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EWSLETTER

JANUARY 15, 2009

carnnews@ vcn.bc.ca www .carnnews.org www .harvesters.sfu.ca/chodarr

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It's not too late

It's not too late to prevent the destruction of our Downtown Eastside : the living, vibrant community where 1 and so many others live. lt 's not too late to stop the condominiums from rampaging out of control, stealing away our neighbourhood of the Downtown Eastside by stealth. lt' s not too late to start more harm reduction programs like Insite and NAOMI to help those stricken with the disease of addiction. It' s not too late for the federal government to implement a national housing program which would help immensely with building more social housing in our DTES. It' s not too late to stop the spread of towers in our Downtown Eastside and prevent the continuing displacement there caused by gentrification. It's not too late to open a food bank in our Downtown Eastside after our only one was closed in October of2007. It ' s not too late to stop the poor-bashing of our DTES residents by the mainstream media, which is just a preliminary step for developers and the rich to take over. It 's not too late to end street homelessness in our Downtown Eastside, so that so many of us wouldn' t have to sleep outside any longer. lt 's not too late for all levels of government to build more proper social housing in our DTES, which would replace the decrepit SRO hotels that pass for housing now. It ' s not too late for more much-needed childcare spaces to be made avai lable here to help the single parents raising a family and also maybe trying to hold down a job. It's not too late to raise income assistance and minimum wage amounts to adequate levels where people forced to subsist on them can live with dignity.

It's not too late; late maybe, but not too late-no, it' s never too late. We here in the Downtown Eastside are doing something about these things-what are the rest of you doing?

2008 CELEBRATE DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

Last year, I started what I hope will be an annual event in writing and recognizing achievements in the Downtown Eastside.

As we know, all to often, our community's identity is tagged with the visual witnessed at the corner of Main & Hastings and "the four blocks of hell" as

-Rolf Auer

quoted in a Vancouver newspaper. Fortunately, for us and the Downtown Eastside community, which many of us hold dear to our hearts, there is much more to us than portrayed by certain media.

2008 will, for the Downtown Eastside Community, be remembered for some incredible and inspiring achievements with indications of progress on both individual and community levels. The following is my li st of landmark happenings ­events of 2008 that helped the continuous shaping of our Downtown Eastside Community and its people. **WALK 4 JUSTICE .... A dream of our dear departed Squamish Elder Harriet Nahanee, activist & mentor, was to have a bill passed for a national public inquiry into the deaths of the murdered & missing women of Canada.

The walk4justice, under the direction of Bernie Wili­ams, Nicole Tait and Gladys Radek, with the assist­ance of Carolyn & Don Knight, Penny Irons, Grace Tait, BC Un ion of Indian Chiefs, First Nations Sum­mit, unions, women's organizations, Minnewashun people of Ottawa, and eleven persons from across BC walked to Ottawa.

They traveled for 83 days, walked 3,942 kilometers and were successful, after fighting for twenty years, in having a resolution passed for a national public inquiry into the missing & murdered women of Canada. It all started with us in the Downtown Eastside. Congratulations to Bernie Williams, Nicole Tail,

Mabel Todd, Willie Abraham, Gladys Radek, Rene Pratt, Telsa Pratt, Elvis Wilson, Yiki Peters, Rhoda Michelle and Richard Dominick for their dedication. for their courage and for caring about this important issue enough to commit to making a difference **A NEW MAYOR The second event on the top of my list is the election of Gregor Robertson .. and I want to explain why. I believe that there is a time when someone comes along who has the potential to lead a people or, in this case, a community, through change. I am not expressing these thoughts through some starry-eyed lens but more from the perspective of having been homeless, having been on the other side, as it were, and knowing that at this time the Downtown Eastside is at a crucial point of "where do we go from here?'. I think the most important points of Gregor's charac­

ter that invites hopefulness is his willingness to listen and the idea that he understands that he has to work with the people instead of setting an agenda and telling us what we are doing. This approach encourages the idea of possibilities. **Michael Clague Presented With the Order Of Canada Long-time comributor and "making things happen person", Michael Clague is rewarded for his years of dedication with the prestigious Order of Canada. A heartfelt "thank you" from our community to you. **A Gathering to Honour Barbara Clague Barbara Clague, Michael's partner and community activist in her own right, was honored at a party for her work during a serious illness. This is on the list as one of the most magical events of the year ... a room full of love!!

''"' **Wendy Pederson, Jean Swanson and CCAP j Mobilizing, influencing participation in voting, rallying around commonalities as tools for change helped Wendy and Jean maximize their efforts to build & activate a once sedentary immediate com­munity as well as extending influence beyond our boundaries .. well done! **The Downtown Eastside Neighbou rhood House To Joyce, the staff & volunteers for providing affir­mative programming in the little neighbourhood house that could . **THE LISTENING POST

This place of retreat from the chaos provides solace and gentle advocacy. We say "thank you" to the volunteers and staff. **BRUCE THE MUSICAL A theatre piece that shared the ups & downs of being an activist at a time when it wasn't cool and the heart of a man who didn' t care! Kudos to cast and Theatre ln The Raw ... well done! **HEART OF THE CITY FESTIVAL Creating a special day that focused on the aboriginal culture as well as other cultures during the festival is a step forward in our efforts to cultivate understanding and so to ... respect of each other, in our downtown eastside community. Also, congratulations for being recipients of the City of Vancouver's Cultural Harmony Award **CENTRE A & THE LIVING BLANKET An international event begun by Doris Bouttignol of France, "The Living Blanket"Exhibit was a powerful testament to struggles around the world; whether we talk of war, missing women or any other inhumane practice. Kudos to Hank Bull and the sta ff of Centre A for this exhibit, inviting the Women 's Memorial Quilt to participate and for their efforts in integrating the downtown eastside community and making the community feel welcome. **ABORIGINAL FRONT DOOR A service agency that has struggled and is determined to survive and make a contri bution to the downtown eastside. **THANK YOUS to the many organizations that provide programming, services and work to develop new initiatives that serve this community ... and to every individual for participation in Downtown Eastside activi ties

By DALANNAH BOWEN

Life is alive

Life is a lie Laugh at the lies Life just lies Laugh with the lies Life is just lies Laugh at your I ife Life in a child A life with no lies Life as a child A life with no lies The world is life A world full of lies Change the world To a life with no lies Change is a life Now a child with lies Fly so high Fly with the world Don't you cry Change like the child Give it a try Laugh at the lies Be so bold Give it a try The world is life Life is ALIVE

Richard Ambeeley

Untitled Steven A. Cardinal (2008)

Something as sacred and eternal as the Eagle flying into a jet stream of a strong north wind.

