December 15, 2008, carnegie newsletter

401 Main Street, V6A 2T7 604-665-2289

DECEMBER 15, 2008

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

ChriStmas Wish Lis-t for the Downtown Eastside:

• Safe, clean, affordable housing for all the homeless and poorly-housed people

• Increased welfare and disability rates • Increased minimum wage • At least three nutritious meals a day for

everyone • Enough facilities to eliminate waitlists for

mental health and addiction treatments • A moratorium on gentrification in our

community • Reverse the ratio: 3 social housing units

for every condo being built here

Premier Gordon Campbell Office of the Premier Room 156 - Parliament Buildings Victoria, BC V8V 1 X4

Open Letter to Premier Gordon Campbell

Since 2001, homelessness has more than double un­der your government's watch. It is estimated that the rate of homelessness across the province of BC is between I 0,000 - 15,000 people. Recently in Victo­ria the British Columbia Supreme Court made the decision to allow homeless people to set up tents in city parks. This judgment condemns your govern­ment's lack of action in tackling the homelessness crisis in B.C. In addition, it has been well docu­mented that major events often contribute to displac­ing people in the host cities. Vancouver has already experienced this unacceptable phenomenon during Expo ' 86. In part icular, Olympic Games are particu­larly notorious for displacement, with 720 000 people displaced for the Games in Seoul, and 1.5 million people displaced at the recent Olympics in Beijing.

As you are aware, the 2010 Winter Olympics were advertised as the first Olympic Games to have a so­cial sustainability framework. Claire Mahon, the au­thor of the Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE) report "Multi-Stakeholder Guidelines on Mega-Events and the Protection and Promotion of Housing Rights" was in Vancouver in early Novem­ber. Whiie she was here, she stressed the importance of Provincial and Federal responsibility in the protec­tion of hous ing rights, and that they must work with community organizations to create socia l legacies for the citizens of Vancouver. In her words, " the key thing is political comm itment." In 2007 V ANOC issued its own housing table report

which 24 recommendations to prevent displacement. The organizations that sat at this table and worked diligently towards the recommendations are: YWCA, Ray-Cam Community Centre, S.U.C.C.E.S.S ., Mt. Pleasant Communi ty Centre Association, Lu'ma Na­tive Housing Society, Impact of the Olympics on Community Coalition, Urban Development Institute, Salient Group, BC Paraplegic Association, BC Apartment Owners and Managers Association, Downtown Eastside Residents Association, Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre, Strathcona Commu­nity Centre, Lookout Emergency Aid Society, Great-

er Vancouver Home Builders' Association, Gathering Place DTS, Carnegie Community Action Project, Covenant House. Virtually a ll o rganizations that par­ticipated supported the recommendations. I am dismayed that to date, little action has been tak­

en by you to adopt these recommendations. A specif­ic housing recommendation that called for 3,200 new social housing units to be built by 20 I 0 remains un­met. Commitments made when BC entered the bid process remain unfulfilled. Examples include the call for an independent watch dog to be funded by VA­NOC and making timely public consultations before security regulations are finali zed. When he was elected in 2005, one of the first acts of the Mayor Sam Sull ivan was to break the promise of a housing mix at the Olympic Village. The affordable housing units in the Olympic Village was reduced from ap­prox. 33% to 20%. And now, with the latest revela­tion of the loan guarantee required from the City of Vancouver to the Millenium Development Corp., it appears that this project may be at risk all together.

As 20 10 near, timing is running out for you to take responsibility to ensure that there is a real lasting leg­acy from the 20 10 Olympic Games. According to COHRE, the key Fundamental Principles ofOiymp­ism relevant in the housing context are: respect for universal fundamental ethical principles; the concepr of human dignity; the recognition of human rights; and non-discrimination. I am therefore renewing my request to you to immediately adopt the recommen­dations contained in the !Cl housing round table re­port, which reflect the Principles of Olympism.

I am further call ing on you to add a $ 1 surcharge to each Olympic ticket and merchandizing item sold for the Vancouver 20 I 0 Olympics. This surcharge should be matched by both the Provincial and Federal gov­ernments, and would go towards support a housing and homelessness initiative. The time has come for the province to commit to end the homeless crisis in BC. I ask you to set a target date for this and to commit the resources to realize this goal as an Olym pic legacy that we can all be proud of.

Sincerely, Jenny Wai Ching Kwan, MLA Vancouver - Mt. Pleasant

Here's a Merry Holidays Greeting to EVeryone

I hope that everything goes well during the holidays I hope that people who are homeless get a break I hope the Creator takes care of Mother Earth I hope all you who drive stay safe I hope you have a better new year Merry Christmas and the best New Year!

All my relations, Bonnie E Stevens

Christmas Eve At Muskrat Lake

On Christmas Eve the entire village

Down the hill we went with shouts and screams

went tobogganing on the sloping banks

and the toboggan skidded sideways and we all fe ll off

of Muskrat Lake. Everyone was bundled up in mukluks

Some came to watch, others to ride on this festive night of clouds and stars.

Some toboggans scooted down like otters. Others slid s ideways, and still others turned over. Tiny children with wide eyes were held firmly by parents who rode with them. Everyone who wanted a ride found a place on a toboggan. No one was left out.

Jeremiah, who was six, ugged on my arm. :::orne for a ride, he said, .nd I rode with Jeremiah nd as many of his friends s would fit on the toboggan.

and Jeremiah jumped up eyes shining, and ran after the toboggan.

Big, fluffy flakes of snow began to fall from the dark sky. Children tried to catch snowflakes on thei r tongues, and older folks stood sti ll and Jet the large flakes land on their heads and outstretched hands.

Gradually people started to go home. There were children to put to bed, and hands and feet to be warmed. It stopped snowing, and stars were visible among the clouds. In the distance a wolf howled, and the dogs at Muskrat Lake took up the call.

Sandy Cameron

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I Love ChriStmas! It 's my favourite time of year Everybody's full of cheer I Jove Christmas

Decorations everywhere Happy music fills the air I love Christmas

It's the best season of all Doesn' t matter if you're big or sm Give a kiss or a hug Come along and share the love! I love Christmas

Santa's coming on his sled Rudolfs leading .. so it's said Down the chimney he will go Leaving presents Ho Ho Ho! I love Christmas

Love is flowing in the air People smiling yes they care! Make a difference if you can Helping out your fellow man I love Christmas

I can feel it in my heart Today is going to be the start Make it last all year long Come along and sing a song I love Christmas

Peace and love to everyone Sing a long and have some fun! I love Christmas

Jeff Thompson

Recommendations for changes to the Carnegie Cpmmunity Centre Association (CCCA) By-Laws December 11,2008

The By Law Committee, a working committee of the CCCA board, was set up earlier this year to examine inconsistencies in the By-Laws of the CCCA. A copy of these by-laws can be found in the Association Office.

These suggested changes are intended to improve the By-Laws and address the inconsistencies.

ARTICLE VI- Proceedings of Directors: Section 26 - Quorum At Meetings (Quorum at Board Meetings)

Currently Reads: l . Eight directors shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Board unless a lesser number,

greater than two, is required to transact business. Change to:

Quorum will be a number greater than 50% of current board members.

Rationale: Current language is ambiguous and needs to be clarified.

ARTICLE VI- Proceedings of Directors: Section 24- Regular Meetings (In Camera Meetings)

Currently reads: 1. All Board meetings shall be open to members and the public except those parts of each meeting

where confidential matters, such as those pertaining to personnel, are to be discussed. Change to:

All Board meetings shall be open to members and the public except those parts of each meeting where confidential matters, including but not limited to those pertaining to personnel or when the privacy of a member may be compromised, are to be considered.

Rationale: members as well as personnel deserve privacy when issues that affect them personally are being discussed. This change is not necessary but allows for more clarity.

ARTICLE VII- Committees of the Board: Section 30- Standing Committees (President and Director as Ex-Officio)

Currently Reads: 5. Except as otherwise provided, the President of the Society and the Centre Director are ex-officio

members of all standing committees. Change to:

Remove this clause.

Rationale: The Centre Director as already an ex- officio member( Article V Section 23 #3). The President should be part of quorum at all committee and board meetings and not considered ex- officio.

