September 1, 2016 carnegie newsletter

SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

·,·(:aRriiri~.;i·'e,~ NEVVSLETTER

'.

.'

carnnews@vcn'.bcca

401 Main Street, Vancouver BC V6A 2T7 604-665-2289 email: carnnews@shaw.ca

Website/catalogu~: carnegienewsletter.org

ÂŽuawa Room 930, Confederation Building Ottawa, ON K1A OA6 Tel(Tel: 613-992-6030 Fax(Telec: 613-995-7412

, HOUSE OF COMMONS CHAMBRE

DES COMMUNES

CANADA

cf!ennp GKwan August 18, 2016

rYoJlS!ltllencp 2572 East Hastings Street Vancouver, BC VSK 1Z3 TeI/Tel: 604-775-5800 Fax/Telec: 604-775-5811

Member of Parliament for Vancouver East Deputee de Vancouver-Est

Dear Friends of Crab Park, Thank you all so much for taking the time to show your support for the campaign to save Crab Park and to demand accountability from the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. We wanted to take a moment to reach out to all of you to properly inform you of actions taken to date on this important issue and to let you know what the plans are going forward.

It has been an intense period over the last few months. A few of the community members learned about the Port's plan to expand the Centerm Container Terminal around March of this year. They immediately kicked into high gear to organize a campaign to stop the expansion and save Crab Park. Don Larson, Founder of Crab-Water for Life Society and Barb Daniel, President of Four Sisters Co-op, along with other members of the community have been very active and been working tirelessly on this front. They initiated an official Parliamentary paper petition drive and, within days, gathered some 1458 signatures on this petition, which Jenny was able to table in the House of Commons. To date, there are over 4000 signatures on this petition. They also launched an online petition to the Port of Vancouver, now with over 4300 signatures. We aim to get the total number up to 10,000 by the end of the summer.

Crab-Water for Life Society and Four Sisters Co-op also organized a successful rally to raise awareness about the concerns regarding this expansion and to send a strong message to the Port about it. On Ma 9th, 2016, prior to the rally, Jenny also raised the issue during Question Period in the House of Commons and questioned Minister Garneau, Minister of Transport, about the ,lack of accountability from the Port and demanded action. Jenny then further debated the issue ,with the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transportation, Kate Young, on June 8.

In addition to the above activities, on behalf of the community, Jenny also requested a meeting with the Board Chair and CEO ofthe Port. We were advised that the Board only meets six times a year and as such, our request for a meeting with the Board was declined. Nonetheless, we proceeded with a meeting with the CEO, Robin Silvester and Duncan Wilson, Vice President of Corporate and Social Responsibility, on June 3rd, 2016 to discuss the concerns surrounding the Centerm expansion project, and its potential impact on Crab Park. We also raised concerns around the possible conflict on the part of the Port's assessing and approving its own projects. In addition, we discussed concerns about the overall accountability of the Port.

Following that, on July 1st, 2016, Don Larson and Crab-Water for Life Society hosted thei? annual July 1st Canada Day Festival. At this festival, as we celebrated our nation's birthday, we once again spoke in support of Crab Park and volunteers also collected signatures for the petition.

In going forward, community members are bringing the issue to the attention of elected officials at the municipal level. In particular, community members have written to the Vancouver Park Board and City Council to call for their support. As well; Jenny is currently in the process of drafting a Private Member Bill which will make Canadian Port Authorities more accountable to the government and public, and strengthen the requirements for independent and robust environmental assessments for projects such as the Centerrn expansion.

We would like to thank everyone again for your support. We will continue to push hard on these issues.

Jenny Kwan Member of Parliament for Vancouver East

Don Larson Founder of Crab- Water for Life Society

Barb Daniel President, Four Sisters Co-op

--

Published on Monday, August 29,2016 by Common Dreams

The Anthropocene Is Here: Humanity Has Pushed Earth Into a New Epoch

By Deirdre Fulton, staff writer "We have had an incredible impact on the environment of our planet," says Colin Waters, principal geologist at the British Geological Survey. The Anthropocene Epoch has begun, according to a group of experts assembled at the International Geological Congress in Cape Town, South Africa this week.

After seven years of deliberation, members of an international working group voted unanimously on Monday to acknowledge that the Anthropocene-a geologic time interval so-dubbed by chemists Paul Crutzen and Eugene Stoermer in 2000-is real.

The epoch is thought t have begun in the 1950s, when human activity, namely rapid industrialization and nuclear activity, set global systems on a different trajectory. And there's evidence in the geographic record. Indeed, scientists say that nuclear bomb testing, industrial agriculture, human-caused global warming, the proliferation of plastic across the globe have so profoundly altered the planet that it is time to declare the 11,700-year Holocene over.

