson.

We'll have to leave which part of this (~)is John to your imagination ...

Whatever conclusion you come to, the fateful day for the Second Going of John is Friday September 29th. Come and help either thank him or roast him alive.

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RE: HOMELESS NEED homes NOT back alleys and sidewalks Dear Mr. Sam Sullivan

August 14, 2006

My name is Margaret Prevost, a resident of the Downtown Eastside for over IS years, living in the Four Sister's Housing Coop.

Today I was doing my daily walk-about in the neighbourhood as I do every day and noticed too many boarded up buildings. In one of the stores I noticed this: "25 years open Mayor - need help!"

I took the ~: me to stf'~ and ask the owner why she has this on her window. She said in broken English

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that her place has been open for 25 years. 1n the earlier years business was g reat, but now her business is suffering due to the great amount of homeless people sleeping at the front of her business.

Mr Sam Sullivan, I am asking you to look into cleaning up the homeless problem as soon as possible. I and so many others do not like to see homeless people sleeping on the streets and possibly stopping potential customers entering Korean Red Ginseng & Its Products @ 33 East Hastings Street, when it is possible for the City to create. more housing for the homeless people.

This also includes the Knowlton Drug Store; they are having the same problems and neither of these places have been recognized by you and your council. Both these places have reached mile stones of service: 25 years for Korean Red Ginseng & Its Products and. over I 00 years at the same location for The Knowlton Drug Store. The City has not ~ 路 given them any acknowledgement either through the media or the City's process .. I think it would be a very positive thing for the city to do this. They just lost the longest acting pharmacist who died recently.

This lady (Myrtle) started when she was a young pharmacist and worked at this Drug Store for more than 50 years and should be recognized for all her efforts.

Carnegie celebrated 100 years and had many gatherings like the little parade and other celebrations. It would be great if the city could recognize businesses in the neighborhood in the same way.

I hope you will take action on this as soon as possible, regarding these two businesses: because I do not want another business going down due to the homeless people in front of this store and others like it.

Yours truly, Margaret Prevost M.O.D.E. (Member of the Downtown Eastside)

Cc: Carnegie (Director Ethel Whitty) - Chinatown Merchants -Downtown Eastside Safety Office (Dave Dickson)- Van.E MP Ubby Davies - DERA- City of Van Housing (Judy Graves)

Mayor Sam Sullivan City Hall, Vancouver BC

They Stole His Life's Belongings To Mr Sullivan

5 September 2006

I sent you an email a few weeks ago regarding HOMELESSNESS followed by pictures of people sleeping in shopping carts! These shopping carts are not just filled with life's belongings- IT IS THEIR HOME! Yesterday, I witnessed a most tragic sight that dishonours and shames our City. On 100 East Hastings Street I witnessed a young man crying and pl.eading with the Police Officers and other City staff piling hjs and other's shopping carts into a City truck.

I am angry with you Mr Sullivan, as you stated to the media during your holiday in Seattle- that when you returned to your job - things were going to be dealt with regard to homeless people. I had no idea 路fascist, merciless actions were what you meant.

Our Community is becoming a strategic target by Police Officers bullying and further destroying the hearts of our destitute population, along with anyone who has to bear witness to 3rd World actions in a City that claims to be the best City in the World.

Yesterday's incident was a sight I never believed in a million years that the City I am so proud of would have perpetrated. These Police Officers behaved like fascists who completely by-passed Human Rights.

They did not ask any questions or say a word to those homes they were in effect stealing. They just quietly hauled them away while intimidating anyone who could not bear such injustice. Is there a new Jaw forbidding homelessness? Is there a new law 路

forbidding freedom of speech? If so, I am unaware of it. If not, you are not only condoning but the grand master of this crime.

The young man who begged for his belongings did nothing wrong; other than walking by with a shopping cart; he did nothing to provoke these officers.

