April 15, 1988, carnegie newsletter

Booze, drugs, porn, knives, v i o l e n c e .

The Downtown E a s t s i d e i s a r e s i d e n t i a l neighbourhood, n o t a DUMPING GROUND f o r t h e s o c i a l p r o b ~ e m s t h a t no o t h e r neighbourhood i n Vancouver wants.

Our 10,000 r e s i d e n t s i n s i s t on t h e r i g h t t o b e a b l e t o walk t h e s t r e e t s i n s a f e t y . Cheque day i s no excuse f o r mayhem t o be waged on t h e e l d e r l y , t h e d i s a b l e d and v u l n e r a b l e . The growing numbers of c h i l d r e n i n t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e have a r i g h t t o grow up i n a wholesome atmosphere. Women who l i v e and work h e r e must n o t be t a r g e t s of v i o l e n c e .

The "clean-up" on G r a n v i l l e Mall means t h e problem i s heading towards us. We n e e d . t o a c t now t o p r o t e c t our neighbourhood.

I

I

1 forum I

I

ON STREET SAFETY

with Ald. LIBBY DAVIES SUE HARRIS of DERA ROGER HEBERT C i t y Lic. D i r e c t o r JOHN TURVEY S t r e e t Worker I

Thursday, A p r i l 21 7:30 p.m.

CARNEGIE CENTRE.

I

TAKE - -BACK THE STREETS .-

-

Downtown E a s t s i d e r e s i d e n t s recent l y won a v i c t o r y when t h e new 24hour pornography shop a t 58 East Hastings decided t o c u t back i t s hours, so i t won't be open a l l night.

Under p r e s s u r e from r e s i d e n t s , City H a l l i n s p e c t o r s had found enough v i o l a t i o n s i n t h e porn shop t o f o r c e it t o shut down t h e video arcade s e c t i o n . That was c r e a t i v e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of b u i l d i n g and zoning r e g u l a t i o n s .

A 24-hcur p o r n eperatiaa iii tke midst of our neighbourhood would have been a d i s a s t e r . It could only confirm i n t h e minds of johns from a l l over t h e Lower Mainland t h a t our community i s an anything-goes sexual market place.

But t h e cutback i n hours a t t h e porn shop doesn't mean t h e problem w i l l go away. I n f a c t , i t ' s g e t t i n g worse. Other " a d u l t entertainment" shops a r e improving t h e i r equipment, a t l e a s t one beer p a r l o r i s now serving Porn f i l m s with i t s booze, t h e s t r i p shows grow i n c r e a s i n g l y bold and s u g g e s t i v e , and one bar i s p e t i t i o n i n g t o open another l i q u o r store.

Now w e a r e b r a c i n g f o r a new onslaught. C i t y Council i s vowing t o I' clean up" G r a n v i l l e Mall. I f t h e sleazy o p e r a t i o n s on t h e M a l l a r e forced o u t , t h e y w i l l look f o r a new home. Where-else b u t t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e ?

W e a l r e a d y are h o s t t o 80%of t h e d r i n k i n g e s t a b l i s h m e n t s i n Vancouver. The booze j o i n t s a r e magnets f o r every m i s f i t and p r e d a t o r i n t h e Lower m i n l a n d . They look on our streets a s t h e i r playpen and dumping ground.

Our e l d e r l y and d i s a b l e d are t a r g e t s f o r muggers f r o m o u t s i d e . Men come o u t of t h e

bars and h a s s l e women r e s i d e n t s .

Women who work t h e streets a r e r e g u l a r l y subjected t o robbery & a s s a u l t , even murder. Knives and booze a r e a plague. These o u t s i d e r s come down i n c a r s , bringing noise, congestion and p o l l u t i o n and w e a r e supposed t o with them l i v e with i t .

There i s a misconception t h a t t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e i s a neighbourhood of t r a n s i e n t s , and t h a t anyGL2-.-.--M=th?,i?r~: ~ 9 ~ l E?P. d f~fullur ~ " = a . t h e r from t h e t r u t h . Ten thousand people l i v e here. W e have t h e second most s t a b l e population i n Vancouver, with many having l i v e d i n t h e same h o t e l room f o r t e n y e a r s o r more. Now we a r e g e t t i n g inc r e a s i n g numbers of f a m i l i e s with c h i l d r e n i n s o c i a l housing proj e c t s . What kind of environment do w e want them t o grow up i n ?