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THE FOLLOWING CHANGES TO ARTICLE V MUST ALL BE VOTED ON AS A BLOCK BECAUSE THEY ARE INTERDEPENDENT

ARTICLE V- Directors and Officers : Section 17 - Composition of the Board (Number of Directors)

Currently reads: I. The Board of Directors of the Society shall be composed of IS members elected by the

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membership to serve a term of one year or until their successors are chosen, wh ichever is the later; Change to:

The Board of Directors of the Society shall be composed of not less than 12 and not more than IS members elected to serve a term of one year or until their successors are chosen, whichever is the later;

Rationale: This allows some flexibility if there are less than IS members who present themselves for nomination.

With a minimum of twelve members there will sti ll be a quorum of seven members required.

ARTICLE V- Directors and Officers: Section 17- Composition of the Board

Currently reads: 2. Of these IS members, five shall be appointed by the Board to serve as officers of the society in

the manner prescribed by these by-laws. Change to:

Of these board members, five shall be appointed by the Board to serve as officers of the society in the manner prescribed by these by-laws.

Rationale: Reflects the change to 12 to IS board members.

ARTICLE V- Directors and Officers: Section 18- Election of Directors

Currently reads: 6. When a person ceases to be an e lected director before the expiration of his/her term for any cause,

the Board shall fill the vacancy by an election at the following regular Board meeting; the Board shall give notice 14 days prior to the election;

Change to: Remove this article as it addressed by the change to Article S Section 18 below

ARTICLE V- Directors and Officers: Section 18- Election of Directors

Currently reads: 7. If the Board fails to fill a vacancy as provided herein, the members of the Society may take such

action as is deemed necessary to keep the Board membership to full strength. Change to:

If the Board membership falls below twelve members the President of the Association is required to call a by-election at the following board meeting to fill the board requirement up to twelve board members.

Rationale: The current language is ambiguous and it is the President's responsibility to call the meeting.

The President of the Carnegie Community Centre Association (CCCA) hereby calls fo r a Special Gen­eral Meeting (SGM) of the CCCA on Thursday, January 8, 2009, to be held in the Carnegie Commu­nity Centre's Carnegie Hall. Registration will com­mence at 4:45 pm, and the meeting will begin at 5:30 pm. Please allow about two hours for this meeting. The specified business of the meeting will be to vote on proposed by-law revisions. This will comprise the entirety of business to be transacted.

After the SGM adjourns, the regular CCCA Board meeting will take place.

Matthew Matthew President, CCCA.

Edito r: My niece is a crack addict because a "friend" of he rs convinced her to quit breast-feeding her baby and start smoking crack cocaine. Her friend is 20 years older and had already lost custody of her own daughter. My niece has since lost custody of her two children. How could this friend be so cruel? She knew what would happen to my niece. I understand that the world must stand on it's head to support drug addicts, however, I don't support cruel people. I hope that most drug addicts have more respect for young mothers who are new to the city from a small com­munity. I know that my niece would never encour­

age a young mother to become an addic~; . . " Best of luck to all the addicts, and stop recruthng mothers to join your addiction.

Lorna Johnson

Quote of the Week : > ' I believe that banking institutions are more dan­gerous to our liberties than stan~ing armies. If the American people ever allow pnvate banks to control

the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent thei r fathers conquered.'

> Thomas Jefferson 1802

.. at the time of this prognostication Jefferson still owned slaves ... that were mortgaged through a bank!!! ! ~!

He was the last of the 'founding fathers' to free hts slaves because he still owed on them

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Battle OfTtJe Badges Supports Three Charities

The rainy weather and cold temperatures did not stop I 000 spectators from enjoying a night out to watch a hockey game at Bill Copeland Arena. On Dec.6 members of the Vancouver Police Department

I and R.C.M.P. played a game of hockey against mem­bers of the Vancouver and Burnaby Firefighters. The Vancouver firefighters band played as people began to stroll in. The excitement began before the puck was dropped as Santa Claus made his appearance on the ice in a firetruck. The crowd roared with enthusi­asm as Honorary Players, former NHL'ER, Cliff Ronning and Dave Babych's names were called out. The game was fast and furious. The first goal was scored in the opening 2 minutes by the Firefighters. Then on a powerplay the Firefighters made it 2-zip. By the end of the first period the score was 3- l. The final score was 7-4 in favour of the Firefighters. Ac­cording to Vancouver Fire Department Sports &Venue Manager, Adam Ryan, $3000 was raised from this Charity Hockey Game, which he hopes to be even a larger event next year. All proceeds from this event went to, the B.C. Bum Fund, Law En­forcement Torch Run and Kid Sport.

By Jackie Humber

lindsey Houghton (VPD) kicks out a shot in the 1st period.

fool me once fool me twice

coyote has to touch the fire and get burned twice or more, seems to need to be run over by the steam roller more than twice, not sure what the lesson is

regret for ones fallibility, humanity, for the damage one negotiates with others, for the past no one speaks of out loud

touch the dark rainbow Sara Soul

Dear God:

The lady reading this is beautiful, classy and strong, and I love her. Help her live her life to the fullest. Please promote her and cause her to excel above her expectations. Help her shine in the darkest places where it is impossible to love. Protect her at all times, lift her up when she needs you the most, let her know when she walks with you, She will always be safe. Love you Sis!!!! Now you're on the clock!!!! In 9 minutes something will make you happy. ;-) But you have to tell 9 sisters you love them, in­cluding me. Go!!!!

Here is a prayer for you. Dawn Marilyn

[Sent sister-to-sister on a 1()1h AA birthday]

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Gordon Campbell, Last Champion of Financial Deregulation

(The crash should have killed TILMA.) By Murray Dobbin

In the midst of the financial meltdown, one man, apparently, stands alone calling for more deregula­tion. While anti-government George Bush buys up banks and insurance companies, former Fed chair Alan Greenspan admits he was "partially wrong" in his hands-off approach towards the banking indus­try, and the crisis has caused right-wing French President Sarkozy to virtually denounce capitalism.

Yet, while everyone else is demanding the rogue financial industry be brought to heel , B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell is actually pushing for even more financial deregulation right across the country. That would seem to be the only logical interpreta­

tion of his call at the premiers' meeting in Montreal to get every province signed on to his pet project, the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agree­ment, or TILMA. Campbell claimed this would help counter the economic slowdown. But what TILMA does is make a broad range of government regulations vulnerable to challenge, including regu­lations over the financial setor. Among other things, TILMA has a standstill clause

so that any new regulations on financial services that got in the way of investment would be a viola­tion, potentially subj ect to a $5 million penalty. Article 5(3) ofTILMA states: "Parties shall not establish new standards or regulations that operate to restrict or impa ir trade, investment or labour mo­bility."

Existing financial regulations will also be open to challenges under TILMA if they restrict invest­ment. And unlike other trade agreements, there is nothing in TILMA to exempt regulations designed to ensure the stability of the financial system. In stark contrast to other agreements, TILMA has no safeguards to protect prudential regulations from challenges by investors.

TILMA does allow governments to do things that are inconsistent with the agreement if they are pur­suing objectives the agreement defines as legiti­mate. But nowhere on TILMA's list of"legitmate objectives" is anything about safeguarding the soundness of financial institutions.

Right now, just Alberta and B.C. are TILMA sig-

natories. The Yukon recently said no, as have all other provinces either by act or omission. Most seem to have decided the agreement is too radical -­an ideological solution looking for a problem. But despite repeated rejections, Campbell continues to push his fellow premiers to join. It makes him the most determined deregulation advocate among the premiers. Anyone not blinded by laissez faire theology can

see the agreement for what it is: the most radical investment agreement in existence. Article 3, "No Obstacles," states unequivocally: "Each Party shall ensure that its measures do not operate to restrict or impair trade between or through the territory of the Parties, or investment or labour mobility between the Parties. " Period. You cannot put up obstacles to investment, which is arguably what every govern­ment regulation does by definition. So what would happen if other provinces accepted

Campbell's sales pitch and signed on? Take for ex­ample Quebec, and its recent moves to regulate the financial sector. In July, Quebec gave royal assent to Bill 77, the Derivatives Act, which establishes a broad legal framework specifically aimed at regu­

- lating derivatives traded in Quebec. Quebec is the first province to take on the regulation of these in­vestments, the most toxic of any of the financial "innovations" unleashed on the world over the past I 0 years. Warren Buffett refers to derivatives as "financial weapons of mass destruction."