My hope floats carelessly, and endlessly through the air like the dried Dandelions

white particles, during a hot summers day. Floating higher and higher.

I step into the sun and shiver from the pureness of it reminiscent to the longing of a woman's touch

finally significant, together, imposing a sudden shiver, as the Goosebumps elevate the hairs

standing on the back of my neck. Increasing my state of consciousness,

I reach for it blindly like a man reaching for his lover in the cover of darkness and unconditional love

it moves, as if to entice a chase, and simultaneously envelopes me,

to indicate that it was with me the entire time ... and will be ...

forever and ever.

What is it? you ask ... It is hope.

Facing The Downtown Eastside Drawings By JORGE CAMPOS

Carnegie Art Gallery Month of February

A Ghazal for Spring

One month after the winter solstice, their passi ng Takes us on a new journey, and I dream of spring.

The winding unmarked paths in the virgin woods bring The Sphinx's three stages of life. I dream of spring,

A mid-winter night's tale on a frosty evening, And a hare dashing down a hole. I dream of spring

Under the quilted fabric of our lives that bring Welcomed sleep and full contentment. I dream of spring

And inhale Monet's floral beauties. Embracing, We evoke the poet's refrain "I dream of spring."

Barbara Morrison

SNOW FLURRY's Snowfall, snowball, slushy sliding slipping & glid­ing, hydro-planing cars, trucks, buses fishtailing, sloping and stuck. Sloppy sidewalks, split-second guessing, water rising with snow flurrys ice cap­ping weather worries. Stopping, starting, waves of wet water drown clogged catch basins plugged - at you hurt slog off hard in misdirection but forget about the sidewalks why not hit the streets 'cause no one appears to shovel no more; at least they get plowed and salted and on very rare occasions, when extreme winter wonderland horrors make their usu­ally unexpected invasions;; icestorms can be both prolonged and fleeting when the rain feels like pelt­ing spitting bullets I wish l hope for a few degrees higher when it turns to simply flashing sleet. I can for certain take a punch and stand a beating but will this ever end this black ho le of ice?! and depression blues - with longer, boring, darked and chilled out days spent ducking for shelters wher­ever they may be or exist while you dodge snow­drifts, snowplows and black icy asphalt on aching knees in constant pain????????? WHO ever thought that in LotusLand we'd pray for a steady, soothing rain!?! I see dim little lights at the end of a tunnel that's as long as the Winter Solstice, personified in mega­multiples where omnipotent portals explore and reveal the incomprehensible eons too soon to be. To overpower these freezing, apocalyptic winter

wars envision the finish, the eventual possibilities of too-hot-to-touch sandy beaches, a cool breeze wafting amid and among swaying palm trees ... dry ground where you could run instead of sliding side ways in slush waves. Dream of anything the opposite of my now oxymoronic cataclyptic state. I feel the change come over me after too many corners & within uneasy reach com­pelling circumstances ---don't you agree with me (just nod) on what l'm relating to you on how to deal with the unwonderful winter blues and survive in a muddled, fluish stateg sniffling sedatives and conjuring up a sunny something, a frame of mind untroubled, and pass it on to brothers and sisters: · "temperature's risin ', sun's in the wind, gathering clouds are dispersed and birds are returning" and by the time that gets go ing Spring will be han gin' round ... !

ROBYN LIVINGSTONE

WORKSHOPS IN HUMOUR & POETRY WRITING S Every Thursday at the UBC Learning Exchange

~·: 612 Main Street: January 15 - March 19,2009 ' • '

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Poetry: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. with Liz Ross This course will focus on material culture- on those objects that have special significance to you and your writing. There's no limit to your inspiration! Humour: 1:00 -3:00 p.m . with Roger Pylypa Instruction and workshops in humour writing. Bring out the comic genius in your writing, explore your funny side, or at least get a few cheap laughs.

:.;. Seating is limited. Register in-person at front desk.

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VANCOUVER OPERA "Tire Night Before the Opera"

By Bizet The first 75 people will receive free tickets to the final dress rehearsal ofth<? opera.

Wednesday, January 21 @ 7pm Carnegie Centre Theatre

Presented by Vancouver Opera's UBC Learning Ex­change in collaboration with the Carnegie Centre.

HUM 101: JANUARY DOCUMENTARIES Saturdays Carnegie Theatre starting 6 PM.

January 17 -9/11 & American Empire Intellectuals Speak Out -Loose Change 2nd Edition

January 24 -Painful Deceptions -Hijacking Humanity Ptlfls I and 2 January 31 -Scientific and Ethical Questions 9111 Revised -Bursting Bubbles of Government Deception

News from the Library

With the winter holidays behind us for another year, thank god, we at the library are settling back into our routines and getting ready for another full year of programs, events and other offerings. As a lways, we very much welcome your comments and ideas- th is is your library, after all , and we need your feedback to know how we are doing and what we could be doing better.

We have recently had our First Nations collection fully catalogued in order to make it more accessible to the entire city. We've complemented this initia­tive by purchasing quite a few new titles for the collection including (among many others) Richard Wagamese' s One Native Life, an insightfu l and moving memoir of the Oj ibway author's life as a writer and storyteller; Chiefly Feasts: Tile Emlur­ing Kwakiutl Potlatcfl by Aldona Jonaitas, a beau­tifu l photographic history of the potlatch; an illus­trated guide to the fascinat ing art of Kwakiutl String Figures, by Kwakiutl e lder Julie Averkieva; and Nancy Turner's Plants of Haida Gwaii wh ich, a long with full colour photographs, offers practical and historical uses for hundreds of plants, all listed by both the ir English and Haida names.

For those of you interested in languages, we have acq uired a number of language-learning sets, con­sis-ting of both more conventional materials­books, DVDs, COs- and less conventional ones, including MP3 files which can be downloaded onto an !pod or MP3 player, and Spanish and Chinese vocabulary flashcards for use in the library. Finally, Bruce Alexander, Professor Emeritus at SFU has published an important new study on ad­diction using Vancouver as a prototype, entitled The Global-isation of Addiction: A Study in Pov­erty of the Spirit. Dr. Gabor Mate calls it "an essen­tial compendium . .. a deeply original work that chal­lenges the cherished assumptions of policy makers in London, Washington, [and] Ottawa".