Changes to the Earth system that characterize the potential Anthropocene Epoch include marked acceleration to rates of erosion and sedimentation; large-scale chemical perturbations to the cycles of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and other elements; the inception of significant change to global climate and sea level; and biotic changes such as unprecedented levels of species invasions across the Earth. Many of these changes are geologically longlasting, and some are effectively irreversible.

These and related processes have left an array of signals in recent strata, including plastic, aluminium & concrete particles, artificial radionuclides, changes to carbon and nitrogen isotope patterns, fly ash particles, and a variety offossilizable biological remains. Many of these signals will leave a permanent record in the Earth's strata.

"Being able to pinpoint an interval of time is saying something about how we have had an incredible impact on the environment of our planet," said Colin Waters, principal geologist at the British Geological Survey and secretary for the working group. "The concept of the Anthropocene manages to pull all these ideas of environmental

Indeed, the Guardian compiled more "evidence of the Anthropocene," saying humanity has: • Pushed extinction rates of animals and plants far above the long-term average. The Earth is now on course to see 75 percent of species become extinct in the next few centuries if current trends continue.

• Increased levels of climate-warming C02 in the atmosphere at the fastest rate for 66m years, with fossilfuel burning pushing levels from 280 parts per million before the industrial revolution to 400ppm and rising today.

• Put so much plastic in our waterways and oceans that microplastic particles are now virtually ubiquitous, and plastics will likely leave identifiable fossil records for future generations to discover.

• Doubled the nitrogen and phosphorous in our soils in the past century with our fertilizer use. This is likely to be the largest impact on the nitrogen cycle in 2.5bn years.

• Left a permanent layer of airborne particulates in .sediment and glacial ice such as black carbon from fossil fuel burning.

Now, scientists must commence their search for the "golden spike"-explained in the Telegraph as "a physical reference point that can be dated and taken as a representative starting point for the Anthropocene epoch." This could be found in anything from layers of sediment in a peat bog to a coral reef to tree rings.

"A river bed in Scotland, for example, is taken to be the representative starting point for the Holocene epoch," the Telegraph reports.

The Guardian points out: "For the Anthropocene, the best candidate for such a golden spike are radioactive elements from nuclear bomb tests, which were blown into the stratosphere before settling down to Earth."

However, Jan Zalasiewicz, a geologist at the University of Leicester and chair of the working group, told the paper that while "the radionuclides are probably the sharpest-they really come on with a bang," humanity has \eft no shortage of signatures. i: us.coltv Yours

PR£~[NTS

••••

PACIFIC BLUEGRASS & HERITAGE

SOCIETY

A variety of bands playing Bluegrass, Folk and·Country Music!

September

14, %016

STRING

QUART

Sotur-drl!.

September 3rd

401 Main Street

7-9pm

Carnegie Theatre

Free Admission

h

At Ease (Shot on location) While we celebrate a milestone here safe at our home or land another American gets shot on location guns, disease & Christianity all were gifts as all are in high demand military mom & Navy dad have children under thumb & heel, why must you remain dormant to the nature of simple yet mistake on purpose strategy like gun auctions for kids can you say the words "Holy Fuck" & tragedy as family friends plus those down the block are numb 'cause it could have been their child shot dead in a deserted field, like working your entire life to be able to control bargaining power with those whose kids are so inferior to yours you have the next Stephen Hawking right under your roof he can build execution software that will rid us of all human scum and more an ocean I shall drop I shall in its colourful array, as long as life exists on this truly unfortunate planet people will fight starve continue to kill every 16 minutes a murder happens in the States dear god give me strength I can't stand it my knees buckle I lay upon the ground even afraid to pray.

Lke the music I face wipe the dope out of your eyes cops killing people & now people killing cops wasn't this a happy story for half alive or so but just like fairy tales that crashland killing all this world so screwed up enjoy what ya can fore Mr Death says it is time to go the sins you utter don't directly dictate where you will find yourself like the moon alone for eternity or more, I think graveyard shootings are rare there is not much else you can do to the dead except forget & that is not an option memories are forever as the pregnant predeceased's wife remembers she is drinking for two cops & thugs fill out the reservation list both at ease but keeping Six on all looks aren't everything but anything can get ugly really ¡soon it is truly a shame anything can get hard core instead of just Punk Rock long

live Hardcore.J Like the Red Cross collecting dried & semi-fresh blood off of gang-banger cop-anger serial killer drive of course drunk drivers plow their two bits into this daily nightmare is it truly etched into prehumen stone that nothing nothing cannot nor shall not be fair race religion colour politicalism & crimes of passion only play a small pat the wrong place & the worst time seem to trump all of the above, promising scales in music are lovely, in law there's a pathetically horrific joke no one will ever understand when the rich move to another part of our solar system the poor have been left a several-tiered prison-like existence I think I'd rather die than be chosen for a Monday Niht Exorcism with a cryogenically-brought-back-to-life Howard Cosell thanking you lords below or above, the pugilist Mormon brass knuckle choir are due torive anytime just follow the punch drunk anonymous consistently falling into line litter that breaths gets swept up only after being shot now aren't we really making a mess?