W e must p r o t e c t our neighbourhood before i t ' s too l a t e . Come t o t h e Community Forum On S t r e e t Safety and h e l p draw up a plan of a c t i o n .

Speakers w i l l include Ald. Libby Davies, Sue H a r r i s of DERA, City l i c e n s i n g d i r e c t o r Roger Hebert and s t r e e t worker John Turvey.

-

COMMUNITY FORUM on STREET SAFETY THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 7 :30 p m.

CARNEGIE CENTRE, 401 MAIN. Co-Sponsor F i r s t United Church

.

-

NO VOICE?

. . . s p e a k i n g- of h a l f - t r u t h s , l ' a u l 'Taylor h a s p r i n t e d up a bunch of Lliela obout me. Don i..lr:,[~n. YL L , I ' . I I I I h;is n e v e r spoken t o me a b o u t any oL t h e m a t t e r s t h a t Ire p r h t e d i n ~ l C~a rcn e g i c ncvs1c.ttt.r. X o r !);I:, l'ctul come t o a Crab monthly mectilig. So why i s he p r i n t i n g so~nebody cl.se:;' infornmtion,or,scct~~;tf-!I..II~,) i n f o ? . . . . I n r e p l y , y o u d o n ' t have t o b e v e r y o b s e r v a n t t o s c c t h a t many l o c a l s t a f f have bec.11 c l i m i n a t c d from Carnegie....Personally,I was c o ~ s t a n t l yh a r a s s e d f o r s i x months a f t e r f o u r y e a r s or1 t h c C a r n e g i e door. T h i s began immediately a f t e r my s e n d i n g a l e t t e r s a y i n g I d i d n ' ~ t h i n k & r ~ ; c g i e was c a p a b l e of r u n n i n g a summer s t a f f i n g a t Crab park. I was f i r e d j u s t b e f o r e t h e c e r e m o n i a l o p e n i ~ i g ( s ) of Crab p a r k Your wrong,Paul,about my " s t o r i e s " . 1 would be happy t o s i t down w i t h anybody and Ycs.1 was Llie unt a l k a b o u t l o c a l i s s u e s , a n d I have y e t t o r e c e i v e a r e p l y from J i m Crccn t o do s o paid o r g a n i z e r f o r f i v e y e a r s o f h a r d work t o c r e a t e a 7 a c r e , 3 8 m i l l i o n d o l l a r w a r e r i r o n ~ park a t t t ~ f o o t of Main. And no.1 have n e v e r s u g g e s t e d t h a t I was t h e o n l y one t o work on I t . I d i d h o w v e r , p u t i n t h o u s a n d s o f v o l u n t e e r h o u r s and t h o u s a n d s o f d o l l a r s t o fund t h e campaign o u t of my own pockct.

No,my (quote)"good work" i s n o t f a s t becoming " a n c i e n t h i s t o r y " . S i n c e t h e c e r e m o n i a l o p e n i n g by Crab and s t r a t l i c o n a a r t i s t s f o r a Crab c h i l d r e n ' s day,we have worked t o s e e t h e park s l o w l y completed. And Crab h a s p u t i n a a p p l i c a t i o n f o r summer s t a f f i n g of t h e new p a r k f o r J u l y and August. Thru Crab and myself a s rep,we have been t h e most a c t i v e g r o u p s w i t h t h e B.C.Coalition o f t h e D i s a b l e d i n f i g h t i n i : f o r a b e t t e r a c c e s s f o r t h e e l d e r l y , l o c a l c h i l d r e n . a n d d i s a b l e d p e o p l e t o t h e w a t e r f r o n t park.

Again Crab was t h e main group t h a t t r i e d t o s a v e 4 a c r e of w a t e r f r o n t l a n d f o r p a r k a t T e r m i n a l and Quebec.

And Crab i s now working i n a supporS c i e n c e World is n e e d l e s s l y w a s t i n g p a r k l a n d f o r 37 c a r - p a r k i n g t i v e r o l e i n t h e c r e a t i o n of two o t h e r p a r k s i n t h e Vancouver a r e a . Crab is b e i n g r e c o g n i z e d by o t h e r s a s h a v i n g a c e r t a i n e x p e r t i s e i n p a r k s and r e c r e a t i o n . . .We have worked t h e h a r d e s t a t making t h e minipark a t Alexander and Main b e s i d e t h e Rankin b u i l d i n g , m o r e usef,ul and l e s s s t e r i l e . . . . T h e m i n i p a r k i t s e l f is p a r t of t h e v i c t o r y of Crab w a t e r f r o n t park.