Aaron (part-time librarian)

Emergency Preparedness Session Tuesdays: January 27 at 7p.m.

Classroom II , Carnegie's 3rd floor

Sign up at 3rd floor Administration Office. Each sess ion is limited to 15 people. Plan to attend the

full I !1:! hour session when you sign up. Refreshments are served.

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Benefit Concert performed by Jim Byrnes for The Saint James Music Academy

Anglican Church at 3Q3 East Cordova

Friday January 16th at 7:30.

Jim Byrnes is an internationally recognized blues guitarist. By the age of five he was a piano prodigy and liv ing in St. Louis. When he reached the age of 13 he was into blues guitar. At an early age he be­came an internationally recognized musician, and now plays throughout the world. He moved to Can­ada 40 years ago, where he continues his music and his acting career with roles in movies and televi­sion. Jim continues to give generously of his time, in appreciation o f support he received as a child .

T he proceeds of the concert will be given to The Saint James Music Academy, an independent, non­profit organization, now in it's second year of clas­sical music training for children growing up in the Downtown Eastside. Patterned on the Royal Con­servatory of Music program, the 50 students are trained in piano, cel lo, choir, v io lin, guitar, and bass with not only practical training, but theory as well. All the instructors (who for the most part do­nate their time) are c lassically trained. Students are initially selected by school administrators (Strath­cona and Seymour Elementary Schools) in the DTES and then interviews with the Academy, prior to acceptance. The majority of chi ldren range in age from 6-12 come from very diverse cultural backgrounds, many single parent fami lies, others from large two-parent families. What they share is a common desire for their children to learn music, which is often cost prohibitive. Music Lessons are free to families with limited resources. Snacks are provided in the afternoon and in between lessons, there are dance and art classes. At a time when the Downtown Eastside is undergoing rapid change, we have estab lished a music education program which w ill remain accessible to ch ildren from low-income fami lies. We can only remain accessible with the support of our community, and the communities that surround us. Local businesses such as Fluevog Shoes do­nated generously towards the purchase of instru­ments for the school. Sunrise Market and Eclipse Awards have a lso given generously to the Music Academy by providing support with snacks, and making awards for the ch ildren at the end of the school year. Please join us on the January 16th to support Saint James Music Academy, it w ill be a well spent20 dollars and a good time too!

Carnegie Community Centre Association Board and Committee Meetings

January I February 2009

Seniors Support Group: Thursday January 15, 2:00p.m. (Theatre) Community Relations Committee: Thursday, January 29, 4pm (Association Office 200 floor) Program Committee: Tuesday, February 3, 4pm (Association Office) Volunteer Committee: Wednesday, February 4, 1 pm (Classroom II 3rd floor) Finance Committee: Wednesday, February 4, 4pm (Association Office) CCCA Board Meeting: Thursday, February 5, 5:30pm (Theatre)

Note: The Special General Meeting held on January 8 saw the membership support the proposed changes to the Ass­ociation's Const~ution & By-laws unanimously. Copies of the revised documents will be available by February 1s1.

Marking an Anniversary A small business called Solder & Sons opened its

doors on January 15, 2008. It's located at 247 Main and has good coffee, great teas, used books and an eclectic array of audio in mediums ranging from the latest in compact discs to old vinyl albums. The book selection is hard to categorise; suffice it to

say that you'll be intrigued and even amazed at how broad the selection is for such a relatively small number of tomes. Local people like the atmosphere and are usually glad to exchange greetings, words and ideas with the 'stafr David and Robert. With another Waves coffee franchise opening in the old Vic's Restaurant space, it' s more important than ever to support small, independent shops like Solder & Sons, the Radio Cafe on the ground floor of the Sunrise and others in the 'hood.

PRT

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Torn Between You

I am torn between the good life w ith you and the life of worldly passions wi th him Could you give me what i want in him, and what i want in you Christianity is loneliness, wanting so much to be held, to be kissed, passion and corruption run wild in my blood, loneliness leads me blindly to his arms, isolation undresses me to secretly give in to him and allow him to pennetrate me like a venomous snake lying in wait for it's prey the burning desires in my body tells me it is okay love every moment savour the deprivation but my spirit awakens and tells me no it is not right you must not corrupt fly away, run away, walk away tears well up in my eyes my heart is streaming bloody rage, mixed with passion, desires to be satisfied oh to love to need love to wrap my body mind and soul in his what is so wrong with that must I never die yearning his embrace

Sylvia Sharon Isaac

* *{:}** * {:}, * Peter Golletz * DERA Tax Service

9:00-11 :OOAM 1:00-3:00 PM Mon Tues Thurs & Fri

12 East Hastings Street Msg. 604-682-3269 ext. 7727

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A few years ago, as I entered Carnegie, Guy tapped my shoulder "Remember me? We camped at CRAB Park before it was a park Remember? We won!"

For sure I knew that quick, crooked smile (Though we were just kids back then, of course)

Last year, as hotel after hotel shut down I got discouraged and depressed Guy would remind me of the CRAB victory Positive, he kept hope alive

Guy passed so young

Drumming, sweetgrass and candles at Oppenheimer His name signed in two places on the brilliant wall murals Songs, prayers and funny, kind words ...

"Guy'd give you the shirt off his back and a bus ticket."

" He was always there if you needed someone to listen to."

"He really wanted to be mayor."

. --·· . -- ... ···- ···- · ·····~

I call you in the morning when the terrors of the night Still press their dark shapes against my Soul I know that later these frights will fade And the sun will flood my narrow room.

But it's now -the time that only a human voice can dispel This sterile emptiness .. Your human voice. Later you say -later we will talk of pain & fear After the habits of everyday. Now is time for work And yet I know by then the pain & sorrow will be forgotten or maybe just buried beneath the noises

of a new day Wilhelmina Miles

Scavenger

I watched you on the snow pecking with what should have been a sort of desperation.

"Guy was the first to welcome me here. We both loved the prairie sky ... " But you acted handsomely, stepping with that deft movement. A quick foot here,

"All the news reporters knew him."

"We didn't always get along but we ended up respecting each other."

"He loved to tell his story. If you wanted to see Guy run ... You just had to tell him there was a camera over there."

"I'm glad he was generous with the bus tickets ... He used to hit me up for them."