The Police Officers ~ with NO noticeable badge numbers ~ were aggressive and very rude, suggesting I keep walking and I did not. Number one because I am in a wheelchair and CAN'T WALK, but most importantly, I felt compelled to support this young man who did nothing but be resourceful in his poverty. I wanted his home returned to him. IT WAS HIS LIFE IN THAT CART! Being homeless is not a crime, but a sorrowful situation that makes it necessary to sleep in the parks and or where ever feels safe. Our job is not to further decimate lives that already have little to lose. But that is exactly what you are doing.

The officers, who were riding on horseback, started intimidating me by bringing the horses closer to me and of course I moved along. Even my rights were being violated. Since when was it against the law to support my fellow man?

Mr Sullivan, this is not how to fix broken window, this is called 'fascist bullying and harassment" using the broken glass to cut deeper into homeless 路 people -and it is being enforced by these Police officers and you at City Hall .. an embarrassment to those of us who actually care about those who have less than us. Imagine that!

I can't help but wonder, what would have become of you after your skiing accident that semi paralyzed

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you if you had had no money or proper support.

These shopping carts could very easily have been your home! Have you thought of that? If you have,

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do you feel gratitude? It certainly does not appear so. Your disabling experience bewilders the choices you are making for others who are less able.

All I can do is shake my head by one more political cruelty you and your team are directing towards the less abled ,.., s.o you, one person, can look good!

That is unconscionable.

Of course you must know that these actions are going to increase crime making our own belongings vulnerable to theft; our own safety on the streets compromised.

I just need to add that when I heard on the news that your initiative to deal with crime and the drug problem is to crack down on jay walking and littering - I actually spontaneously laughed out loud. At that point, your intelligence and mental state was sincerely at question. I work and live in the DTES. When was the last time you got your hands dirty by actually ''walking the streets", getting to know and see first hand that these people are not demons to be eradicated, but honest to God human beings in need.

Fixing a broken window is called "work in progress"· as a team and this means you, no more gluing the window. Let us ALL fix the window so we can see inside and outside - by fixing the homeless problems rather than just try to erase a visible sorry sight on our streets. Only you can help fix this situation.

I have a mental image of you smiling and waving to people when you were first voted in as Major of our City. I wonder what you were smiling about.

You certainly have wiped the smile off many people's faces (both the haves and have nots) during your short tenure as the Father of our City.

Sincerely, M. Prevost, a voice for people who don't have one.

Cc: This is sent to 30 different organizations and members of the Downtown Eastside. LET'S all be a part ofhelpiqg those whose voice's are NOT being heard.

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DOES ANYONE REMEMBER THE GREAT WHITE WAY? Back in the 1920's, the Downtown Eastside was the heart of Vancouver's theatre district and a regular staging point on the touring vaudeville and Chinese opera circuits. It was full of lively commercial activity and entertainments, with over I 0 big theatres and 10,000 seats all within 10 blocks. Some of the great names included the Pantages, Empress, Imperial, Sing Kew and Chung King theatres. Most have been tom down and the Imperial - originally built for theatre classics - is now home to the Venus Theatre.

During the Heart ofthe City Festival, .historian John Atkin will lead folks on a tour, visiting streets and buildings and sharing stories before ending at the Pantages Theatre- the oldest remaining theatre in Vancouver and Canada's oldest surviving vaudeville house. She's got painted wall murals and amazing acoustics. Built in 1907 for Alexander Pantages, the old lady has quite a history - she's been renamed the Royal, State, A von, City Nights and Sun Sing. She was bombed during the 1930s, her manager sent to jail for over-charging customers in the 1940s and in 1950 her performance of Erskine Caldwell's "Tobacco Road'' was raided by the Vice Squad. She's undergoing a loving restoration to become a home for community meetings, theatre, concerts, musicals and both Chinese and Western Opera.

Today the DTES is still a great white way - artists,

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musicians, writers, theatre and dance companies, galleries, film production companies, art studios, television stations, graphic design firms, recording studios, publishing houses, cultural groups and pe formance spaces can be found within its blocks.

MEMORIES OF THE DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE'S BLACK COMMUNITY Black residents have played an important role in our DTES community since 1870 or so when Josephine and Phillip Sullivan first opened a tiny restaurant and grocery store in what is today's Gastown. Their son Arthur became Vancouver's leading musician.