Along w i t h l)EYAS,Crab h a s made tire o n l y c o n s t r u c t i v e e f f o r t s a t p u b l i c m e e t i n g s t o t u r n t h e soon-to-be w a t e r f r o n t p a r k a t T e r m i n a l and Quebec(East F a l s e Creek P a r k ) . i n t o more o f a neighborhood p a r k n a n d l e s s of a f r o n t l a m f o r t h e t o u r i s t - o r i c n c c d S c i e n c e World p r o j e c t . . . . I t was m y s c l f , H i k e Haycock,and John Turvey w i t h p a r k s board s ~ a f fuho have done t h e p l a n n i n g o f r e n n o v a t i o n s t o t h e Oppcnheirner p a r k s h a c k and a r e a . T h i s is a l l p o s i t i v c , c r c a t i v o h a r d , u n p a i d , v o l u n t e e r work by Crab and o t h e r s . . . . I d o n ' t have a h a b i t of c a l l i n g " l o c a l v o l u n t e e r s . t h i e v e s and l i a r s . . . . A s you must know,you a r e r e f e r r i n g t o a s p e c i f i c I n c i d e n t w i t h a 1)er:r e x e c u t i v e member,and i t was d e a l t w i t h i n p r i v a t e , a n d a l e t t e r o f apology was s c n t . 1 have been c a l l e d a few ilame myself a t a m e e t i n g h e l d a t t h e Four S i s t e r s w i t h t h e D.E.Parks P l a n n i n g Committee by t h i s same p e r s w .

The m a t t e r o f my f r i e n d and t h e Pour S i s t e r s is now b e l n g d e a l t w i t h by a U.B.C.lawyer. O b v i o u s l y , somebody e l s e b e l i e v e s t h a t t h e r e i s two s i d e s t o t h e t e n a n t i s s u e . . . . T h e same s m a l l c o n t r o l f:rnup I ~ a s banned me f o r one y e a r from t h e Ucra o f f i c e a n d . . . s t a c k e d a monthly Crab m e e t i n g m c e u L l y w h i l e d i s r u p t illy t h e m e e t i n g and swearing,and s u p p o s e d l y removing me a s P r e s i d e n t of Crab.. On d u t ] r , t a x - p a y e r supp o r t e d s t a f f s h o u l d n o t b e i n v o l v e d I n s u c h a c t i v i t i e s . . . . t h e s m a l l group o f c o n i r o l ~ w o p l e , ~ l i e tnh r c a t e n e d t o b r i n g some of t h e i r "outraged" f r i e n d s t o a Dowl~town E n s t s i d e P a r k s P l a n n l n g ctc.mc;..tinl:, i f I d i d n ' t s t e p down a s C r a b ' s r e p t o t h e committee. To keep a s m a l l amount of c r e d i b i l i t y i n t h e committee a l i v e p i n p a r k s board and s o c i a l p l a n n i n g s t a f f eyes.1 a g r e e d t o remove m y s e l f . . . . P a ~ ~ l , y o u Ilav(> bccn busy w i t h a p e t i t i o n t o have m e p l g u c s s , f u r t h e r removed from b e l n g C r a t p r e s i d e n t . . . ,Your ; ; c c i t i o n war;

....

....

...

...

....

. ...

...

,_

?....I

u(;os'r,osL"r'u--,.U11U

1_^_1

1-C_ L.1.U

....

-.

-,-..

.

I I - I . . C OLlU IULOII,I"I'IIOLLUI'.

..-

P 9 _ . ^ l l . . .*,IUJLJ,JSil

T L

.

I . . I .,_I U" L ' l l ' l R

_

n

,,"A',CLjlS

I.

1..

Ail

. - - . . - . , , . . I C " , I L I L / * I L U

,...

U >

.I...

^ ^ L A I I L C

^

.^

11L.1

'

....

p l e . But.no Z d i d n ' t s a y t h a t t h e board was r e s p o n s i b l e f o r n ~ y , o r o t l ~ e rCarnegit! workers f i l - l n g ( r ; ) The r e a l i s s u e is: To Have No Voice is To Ilavc No Power. A fcw p c o p l c a r c t r y i n g t o s t i l l r.;:~(Crab's) v o i c e . T h i s a r e a is made up of d i f f e r e n t p e o p l e and L n t e r e s t s and no m e p e r s o n can ripea!c f o r cvcrybudy.