"Don't worry about Guy. He's with Elvis and Marilyn Monroe ... And all our other loved ones." S)

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a turn of the head there, picking up the imaginary marcels of your feast. All the while quietly starving as you waited for the thaw to uncover its hidden treasure.

A lot of us miss that Guy

~ Judy Morrison

Leith Harris 1~

~-'4 ~ ~-:~~~ !. Maximum Fun Running· -;- .... Have fun this year running for a new level of health every Sunday at 9:00a.m. and 2:00p.m. starting out from the Carnegie Community Center with the goals working towards a Half I Full Marathon in 2009/2010. lfyou always wanted to do something more for your self, want better confidence and time management, would like to understand more about your body's true fuel requirements through exercise discovery, then this could definitely be for you. For more infor­mation leave a message for Darren at the front desk or come out and give it a try. Happy New Year!

Hope the Creator protected your loved ones To the homeless I hope that you found a home We tend to forget about the poor people But bless those who did a lot of giving Especially in the downtown core Just want to thank all the people Who supplied warm food & clothes Thanks to those who gave shelter to the homeless.

Ifl forget to mention anyone, thank you anyway May the Creator bless you in His own way I hope he helps me write more beautiful poems for you all. The best in the New Year.

All my relations, Bonnie E Stevens

Carnegie Community Action Project (CCAP) Newsletter

Find us in the Carnegie Association office (604-839-0379) Jan 15, 2009

Earle Crowe moves into Penthouse "Welcome to our community." That's

how Earle Crowe began his talk to assorted politicians and community members at the opening of the Pennsylvania Hotel on Jan 7.

The newly renovated building, operated by the Portland Hotel Society, will provide 44 units of supportive housing at $375 a month rent.

Each unit

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has a bathroom and kitchenette. It took years of cobbling together funds from numerous sources for the historic building to finally be renovated.

Earle told the crowd that he had been sleeping in a tent in CRAB Park for 3

years. He said he didn't like SRO because, "there's no

..-- dignity in SRO's. You don't have your own washroom. [The one you do use] is plugged with shit." Earle is now a

· Pennsylvania resident." Now I can ask a friend to come over for a coffee or a beer. We need more of these so

everyone can get off the street," said Early.

After thanking everyone who worked on the project, Earle concluded, "Skid row is a place in you mind, not in your city." - JS

City Staff Take Action on Jay Rooms and Rooms Open Up

Good news about the Jay Rooms at Main and Cordova. The rooms above the old Vic's Restaurant (soon to be another Waves Coffee Shop) are closed but about to open to women above the age of 45 who are having trouble living in the hotels. CCAP is part of this good news story. Read on to learn more.

Since March community residents have been noticing that the upstairs rooms were being used as offices, contrary to the Single Room Accommodation bylaw which requires that they be used as single room accommodation unless city council says otherwise.

In July, Matthew Matthew, president of the Carnegie Board, wrote to Barb Windsor of the city's licensing department, saying that he suspected the rooms were being used illegally. She did not get back to him.

On October 1, the agent for the owner of the building met with CCAP and said there were only 6 rooms, with another 6 closed by fire damage, and that it would cost $200,000 to make them all habitable as rooms. He wanted CCAP to agree not to demand that the SRA bylaw be enforced, claiming that he might build some social housing (with condos) at some

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time in the future. On Oct. 31 CCAP wrote an official

email to the city saying we wanted the 12 rooms opened as single room accommodation and the bylaw enforced. No answer.

In early December the new city council took office. On Dec. 18 CCAP got an email from Windsor saying: "We recently carried out an inspection of the above premises and noted that the 12 rooms had been converted into office space, without permits and in violation of the Single Room Accommodation By­Law."

"Notification has been sent to the owners of this violation and the file has been referred to the City Prosecutor to

pursue laying charges." "Once I hear back from the

Prosecutor with respect to the charges I will advise you."

"It is also noted that they applied for an SRA Conversion permit on November 7th, 2008."

On Jan. 3 CCAP got an email from Atira saying that it would open the 12 (not 6) rooms if it could raise $40,000 (not $200,000). It is our understanding that the money to open these rooms has been found and that these rooms will be opened soon. ~JS

CCAP Signs on to Poverty Reduction Campaign

You can get involved in campaign to reduce poverty too.

Would you like to be part of a big BC campaign to reduce poverty? If so, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

years, and by 75 per cent in ten years, in recognition that poverty is concentrated in these populations.

* Within two years, ensure that every British Columbian has an income that

has an open letter ..,..,......._,,....,_...~-.,....,.. reaches at least 75 per cent of the poverty line (using the LICO­AT).

calling for specific targets and timelines for reducing poverty in BC.

They are collecting names of groups that will endorse an open Jetter to all political parties in BC. The letter calls for these targets and timelines:

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* Using Statistics Canada's low-income cut off after tax (LICO-AT), reduce BC's poverty rate from 13 per cent to 9 per cent in four years, and to 3 per cent in ten years (meaning, effectively, a one third reduction within the mandate of the next government, and a 75 per cent reduction within a decade). * Ensure the poverty rate (using the

LICO-AT) for children. lone-mother households, single senior women, Aboriginal people, people with disabilities, and recent immigrants likewise declines by 30 per cent in four

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* Within two years. ensure no one has to sleep outside, and end all homelessness within eight years (ensuring all homeless people have good quality, appropriate housing).

ln order to achieve these targets, we call upon political parties

to commit, prior to the May election, to specific policy measures and concrete actions in each ofthe following policy action areas. Special attention should be focused on the needs of those most likely to be living in poverty (single mother households, single senior women, Aboriginal people, people with disabilities and mental illness, and recent immigrants and refugees).

(Continued on page 4)

(Continued from page 3)

Policy Action Areas 1. Provide adequate and accessible

income support for the non-employed. 2. Improve the earnings and working

conditions of those in the low-wage workforce. 3. Improve food security for low-income

individuals and families. 4. Address homelessness and adopt a

comprehensive affordable housing and supportive housing plan. 5. Provide universal publicly-funded child care. 6. Enhanced support for training and education for low-income people. 7. Enhance community mental health

and home support services, and expand integrated approaches to prevention and health promotion services.

There is nothing inevitable about poverty and bomelessness in a society as wealthy as ours. If we commit to a bold plan, a dramatic reduction in poverty and homelessness within a few short years is a perfectly achievable goal.