More black immigrants arrived over the years from the USA, Britain, the Caribbean and Africa, with a great wave arriving from Oklahoma via Alberta during the 1930s. Amid Anglos, Asians and Aboriginals, the DTES was a place where blacks felt welcome. In its heyday, the black community numbered around 400 people between Main and Campbell, Hastings and Prior.

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Due to the racial discrimination of the times, job opportunities were limited. People didn't have much, but what they had they shared, and they looked out for each other. The heroes of the community were the women who ran the fried chicken and tamale houses - entrepreneurs of worth - the men who worked in difficult conditions as railroad porters and stewards - and the superb entertainers.

In 1918, the Fountain Chapel was co-founded by Jimmy Hendrix' s grannie Nora at Prior and Jackson and toured theatres and churches with its 50-strong choir. By 1919, Willy Bowman opened the Patricia Cafe with a jazz band featuring Oscar Holden and Jelly Roll Morton. From 1919-1921, the Patricia Hotel at Jackson and Hastings was headquarters for

Vancouver's golden years of black entertainment.

The DTES was a hot bed of jazz with the Monte Carlo Cafe at Hastings and Main ( 1920s), the Mandarin Gardens at Pender and Co-lumbia ( 1930s), and the New Delhi on Main (1940s). There was rhythm and blues at Ernie King's Harlem Nocturne at Hastings and Gore (1950s) and soul music at the Smiling Buddha (1960s).

And always there was great music, great food and great Italian wine in the multicultural_Hogan's ~lley -eight feet wide running between Umon and Pnor.

Labeled "Vancouver's square mile of sin", the alley brimmed with life -jazz and blues "nighttime, any time and Sundays all day". The alley's cafes, bootlegging and gambling joints, and sporting h?uses sat amidst backyard gardens, horse stables and JUnk dealers.

Carnegie Centre was the cultural centre for th~ respectable of the neighbourhood, the old Fountam Chapel was their spiritual home, and Hogan's Alley was the party home for the sinners and folks who loved its' music and dance. .

The city fathers began trying to wipe out Hogan's Alley in the 1930s. After WWII, a lot of buildings along the alley were condemned. As racial discriÂŁ?ination eased and buildings deteriorated, black restdents began dispersing to other parts of the city. In the 1970s, Hogan's Alley was demolished to build the Georgia Viaduct - around the same time _bl~k . communities were wiped out by freeway bmldmg m Seattle, Montreal and Halifax. Somehow urban renewal always ended up in the poorer parts of town.

There are 18,000 black people in Greater Vancouver today, but with the decline of Hogan's Alley ~d the Fountain Chapel, Vancouver's black commumty lost its' centre.

During the Heart ofthe City Festival at radh~ yoga & eatery, some of Vancouver's finest gospel. smgers will celebrate the life and times of the histone black community as told through songs, stories and firs! hand reflections. Joining them will be Leonard Gtbson who grew up in the DTES, started tap dancing on iocal stages at age 5 and was performing with touring groups by age 10. Leonard gre~ up ~o choreograph Bamboula, the first show televtsed m Vancouver and one of the first shows with an interracial cast.

Submitted by Savannah Walling

Carnegie Community Centre Association & Vancouver Moving Theatre with the

Association of United Ukrainian Canadians present

The ard _Annual Downtown Eastside·· ·

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Heart of the City .Festival Wed. 25 October- Sun. 5 Novembe-r 2006 Over 55 events at over 25 venues throughout the DTES and District

With a focus on the rich and diverse communities of the Downtown Eastside, the 3rct Annual Heart of the City Festival celebrates the creative and committed artists and activists that thrive in the heart of Vancouver. This year's festival features play readings, opera and music showcases, cultural centre open houses, dances, processions, spoken word, forums, workshops, gallery exhibits, film & video viewings, art talks, history walks.

The purpose of the Heart of the City Festival is to promote, profile and encourage development of community arts in the Downtown Eastside - from community building and bridge building, to celebrating artists and cultures and giving voice to local concerns.