FROM W E EDITOR'S DESK Readers: T h i s l e t t e r i s h e r e o n l y b e c a u s e o f a p r i n c i p l e of e q u a l i t y and f a i r n e s s . Larsun h a s spread c r u d * through t h e E a s t Ender, CRARZILLA, l e t t e r s t o p o l i t i c i a n s , h i s u n i o n , and by s l a r t i n g rumours based on h a l f - t r u t h s and f a l s e h o o d . My f i r s t g u t f e e l i n g was t o f i l e t h i s i n t h e g a r b a g e . I)on Larson is n o t t h e P r e s i d e n t of Crab, no m a t t e r h i s ' o p i n i o n ' o f t h e f a c t s . I t ' s r e a l l y s a d t h a t h e ' l l have s u c h a s o r e arm from p a t t i n g h i m s e l f o n t h e back. Me has t o - t h o s e who worked w i t h him f o r y e a r s a r e d i s g u s t e d w i t h t h e s l u r s on them. There is no why. Don seems t o have n o t h i n g e l s e t o do. I ' m n o t g o i n g t o answer e a c h p i e c e of c r u d * h e r e , s o Larson w i l l have t o keep l o o k i n g f o r a t t e n t l o n e l s e w h e r e .

Not a hero. Not a niartyr. Not even a v i c t i m . S o r r y . I a p o l o g i z e t o you a l l f o r s u c h a w a s t e of s p a c e .

*

c r u d : a synonym f o r t h e word used t o d e s c r l b e t h e p r o d u c t of a b u l l ' r , bowel movement.

Paul Taylor

4

WELFARE WEDNESDAY # NINE

C

\Jhere i s everybody?

The g a l l e r y once teeming i s mousely q u i e t .

The L e a r n i n g C e n t r e Has t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o a M e d i t a t i o n Temple.

My t h o u g h t s echo o f f t h e w a l l s .

Where i s everybody!?

Have t h e y gone and become Consumers?

Food, r e n t , secondhand c l o t h e s , a t o y f o r t h e baby?

Maybe a six-pack as a reward f o r e x i s t i n g . mL,-

LLICLI

+,

LU

-.L,ct, I-..a,,& LJCIU~FL w u a L

3

1,Fe

LFLL

f o r t h a t l o n g d u r a t i o n of time between now and t h e n e x t W.W. F e s t i v a l .

Chocolate b a r s f o r t h e k i d s , d e s s e r t s f o r t h e o b e s e mother.

ZbIen w a i t i n t r u c k s and c a r s , motors s t i l l r u n n i n g , w h i l e wives and g i r l f r i e n d s go i n and g e t t h e Cheques.

MVJ ICIANI, POETS, ENTERTAINERI---

(330 9:45

What a l o v i n g day.

A l l is forgiven; WOMEN & CHILDREN ONLY f o r g o t t e n b i t t e r n e s s of C o n t a c t Donalda, Diane 6 6 5 - 9 empty f r i d g e s and running o u t o f t o i l e t p a p e r .

Now t r o u b l e d w a t e r s a r e calm.

L i f e goes on f o r a n o t h e r month.

The c y c l e of f o r t u n e w i l l r e v o l v e one more t i m e , and a Balloon f e e l i n g f i l l e d w i t h h i g h s p i r i t s w i l l b e g i i t s slow d e f l a t i o n as i t d r i f t s on t h e wind o v e r t h e c i through t h e o l d d o o r s of t h e Carnegie C e n t r e , where soon a l l s h a l l r e t u r n t o f i l l i t s rooms w i t h t h e energy that gives i t Life.

Gary Gust

She had been

:hooker i n t h e

At theage of 28, alter nine years bn the street, Peters was found dead early Sunday in a lane in the 4900-block of St. Catherines - five Rilometres from her working turf at the corner of East Hastings and Gore.

"She was so naive and trusting," Said Eric Warren, a lawyer who tepresented her for six years.

"I know she didn't like doing it (hooking). She was too shy. She would go out there and just stand there, not trying to attract anyone.

"She knew it was dangerous, but she was desperate." tar,...--..

--:> ,.r st t ~ Jaw u rle knew

~t lpgstl

four occasions when Peteis was assaulted and robbed.

He said she was arrested about 10 times under the federal antisoliciting law.

Peters, a short, slim woman with long black hair, grew up in Ucluelet on the west coast of Vancouver Island. She had four sisters and three brothers.