But Quebec's laudable efforts to get some control over these risky financial products would have been impossible if the province had signed TILMA. Its regulatory initiative on derivatives would have bro­ken TILMA's rules: that governments cannot intro­duce new regulations that restrict investment; that they have to reconcile their regulations with those of other parties to the agreement; that they cannot create obstacles to investment.

As of April I , 2009, all existing B.C. and Alberta regulations over financial institutions and products will be challengeable under TILMA --never mind these provinces ever trying to introduce new finan­cial reforms. What about other provinces that might hopefully follow Quebec's lead in strengthening financial regulation? If they sign TILMA, they might as well forget it, as they would in effect be setting their own regulations up for a legal chal­lenge. Who says the .Washington Consensus is dead? It is

being defended by deregulation's last crusader, Premier Gordon Campbell.

Concrete plan more important tban ever in economic downturn: report

As the provincial e lection draws closer, a new report calls on BC's political parties to commit to legislated targets and timelines to dramatically reduce poverty and homelessness. British Columbia has the highest ':>.00 poverty rate in Canada, and has had the highest child 0 0 poverty rate for five years running, despite years of '())t) strong economic growth and record low unemploy-ment. A Poverty Reduction Plan for BC shows how a pro­vincial government could tackle poverty within a sin­gle mandate using concrete targets, including: *Reduce poverty by one third (from 13% to 9% us­

ing Statistics Canada's Low Income Cut-Off afertax) within four years; *Make an equal or greater reduction in poverty

among g roups that are most vulnerable to poverty­recent immigrants, children, single mother families, Aboriginal people, people with disabilities, and sing le senior women; *Eliminate deep poverty (those living 50% or more

below the poverty line) within two years; and *Eliminate street homelessness within five years. The report is the product of the five-year Economic

Security Project (ESP), a research alliance led by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and Simon Fraser University, which has been looking at ways of improving the economic wellbeing of vul­nerable people in BC.

able. There is nothing inevitable about poverty and cr homelessness in a society as wealthy as ours." The CCPA 's plan calls for action in seven key ar­eas. Among them: *Make major improvements to working conditions

and pay for low-wage workers, who are the major-ity of BC's poor. Raise the minimum wage, strengthen employment standards and actively en­force minimum workplace protections. *Increase welfare rates by 50% and remove arbi­

trary barriers to accessing welfare that keep people in dire need from getting ass istance. *Immediately start building 2,000 units per year of

social housing (not counting conversions, rental subsidies or shelter spaces). *Implement a universal pubic ear ly learning and

child care program. In all, the report contains over 50 specific policy

recommendations. "As we head into an economic downturn, the need

for action is even greater. BC will not be spared, and poverty risks getting worse unless action is taken," says Cohen. "In fact, maintaining the pur­chasing power o f large numbers of people who spend all the ir money locally on necessities like rent, food, and transportation will reduce the sever­ity of a downturn ." "People understand that we all pay for poverty in

many ways, including higher health and justice system costs. British Columbians are hungry for leadership on this issue," says Klein. He points to a recent Environics poll commissioned by the CCPA. The poll found that: -87 per cent of British Columbians believe the Premier should set concrete targets to reduce pov­erty;

"BC needs a plan w ith clear, leg islated targets and timelines that can be used to measure progress and hold a government accountable," says Marjorie Grif­fin Cohen, report co-author and a professor at Simon Fraser Univers ity "Accountability is the key. Without legislated targets, we risk promises instead of action," says Cohen.

0 oo -n per cent said that in the face of a recession, ()<'\ governments should focus even more effort on up­

Oov poring the poor; and

"The need is clear and the solutions are known. Other provinces and countries have developed poverty re­duction plans and are getting results," says Seth Klein, CCPA-BC Director and co-author of there­port. "Our targets are ambitious but achievable. There is nothing inevitable about poverty and homelessness in a society as wealthy as ours." The CCPA 's plan calls for action in seven key areas. Among them :

-74 per cent said they would be more likely to sup­port a provincial political party that pledged to make poverty reduction a high priority. "The vast majority of British Columbians want to

see a plan of action. Here is a concrete plan," says Klein. "All that is needed now is the political will to act."

A Poverty Reduction Plan for BC is ava ilable at www.policyalternatives.ca. Authors: Seth Klein, Marjorie Griffin Cohen, T Garner, Iglika Ivanova, Marc Lee, Bruce Wallace and Margot Young.

CHRISTMAS KARAOKE WITH STEVE!! 7pm - 1 Opm Carnegie Theatre Friday, December26th, right after Boxing Day dinner 6pm- /Opm just be­cause he wants to help you all have fun while he is having fun himselj! 1

Wanna exercise those pipes singing Christmas jin­g les and other good o ld-fashioned tunes? Please join us - without you it won't be any fun. Refreshments served to all of you song birds.

MERRY CHRISTMAS GREETINGS TO OUR INCREDIBLY HARD WORKING VOLUNTEERS

You may be getting tired of hearing me sing you praises, but I never get tired of singing them. I can­not imagine life at Carnegie without you. 1 am so often humbled by how much you give of your time, skil ls. knowledge and talent, but most of all. your­selves. THANK YOU are two small words but said with huge gratitude and admiration. M) desire for you is to enter this new year with a giving and forgiving heart your heart can't break if you keep it soft- and it is ever so much sweeter a way to get through the day .... and no one can take THAT away from you! There is no act of faith more beautiful then the ge­nerosity of the poor. .... because of you I get to see beauty through you every day. I thank you for that. May the sun shine in the corners of your hear1s in the New Year. Colleen

COMPUTER LAB I CHRISTMAS EVE We are open all night Christmas Eve. Are any of the Computer Lab Monitors night owls interested in keep the room open? A number of people have asked me if the room will be open.

If you might enjoy an all-nighter in the Lab please see Colleen thank you.

JOIN YOUR FRIENDS TO WELCOME IN THE NEW YEAR on New Year's EVe

6:30 - 8:30PM Begin the evening with two hours of Karaoke fo llowed by .....

THE ROCKINGGUYSL "they're sti II amazing!" fan "they q- :: 'new ... " another fan We didn't say 'young' we- Manager "lock up your gram mas these guys are wild!!!"

GEORGIA STRAIT

9 p.m. to 1 a.m

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News from the Library New Books

We are now in the season of giving and sharing. If you wonder how and why giving will make a better world and best of all benefit yourself, check out this inspiring book The Power of Giving: How Giving Back Enriches Us All (Creating Abundance at Home, at Work, and in your Community) (177). There is an abundance of ideas of what we can give, such as laughter, knowledge, hope, skills, time and attention. The act of giving can fulfi ll a fundamental human need.

After doing some research on Swedish customs for St. Lucia's Day, Jeanne Dams has completed another Hilda Johansson's mystery, Indigo Christmas (Fic­tion, Mystery), the sixth mystery in this series. The first half of the book deplores the conditions of the Irish immigrants in the community and then the mys­tery starts to emerge as Hilda plays Sherlock Holmes to her own version.

Some of you may remember having a lively discus­sion last month with Bruce Alexander, the author of The Globalisation of Addiction: A Study in Poverty of the Spirit (362.29). The book has arrived in the library! It is now on display and request can be made in advance. Two Old Women: An Alaska Legend of Betrayal,

Courage and Survival is a novel of two Native American women abandoned by their tribe in the Alaskan Yukon. Velma Wallis is re-telling this an­cient story that passed down from generation to gen­eration. This book has been translated into seventeen languages. It is a book perfect for reading aloud.

Ronald Wright, the author of the international best­seller of A Short History of Progress", has published another provocative and timely book titled What is America? A Short History of the New World Order (973). To Wright, America did not begin with the Declaration of Independence in 1776 but with Co­lumbus in 1492. Wright tells how the New World created the modern one and now threatens to undo it.

A picture is worth a thousand words. How about a book that gives you both the picture and the story? In the new book "Hope in Shadows: Stories and Pho­tographs of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside" . (307.76), it contains photos taken by the DTE~ resi­dents and stories told by them. Some of these mter­views (stories) were actually conducted at the Carne-gie Community Centre. .