Like with every murder the first lie comes easy oh too easy to remember it is the connection of others that obliterates your perfect tale such wondrous stories from the "WhatToDoAfterDeath" cop-book there's not much sex but as for corruption & deceit throw in blackmail & bodies will begin to wash u on the beach like whales out of curiosity who would listen to god Almighty I am talking humanity's frustrations: to Whom does he confess?

It's amazing what can occur in the blink of an island do not worry just over the oceans I shall drop a reminder of past & present the future being set you become quite popular once dead, you never know whpom your evil actions will please your 'stupidityon-purpose" will not stop the beatings people are dying in the street stop I am begging please shut down the thoughts in your head, the bottom line is not to bleed out cops put your guns away all you kids avoid criminal activity play if there was ever anything else it would or could do mankind would melt every single gun then again would it no be ironic for me to leave this world with a bullet in my head These -are my words & what I've just said.

By ROBERT McGILLIVRA Y "I have never seen a situation so dismal that a policeman couldn't make it worse."

-Brendan Behain ps: September 10 is Suicide Prevention Day. Think about it (I do, lots). Enjoy every day while you can.

gallery gachet presents

;E~hibiti~q:t~'rii'~ePt9,~ti~o~{~~rd{ 2016 ",

,-'.

~OP~,nin§;'fr.i~jY:~~~j~~~;2~i~=6C: 1Opm 1

[Jpin thiptoc:e~~ipnwith the

This year, our exhibition focuses on dreams with a variety of interpretations. The theme was generated through a community meeting and voted on at the HomeGround Festival and online. More than thirty-five participating dreamers will share their interpretations.

it;~rni~ar~ij~d, ~trpm';<Qpp~:nneimer

1~~~~fl~~~~iif~t~~:~!~rY The exhibition will feature a community project titled In Caseof Dreams. In the months leading up to the show park goers will explore their dreams (past, present and future) through creative expression and their work will result in a collaborative installation. -:

,., .:<. :.

f;;F

, IIHold tbdfkams f()~'jfdr~c{m{die, life is a :br~ken'.;Wir(gedbifdthatccmn6tfl}i}' ', . .. .:: - ~ ,.'

"

~.

,'..

-.

;

'~,

.

:}

-.

.. :.,..-.

; ....Lanqston Huqhes

; Openinq September9th,2016, , . ..

:.J%~:;:'~;~~~s

,"-,'

If Not For DreafTl~.isp(i~ of Hotneless~ess Action Week 2016 (Oct 9th~15th) sel-ies of-events to .: . . .' ..' -" ': .. increase awareness and toaddres-s--.«5nditions

a

Oppenheimer

~~c::~ib;~~~e:~~~~~:~~sent

!

I

artwork from the Opp~nh~ime~ parkcomml,li1itY;~.

ABOlHTH_EgOM,MDNITYOP~ENHElivtERPARK· J This exhibition features parMin-gi drawjng, priilt ,· . ARTSHOW <' .... making, sculpture, carving, textile, miXed media : ' and video works. Meet the artists attheopeninq . . The Oppenheimer Park Community Art Show reception! Visit thegalleWduringopen hours:begCln in 2008 in anticipation of the changes, Wednesday to Sundayfrom'i 2pmto 6 pm. -, -:challengesiimq loss in a pre-Olympic city e,

••..

..

. ." !"

i.

:. 'iri,~~'ctJng h(m)~-i~ssness:'>O"_~

..

.1

.

salon shop presents The Salon Shop is a micro-exhibition space within Gallery Gachet featuring the work of the Gachet Community, Volunteer, Associate and Collective members. The latest salon shop features

IT HAPPENED IN THE PARK For more information about workshops, contact Oppenheimer Park at 604 2538 or karla.kloeppergvancouver.ca

Adrienne Macallum

Jane

Clyde C Windsor

AnnWilson

Mike McNeeley

Darleen Okemon

Bruce Walther

Priscillia Tait

Eunice McMillan

Eddy P Jules

Steve "Blaze" Cardinal

Gladys Lee

Tina Eastman

Andy Morning Star

Marko

Cate Wikelund

Teresa Ng

Norman James Hall

Carol Larson

Lora Corbett

Jeet Corporation

DianeWood

Claus Olsson

Robyn Livingstone

Phoenix Winter

Michael Edward Nardachioni

Shannon Johnson

Eva Cho

Ron Will

Shimeon Sharar

Sparrow

Bob Fiddler

Stanley M Paul

Bonnie Low

Sue Blue

Jim Dewar Jo McRobb

â&#x20AC;˘

Bruce Matinet

'*".