--.... ..~--As an 18-year-old living in Port Alberni, she was hit in the neck by a ricocheting RCMP bullet as she unwittingly walked too close to the scene of an abortive holdup. ~-

The bullet lefl he+ partially paralysed on her left side, and she walked with a slight limp. As a result, she was awarded $686 a month pension for life under the Criminal Injury Compensation Act. Soon after, she came to ~ a n c o u ver and began heavy use of street drugs Talwin and Ritalin.

She and her husband, Mark Lipset, had a baby boy six years ago, but the boy was apprehended by the then-ministry of human resources and is now in foster care.

Workers at First United Church - located on Peters' working corner had virtually adopted her, bringing her coffeeon cold nights, and talking to her about her future.

One minister wrote a song about her, but Peters hadn't heard i t before she died.

Peters spent most of 1987 in Oakalla women's prison on a variety of shoplifting and theft charges, and got out three months ago.

On her release, First United street worker Rev. Barry Morris arranged for her and Lipset to spend a couple of nights in a motel on Kingsway in a bid to wean then from the street.

"Rose looked healthy and had put on weight," said Morris. "She had lots of ideas and plans, to live straight and get her child back, to get into a really decent (drug) treatment program, to liberate herself fiom the web.

"But her dreams were always vut

-

~fi.,,

Lipset said Peters was badly shaken by the death of close friend Vanessa Buckner.

Bucktler, who also worked the streets, was found dead of an alcohol overdose in October in the Niagara Hotel. Police said Buckner's death was an accident, but later charged a man with first degree murder.

Peters was last seen wearing a black a n d grey s k i j a c k e t , a multi-colored sweater and rust colored corduroy pants.

Police have asked anyone who saw her to contact them.

The Vancouver Siun, Wednesday, April 6,

LETTER TO THE EDITOR1 NEWSLFITER:

Indian S t r e e t The salmon r e t u r n e d Every y e a r t o s e e u s The a l l n i g h t sub shop A t 2 up o u r ch&iiga The s p i r i t s were Strong i n o u r b o d i e s The c r u i s e r came by To a r r e s t u s These women a r e a l l S i s t e r s of l i f e The manager s h o t Dope i n t o h i s arm The o l d people gave u s The s a c r e d ways My f a t h e r was a j u n k i e My mother was a whore The Chiefs would t a l k ' To s t o n e s on t h e beach Neon h u r t s my head I have t o make money Bear mother gave Birth t o her children They put u s i n The h o l d i n g cage Raven made t h e f i r s t l i g h t A w a t e r f a l l was Roaring i n t h e t r a f f i c My head was Stuck on a s t a k e Burnt o u t on R i t a l i n

I n t h e p a s t i helped Cowboy "bob" E l l i s by t y p i n g h i s l e t t e r s which would go t o c i t y h a l l .

These l e t t e r s were cowboy's way of i n s i s t i n g i n a f o r c e - f u l manner f o r t h e i n s t a l l a t i o n of s t o p - l i g h t s a t t h e c o r n e r of Cordova and Dunlevy s t r e e t s which used t o be an unr e g u l a t e d c o r n e r ; a h i g h hazard zone f o r t h o s e p e d e s t r i a n s who would attempt a c r o s s i n g and then L U S sG -.-s-**..--*..

LUIbQLC ss t o end u?; c r i p p l e d o r maimed a f t e r having been h i t by motorized t r a f f i c .

Cowboy was seemingly t i r e l e s s , through h i s i n s i s t e n t l e t t e r w r i t i n g campaign, t o convince members o f v c i t y c o u n c i l and t h e c i t y engin e e r i n g s t a f f t h a t s t o p l i g h t s were absolutely necessary f o r people's s a f e t y . These l i g h t s a r e now i n p l a c e , and a l o n g with any o t h e r group o r individualwho l o b b i e d f o r t h e s e l i g h t s i know f o r a f a c t t h a t Cowboy ought t o be c r e d i t e d f o r h i s work i n g e t t i n g them p u t i n p l a c e .

Second p o i n t i s t h a t Cowboy h a s been q u i t e v o c a l . and w r i t t e n h i s view i n l e t t e r s t o t h e p o i n t of making t h e downtown e a s t s i d e a s a f e p l a c e f o r t h e s e n i o r s down here. Cowboy would u s u a l l y end h i s l e t t e r s with a plea f o r the s a f e t y of e l d e r s . i d o n ' t a g r e e w i t h every l i t t l e t h i n g t h a t Cowboy campaigns f o r and i ' v e had my s h a r e of arguments w i t h him, t o t a l l y opposing some of t h e ide'as h e ' s come o u t with. But, i can and w i l l g i v e him t h e c r e d i t t h a t i s due t o him.