Eating healthy can make us feel better, both mmd and body. As we get older, we need more of certain nutrients. "Healthy Eating for Seniors" (613 .2) is a handbook on nutrition for older adults. It provides tips on how to eat healthy and recipes ~or sim?le and nutritious meals. If you are interested m ownmg a copy, call 1-800-465-4911 (toll free in BC) for a free copy. The handbook is also available in Chinese and Punjabi with recipes adjusted to reflect the cultural characteristics.

Helen Jefferson, an author of several books on the Olympic industry, continues her critque of the Olym­pic Industry in her latest book "Olympic Industry Resistance: Challenging Olympic Power and Propaganda" (796.48). She shows how basic human rights and freedoms are compromised in any hosting city of the Olypmic Games. The Vancouver 20 10 Winter Olympics is also covered.

Seasonal Materials

Looking for pictures, stories or craft ideas for the holiday season? The library has put out seasonal books and magazines for your enjoyment. There are also story books for kids such as Guess who's Com­ing to Santa'sfor Dinner or Jungle Bells, Home­work Smells.

Michelle, your librarian

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THE TWO OF CLUBS J J.. f am the Two of Clubs you know the card worth the least; my alter-ego is in a secure facility sometime this burden can be a real beast with the final burst upon us you must admit it's quite a piece of work tearing down my city block by block, is there some kind of surgery to make things right like destroying the wrongs in my head- just imagine No More memory grid-lock, this mortal coil may come off but memories & their numbers will never be blocked, secret intentions have their serious detentions now concentrate.mutate.communicate.time to love cause there's no more room to hate; once upon a lifetime things could be great. .. but we want. Anyone out there thinking life is a free ride is in for the shock­wave of all time: Expiry Date (before&after) kids are beino- born- it's like Hitler/Manson/Olsen (take your pick cas I have mine) all sharing one hateful mind like labelling what was once pristine water Exxon Lake­just a miraculous mistake now that takes the cake ... By the way Canada is# I in the world for the number of lakes don't trust me I do make mistakes as expiry children wonder why the world looks nothing like the 20 year-old globe you vowed someday to travel eve­rywhere but, just like a saint, using his one phonecall on a taxi (what a waste). Is there such a thing as thick air 'cause I'm a believer that everyday is a chore and just try to take a breather now 2008 is just too late to be thinking families every second closer like famine&disease tried out Ethiopian fare two loaves on a plate is their steak & potatoes­take a good look Canada: in the States you get a nee­dle in the arm while back in the land of goody 2shoes we have such brilliance as 4th trials forced smi les suspended sentences or, if you' re really evil - house arrest on some farm. We're just humming along today take a right here the vortex of human misery is right this way- We are the Two of Clubs. I knew a phantom soulmate would show up & disappear, I just realized all those wasted basket-days I learned regret in what could be my fin­est hour yet final year Oh Dear! There is nothing I can say for the Expiry Date CHil­dren they haven't wept themselves except it's wet with only nightmares to keep them (you) sane. How many have screamed & begged PLEASE come back again! !!

By ROBERT McGILLIVRAY

Swearing In the New Mayor and Councillors

On December 8 something peculiar, unfamiliar, unique and quite wonderful took place, in the long annals of Vancouver City history. This special was, of all things, the swearing in of the newly minted Mayor, Gregor Robertson and the new slate of elected (and re-elected) City Councillors; unusual because no one can quite remember the last time - if there ever was a last time - that this had been done before: taking a city political event out of the staid, stuffy, heady, overblown confines of the ivory tower planted so firmly in and around the upscale upper middle-class digs at Cambie and 12th (City Hall) & having the whole shebang ceremony at the Sunset Community Centre.

The venue was their awesome inviting brand­spanking new centre and the ev~nt had ~ore pomp, ceremony & circumstance than you could imagine. It was like attending the coronation of a prince! Before you wrinkle your nose, know that the atmosphere, building and people were all most welcoming! Indeed after arriving over half an hour late and feeling some what timid on the inside (and rather confident on the outside) I thought for sure I would have to run the gauntlet of Security dudes in conservative but cheap suits to get into the auditor.ium. I guessed both right and wrong: they certainly gave me a cozy once over but kind of haphazardly - final assessment was ex­pected (being used to it, neither it nor their presence bothered me) and, although they let me in much sooner than expected, they kept a close eye on me. I suppose I looked like their stereotypical Downtown Eastsider voting socially, left-of-centre COPE sup­pr>rter - and proud of it! (I digress ... ) It was quite the high-end production, replete with

bagpipes, numerous members of Vancouver's finest decked out in dress uniforms (with braid no less!). The festivities: a touching presentation to the Mayor of a carving (talking stick) - I couldn't really see as I'm quite near-sighted and have no glasses. Then the Mayor, who was wearing a tartan kilt, made a very inspiring inaugural speech, interrupted quite often I must say with enthusiastic applause. His words were caring and compassionate, especially to the city's ~ ever-expanding horde of hapless homeless people. ·· T

Inaugural Council Meeting This is a transcription of the part of Mayor Gregor Robertson's Inaugural Speech addressing Homelessness in Vancouver.

We are at an historic crossroads and it's one with enormous economic, environmental and social chal­lenges and the World's attention is turning towards us like never before. What will the World see here in 20 I 0? Not a city retrenched and reeling from an eco­nomic storm, but a dynamic and diverse economy generating new opportunities and new frontiers. Not c city complacent over the beauty of it's natural setting, but a city united in it's determination to lead the World in sustainability. Not a city of generic uniform ity but a city rich with artistic voices and the cultural wealth that flows from our diversity. Not a city that cowers from crime but a city that confronts both criminals and the causes of crime with equal tenacity. Not a city that closes it's eyes to the suffering in the streets but a city that adopts and achieves the boldest of goals because our humanity demands nothing less. I decided to run for Office of Mayor to end the street homelessness in Vancouver and I'm telling you today that, that hasn't changed. It is the Council's single most important priority in this term of office. Homelessness flies in the face of everything we are taught about compassion and our duty to each other. Homelessness degrades every one of us whether the place we call home is a shelter, an a lley, an apartment or a house. Homelessness is everything that our aspi­rations for Vancouver isn't. It abandons our neighbours, it dis-empowers our people and it does anything but, inspire the World. The Vancouver that we hold in our hearts is not the city where people die of exposure. It's not a city where a man named Daryll McKaskell, after being turned away from a full shelter, bums to death in a sleeping bag tryin~ stay warm with his camping stove, on a freezing night this year.

If our vision of Vancouver is to become a reality homelessness must end and I tell you today, that it will end. Today we challenge ourselves to end street homelessness by 2015. We can do that with a con­certed effort, in three stages. With urgent, short and medium term goals, and the long term 2015 target.

* First and most urgently by ensuring that there are enough shelter beds so people don't have to s leep in the streets. And by increasing outreach and the ser­vices so Vancouver's homeless can get off the streets and rebuild the ir lives.

* Secondly, by using the cities by laws to protect and maintain the affordable rental housing that we have now and by pushing hard to ensure that treatment for addictions and mental illnesses is available for all those in need, and

* Third, the only long term solution, by spurring the creation of new affordable housing. Leading devel­opment, unlocking vacant stock, using zoning and tax initiatives, and excelerating investment from other levels of government. I look forward to working with my partners there.

People say that eliminating homelessness is an auda­cious goal and that's true but for someone who is sleeping under a bridge tonight, or in an alley, 2015 can't come soon enough. Last night I spend some time dropping in to a number of shelters, to hear first hand what is needed. I met some remarkable people at the Haven, who are working hard to help those who are without a home. I saw again the overwhelm­ing need that exists on our streets and the dedication

~ and passion of those who are there to serve but I came away fearful for the many lives that are at stake as we enter another winter in Vancouver. In the com­ing days our government at City Hall will announce emergency measures that will be taken to open shel­ters and to drive quicker action on the creation of affordable housing.

2008-12-10

~ During and after the 'official' stuff I saw a lot of familiar faces in the packed hallways as they slowly drifted out of the auditorium: Jim Green, Mel Lehan, Bharb Gudmundson, among others; There was a pa­rade of hosts as the food came, a catered feast of decadently delicious (and expensive) hor d'ourves.