The festival involves a wide range of artists- professional, community, emerging and student artists and lovers of the arts. Over 400 artists and 500 volunteers participated in last year's festival.. This year Community partners include the Aboriginal Friendship Centre, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, Strathcona and Seymour Elementary Schools, Carnegie and Strathcona libraries, Strathcona Community Centre, Co-op Radio, Chinese Cultural Centre, St. James Church, Watari, Radha yoga & eatery, Theatre in the Raw, Gallery Gachet, Urban Ink/Fathom Labs Festival and Powell Street Festival. More to come!

Some festival background- In 2001, the Carnegie Community Centre Association (CCCA) initiated the development of the DTES Community Arts Initiative. It's known today as the DTES Community Arts Network (CAN) and is associated with the Community Arts Council of Vancouver (CACV). The purpose of this network is to foster community development and spirit building through artsbased bridge-building partnerships and projects. In 2003 the CCCA celebrated the Carnegie building's 100111 birthday by reaching out to local folks to help put on a year of exciting arts events. Carnegie and Vancouver Moving Theatre (VMT) co-produced the acclaimed community play In the Heart of a City involving over 80 local performers and performing to sold-out houses and standing ovations. In 2004 & 2005, Carnegie and VMT continued their partnership and, with the help of a host of other groups and individuals including the CAN, co-produced the 1st and 2nd Heart of the City Festivals.

Which takes us to the 3rd Annual Heart of the City Festival, happening next month! Get involved. Tell your friends about the festival.

Support the artists, participate in history walks, workshops and forums, and have a good time. Tell us about exciting artists, events, · programs, activities, cultural groups and partnering opportunities for next year's festival. Your voice is needed and appreciated.

The Carnegie Community Centre and Vancouver Moving Theatre are members of the Downtown Eastside Community Arts Network

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For more information contact Rika Uto 604-665-3003 or Terry Hunter, 604-254-6911 www.heartofthecityfestival.com

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The War

WHEN ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE Kevin Annett

With careful precision 路 the boy tied his struggling captive to the railway track, its gentle face and form of no consequence to the lad on a mission.

Cheered on by all the other ten year olds who gaped and chortled, the boy heard not the pitiful cries of the trapped creature; heard, only, the approaching train.

Satisfied he waited not for the end but hurried off to church where metal pinioning flesh is seen as godly.

And we ten year olds who remained at the track watched and thriJJed as the train came, and went, as if nothing had been lost. (for the p eople ofAfghanistan)

Success Skills for Lifelong Learners ......... an evening class at Carnegie Learning Centre -Improve your reading, writing and study skills -Increase your confidence as a learner -Plus: time-management, goal-setting, memory improvement.

@Special Focus: Online Learning @= Learn how to use the internet to take courses or to learn by yourself. FREE! Location, dates and time Carnegie Learning Centre (3rd floor) September 20 - December 6; Wednesday 6:30-8:30 p.m.

If you can't make the first session, register anyway.

You will be a Capilano College student!

This is a non-credit course. You will get a Capilano College student card. Participants who complete eight of the twelve workshops will get a Certificate of Completion.

The best defence. when walls of treason choke us . off is defiance, curses;路 fury. Then, hopefully, a rally of friends: knowledge, focus, confidence, courage, guts, stamina .. . then action with a counting of blessings and words of a prayer SAM RODDAN

Social Workers & Professionals My opinion with the Welfare System really pisses me off.

Foster parents that take our children are just doing it for the money. Where are you people coming from .. are you that low to treat another human being like an animal? You are not fit to live in this society.

Where are your moral values? I guess you were some kind of evil before time began.

I hope & pray that things will change for us as a community who are affected by this.

Professional workers should take their time in placing a child in a home. They condemn a single mother with children struggling on what they get from Welfare. The social cops take children if the house is a little messy. Come on! Come on!!

Do you as Social Workers try to budget with not enough money plus look after your kids? No, you drop them off at a daycare. Quit being so judgmental and give the mother a homemaker once a week.

Social workers & Outreach workers should realize it si so easy to judge. You have to open your eyes. It is so difficult for a young mother to raise her children. They may have many issues on their plate, and not the least is just surviving.