,'~ On Aug. 2nd at a packed meeting in the Carnegie Theatre, .Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson finally agreed to the m in im u m demand of the Our Homes Can't Wait campaign: that the city-owned lot at 58 W. Hastings in the Downtown Eastside should have social housing with 100% welfare/pension rents.

Tent city sparks small victory for DTEShousing Continued ... The commitment to 100% welfare rate social housing shows a significant change in the City's plans for the site. Only, last summer the City announced 58 West as the home of one of the Vancouver Affordable Housing Agency's (VAHA) seven sites of "affordable housing." However, the preliminary plans indicated that only 15% of the units would have rented at shelter rate ($375).

The agreement comes after over ten years of struggle to get social housing at the large vacant site, across from Army and Navy. Yet, the struggle isn't over yet. The Mayor didn't agree to fund the housing, just to rezone it by June 2017.

He says the City will still have to get money to build it from the Federal and Provincial governments.

The meeting at Carnegie was the result of a sort of occupation of city hall on July 12th by residents of the current tent city and supportersfrom the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU), Chinatown Concern Group, CCAP and other groups.

At the Carnegie meeting diverse groups representing people of African descent, the Chinese community, drug users, tent city residents all argued that the City

should adopt the four points of the Our Homes Can't Wait campaign, already endorsed by ten DTES groups.

Jannie Leung of the Chinatown Action Group told the Mayor and several city staff that the city should build 100% welfare/pension rate social housing on ten city owned sites in the DTES. She said that one of those sites should be 105 Keefer St, that is currently slated for a condo development.

Debra McNaught of CCAP called for the second demand of the Our Homes Can't Wait campaign: the preservation and improvement of the Single Room Occupancv' (SRO) Hotels until new housing can be built. "All three levels of government have utterly failed this community," she said. "SRO rooms are shit holes, there is no basic maintenance, they lack kitchens and adequate bathrooms and elevators don't work."

AI Fowler from BCAPOM called for the third demand of the Our Homes Can't Wait campaign: a rent freeze. "Can't have people moving out and rents getting hiked up." Martin Steward talked about the importance of 58 W Hastings Tent City, explaining that "we have come together as a community to make a safe space that's ours."

Jinx, who lives at the tent city, also asked the city to address the basic needs of tent city residents: porta potties, garbage pick up, wash basins, and more help with harm reduction.

Before giving the mic to the Mayor, Karen Ward from VANDU and Jen Allan from Cop Watch questioned the City's spending priorities. Jenn Allan explained how "the City says it doesn't have money for housing but it has increased the annual police budget by $100 million (64%) since 2008."

Ward elaborated Jenn's argument, explaining how "the City just spent 55mil to purchase arbutus corridor so rich people can bike there, but they say they don't have money for housing." Ward also added that "the City subsidizes developers to the tune of millions to build rental housing that is not affordable to us and

they spend millions of dollars to manage homelessness, instead of ending it."

The group had decided before the meeting that the minimum demand was a committment to 100% welfare/pension rate and corrununity controlled social housing at 58 W. Hastings. So after the Mayor spoke, Aiyanas Ormond from VANDU, produced a scroll with the basic demand on it. The audience chanted "sign it, sign it."

After some revisions to the proposed time-line the Mayor finally signed the agreement on the flip chart. The final agreement read: "We commit to building 100% welfare rate ($375) community controlled social housing at 58 W Hastings' working with the community to develop a rezoning application that will proceed to council by the end of June

2017.

JJ

The details are important. The final agreement read "community controlled social housing," this means housing run and accountable to residents - not supportive housing.

the housing lost each year to rising rents and will only house a fraction of people who are homeless in our city. And that is only if the housing is actually built, which remains to be seen.

While the agreement is a notable victory, the fight is far from over. The housing will only replace half of the social housing destroyed by the climate of investment that Woodwards created, a fraction of

This means we have to continue organizing and putting pressure on the City to build social housing at welfare rate.

I'm on the Board of VANDU. I was one of the co-founders of this tent city. I'm 45 years old and born in the Yukon. I've lived half my life here and half there.

have to get IP for friends to visit you and you have to get buzzed in to enter.

I do everything at the tent city. I order supplies, make sure the fire chiefs are happy ane solve conflicts in the camp.

Tents are now 3 feet apart, and candles are not allowed.

If we only had good housing to live in it would be a lot better. I live at 12th and Kingsway. It not a bad place but you

Vancity

This spot has been promised as 100% social housing at welfare/pension rates, but in the meantime the government should put modular housing units here.