I must give the Mayor credit for staying to the abso­lute bitter end, meeting and greeting everyone until almost all had wandered off into the streets. He'd talk issues or just chat - remarkable as he could have eas­ily slipped into one of the waiting limos.

I was very tempted to slip him- weigh him down ­with the current issue of the Carnegie Newsletter, back cover up with Paul Taylor's " respectfully sub­mitted" open letter to the Mayor and Councillors on the funding plight of Help in the Downtown Eastside which has assisted and helped thousands of people over the years. Then I thought otherwise; I' d already handed out several to Councillors and others who expressed enthusiastic interest and I'm sure one will eventually land on his desk.

As a matter of fact someone in the loop at First United Church, Gore & Hastings, told me that "His Worship will be crashing at an experimental shelter for the homeless there on Monday night." I've heard that the Mayor discreetly and inquisitively visited the Salvation Army's Crosswalk shelter, right across the street from the Woodward's mega-complex.

I think I should briefly mention what some of you may be wondering: no, Sam Sullivan did not attend. I fear his being there would have put a bit of a damper on the day, somewhat like a wet blanket. He was con­spicuous by his absence; after all he held his swear­ing-in ceremony behind closed doors at City Hall to begin three long torturous do-almost-nothing years. I know for sure he would have split early in the afore­mentioned limo. I bet Gregor Robertson will ride his bicycle to work! I certainly cannot end thi s article without mention-

ing the after-ceremony entertainment supplied by the legendary Downtown Eastside Diva, our very own Dalannah Bowen. She sang many wonderful tunes from her compact disc release

Anyone of any political stripe has more than good reason to help and fight for Gregor, to trust him and all of us to make changes we can believe in!

By ROBYN LIVINGSTONE

I

Home again naturally Well I'm finally home from the hospital and it doesn't matter now but that was the longest 24 days in my life and I hope I never have to stay there again. I showed the story that I wrote in the last newsletter to the doctor who put me down and he just sorta laughed. When another doctor came in he laughed and said to his colleague "Read this, it's a story about me." The other doctor was noncommittal. I felt that I had been convicted without benefit of even having a say. Typical native in a white mans world. I talked to Sandy after he had read my story in the newsletter. He explained that it wasn't personal, but just culture clash. I thought about that and I can see his point. These medical people live in their own world and doctors rule with the nurse as backup. Whatever a doctor says is gospel and I shouldn't say anything to anyone. Anyway I've started a book and the follow­ing is an excerpt from what I have written so far.

My Family Tree -hall plan on writing a bit I know about everyone on the list, Mom's parents- Granpa Joe- we all called him "Daddy". Joseph Sinclair my mother's dad fought in 2 world wars and I didn't know him until he couldn't speak. He just muttered or grunted and sometimes would sorta yell but I loved him. I used to take him a bottle or 2 of wine whenever I went to Selkirk as far as I know he loved his whole family and treated us pretty good even though he couldn't talk. He'd cook on special days like Christmas and Thanksgiving and he was a good cook. He had a funny little laugh and he always had smile or was in a good mood although now that 1 think about it he was quite a disciplinarian. When he died I had quit drinking for a coupla years. I went to his funeral and drank a half bottle of wine by his grave after the funeral was over and there wasn't anyone around. I didn't tell any one and I found out later that the graveyard attendant had told my mother that a big Indian had come and drank a bottle of wine at the gravesite and had left the bottle on the grave. She told me about 3 or 4 years later. I loved that old man even though he used to hit us with his cane whet

in Selkirk that all you had to do was show up at her door and she would feed you. She was a great person and took care of her family as well as anyone else who needed taking care of. Ma's brothers and sisters -Glen, Clarence- Puley, Cyril, Earl, Mervin, Wally­Annie, Eleanor, Judy, Winnipeg. Dad's parents­Grandpa John "JA" as he was called at or least that's how people referred to him and I heard was de-scended from one of the chiefs who fought beside Louis Riel. I think that John Asham was one of the

! people who signed the agreement with the white eyes to bring peace to the neighborhood about I 00 or so years ago. At least that's what a friend told me. He had read it somewhere that one of the signers was named Asham and he was shocked that I was related to someone in the history books. I still haven't found out if he is a relation as apparently A sham is a com­mon name in Saskatchewan. JA was a good man and I remember him getting upset when my brother tried to take his picture when we went to grannies funeral in Peguis. I told my brother not to bother him and he seemed satisfied Grandma Aurelia no nickname that I knew of- was the second wife of JA and the mother of my dad. I dido 't know her very well but I used to

~ go and stay with them in the summer along with my sister Doll back in the middle to late fifties. I think it was Thursday night when we used to walk up a cou-

1 pia miles to see a movie in the summer. It was just a · big room with a projector somewhere near the back

and we would watch a movie with our relatives it was always a great time, sitting on benches and watching

\ movies back then. We'd then walk home along the .. highway in the dark. We also swam in the river that

passed in front of my granparents place and we'd have fires at night and tell scary stories. They had an old bam that was full of snakes that I went into once or twice which is probably why I'm scared of snakes to this day. 1 remember going outside to look at the first Russian spaceship Sputnik as it flew by in the

he caught us doing something wrong. Grandma Ellen 1 "Mama" was married to daddy for I don't know how r

many years. I used to take her a bottle of whiskey

sky one summer. We were all outside at about ten o'clock that evening as it passed over and we were all dually impressed .. They both called me Boy Harold because my dad was also named Harold. Dad 's

every so often and she appreciated it .I don't know how it worked but after she left him and started to live with another man she still took care of daddy for many years. I was told if you were hungry and lived

brothers and sisters- Golda, Stanford, Kurtis, Billy and Wally were and still are strangers to me. Have a great holiday Season and I'll be writing again next year.- hal

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"Honoured to be on Coast Salish Territory" ...... chief campbell... ... we need to talk ASAP as these church leaders are planning to make good use of this prop­erty on your territori es .. .. ! told them today that proto­cal is not being followed and that they need to ask your permission and others to tum this 14 acres into a cementary and possible a memorial wall ..... i feel the memorial wall should be erected down here in the ~TES as this is where my late sister was originally ptcked up from ..... .. this is just my opinion ..... we will be meeting again but I would like you their and oth­ers in deciding the future of this property ... it is al-ready a grave yard ...... the govt wants to keep it and of c~urs~ sell it to the developers ...... now thats ok except thts ptece of property is on your territory and should be left up to the people ..... ifthe govt wants to try and recap some of their money than they should start charging a sir tax on all the drugs that are brought in ?n your docks ...... we tried so hard prior to thi in gain­mg. some attention that something was goin on out thetr ..... of course they were all in on it and benefitting from that farm at the time ..... my late sister deaths was avoidable as they knew exactly what and who was out their ..... we need to support these people and have them follow proper protocal when deciding this fate ..... i eagerly await your response ..... jayson

A few comments on the proposed use of the Pickton Farm

There is much discussion as to what should become of the infamous Pickton farm. The Partners in Care Alliance is insisting the farm become a cemetery ... in case you haven' t noticed it already is a graveyard.

This space can never be a place of healing, hope nor honour for the women's fam ilies nor for the women who were murdered there. Their souls will never rest in peace as lo ng as justice is denied. Many families still do not have closure, many will never have clo­sure. Twenty famil ies at least deserve to have their day in court. Whe n is that going to happen or is there too great of a cost associated with justice for poor addicted sex trade workers for the public to fund?

Before the public totally forgets what transpi red · with the missing women of the downtown eastside

may l remind you there are still over 40 women from the community on the missing women's poster. Where are they? Who is looking for them? Where is the justice for these women? The women from the downtown eastside were arbitrarily picked up, taken to the farm, plied wi th drugs and unknown sub­stances, tortured and murdered without even a peep from anyone outside the community who even raised an eyebrow of acknowledgement that something was amiss, let alone those in authority.

We must seek justice for these women. It is our duty to them and their families. Even a fter almost seven years the fam ilies whose daughters remains found on the farm have not had their loved ones returned to them for burial. There can not be closure for these families as long as the coroner is holding the remains of these women.