If you want to help out, bring this letter to church, union, ·

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op etc., and ask them to sign. Send the signed letter to:

Seth Klein Director, BC Office Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives seth@policyaltematives.ca tel. (604) 801-5121 1400-207 West Hastings St. fax. (604) 801-51 22 Vancouver, BC V6B 1 H7 CCP A webpage: http:, . \\\\ . ;:lO I1c alternJtives.ca

Poll says Briti5h Columbians want poverty reduction

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives recently commissioned a poll by the company Environics. The poll found that:

* 87 per cent of British Columbians believe the Premier should set concrete targets to reduce poverty;

* 77 per cent said that in the face of a recession, governments should focus even more effort on supporting the poor; and

* 74 per cent said they would be more likely to support a provincial political party that pledged to make poverty reduction a high priority. - JS

Shelters or Homes, Which Cost the Most?

It's good that the city is opening up more shelters for homeless people. No one should have to live on the street in winter or summer.

2008. This money funds 1500 emergency shelter beds. Now let's do the math: $50 million divided by 1500 =

$33.333. Now divide the $33,333 by 365 days in a year, and you get $91.32. That's the cost of a shelter BED per day: $91.32.

Last year CCAP

More should be opened up right now and governments should deal with some of the issues that make people not want to go to shelters: the refusal to take pets. partners. and shopping carts. for example.

But when you look at the costs of shelters versus housing. the results are

....vou I , 10M IS£ b.

1 learned that developers could build a new 400 sq. ft self contained apartment for a rent of about $1200 a month or $40 a day. Let's sec now, if the government spent $40 a day for a unit of good. new housing for a homeless person, it could afford an additional $50 aDA Y on support services before the good housing and support would cost more than a shelter bed. So

amazing. According to a November news release from the Ministry of Housing and Social Development (welfare). the government budget for its Emergency Shelter Program is about $50 million in

5

yes, we need those temporary shelters because the housing isn't built yet, but why isn't the government rolling out a housing construction pro&,rram with health supports so it can SAVE BIG BUCKS? - JS

New Council May Be Tougher on Enforcing Maintenance Standards

At one of its first meetings in December, the new Vancouver City Council passed a motion calling for a full report on all the orders issued under the Standards of Maintenance By-law in the Downtown Eastside in 2007 and 2008, describing the orders, the response to the orders by the owners of the affected buildings, and identifying which orders have resulted in compliance and which remain outstanding and instances which have resulted in partial or total building closure.

The report is supposed to be ready at the end of January.

Council also asked its staff to report back

on the specific steps the City would have to undertake, and the additional resources that would be required to immediately exercise its powers under the Standards of Maintenance By-law to use its own staff and resources to repair a building in violation of the Standards of Maintenance Bylaw to bring it into compliance with the By-law.

Downtown Eastside groups like the Carnegie Community Action Project. DERA and Pivot have been asking the city to use this bylaw to do maintenance and repair work in hotels when landlords refuse to do it. - JS

LILAHC to meet with DTES businesses and condo owners

You may remember we wrote about the Low-Income Land Use and Housing Coalition (LILAHC) back in August 08. If not, here's a little update on who they are and what they are up to.

LILAHC members live, volunteer and work in the DTES and have 1 00% allegiance to low-income people of the area. The complete list of who is in this group can be found in the Aug 1 issue of this newsletter (found in the Carnegie

Library) or on the ccap blog: capvancouver@wordpress.com.

CCAP started LILAHC when we realized a vision for the DTES was needed and that we needed the support and wisdom of many others to make it happen.

Right now CCAP (with LILAHC's support) is mapping with low-income residents as the second stage of visioning. Another thing we are doing is planning a meeting with housing providers,

6 ( l vl'\twwecA.. c t\ pc~t I )

/

( c l)l,tJ,,..ecl ~ r~a. ") businesses, revitalization groups and condo owners. We want to discuss issues arising from our visioning process such as health, housing, incomes, small business survival, drug use, towers, income mix and safety.

Is it possible that we could find common ground with groups like Business Improvement Associations? Well, maybe. We suspect everyone wants a safe and healthy neighbourhood. Preliminary conversions with a few business reps indicated to us that they may be keen on getting more new housing in the area if that

#'" ' /

will help get people offthe streets. Here are some more reasons why we

decided this meeting was important. We hope it will help us get ready if council decides we need to plan for the long term future of the area. Also, we need to prepare for the city's Height Review in the DTES and for the review of zoning in the Oppenheimer area, both scheduled to happen in 2009. Lastly, we think it's a good idea if resident-driven groups

7

convene discussions about the DTES instead of always relying on city hall or outsiders to do it for us. Convening the meeting may give us more opportunity to keep the format and the outcomes low­income friendly.

We hope the discussions will be successful. But it's just an experiment. If it's not useful for low-income residents, then we aren't obliged to keep it going.

Here are a few clips out of the invitation that we sent out that will give you a sense of the tone we hope for at the meeting.

u "We are also hoping that folks who . ..

Strathcona Residents Association call most of the Oppenheimer

Area (core DTES) "Strathcona".

Bou11daries of these sub-areas will likely be a hot discussion topic .

. . . attend the meetings will bring their sense of inquisitiveness and be respectful of all points of view, even those they disagree with." "Thanks very much and we hope to see you at the first meeting, which could be exciting, and, at the very least, interesting!!"

We ' ll keep you posted in the Newsletter on the progress of this group. Wish us luck. - WP

Did you know?

* BC has the highest child poverty rate in Canada (21%)

* In 2008, BC had a surplus of $2.9 billion and the federal government had a surplus of $9.6 billion.

* Aboriginal people comprise 32% of the Metro Vancouver homeless population, but only 2% of the general population. Nearly half of the homeless women counted in March 2008 identified themselves as Aboriginal.

* Canada is the only country in the industrialized world ·without a national housing strategy

* According to a provincial study. emergency shelters and services for homeless people cost $55.000 per year per person. By providing permanent housing and supports. BC tax payers would save $32.8 million annually

CCAP's Blog: http://ccapvancouver.wordpress.com/

8

* Welfare rates today are 25% lower than in 1995. once inflation is factored

* Poverty is the single greatest cause of homelessness

* Population of DTES: Nearly % of the 16,000 residents living in the DTES are low-income as of 2006.

* The 2006 Low-income Cut­Offs (LICO) before tax for a city like Vancouver are about $21,200 for a single person, $26,400 for a two person household, and $32.400 for a 3 person household. (Source: BC Campaign 2000 Fact Sheet #1, Nov. 21, 2008)

* The 100 highest paid CEOs of Canadian publicly traded corporations received an average of $10,408,054 in total compensation in 2007

Vancity Support for this project does not

necessarily imply Vancity's endorsement of the findings or contents of this report."