We had a meeting with city staff and we asked them to provide a porty potty.

There are 150 people here who are not going away, and we still don't have a functional bathroom. How hard is it to get us a bathroom?

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

"I hope something positive comes from this tent city ..."

J~

~----,J..;:J...

. ----~~ ,--,--.!,J

7~

â&#x20AC;˘

I came out here with a girlfriend, moved into the Balmoral Hotel. I call it the Hellmoral or Nomoral. Soon after we moved in, the tub sank into the floor and rats came in the walls and made nests in our mattress. Yet they were charging us $870 a month and then later they bumped it up to $930.

I stopped volunteering for the Salvation Army handing out food when I lived there, because I didn't want to go there with bedbugs all over me.

I've been here since a week after it opened. I was born in N. Saskatchewan and adopted into a white family in South Saskatchewan. I grew up working everyday on a farm till was 11 years old.

One day the rats dragged a whole bag of sandwiches into the mattress. I told the manager I refused to pay the â&#x20AC;˘ rent until they fixed the tub and toilet. Five people came and beat me up and wouldn't let me in. The locks were changed and I was on the street.

When my parents got divorced, I became the msn of the house and things went to hell from there. Mom got remarried and I resented her new family, hated them.

Before moving into the tent city, I lived behind Insite for 3 years. After about the 14th tent that the City took from me, I said that's it. The last pictures of my wife and child were gone.

I eventually started my own family. One tragic day my wife and my son got hit by a drunk driver and killed so I sold my house, quit my job and tried to kill myself with drugs.

So I decided to come here. I do security, fill up the water jugs, take out the garbage and bring food from the Salvation Army. I have also Narcaned over 30 people. That's over 30 lives I've saved.

Steve

I'll stay here as long as I can. A week and a half after I got in I got an apartment on Granville St. I've been on the street tor.a years and its hard to get used to sleeping there. When I am outside the DTES I always the look: "what are you doing in this area?"

1¡

I hope something positive comes from this tent city and that people get housing and understand what it takes to keep housing.

"We don't need supervision like children .."

I'm 34 years old and have been living in the Tent city a little over a month. Me, my brother and a girlfriend shared an apartment. After I broke up with her she left and we were not able to continue living there because she was paying 1/3 of the rent.

I went to live in a shelter on the Northshore. At the end of the month, I was kicked out. We found a another place to live, and we paid rent but the manager stole the rent money and split. I was out of money and no place to live.

work as security and who can get rid of people who are not suitable to live here.

We don't want-any violence here. But we want the security to work along with people who live here.

We need real housing for people. No front desk staff to monitor our movement. We are adults. We don't need supervision like children. We don't want to be told when to come home or nosy management to poke their nose into our business.

We want the 58 W Hastings to be a real apartment building like others. Not an People are friendly but the services SRO infested with bed bugs, rats and are lacking. At the moment, we need thieves. We want the city government to a bathroom and food as there are no toilets, no water or sanitation. get rid of SROs and put people in real . homes.

We also need people who are trained to

"I think they should build more social housing.."

At the moment, I do crystal meth and ganja. But I'm trying to build a different life. I want to go to school and rebuild my life. I want to work as an Interior Designer. I know that once I have a home ever thing else will fall into place.

I think they should build more social housing for the poor. It's my first time to live as a homeless. This is all newish to me. I hav~ learned a lot about myself.

I learned that I'm selfish and subborn.

Five years ago I was very aggressive, mean and I didn't care about family.

Now I found the soft side in me.

Izzy, 3D, from Edmonton I moved to Vancouver last December to be with my sister. She was going through a pscho-system, with drugs.

Now she is in treatment. Because she doesn't have a place no more, I needed a place to stay so, some friends told me about the tent city and I came here.

All I have done in my life is sell drugs.

I have never worked any other jobs.

I started to go to jail when I was 12, 14,15,18,20. All due to drug trafficking.

The longest time I have served was 13 months.

I help out with security. I also help clean the place and I.help with security. There are rules here and in case of a fight, I intervene.

I have no problem with SRO hotels if they are kept clean and maintained. I'm very private person. I like to keep it to myself. I wouldn't want to share my accommodation with people I don't know.

Unless they are family or close friends.

It feels like a community here. It's easy to make friends, if that's what you are into. I'm here looking for a family.

Classic approach.from the saddle

by Casey Bowman 2015 Vancouver's stunning waterfront marine community and seawall captured untouched using 35mm colour & B+W film.

September 1 to 30, 2016 OPENING: Saturday, September 3rd, 7 - 9 PM 3rd Floor Art Gallery, Carnegie Community Centre

•••••

BRlTISH COLUMBIA

Ministry of Public Safety & Solicitor General Gaming Policy & Enforcement Branch

Dear Thursdays Writing Collective writers, When I started writing at Carnegie Community Centre in February 2008 I didn't expect to become so deeply knit into the literary community of the Downtown Eastside. I thought I was eo-facilitating a four-week course!