The Attorney General may figure if we wait long enough it will slip from the public conscience and off the scales of justice. Before it is too late, I implore you to write or email the Attorney General Wally Oppal at [email protected] to pressure him to continue on with the trial and bring justice for the other 20 murdered women.

Only the Attorney General can bring closure for the seven family members by returning the remains of their loved ones found at the farm. The community also requests further investigation and charges against the other individuals involved in the most heinous crime in Canadian History. We know they are still at la rge and as long as they are free, women will not be safe .

Write: Honourable Wally Oppal, PO Box 9044, Stn. Prov Govt. Victoria, BC V8W 9E2.

Another suggestion from the sale of the property is to create an education endowment fund for the 75 children left behind from the deaths of their mothers. While you are at it why not make a donation to the . women's service providers in the downtown eastside WISH, DAMS, PEERS, PACE, DEWC or BWSS. We need detox beds for women, long term recovery beds for women, transition houses for women, anti­violence workers for women and so much more.

Submitted by Marlene George

uu~

MY LETTER TO THE GLOBE & MAIL

Re: "What Dick Pound Said Was Really Dumb-And Also True" By Margaret Wente

Margaret Wente degrades First Nation people in her article and defended Dick Pound's (I.O.C.) comment regarding 'Canada" Indigenous people as 'savages.' Wente argues that the people weren't evolved, didn't have a written language, and that our medicines have no correlation to modern medi­cines (which evolved from OUR medicines!) and on and on .. Example: "The kinship groups in which they lived were very small, simply organized and not very

I

productive." Margaret uses archaic, European ethnocentric stan­dards to denigrate our people's way of life. Our lives were organized; each person within the family had their roles. We survived in an adaptive, nomadic system based on seasons. We shared and survived following a natural course within the ecosystem rather than control and force it to contort to our · stipulations. Our people assisted the 'old settlers to survive only to eventually have to deal with their supremist, hegemonic, genocidal infringement upon our very human rights. As a people our definition of being 'productive and organized' differs from a European stance in that we evolved within our world rather than work to force-form our world in order to control it.

Wente, in this current article and in articles re: "DTES. Harm Reduction. Drug Laws": pumps up numbers to support her arguments by using words and phrasing like: "an increasing number of peo­ple," "a number of others," "and others," "many people,' "most," etc. Also, I wonder ifthose, who she interviews, realize they are being used as scapegoats to support her acidic view.

The Globe and Mail, its advertisers and sponsors included, in my mind, employ Margaret Went to support their own bias, otherwise why publish her volatile, so-called educated opinions? To use one's elitist power to negatively influence discriminatory ideologies upon the masses is an abuse of power. Abuse of power by an entity such as the Globe and Mail, in supporting Wente's racist, or excuse me, biased diatribe, trans late into discrimination upon a historically marginalized MINORITY struggling daily with discrimination- at all levels of society.

Those who support the ethnocentric right to vent racist ideologies against a minority, I find are never from the race or class of people being marginalized. Therefore, to those people being marginalized on a world-wide level, those defensive, biased view­points have no qualitative value.

Kat Norris Coast Salish/NezPerce Indigenous Action Movement (604) 682-3269 Extension: 7718 Coast Salish Territory

UNITED NATIONS: CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of all forms of

Discrimination Against Women (The full report is available in the Newsletter Office.)

Here are some highlights: [' The Committee find Canada's social assistance system deficient; poor women who are recipients cannot afford adequate food and housing. They are also concerned that there is no accountability or standards attached to CST. They have asked Can­ada to set standards, put an accountability mecha­nism in place, and ensure that the needs of vulner­able women are met. They have also asked Canada to report back on the steps they have taken on this issue in one year. (see paras. 13 and 14) fJ The Committee has called on Canada to "exam­ine the reasons for the failure to investigate the cases of missing or murdered aboriginal women and to take the necessary steps to remedy the defi­ciencies in the system." This is a call for an inquiry. What went wrong here? What needs to be fixed? For the Committee this reminds them of the miss­ing and murdered women in Juarez in Mexico. Sis­ters in Spirit has now documented 511 missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls. But this is asking Canada to go the next step. Again Canada has been asked to report back in one year. See para. 32 (report back reference is at para. 53.) :::J There is a great deal in these concluding com­ments about Aboriginal women. See paras 43 and 44 where the Committee expresses its concerns (once more) about the impoverished conditions of Aboriginal women, and asks Canada to develop a "specific and integrated plan for addressing the conditions of aboriginal women, both on and off reserves, including poverty, poor health, inadequate housing, low school completion rates, low em­ployment rates, low income and high rates of vio­lence." r: The Committee is concerned about inadequate legal aid, and has called on Canada to establish cri­teria relating to access to legal aid, including in the areas of family and poverty law, to apply in all provinces and territories and to ensure that women across Canada are able to access legal representa­tion and services. Please use these Concluding Observations. Letters and emails (starting Monday) are needed to ask all of our MPs and MLAs to implement the Commit­tee's recommendations.

Shelagh Day

Dancing Your Edge is cancelled until .further notice

THE GOLDEN BIN

I pray this year that i will win . The golden bin is full of grace The chance to dive that golden bin The golden bin it holds no tin

It's full of love for every race The golden bin is never locked The golden bin is fully stocked Maybe I'll find some boots or socks The golden bin it holds no rocks From the east north south or west That golden bin will be the best

. Has coffee, brass and maybe gin It just might hold a dream or two

' A lotto ticket trips to the zoo I TVs radios computers old

There's no telling what it may hold

You'll know I've found the golden bin For on my face will be a grin

Unlike the uncaring city tart

A VCR maybe I've found The golden bin gives from the hear In sun snow sleet or rain

A brick of gold maybe a crown One thing I know I'll find no dope The golden bin has love and hope It may be thick it may be thin

It gives and gives with no pain The goose that laid that golden em Knows that I won't need to beg No needles in that golden bin

But still it'll be the golden bin The golden bin someday I'll win

/

Mr. McBinner

/ rwas da night before welfare and all through da land everybody was starving both woman and man da minister of welfare was in bed but awake he was getting some there so.da checks they could wait

Then all of a sudden there arose such a clatter "que pasa?" he yelled! "say what? Waz da matter?" he jumped outta bed and through da kitchen he ran tripped over da cat and knocked over da fan

He looked down da hallway and what did appear? A binner, a native and a few o' their peers a tired old woman her face full of woe gave out a yell "hey cough up da doe!"

The minister pouted 'j'm sorry j'm wrong" but alas of course we've all heard that song he gave out the cheques and he passed out stale beer then he said with a sneer "see ya same time next year!"

Mr. McBinner

Mourning Dog (Even the dogs mourn him)

Prior to posting the notice of my friend 's pass ing on the bulle tin board of my hotel, the Land lord's dog, Sammy, placed his paw beside Michael's picture and started crying .

Later that night (at 4am !) the landlord knocked on my door and asked me to take down the picture be­cause Sammy was s itting under it howling and would

not sto p! That was the k ind of person Michael 61 Thompson was - even the dog mo urns him. '. •

9 - Ball League Top 5

1. JoeS. 67 2. Rocky B. 48 3. MoB. 47 4. Peter G. 47 5. Norman M. 46

Artspeak is a non-pro fit artist run centre established in 1986. Artspeak presents contemporary practices, innovative pub lications, bookworks, editions, talks and events that encourage a d ialogue between visu­al art and writing. From September 2008 to Sept 20 I 0, Artspeak is going OFFSITE, taking artist projects outside the gallery to the street, a irwaves and other alternative sites in Vancouver and beyond. Over the next two years, OFFSITE will include performances, public projects, speaker series and collaborations that en­gage with innovative strategies of production. At the same time, Artspeak 's gallery space is trans­forming into an exciting venue for publications, printed matter, readings and d ialogue.

Althea Thauberger's site-specific performance work took place on the 200 b lock of Carrall Street in front of Artspeak. Collaborating with diverse

local communities in A rtspeak 's neighbourhood of the Downtown Eastside/Gastown, the one-night performance presented the street (brightly lit like a film set at nighttime) as a stage where the ro les of partic~pant and spectator blur. The interweaving of orgamzed performers, passersby and audience members allowed for unforeseen interactions to take place and resulted in a destabil ized form of community theatre that revealed something of the street 's history, its current successes and stresses as well as its future. ' Althea T hauberger is an artist based in Vancouver.