Did you ever take the time in talking one to one?

No, your policies & paper trails are more important.

You as professionals are the ones that are putting our children at risk!! Wake up!

Not all foster parents are like that but shouldn't the people that are taking our children have a screening test for all different issues? Before placing another person's child in care you should really think of all the risks.

Social workers don' t have the time these days. We as affected people should start fighting for our children's safety.

AII my relations, Bonnie

FREE (or almost free) MOVIES! The Take- A Film by A vi Lewis and Naomi Klein, September 22, 7:30PM, Alice MacKay Room, Central VPL, 350 West Georgia. Free.

Info: http://www.necessaryvoices.org .

Argentina underwent an economic collapse in 2001, leaving behind bankruptcies and massive unemployment. A few years later, in Buenos Aires, 30 unemployed auto-parts workers walk into an idle factory, roll out sleeping mats and refuse to leave.

They're part of a daring movement of workers trying to recover and re-create their jobs. With The Take, outspoken journalist A vi Lewis and Naomi Klein, author of No Logo, have crafted a radical economic manifesto for the 21 st century. This DVD features a French and English language subtitle option.

Global Warming: The Biggest Show on Earth Join UBC Professor William Rees, PhD and author/consultant Guy Dauncey for an engaging and thought-provoking presentation on global warming and the behaviours behind the causes, and how we could completely eliminate the emissions causing climate change -- if only we wanted to.

Vancity Speaker Series Event #1: Global Warming: The Biggest Show on Earth Monday, September 25, 2006 7:30pm Italian Cultural Centre, 3075 Slocan St. Vancouver The event is free to the public but register at 604 877 7575 or rsyp@vancity.com. Capacity is limited.

All Rise: Somebodies, Nobodies, & the Politics of Dignity a film by Robert Fuller- Wednesday, September 27th; 7:30 to 9i30 pm- St. Andrew's Wesley United Church, Nelson at Burrard, Vancouver, BC $5-20 Sliding Scale. http://www.necessaryvoices.org All Rise is a follow-up to the bestselling Somebodies

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and Nobodies: Overcoming Abuse ofRank. In All Rise, Fuller argues that rankism - abuse of the power inherent in rank- does serious damage to private relationships and public institutions. He has just completed a sequel titled All Rise: Somebodies, Nobodies, and the Politics ofDignity .. .

IS LOCAL AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD JUST AROUND THE CORNER? with Wayne Roberts and Lori Stahlbrand.; St. Andrew' Wesley Church, Nelson at Burrard. Friday, October 6, 2006, 7:30 to 9:30PM. $5- $20; /$5. 00 for Conference delegates.

Info: http://www.necessaryvoices.org Two 30-minute presentations by Wayne Roberts, coordinator of the Toronto Food Policy Council, and Lori Stahl brand, president of Local Flavour Plus, will review both the obstacles to and opportunities of creating a local and sustainable food system.

Wayne, the author of such green classics as Get A Life!, will explain why governments and institutions of all political striP.eS have a hard time understanding and creating space for the challenges of local and sustainable food systems. Lori, best known as a former CBC Radio host and as co-author of Real Food For A Change, will talk about the exciting breakthroughs she's been working on with educational sales that create opportunities for local and sustainable farmers to "scale up" for major sales.

"Those who are incapable of committing great crimes do not readily suspect them in others."

La Rochefoucauld, Maxims

Necessary Voices Society pobox 95003, RPO Kingsgate Vancouver, BC, VST 4T8 CANADA www.necessaryyoices.org OP.'I]}

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THE RICH GET RICHER 2 men l woman sitting in a lane (homeless) JOE Fucking olympics ... stupid aresoles... waste of fucking money.. stupid idiots all dressed up in little red santa suits shit man its sucks ... sucks PAT'TY Well me, I think we should have our own olypics...just for us. Ya know, shopping cart races...juggling cans, throwing 'em, spit ...ya know who can spit the farthest.. . Then stay out in the freezing weather overnight.. who don' t die wins! Maybe a night at the Sheridan ha ha ha -yeah some hope of that.