Now just shy of nine years later, we have spent thousands of hours of writing together. We've made eight publications, and collaborated with scores of international writers and artists. We have solidified Thursdays Writing Collective as a vivacious, knowledgeable and creative group with a strong reputation not only locally but nationally, too. Writing and talking with Thursdays Writing Collective has made me a better writer, a better editor, and it has taught me how to teach. It has also brought me the connections and friendships that are the best part of everything good.

Thursday afternoons have been a favourite day of mine since that first class in February 2008 - no matter what is happening in the world, I leave the third floor classroom feeling better about things - about life, about writing, about creativity. My kids have grown up knowing the reason I'm not picking them up at school on Thursdays is because I'm part of something much bigger than myself. They have seen me squeeze email answers, financial planning sessions, board meetings, runs to the printers and late night readings into our lives and they know how important and joyful this work is to me.

We have created a special magic together and thanks to all of you, the ripple continues to surge outward.

We have a really exciting year planned of writing about "Visualizing the Word" and we have the support of Canada G,Quncil for the Arts to make it happen 'in a beautiful way.

Thursdays Writing Collective has thrived on two m~in rules: the first one is about the writing prompts and you have probably heard me say it a million times: "there is no way to do it wrong." The second rule speaks to the why and the how of involvement in the Collective: "work to your joy level." Focussing on what serves us each best in regards to our time together ensures our collective success. How do we make the experience joyful, even if we are doing hard or painful work? How do we structure our efforts to support each other rather than sap us emotionally or time-wise?

My time inside the classroom writing with everyone

is a blast. The amount of work and administrative tasks that happen outside our time together, not so much anymore. In thinking about "the joy level" several things became clear to me this spring. I need a change. I want the Collective to continue full force. I want to continue to be connected with it, and all of you. It is time for me to hand over the day-to-day direction and the facilitating.

I'm delighted to let you know that what I wrote out as my "dream scenario" is happening, and happening in a way that will leave the Collective better, faster and stronger. Beginning in September I will be stepping down as Director of Thursdays Writing Collective. I will remain as a board member and continue as an active writing member, when I am able to attend.

The new Director is Amber Dawn, an award-winning, multi-genre, multi-book author who has years of experience teaching inside and outside of university settings. Amber Dawn wrote with us in our LETTERING project two years ago and as a board member has been engaged with all sorts of support for our organization.

Most recently, she MC'd our Literary Verses and Courses event at Heartwood Community Cafe with Cease Wyss. Here is her bio: Amber Dawn is a writer living on unceded territory of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations (Vancouver, Canada). Her memoir How Poetry Saved My Life: A Hustler's Memoir won the 2013 Vancouver Book Award. She is the author of the Lambda A ward-winning novel Sub Rosa, and editor of the anthologies Fist of the Spider Women: Fear and Queer Desireand With A Rough Tongue. Her newest book Where the words and my body begins is a collection of glosa form poems. She currently teaches creative writing at Douglas College and the University of British Columbia, as well as volunteer mentors at several community-driven art and healing spaces.

When I say I can't imagine a better Director, I mean it. Amber Dawn is a committed DTES community member with a wide-range of interests and literary connections. She is also uniquely attuned to the characteristics of our group and knows how to enhance the spark, rather than smother it. Amber Dawn's intellect, gentleness and sense of fun are going to be a huge boon to TWC. I can't wait to see things take off.

I hope you all understand how excited I am about this change for all of us. I will have much more open time to spend with my kids and to write (I have two

more books coming out!) and I'm looking forward to recharging my batteries. TWC gets to have a fluid hand-off from me to Amber Dawn - I'll be around at sessions, events, and so forth. And Amber Dawn is really energized about connecting with this committed, talented group of writers.

In the past few months I have seen you stretch and reach and try new things, both in your writing and off the page. This growth reassures me that TWC will adapt and evolve in all the best ways - some will be familiar and others will be surprising.

I won't say goodbye - we'll stay in touch - but I will say hello to Amber Dawn as she begins leading TWC's regular Thursdays classes from 2pm - 4pm beginning September 15,2016.

Please update your address book with Amber Dawn's contact info: amberdawn@thursdayswritingcollective.ca And continue to stay in touch with the group via www.thursdayswritingcollective.caand Facebook!

To each of you I send warmth and gratitude for the past experiences and in anticipation of the new ones!

Elee Kraljii Gardiner

Emma Price, Kitchen server/Dishwasher Katie Chu, Kitchen prep Co gratulations!!