Her internationally produced and exh ibited work typically involves co llabora tio n with a group or community that result in performances, films, vid­eos, audio recordings, and books. Thauberger gra­vitates towards social enclaves- groups of people who exist or develop in some form ofseclusion and are often perpetuated by social contro ls- that are both coercive and voluntary. Her work provides constraints for her subjects to work within which may echo the ones they live within. These may be structural imperatives r conventions of particular film or photographic med ia, a llegory, seriality, or other containers. Thauberger's performances have involved diverse groups includ ing young Canad ian female singer/songwriters, U.S. military w ives, Canadian tree planters, Vancouver-based reserve soldiers, male youth in the German civ il se rvice and residents o f a low-income building in Victoria. These amateur performers express concepts of se lf­definition, a lienation, and communi ty through their stories.

Thaberger's work has been exhibited nat ionally and internationally. Her work has been presented at Manifesta 7, Trento, Itlay; the Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery, Vancouver, 2008; Vancouver Art Gallery, 2008; BAK, Utrecht, 2007; Ktistler­haus Bethanien, Berlin, 2006; Kunstverein Wolfsburg , 2006; Art Gallery ofNova Scotia, Hali­fax, 2006; Singapore History Museum, 2006; Pres­entation House Gallery, North Vancouver, 2005; Museum van Hedendaagse K unst, Antwerp, 2005; Berke ley Art Museum, 2005; Ins ite, San Di­egoffijuana, 2005; White Columns, New York, 2004; and Seattle Art Museum, 2004. She has upcoming projects w ith BAK, basis voor aktuele kunst, Utrecht, Netherlands, the Gaungzhou Tri ennial, China and Artspeak in Vancouver.

E lizabeth Milton Programme Coordinato r

Vancouver's Eastside Front-line workers

Dear Margo Butler, Thank you Lady for a truly wonderful gift you are

to Vancouver's East Side, Yesterday I had the pleas­ure of sitting by your Dad and your Brother, and I saw the sparkle in your father's eyes when he said, that's my Daughter and she is truly a remarkable gift to the homeless, the needy, and the east s ide and I am so proud of her, because she is so proud of what she does, There are many other people in the Downtown East side that don't get recognition for the work they do with the poor of the East side To Name a few AI Mitchell Manager of the Lookout Emergency Aid Society 346 Alexander Street has been giving his time, patience and his will power to be a blessing to the people that suffer with Mental illness, Lookout opens its doors 24/7 to feed , clothe and house the poor, it takes strong willed people to manage and work at the Lookout. Anne Prince and Theresa Sam from Ventures Em­ployment Enterprise 678 East Hastings Street, see potential in everyone they meet, they help people with no skills, very little education to gain confidence in themselves to become productive in societv. Both

" " A _JOt. ~ • ~ _.;~ ... ~~ -,...,

BLUE CHRISTMAS SERVICE i.YiYWhen Christmas Hurtsi.Yi.Y

spend countless hours in finding ways of helping East siders to work, or be trained in some job, so they don't have to rely on welfare.

Rita Blind and Carol Martin fight for the rights of women who lost their voices through addictions, poverty and abuse, these are remarkable women who sometimes go for nights without sleep to better the lives that society no longer looks at as humanitarian.

Alf Greening, one of Union Gospel Mission's Managers has a heart of gold, who sometimes gets hurt, but gives blessings in return, walked on but not trampled, To work in the East s ide, you need to have the Attitude of Love Kindness Patience, A heart of Gold, and you must see the people that you work with as human beings.

There are many more men and woman that work at places like the Carnegie Community Centre, Pacific Assoc Of First Nations, United Native Nations, Atira Women's Resource, Deyas, The Welfare Offices, Downtown East side Women's centre and many more place. Everyone comes to work down here, some it is like going to hell and back, you put your life on the line, you get spit at punched kicked and called every name in the book, you have to deal with violence, drugs, drunkenness and anger spewed in every direc­tion you could name, in the end those workers of the East side that survive are the ones that handled it with a grain of salt.

I salute you all who work in Vancouver's East Side, because I am one

Sincerely Sylvia Sharon Isaac

~ :;'"¢.: O:b 4 ;Q.: ~ ~ Sometimes it's more than we can muster, to jump

into the Christmas spirit. Sometimes we feel like turning our back on all the glitter and good cheer. More like pulling the covers up over our head and wishing it was a ll over. When Christmas hurts, it may be allo we can do to get out of bed, and we may think that nothing can make it better. If this is the case for you, consider sharing a differ­

ent kind of Christmas gathering, to honour and give space to our feelings of loss and limitation and, in so doing, perhaps ease the pain and find upliftment in the process.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 4PM at The Listening Post, 382 Main Street

DOWNTOWN

EASTSIDE YOl)TH

NEEDLE EXCHANGE VAN·-3 Rouie11 604-685-6561

.. ACTIVITIES

604-251-3310

. . . .

~-St4~pm -llc45pm Overnl£ht -lZ:JOa~ ~~a 30om

Downtown Eostslde..: 5z30p1J! - I :loa. SOCIETY

CFRO 102.-7 FM CO-OP RADIO .. . .

Next issue is on JANUARY 15, 2009! Submission deadline:

Monday, JANUARY 12 Free Showers for homeless persons nl 327 Cnrrnll Wed 7·8:30am; Sal 1·10am; Frl WOMEN ONlY ~-~~PM

THISNEWSLETTERISAPUBLICATIONOFTHE · -------------------" C.4.RNEGIE COMMUNITY CENTRE ASSOCIATION

1 We acknowledge that Carnegie Community Centre, and

Articles represent the views of individual I this Newsletter, are occurring on Coast Salish Territory. I Contributors and not of the Association. 1

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Editor: PauiR Taylor; cover idea Lisa David; 1 I Collation & distribution crew: Harold, Liu Lin, Bill, Mary

WANTED Artwork for the Carnegie Newsletter

1 Ann, Miriam, Rolf, Tina, Videha, Kelly, ~al,_ ~obyn, Nick, I • Jackie Matthew Lisa Red, Pablo, Ida, Pnsc1llta. • Small illustrations to accompany articles and

poetry r - .;.. - ~ ...,; - - - ~--- ~ --=- =--TIM STEVENSON CITY COUNCILLOR ! •.

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SERVING THE COMMUNITY WITH PRIDE

CITY HAll. 453 Wm U111 AVE, V5Y 1V4 Phone: 604.871·7247

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~' ~-

!" \t' .. i ' . I ' I

Jenny Wai Ching Kwan MLA Working for You

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

\ ; I .

Do you Have a Legal Problem? Are you charged With a crltne?

VIsit the UBC Law Clinic In the 3rd floor gallery of Carnegie Centre for free advice & representation.

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

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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.-$1 00 The Edge -$200 Jenny K.-$22 Penny G.-$40 Wilhelmina M.-$55 Jaya B-$ 100 Mel L-$50 Pam B-$50 Rolr A-$50 Glenn B-$200 Greta P-$50 Christopher R-$180 Sue K-$30 San~y C-$25 CEE~S -$60 JB -$20

On October 14 Canadians handed Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his party another minority government. But not just any ordinary mi­nority government. One that stopped just 12 seats short of being a majority.

The Canadian people gave Harper and his party more seats than he had in his previous government. have to ask myself why. Did they even realize what they were endorsing?

Secretive government. No accountability to the news media (and therefore to the public). Giant tax breaks for corporations and miniscule ones for Cana­dians. Cutting the GST by two points to 5 percent, benefiting mostly the rich, ignoring advice to cut in­come taxes instead, thus chopping $1 0 billion per year out of government revenues, giving a later ex­cuse to cut program spending for lack of funds. Lack of a universal childcare system. Lack of a national social housing program. Denigration of artists. In­creased military spending. Implicit support for the secretive and non-democratic Security and Prosperity Partnership agreement (see November 1 Newsletter for details). Funding cuts to the Status of Women (while it has been reported that Canada continues to fail in women's equality: "Advocate says Canada still failing on women's eq uality," Darah Hansen, Van­couver Sun. November 21, 2008) and also to the Law Refo rm Commi ssion. Record spending with the re­sult of a sma ll surplus buffe r meaning that if there is an economic downturn, the Tories will have an ex­cuse to cut social program spending and privatize more programs (they're already talking about selling otT assets to make up a shortfall to stave otT deficit government financing). No clear action on the Gom­ery report into the sponsorship scandal. Abuse of democracy regarding the Canad ian Wheat Board. Broken promises on income trusts. Stupid ideas and

actions regarding preservation of the environment. The poorly-handled Chuck Cadm an scandal. Chang­ing the Afghanistan exit date from 2009 to 20 I l. Demoniz ing harm reducti on and repeatedly attempt­ing to discredi t/close lns ite. thus demonstrating the Tory triumph of ideology over scientifi c evidence.