< • ~ z • a .. c • ~ .

• 1: ~ .. I .,. 1i 0 • IE • ..

0 .. I 0

I ~ .. 0

f • = 2009 Poverty Olympics

SUNDAY FEB.S 12:30 Torch Parade

starts at VANDU 380 East Hastings

lpm Opening Ceremonies at the Japanese Language School

487 Alexander Street Family Friendly Free Admission

Poverty Olympics' mascots Creepy the Cockroach, ItChY the Bedbug, and Chewy the Rat, Opening and Closing Ceremonies, events like Skating a round Poverty and the Housing Hurdles, a special appearance by

Mr. con Dough. Cockroach Cake will be served. Free. Everyone welcome. For info or to get involved , call 604 729-2380.

I I

I

Subject: Chief of Police Offering an Apology I rece ived a call last week that the police were pre­

paring to offer an apology in the case of the death of Frank Paul. Thankfully, Peggy Clement, Frank's cousin isn't prepared to accept it. We're not as eas­ily fooled because today, we now speak the same language. To me a random, conditional apology or whatever

kind of apology .. was not and is not appropriate given that the decision as to Frank's case is still be­ing considered. There is too much at stake and too many big players involved. Frank Paul's death rep­resents too many of our Aboriginal men who have died by police involvement all across this land. In Saskatchewan Rodney Naistus, Neil Stonechild, Lloyd Dustyhorn, Lawrence Wegner. Denis St Paul Gerald Chenery, , Geronimo Forbister shot in the head by police, Kyle Tait-shot. Our people should not be screaming in fear, knowing his fate at the hands of 'to serve and protect' officers .. such as Neil Stonechild did before he died. The issue of systemic discrimination, criminaliza­

tion and victimization of our Indigenous people is too widespread and has become too much of a norm to simply accept yet another apology by the Queen's servants. Should Frank Paul's case get shoveled under with bureaucratic imperialism, our issue becomes one of protecting our youth, our eld­ers, our defenseless people on the streets against the justice system itself as a whole! On our own land. It's not going to go away with an apology. Our society, our nations, our children, need to know that they and their ancestry will be treated with dignity. The Aboriginal community knows that it is time

for concrete responses. Society should be amend­ab le to look at police as individuals based on their actions, not romanticize the whole such as movies

did for the R.C.M.P. Aboriginal people, leaders and supporters all along

have stated that officers of the law must be held accountable for criminal acts or crimescover ups, for obstructing justice, for murder by physical force, firearm, neglect, destroying important evi­dence protecting themselves, hate or race based actions or taunts, ... leaving a defenseless, unarmed human being out in the freezing cold to die. Spin doctors sell their souls to use verbiage: "we've learned from our 'mistakes'," 'we want to work with Aboriginal organizations,' "I was trying to protect officer so and so" .... "I was in fear for my life .. " "the cost to taxpayers .. " .. blah blah blah ... It's also the spin doctor who vilifies or negates our public comments, letters to the editor or our lawyers' stance. It's a game becoming more and more com­mon knowledge, and what of the taxpayers tab for them? It's in the millions believe me. *In the article it states that the department "hopes

that the fami ly wi ll be a part of it..." meaning that they will go forward with the apology whether or not the family is present. Why now? What's up? Chu, in speaking with the

media after a day-long organized community meet­ing, listening to the First Nation experience, still defended his officers and basically, saw no wrong­doing. I only attended to witness and wasn't disap­pointed. The time for change is now. Our leaders, tribal

councils, organizations and grassroots must do our parts and the justice system must do theirs.

Kat Norris Lyackson First Nation Coast Salish Territories Indigenous Action Movement

r

Their Spirits Live Within Us The February 14th Women's Memorial March needs your help ...

The deaths of many vulnerable women from the Downtown Eastside continues to leave family, friends, loved ones and community members with an overwhelming sense of grief and loss. Many other women have vanish­ed from the streets without a trace. The February l4th Women's Memorial March is an opportunity for the community and those that support us to come together to grieve the loss of our beloved sisters and remember the women who are sti ll missing.

The February 14th Women's Memorial March is sponsored by organizations and individuals like you and is held to honour the lives of women who die each year due to violence and to remember more than 40 women who are still missing. Each year the Memorial March committee must raise fund s to pay for such things as hall rental , sound system, food , red & yellow roses, memorial brochures, blankets, posters, candles, tobacco and other expenses. lfyou would like to sponsor a component of this year's March call Marlene at (604) 665-3005 Please make cheques payable to the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre, Women 's Memorial March, 302

Columbia St. Vancouver, BC V6A 4J I. All donations overS I 0.00 will be gratefully acknowledged with a tax deductible receipt.

We thank you in advance for your support and look forward to you joining us at the 18th Annual February 14th Women's Memorial March. It will be star1ing at I 2:00pm at the Carnegie Community Centre Theatre, 40 I Main Street, Vancouver, BC. Please respect the march and leave your agency banners at home as the Women's Memorial March carries five banners to honour the women.

Thank you very much for your time and attention marlene.george@vancouver.ca.

On behalf of the organizing committee of the 2009 February 141h Women's Memorial March

@NOON GATHER AT CARNEGIE CENTRE THEATRE (401 MAIN STREET, CORNER HASTINGS, VANCOUVER) @ 1 PM MARCH BEGINS FROM MAIN AND HASTINGS

For more information call Marl we George at (604) 665-3005

DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE CENTRE FOR THE ARTS AN INTRODUCTION

The Downtown Eastside Centre for the Arts Creating Opportunities for the Artist in Everyone

The DE Centre for the Arts is open to everyone for artistic exploration and expression creating connect­ions with self, one another, and community. Why DE Centre for the Arts will contribute to our commu­nity, provide much-needed space for creative explor­ation and expression, and create a significant new initiative for the Vancouver arts community. The Downtown Eastside community has the highest

concentration of artists per capita in Canada. Even though the community has many art galleries and places to experience and engage in the visual arts, there are a limited number of spaces for the explora­tion, rehearsal, performance, and experience of the arts for the people of the Downtown Eastside. Many of the arts programs for personal growth and

creative development for Downtown Eastside artists and their audiences have limited capacity, availabili­ty, access, range, and depth of opportunities.