Volunteer Committee Meeting September 7th @ 3:30pm, Classroom 2

Wednesday,

Volunteer Dinner September

14th @ 4:30pm, Theatre

Golf Skills w/Brad Wednesday,

September

Pitch and Putt

@

Friday, September

14th @ 11 :OOam, Gymnasium

Stanley Park 16th @ 8:30am,

Meet at info.

Volunteer/Senior Camping Trip Camp Homewood Monday, September

19th - Friday, September

" A few members of the Carnegie attended the screening of the Tragically Hip concert. Apparently there were few screenings across Canada. I assumed that we were going to an actual concert until we arrived at the Stanley Theatre. A few of the city council members were there and one opened up in acknowledging the traditional territories of the coast sal ish people.

I enjoyed Gord, the lead vocalist as he spoke & said that we were in good hands, because Trudeau himself was at the concert. He thinks Trudeau will be running two terms as Prime Minister. That Trudeau cares about people up north. He was speaking about the Indigenous people. I was mesmerized when Gord placed Prime Minister Trudeau on the spot on the issues or trauma northern communities face such as sui. cide.Jack of housing, lack of support. Gord did not mention the issues but I know that is what some of the northern communities are facing.

Overall, the concert was entertaining yet sadden to see the band end their last journey on stage but their music will continu. Thank you Tragically Hip for an awesome last concert."

Priscillia Mays "It was epic show' for the band's last and final appearance, The Tragically Unhip. Thing is Gord's terminal brain cancer.

Fitting the band choose to go out with a 30 song set list, and not one but three encores. They threw all the hits at us, despite Gord's terminal illness. He was in high spirits, and on fire, they all played their hearts out. Sadly we will never see them together on stage again. R.I.P Tragically Hip't-- Randy

Volunteers of the month: August 2016

Wednesday,

04(JUAUy +lIp Screening

23rd

" I thought the show was very well produced and the Hip were really good, it was better than I expected.

I Seeing it on the big screen with surround sound, the audience in the theatre blended with the crowd noise at the arena so it was almost like being at the concert.

They should do more live shows that way as it was one of the best things I've seen. A big, Thank-you to CBC for putting it together so well." -Steve.

"I enjoyed it very much and it was the most emotional concert I attended. I've like The Tragically Hip ever since I was a teenager many moons ago." -Emma

from the Library

TO MY FATHER To you who I give my respect

As a newcomer to Camegie, I have enjoyed filling in for Natalie while she has been off having a well-deserved vacation (and perhaps running into Stephen Lytton again). Summer is on its last legs which means it's time to get started on those early autumn crops.

Our seed library has been replenished with lots of arugula and mixed greens ready for planting. If books are more your thing, here is an assortment of some new titles that we have available at the library: Watch list: 32 Stories by Persons of Interest (2015) This collection of short stories from notable authors such as Cory Doctorow and Aimee Bender will get you thinking about who might be watching you and what might happen to society in a world of constant surveillance - a future which may already be here.

The Star Trek Book (2016) by Paul Ruditis. Make it so! Trekkies and new fans alike will enjoy this fullcolour, 50 year celebration of all things Star Trek and its influence on today's science and technology.

The Red Files (2016) by Lisa Bird- Wilson. Wilson drew on family experiences and archival sources when writing this debut poetry collection about the residential school system and the long-lasting impact it has had on generations of Aboriginal families.

The Idiot Brain (2016) by Dean Bumett. If you've ever wondered what you brain is up to (or where it has gone), neuroscientist Dean Burnett has got some answers for you in this hilarious and accessible explora tion of why our brains do the things they do.

You the one I love and the one I Honour I'm here to write these words a bit abstract All that you give me is happiness YOU MY FATHER I'm writing these words and I will tell you All that you have done to make me And to tell you how I miss you What I feel when I walk with you For you who I feel so proud To have you by my side In helping me doing my first mark in my life Prove you how that I love you You are there every day to help me To go over the journey of life and to love it all Only with you forever because you will be my big love For me you will be with me forever YOU MY FATHER FOREVER You will be in my heart Roger Brouillette

•

Your (visiting) librarian, Jennifer

You are invited to join us for CAKE and coffee to celebrate the 30th Anniversary ofthe Carnegie Newsletter on Thursday, September 15,2016 at 2:30pm on the 2nd floor. .

-

..

tlOHT

.':::- •..•..- -

_)

.

-

PaulR Taylor, Volunteer Editor.

\\fRITIN6 CONJTEST to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Carnegie Newsletter Entries will be accepted for the following categories: >Poetry (maximum: 40 lines) >Essay (up to approximately 450 words) >Memoir (up to approximately 400 words) Contest Details: • • • •

•

You may write about any topic of your choice that you think would interest or entertain readers of the Carnegie Newsletter.