JACK Yeh, maybe we could get one of those grants. Wow! Even travel to other places and see how they have street Olympics ... that could be cool, man. · JOE Maybe we could have a cockroach race ...that last hotel I lived in sure had some big ones. The ones in Mexico are 2 or 3 inches long.

PATTY I don't know about that.. sounds gross. Yuck, cockroaches: I hate them the little bastards.

JACK Sometimes you can be a stupid bitch. Do ya know that??

PATTY Don't call me a stupid bitch you aresole! Have your fucking cockroach race but count me out of it.

JOE Eh I like it! I like it! Our own Olympics. I gotta see my probation officer today. I'll see what he thinks of the idea.

Probation officer's office Mr. Douglas in his chair.

JOE Good morning sir. Nice day sir?

DOUGLAS Well, Joe. How have you been? Behaving your self? Not taking free rides on the sky train? Your last offence you stole steak from Safeway. A month ago you got a ticket for panhandling. This life of crime must stop, Joe, or back to jail for you..

JOE No sir, not me. I'm keeping me nose clean but I got an idea: Me and my pals wanna organise our own street Olympics. Ya know, street car racing and other stuff. We need some ofthat grant money that's floating around for poor people..

DOUGLAS Well Joe; hmmm grant money for the poor... Well, why don't you go and organise your buddies and come see me next month. But no free rides on the Skytrain, o.k?

Joe leaves Douglas gets on the phone to his crooked government friend Emerson, who has influence with grant money .

DOUGLAS Hi, Emerson. How's the stock exchange? made a million I guess? Listen, I have a great idea to make us some money, grant money. Yes! A project: Street Olympics for the poor! Of course a salary each for you and me (say a hundred thousand each). We can have travel expenses to see how other cities do it. Maybe Italy or Spain.

We will we give the street people maybe a 25 dollar honourarium and some tin medals. I'm sure they'll be happy with that. Come to think of it, maybe 10 dollars is plenty; don't want them to be greedy. The media will like it if it · shows that the grant money is going to motivate those poor unfortunate yada-yadda. It'll be a good photo op for you too as a politician! Get back to me soon and add on any extras for us that you can. Bye. · Douglas rubs his hands together saying money money money mpney.. Midas stands behind him as a ghost oflove . 'Q ..4-. ofgold.

Shc:i 1~ j}a'fqe_r-

Robyn's Rules

9/11

Oh Hi, it's me.

Do you know who it is.. can you guess?

Take a shot at it. Come on; I know that you know.

Try. Yeh. Heh, that's right - you're good. How did you know, you're amazing; that's so unreal, wow, you're incredible, wow, you've got a great memory.

Yeh, it's me, Robyn. What's so funny? No, I'm not teasing you. So what makes you think that? You're so cynical; what makes you think I am teasing you?

Yeh, you're right again, as always. Uh, anyway, I've really got to talk to you, you know; it's pretty extreme.. really serious .. I really can't keep it in any longer because it's quite simply not fair to you personally. Ya dig? Not fair at all. (Don't you agree?)

And yet you sti11 don't know what I'm talking about •• or maybe do deep down in your heart, your soul, huh?

Okay. Now listen carefully, okay. I'm ready so here goes nothin'. Wait a second while I take a deep breath - on second thought maybe I should call you back at a better time for you- uh, no, yeh, I've made up my mind! First of all I'd like to tell you we're friends, right? No, we're best friends; ok, close best friends.

Aren't all these completely different, slightly, in any way? Now the truth: I like you. In fact I always have but better than that - I like you a lot, I mean a real whole lot. I liked you the first time I ever laid my eyes upon you; hold it; a correction if you please; ya know maybe I even love you but, but, I'm scary, right?! Do you understand what I'm trying to say to you? What's the difference between loving you and being in love with you?? Excuse me for a second here okay, I'm getting slightly nervous. Didn't I just say that naw, I'm just going blank. and spaced ..you know me. Anyway, getting back to you and me and about different kinds of love: there's just gotta be, right, no doubt, ya know.