The arts enhance education, promote health and healing, create connections and communities, contri­bute to our economic strength and employment growth, and stimulate discussion and creative thinking. Research by the Canada West Foundation indicates that cultural activity contributes to the health and well being of citizens, improved community identity and social cohesion, community revita lization and the redevelopment of inner cities. What

The Downtown Eastside Centre for the Arts will contribute to improving the lives of members of our community and to the cultura l development of our

community by providing opportunities for personal creative development, and for the creative expression and experience of our community. These interests are paramount in determining what andhow we do things in creating, developing, and operating the Centre. How

The Downtown Eastside Centre for the Arts will provide a facility for the exploration of the theatre, dance, music, and other arts with a strong aboriginal arts component for members of the Downtown Eastside community and beyond. It will create a hub of artistic activity wi th structured and unstructured opportunities to engage in creative pursuits.

It will provide accessible drop-in programming for community residents to explore and engage in crea­tive pursuits and activities. It will provide opportunities to attists who want to

develop their artistic skills to move forvvard to professional careers in their chosen disciplines. It will be accessible for everyone with an interest in

participating, contributing, or becoming engaged in the personal, cultural, and social development of our community.

It will provide people with an interest in improving their situation with artistic opportunities and mecha­nisms that will assist them in initiating change.

It wi ll create an open door by making available art practices that are accessible to interested parties, providing them with opportunities to express them­selves in different forms, and giving them what they need to begin life-altering changes.

It will offer opportunities for aboriginal youth to learn and experience art in the presence of elders and for elders to contribute their life-experiences and pass on traditional teachings and skills. It will work with the community to develop program­ming that is re levant and serves the needs of the Downtown Eastside in relation to how the Centre can complement, contribute to, and enhance other initiatives and enterprises in the community.

It will create a community centre for the arts that reflects the community it serves.

The Downtown Eastside Centre for the Arts will begin by selecting and developing programs in the Interurban Gallery. The idea is to create program models to ensure that what we do and how we do things will contribute to our goals and objectives.

WHAT'S NEXT On Tuesday January 6, 2009, our first pilot program will begin with The Women's Memorial Quilt Part 2. After that, every Monday/Tuesday from 2-4, community members will be invited to come and make squares to add to the quilt. Our goal is to work until the end of January to make

the squares leading up to the Women's Memorial March taking place on February 14, 2009.

This workshop will be held at InterUrban Gallery at 1 East Hastings. Monday & Tuesday afternoon from 2-5:00 is the scheduled time to work with Diane Wood. Materials will be provided. We also invite the community to make their own squares. Please check with us regarding size so that it can be joined with the main quilt. Many people who have experienced the missing & murdered women tragedy, whether first hand with a fam ily member, or through fr iendship and o ther asso­ciations, did not have a chance to honor them by participating in the first Women's Memorial Quilt Project. We feel that it is very important to offer a new opportunity to do this. An elder wi ll be available for these sessions and for all of our programming.

We invite everyone, men & women & children, to participate in this event.

CURRENT PARTNERS Portland Hotel Society, Carnegie Community Centre, Communi ty Arts Council Of Vancouver, Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society Food Runners pro­gram, Potluck Cafe United Native Nations, KAY A, Aboriginal Front Door.

There are many people that are coming together to realize this vision and we express our sincerest grati­tude for their support and encouragement. This effort will continue to grow in stages as we develop our strategies and programming. Our goal is to present accessible and effective art programming for the downtown eastside community.

The long-term goal of the Centre is to have a penna­nent site where a broad range of programming can serve the residents of the Downtown Easts ide neigh­borhood and the community of Greater Vancouver.

Opportunities to Contribute If you would like to be involved, contribute, or be kept informed please email Dalannah Bowen at dalannah@decentreforthearts.com.

DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE CENTRE FOR THE ARTS WOMEN'S MEMORIAL QUILT PROJECT/PART 2 (In Collaboration With Carnegie Community Centre )

SCHEDULE AFTERNOONS (Monday/Tuesday) 2-5 January 6-27 making squares January 27-30 blocking & joining the squares February 2-5 hang exhibit February 5 exhibit opening February 13 exhibit closes February 14 Women' s March

LOCATION INTERURBAN, I EAST HASTINGS

~·: '•'

Take back the Land: Enforce C hief Kiapilano's Eviction Notice

against the genocidal Catholic Ch urch Sunday, January 18 @10:00 am "Holy Rosary Catholic Church"

Dunsmuir and Richards, downtown Vancouver

Bring Drums, Banners and the Names of the Disappeared

Help exorcise the spirit of genocide from our land!

The Truth about Forcing the Poor into Shelters. We are now only months away for the 20 10 Olym­pics and new laws are being drafted to clear the streets of the homeless. Court cha llenges will of course be blocked and delayed till after the O lym­pics. Our Government is today spending $50 mil on 1,500 shelter beds/mats right now, that's $91.32 per night, per mat. Shelters are planned to double their capacity by 20 10. Our leaders want, the homeless, their pets, and their belongings remove from v iew at any cost, and that's $2,739.60 per month, per person. The following is not a joke! l'd be glad to rent out my extra 2 bedrooms with a total of 8 beds for that $21 ,916.80 per month or $266,654.40 per year. [From PovNet - Issues]

DOWNTOWN

EASTSIDE YOIJTH

NEEDLE EXCHANGE VAN·-3 Rouiesa 604-685-6561

.. ACTIVITIES

. . . . City- St4~pm -lb45pm

Overnight- t2:30am_.:.. "r30am Downtown Eustslde ~ 5a30pft! - I :30au

SOCIETY 604-251-3310 CFRO 102.-7 FM CO-OP RADIO

TinS NEWSLETTER IS A PUBLICATION OF TilE Cft.RNEGIE COMMUNITY CENTRE ASSOCIATION

Articles represent the views of individual Contributors and not of the Association. . .. ------------ -· Editor: PauiR Taylor; cover idea Lisa David; I

I Collation & distribution crew: Harold, Liu Lin, Bill, Mary 1 Ann, Miriam, Rolf, Tina, Videha, Kelly, Hal, Robyn, Nick, 1

Jackie, Matthew, Lisa, Red, Pablo, Ida, Priscillia. , _____________ . · - -- --------

TIM STEVENSON CITY COUNCILLOR i.t

SERVING THE COMMUNITY WITH PRIDE

CITY HAlL ~53 Wm 12111 AVE. V5Y 1V4 Phonf!: 604.873·7247

Jenny Wai Ching Kwan MLA Working for You

1070-1641 Commercial Dr, VSL 3Y3 Phone: 604-775-0790

Do you Have a Legat Probtem? Are you Charged with a crime?