Barely any of these items got any mention during the pitiable '·who ·s the best PM?" election campaign. The news media fe ll tor the Tory ··compassionate conservatism" attack ads approach to the election hook. line, and s inker. So the public bought it, too.

Particularly disappointing was the news media's depiction of the federal Liberal idea of preserving the envi ronment as another tax (when every eftort was made by the federal Liberals to get the truth out). That by itself probably was the final nail in the fed­eral Liberal campnign coftin. (The news media gave more nttention to an lntemet bird shitting on the Lib­e ral leader than to the Liberal environment plan.)

Before the election. at the manifest start of the world economic crisis. Harper was saying it was a good time to buy stocks. By Novem ber 25. he was admitting that Canada was in a recession. And Cana­dian s trust this guy with Canada's economy?

Harper also singlehanded ly brought abo ut the cur­rent Parliamentary cris is. From a Globe und Mail editorial. December 5, 2008: '' Even if Mr. Harper somehow staves off immediate defeat when Parlia­ment resumes on January 26, his ability to lead a mi­nori ty government has been lost by his own poor judgement. '' Harper's response to the cris is has been to mount attack ads against the Liberal-NDP-Bi oc coalition. and statt a public relations campaign boost­ing hi s government's wotth. He attacked the Liber-

. als-N DP for siding with the Bloc Quebecois, when hi s own minority government has done the very same thing in the past to push through legis lation that the Libe rals-NDP were against. The Globe and Mail. Jeffrey Simpson, December 6, 2008, "After the stonn": ''The way Mr. Harper acted, and the advan­tage he tried to gain, will be remembered now by all those who feared what he might do w ith a majority govemment.''

Another disappointment is that Canada is still stuck with the antiquated first-past-the-post election sys­tem, instead of the modem, much more democratic election system of proportional representation.

One bright note is that our rid ing's hardworking

NDP MP Libby Davies was re-elected by a landsl ide. Congratulations. Libby! . . .

Regarding the 1'\ovember 15. 2008. c1v1c election. what-can I say? The developer-oriented NPA >Ver~ shO\\n the door. and Vision Vancouver/COPE got 111. Let"s hope that that bodes \\ell for~ new b~ginning in the Downtown Eastside (starting w1th solvmg street homelessness ).

Now we have another election fast approaching. the Tuesda). May 12. 2009 Provincial Election. Tired of broken housing promises. inc reasing homelessness. and lack of compassion for those on income assis­tance or for those making the minimum wage? You know what to do! In our riding. it's NDP MLA Jenny K\\an '' ho deserves our votes. She has ah\ays spoken out on be hal r of social j ustice issues. and she deserves to be re-elected. So. I know you're weary of elections. but you've got to drag yourselves to the polls one more time if you \-vant to see change in Vic­toria. Just remember. if s for a worthy cause!

The Spirits of Love

When we find love We yearn to keep this

The Spirits of Love is nearby And we shall not divide either

For the Spirits of love wi II remain Within in us all

It is up to us to live in pity Or we can lift our heads high

And continue the search of love We so dearly yearn for

By Rolf Auer

Somewhere we will find the Spirits of Love When this is found

We must cherish this And not pretend

Because love is just an one time deal So Jet us not forget and remember

The Spirits of love is nearby.

Sandra Prontea

But it must stop

Cold steel, hot rush, now my brain feels like mush Feeling shiny, doing ninety. Smokin and chockin, whackin and pokin,

now I am broken. You know sometimes the monster is not under my bed, but deep inside my head. But yes, the ups and downs and all arounds, the in and outs and al1 abouts. I believe it's the glare before the tear, so for now I cry but soon l'll die. Yes I truly take it to the top, but it must stop.

Stanton 1 and friends.

BeatS on Broadway-AcouStic Music Friday, December 19 7:30,800 E Broadway The feature is the Cliff Ave Band, and there will be other fine performers as well. Give me a heads up if you'd like to perform!

Earle: 874 1256

Mothers' of Sons'

Our desires is wishing for the best However we are brought with lest

Of disadvantage times that fill its lines

Our wish is to do right ~ And praise sons ' for delights In which we yearn for dreams

Only if we scream We may have inspire with the almighty

In ink we ask for life Never we wanted delinquents on our hands

We only wished for education and life To honor and be strong; with no easy way out

Though we pout as we watch our sons' fall in the pit of hell If a spell can happen we want the pearl oflife in a shell

Share this precious time with knowledge to carry on and find forgiveness.

ALL MY RELATIONS. Sandra Pronteau

You and Me Homeless, blameless, nameless, shameless, add it up, let it register, common denom inators suppos­edly socially el iminated ... don' t think so . Ask me next! I think I talk; I still walk ' n roam ' round I' m not just a number on your contrived consensus watch out for me I ain't through yet.. don't think so eh - care to gamble .. wanna bet?! Am I destitute - maybe - moneywise: never - in heart, mind, body, soul! 've seen them all, every­day, the defence less, diseased, underused, abused and yet they still soldier on with purpose and a fierce, faint hope for sustenance, for shelter, for all sorts of means to just cope. You think distant, face­less, footloose; no we know we're on a mission of overcoming desperate want and need I remin isce, lucid wistfu l memories of' I wish I had's' and ' I wish I could 's', regrets - is that so bad? I' m not so sure but I can still make noise, still cause a st ir; out of the way of my frets, my worries; you hide and pretend under a fa9ade is a concealed charade. I wanna home, just like you; I got a right.. I'm enti­tled, that 's the deal, cut and dried. No more argu­ments, debates, passing bucks, spinning tales of times stagnated, up or down, sprayed, flayed, en­fused tantrums. Gone down that road that for some only channe ls a characteristic angst. That's good for fighting fire with fire but the bottom line is we a ll have the same basic needs, des ires. Both ways are good, what matters to me with threads in tatters is to still stand tall and be quite determined, consti­tution strong so don't expect me to make an excuse for living as you step over me being chincy and unforgiving. We' re staying put, in doors, in alleys, right here and right there, under tarps or soaked blankets, sodden cardboard cuttings - tent cities - now proven legal so get used to them in your world class city; you uncaring, detached, unconcerned corks who think your money really truly does talk, and makes you, in your fast & loose ratrace, more than rats. That a in ' t for me, no way, I don't ask for nor want that treadmill trap. If it makes sense to you okay but it doesn't ever for me, and even if you agree we' II have to believe there must be more than one way; this one don' t work, don ' t pay. I will carry on unencumbered, no frills, no bangles just streetwise for a w ise life and a ll it entangles. So there'll be no show for you today, tonight or tomorrow, no c hance, no cigs, no dance, no rigs.

That movie reel's old with no add-ons to project you set in your ways content with a mountain of loot but bankrupt of giving you cast a cloud of gloom upon us, the vita l real living lights - poles apart - and never the twain shall meet?!? With em­powered glowing hearts there never is such a word as defeat.

By ROBYN LIVINGSTONE

Trauma Trauma alienation Seeks connection triggers disconnection Grief Repeat I raised my mother My mother has brain damage My mother is an a lcoholic Survived trauma I raised my father My father was bi polar is schizophrenic Survived trauma I raised my brother My brother is schizophrenic is a n addict is suicidal

Survived trauma I raised my siste r my sis ter my sister I raised my self I raised myself Survived trauma Do not speak to me

My grandmother my mother my mother grandmother

Suicide Pills You see me assimilated looking ok You have no idea what I have lived with Prej udice PTSD Trauma with a capital T

Sara Soul