By the way, I was gonna tell you all this weeks ago but do you recall; I remember the instant I almost told you, you cut in really abruptly and kinda rude?

Your exact words were "Robyn, I've really got to go I'm busy". I go like 'ah, yeh, ok.. uh, yah, ok. bye'.

I didn't believe you. I knew deep down you didn't mean one damn word of it. I think I knew you were .probably just extremely frustrated by the whole situation, in that we're both sort of in a holding pat. tern, especially me; am I right or am I wrong about all of this- it's such a secret, so clandestine. Maybe •

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I'm confessing that I love you, however, I am quite honestly not sure where my mind and feelings are really at; precisely where you are in the same context; or where it is ultimately gonna go, ya dig?

Commitment is so hard to relate to for me ... more I than you I sense .

Anyway please keep the home's fires burning, even though I don't really live at your pad; although we still have a more than even chance of being more , than sparring partners; that's the best I can do for now. Fair enough: let's just say for now we're the best of friends, soulmates, kindred spirits or busom buddies take your pick! Fair enough?

Anyway I've really gotta go; I'm kinda busy, okay.

No, don't scream, I'm just kidding, calm down don't panic. Okay. Are you alright? Good. Yah. Okay fine. Bye for now. I'll definitely get back to you for sure. Count on it. Until then, pleasant dreams.

By Robyn Livingstone

"DEYAS programs provide windows of opportunity for youth and adults who are "street involved", and those wanting to leave the street. Through a range of personal interventions, hann reduction and health promotion services to high-risk and at-risk people in Vancouver, with focus on the downtown and east end, DEYAS helps individuals get better and make positive changes in their lives.

DEYAS Board of Directors invites applications for membership to the society, either general or corporate. Contact society secretary Lyn Cutshall for an application form or more information: (

49 West Cordova Street Vancouver, BC V6B 1C8 Tel: 604-685-6561 Fax: 604-685-7117 · Email: info(li)deyas.org

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DEYAS Needle Exchange Van Schedule

DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE VOUTII ACTIVITIES SOCIETY 49 W.Cordova

Telephone (604) 6'7·6,61 AM Van 7:00am- 5:00pm (on the road Bam.4pnt, PM Van 4:00pm· 2:00am (on the road ~pm-lam) 1 D~ya I Week 2006 DONATIONS· Libby D."-$100 Rolf A.-$.50 Barry for Dave McC-SJ 00 Christopher R.-$30 · Margaret D.-$40 Bruce J.-S 1.5 The Edge-$200 Mary C-S 10 Penny G.-$50 MP/Jelly Dean -S20 RayCam-30 Janice P.-$30 Wes K.-$.50 Paddy -$125 Glen B.-$25 John S.-$60 Leslie S.-$20 Wm.D -$20 · Michael C.-$80 llumanitlesiOI-$100 Gram -$20 Sheila B.-$20 Ben C.-$20 Brian $2 CEEDS -$50 Joanne H.-$20 Wilhelmina M.-$1 0 Sam an -$20 Phyllis L.-$200

604-251-JJIO FREE- Donalions acccplcd

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-·· NEWSLETTER ~.

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

:·c«MDJP> MID'll({]) ---

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

--------------------We acknowledge that Carnegie Community Centre. and this Newsltlltr, are on the S uamish Nrtion 's lerrito .

Editor: PauiR Taylor; cover Zeina Waheed, layout Lisa David.

Submission IJeadline for next issue: Thursday, September 28

Conlarl

Jenny ll'al Cldn1 I walt ~LA •

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workang tor You

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tax changes

Did you know that the parents or guardians of 400,000 children under the age of six have not applied for the $100 Universal Child Care Benefit yet?

That's $40,000,000 a month just sitting in a bank account in Ottawa waiting to be claimed.

The good news is you can claim retroactively back to july 1, 2006 and there are no income restrictions; rich or poor, everyone can claim it. Go to the Canada Revenue Agency website for more info

www.cra.gc.ca.

Now some bad news - you have to pay tax on that benefit. But the government won't collect it until you do your

return next spring.