VIsit the UBC Law Clinic In the 31d floor gallery of Carnegie Centre for free advice & representation.

UBC Law Students Legal Advice Program (LSLAP) Drop-In, Tuesdays, 7- 9pm.

.. ·. .

Next issue Submission deadline:

Thursday, January 29

Free Showers for homeless persons nl 327 Cnrrnll Wed 7·8:30am; Saf 7·10am; F1l WOMEN ONLY ~_:~M

,------------------- ..... . I We acknowledge that Carnegie Community Centre, and I this Newsletter, are occurring on Coast Salish Territory. •-------------------~

WANTED Artwork for the Carnegie Newsletter

• Small illustrations to accompany articles and poetry

• Cover art -Maximum size: 17cm(6-3/41 wide x 15cm(61 high.

• Subject matter relevant to issues pertaining to the Downtown Eastside preferred, but all work will be considered;

• Black & White printing only • Size restrictions must be considered (i.e. if

your piece is too large, it will be reduced and/or cropped to fit;

• All artists will receive credit for their work; • Originals will be returned to the artist after

being copied for publication; • Remuneration: Carnegie volunteer tickets.

Please make submissions to: Paul Taylor, Editor.

2008 DONATIONS: Barry for Dave McC.-$250 Anne P.-$40 Margaret D.-$40 Paddy -$70 Michael C.-$50 Judy E.-$10 Alayne K.-$50 Libby D.-$70 Callum C.-$100 The Edge -$200 Jenny K.-$22 Penny G.-$40 Wilhelmina M.-$55 Jaya 8-$100 Mel L-$50 Pam B-$50 Rolf A-$50 Glenn B-$200 Greta P-$50 Christopher R-$180 Sue K-$30 Sandy C-$25 CEEDS -$60 JB -$20

Bad Relationship

'here is no relationship more painful and destructive, more dangerous and explosive, 1ore useless and expensive, than the on again off again the love and the hate, :!lationship, wi th the one known as lady H )he tempts and teases, seduces and uses, until you surrender to er all-taking powers. vVith her unspoken words, you will give all you have, and then some more ou will lie and steal, you will rob and cheat ou will go days with no sleep and nothing to eat. )nee she gets a hold of you there's no letting go SPEAKING OF DANCE he will suck you dry of everything you know. ~· Speaking of Dance is an illustrated lecture series t1ale or female, young or old, black yellow or white '1..-: developed to enrich and deepen your experience of he discriminates not. , , dance. These public lectures and discussion groups Vou can sniff her, smoke her, mix her in a spoon, arc a springboard for exchanging ideas and dcvel-our addiction to her will come way too soon. · • oping a deeper understanding of the world of dance The pain of her leaving or you pushing her away, and contextualizing the form in the broader Van-an become so unbearable after just one day. couver commun~ty and the world ~f art_ and cu_lt_ure . . he knows you'll come crawling back on your hands and knees, Pr~sented by art_tsts, curators, art h!ston~ns, cnttc_s, he can ask for and get, anything she please. wrtters, ac~dem_tcs ~nd othe~ creattv~ thmkers, thts You'll discard your friends. job and family along the way, lecture senes wtll gtve you mformat10n, language

tl · ·t k t t th h h d and confidence you need to speak about dance. ny 1mg 1 ta -es o ge roug t e ay. T d 7 30

9 Thoughts run through your head of from whom you can borrow, Lues aLys, :I V- pm p bl' L'b ary ower eve , ancouver u ac 1 r o you can pa~ lady II whe_n you wake up ton:orrow. Central Branch, 350 West Georgia St ve lost my wtfe and my ktds, my house, my JOb, Admission is FREE.but Seating is limited. 1y mind and now my life. I hate this bitch more than you know January 13,2009 et I can't say get lost and let her go. Speakers )h lord I've tried, so many a night, yet I give into her pain Kaija Pepper - Dance Critic and Writer vi th not even a fight. Mirna Zagar- Executive Director, The Dance Centre The pain of withdrawal is unbearable at a time, February 10,2009 hat killing myse lf has entered my mind. In fact a time came Speakers vhen I gave it a try. The fuckin bitch kept me breathing, Artemis Gordon- Artistic Director, Arts Umbrella he wouldn't let me die. Deborah Meyers- Dance Critic and Writer My time wasn't up, it was not to be, she had some more Ma rch 10,2009 tain and torture for me. Speakers \!lore years of dependence, addiction and sorrow, he knew I would scrape by, beg and borrow. To live another day, month or year, it's not eally living, how did I get here? One thing for sure with this relationship thing, t can all begin with a one night fling. Don't get involved with this lady H. ~er name sometimes changes to jazz or sweet jane, 1ut one thing for sure that remains the same. ;he'll tease ya and please ya till she gets under your skin. Be smart and say NO, don ' t let her wi n.

Richard Ambeely

Barbara Bourget - Artistic Director, Vancouver International Dance Festival Henry Daniel - Professor of Dance and Perform­ance Studies, Simon Fraser University April 14, 2009 Speakers Santa Aloi - Professor Emerita of Dance, Simon Fraser University Emily Molnar - Independent Choreographer and Artist in Residence, Arts Umbrella

http ://ccapvancouver. wordpress.com/

Under One Umbrella 2009 You are invited to a communi­

ty event this Saturday, January 17. Under One Umbrella will have delicious food and amaz­ing door prizes all day, as well as 35 different services. There will be free clothes and winter gear, haircuts, bike repair, massage and acupuncture, help with getting on income assist­ance and Fair Pharmacare, foot soaks, housing information, flu shots, services for families, em -ployment support, Aboriginal services, addiction and mental health services, recreation, free pet food , hygiene kits , th Street Nurses, the MAP van ... and much more! Under One Umbrella runs

from I Oam to 3pm at the Mari­time Labour Centre 3 blocks north ofE.Hastings at Victoria Drive. By bus take #7 Nanai­mo or #4 Powell on Cordova and get offal Victoria, then walk one block south.

At the event there wi ll also be child-minding, a special Elders Onlv area, and a safe place to leave carts and backpacks while you're inside. Bring your friends! Hope to see you there!

Katie Hume