A panel of judges will read all entries and choose a winning entry for each category.

The winner in each category will receive a gift to inspire future writing projects.

All entries will be potentially eligible for publication in a future issue of the Carnegie Newsletter. If your writing is chosen for publication, you will be remunerated with volunteer tickets.

Submissions will be returned to the writers, upon request, after the contest winners are announced.

How to Enter the Contest: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Do not put your name on your poem, essay or memoir.

Put your poem, essay or memoir into an envelope.

Complete the contest entry form.

Place the entry form inside the same envelope as your poem, essay or memoir.

Seal the envelope.

Print the following words on the outside of your envelope: WRITING CONTEST

ENTRY, cJo Carnegie Newsletter.

7. Deliver your entry to the Carnegie Community Centre (401 Main Street, at Hastings Street) before the contest deadline.

8. DEADLINE: Contest entries must be received by 12:00 p.m. on

October Questions?

1, 2016.

Please direct all questions about this contest, in writing, to Lisa David in care of the

Carneqie Newsletter. You may either leave a note for her in the Carnegie Community Centre Association Office (second floor) or send an e-mail message to carnnews@shaw.ca.

WRITING CONTEST in the subject line.

If you send an e-mail, please put

WRITING CONTESTI to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Carnegie Newsletter

ENTRY

FORM

Please print as neatly as you are able. Thank you.

Mynameis:

_

How may we contact you?

Phone:

_

E-mail:

_

Mailing Address:

---,,---

Other:~---------------------------------------------------------

Please enter my writing under the following category (checkone):

D Poetry D Essay D Memoir

.

Thank youfor entering our writing contest. Good Luck!

__=_

A priceless gift - poems & essays by Sandy Cameron, under the title Justice and Beauty - hand-delivered by Jean Swanson, is the source for the following.

Last Poem (Jean's note: Ifound this poem on Sandy's desk afew days after he died. It was in draft form & hard to read but this is what I could make out.)

Do not weep for me when I have gone and you are lonely in the quiet night sitting where we , used to sit together.

Do not weep for me for I am closer to you now than 1 have ever been before.

Wind caresses you -I am the wind 1am the sun's warmth 1am the sweetness of the summer flowers.

1am the smell of gentle rain . . The 1of which 1talk is not the tiny 1 that is born and dies but the 1that ever was, the "I" that says "before Abraham was, I am."

The I of which I speak is not the I of me but the I that lives at this exact moment and forever.

Do not weep for me when I have gone and you are lonely in the quiet night. for I am closer to you now than I have ever been before.

~~!~~~~~_6

Wr: acknowledge that Carnegie Community Centre, arid this Newsletter, are occurring on Coast Salish Territory .

.an.a.c"I'~_..o.;..w

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

LAW STUDENTS LEGAL ADVICE PROGRAM

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

•

Small illustrations to accompany articles and poetry.

Cover art - Max size 17cm(6 '1.")wide x 15cm(6")high.

Subject matter pertaining to issues relevant to the Downtown Eastside, but all work considered.

Black & White printing only.

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

All artists will receive credit for their work.

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

Remuneration: Carnegie Volunteer Tickets

Please make submissions to Paul Taylor, Editor.

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

Next issue: SUBMISSION

DROP-IN Mondays - 12:30pm to 5pm Tuesday - lOam to 5pm Thursday - 9am to 5pm COMPUTER ADVICE Vancouver Community Network Cost-effective computer & IT support for non-profits VCN Tech Team Call 778·724·0826

http://techteam.vcn.bc.ca ext2. 705-333 Terminal

Ave, Van

WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION

DEADLINE

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER

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

13TH

• • •

AIDS POVER.TY HOMELESSNESS VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ABORIGINAL GENOCIDE TOT AUT ARIAN CAPITALISM IGNORANCE and SUSTAINED FEAR

(Publication is possible only with now-necessary donations.)

DONATIONS 2016 Sheita 8.$200 Robert McG.-$110 Elsie McG ..-$200 In memory of Sam Snobelen: Anonymous -$200 In memory of Harold David: Susan S.-$200 In memory of Gram: L.-$10 Barb & Mel L.-$100 Cory K.-$19 Sid CT -$50 Laurie R.-$50 Winnie T.-$150 Glenn 8.-$200 Craig H.-$500 Ellen W.-$35 Leslie S.-$200 Michele C.-$100 Withelmina M.-$44 Humanities 101 -$300 Yasushi K.-$50+ Michael C.-$50 The Farm -$200 New Star Books -$56 Jeremy 5.-$30 Laura -$50 Christopher R-$300 Susan C.-$100 Laita B.-$100 .

Anonymous -$110 Maria Z.-$50J

Vancouver's

non-commercial, listener supported community station.