Regardless whose name is on the actual cheques, the parent with the lowest income shou ld claim the benefit to minimize the tax bill. Parents I've talked to .didn't know they had to pay tax, and they weren't too happy about it.

And don't forget about your transit pass write off.

Hang on .to the monthly passes, write your name on the back and claim those when you do your taxes next spring too. !

Tonight on CJV News 1 at Six, I'll look at what ' to do when you and a merchant have a disagreement you can't seem to solve. ·Chris Olsen, CTV

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Reach Chris at: o/sen@ctv.ca

iiiiii

DO YOU HAVE A LEGAL PROBLEM? Come to our Free Clinic on Carnegie's 3'd floor

lff70-16.CI Commercial Dr VSL JVJ

UBC Law Students Legal Advice Progran:-

• Phone; 77~-0790 Fat: 77~-0881 ·Downtown [astslde Rc!ldcnts Auodatlon 12 £. llaullngJ St, or caii681~J9JI

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

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~~5=~~~~~~~~~~ !

a community celebration of the resilience

of the spirit and the healing power of art

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. Saturday

September 16 2006 · oppenheimer park noon-dusk Art Against Brutality is a day long multi-media community celebration of the healing and revolutionary power of art. As last year, the event will take place in Oppenheimer Park, where we are building a huge labyrinth to showcase people's art in the form of drawings and painting, sculpture, carving, writing and collage. There will also be an interactive area with workshops lined up to include: chapbook making with Steve, mural painting with DES Media group, s ilkscreen and stenciling with APC and a table for general artistry for individuals to draw paint or colour their experience. The main stage promises to inform and entertain with speakers and performances throu~hout th~ afternoon. See our blog for the latest details of just who is performing and when.

Other highlights of the day will be some fun games, a graffiti wall, random performances and a salmon bar-b-que in the late afternoon.

How to prepare for Art Against Brutality: Think of a visual way to present your experience and thinking on the subject. Make an altar, or decorate an item that is personally meaningful. Copy a poem for the poet tree. Find a stone to bring for the medicine wheel, and/or something to remember a loved one lost to violence. Let your friends and neighbours know about the event and invite them to do the same.

You can contact us, to register or for more info, and to help with the various tasks that we are • alread workin on.

DONATIONS FOR THE FEAST CAN BE DEpOSITED IN OUR ACCOUNT·AT THE :·· · :·. PIGEON'PARK.co . BANK ·:···

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 16, 2006 open to tbe public at noon: Dress festive and bring your art to tbe park for display, or just come as you are!

Artagainstbrutality.blogspot.coml ( 604) 682-3269 extension 7400 to leave a message

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WOMEN'S CENTRE

The Downtown Eastside Women's Centre, with the generous support of several DTES community groups, eagerly invites you to its 3 rd annual event. ...

Celebrating Our Journeys: A Downtown Eastside Neighborhood Street Party 12 - 6pm, Sunday, September 17th, 2006 300 Block Columbia Street Please join us at Celebrating our Journeys, an occasion where women arc given the opportunity to continue - despite the difficult circumstances which affiict their daily lives - to laugh, sing, dance, rejoice, and resist. See you at the Party! For further information or to volunteer at the event, please call 604-681-8480 x242, email celebratingow:joumeys([4yahoo.com, or drop by the Centre and ask for Cara, Event Coordinator.

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The Downtown Eastside Women's Centre is located at 302 Columbia Street (on the Southeast corner of Columbia and East Cordova).

TIRED o ·F GENOCIDE, CRIME AND COVERUP IN CANADA? Come to the first fall gathering of

The Truth Commission into Genocide In Canada

Monday, September 18 8:00.pm Classroom Two, Third Floor Carnegie Centre Main and Hastings, Vancouver Topics will include building resistance to the federal res idential schools settlement, re-launching the Spirit Keepers Caravan and investigation into the missing children, and holding public protest actions in the coming months!

Please share this news and bring a friend. For more information, go to www.hiddeofromh.istory.ore; or leave a message at l-888-265-1007

Eagle Strong Voice, convenor