..

UIILVL

P e t e r Imm, Member & Newsletter c o n t r i b u t o r .

Editor, t h e Newsletter: I t h i n k i t ' s a good i d e a f o r t h e Newsletter t o p r i n t t r a d i t i o n a l Native s t o r i e s , but we must t r y ' t o d i s t i n g u i s h between o l d e r , more authentic t a l e s , & those t h a t a r e added l a t e r a s a r e s u l t of c o n t a c t with white c u l t u r e .

While I am n o t a Native person myself, I d i d spend a number o f Years s t u d y i n g Native t r a d i t i o n s i n a r t & o l d c o l l e c t i o n s of Native l i t e r a t u r e i n l i b r a r i e s . Anyone f a m i l i a r with t h e s t o r i e s , I think, would recognize t h a t t h e s t o r y of t h e wolf s t e a l i n g c h i c k e n s publ i s h e d i n "smokehouse S t o r i e s " i n t h e l a s t i s s u e of t h e n e w s l e t t e r i s n o t o r i g i n a l t o Native t r a d i t i o n .

-

O r i g i n a l a n c e s t r a l s t o r i e s never would c h a r a c t e r i z e t h e Wolf a s a t h i e f , t r a d i t i o n a l people d i d n o t keep c h i c k e n s , & t h e m o r a l i s t i c g u i l t image of a boy wearing an e a g l e f e a t h e r t o remind him of a II crime" he had committed, i s an o f f e n c e t o t h e t r u e s p i r i t of Native s t o r y t e l l i n g .

Some people may f e e l t h a t t h e s e -v,-, "i,.,+ * . . .

2 ~ ~ L U L I - S S " & wily make a b i g d e a l o u t of i t - b u t , t h e p a s s i n g on, p r i n t i n g , d i s t r i b u t i o n , e t c . of t h e s e works s h o u l d , i n my o p i n i o n , be t r e a t e d a s a s a c r e d t r u s t by Native people, and non-natives, who r e a l i z e t h e v a l u e of t h e message of t h e o l d e s t & most a u t h e n t i c s p i r i t contained i n them.

Also, r e a d e r s who come a c r o s s s t o r i e s such a s t h e "Big Bad Wolf" one i n t h e l a s t N e w s l e t t e r , should n o t make t h e mistake of t h i n k i n g they a r e t r a d i t i o n a l . The ancest o r s would laugh a t us.

JU13C

TORA

By WAYNE SCHMIDT(12 years) Last Monday t h e weather was favora b l e s o Mom and I decided t o t a k e t h e bus and do some h i k i n g . We headed f o r Camp Capilano where Barney g r e e t e d us.

F i r s t of a l l w e dropped o f f t h e book Hastings and Main and an E a s t e r c a r d w i t h t h e camp manager's wife.

We asked permission t o t a k e Barney f o r a h i k e on t h e t r a i l s .

The c o n t r o v e r s y of whether Camp Capilano should be l e a s e d t o t h e Elks Club w i l l go b e f o r e C i t y Council soon.

The h i k e up t o Cleveland Dam was most enjoyable. The skunk cabbage appeared t o be i n f u l l bloom. The water flowing from t h e dam looked l i k e a g i a n t laundry f i l l e d w i t h detergent.

The l a k e looked v e r y c l e a r and we enjoyed watching t h e gondolas going up and down Grouse Mountain. Mom and I wandered around t h e park and L Q C ~2 . - l i F F . - - - - c ~ ~ l La& a l i~ iile f i s h hatchery.

A f t e r w e toured t h e f i s h h a t c h e r y t h e n e x t s t o p was t o watch t h e b i r d s swimming. Then i t was t i m e t o t a k e a d i f f e r e n t t r a i l back f o r u s t o c a t c h t h e bus home.

Among o t h e r t h i n g s d u r i n g t h e s p r i n g break, I went bowling, saw a movie -"Three Men and a Baby''- and sang on Co-op Radio.

We i n t e n d t o v i s i t t h e Capilano suspension b r i d g e soon. I can hardl y w a i t f o r summer v a c a t i o n t o arrive.

6--

u l L L c L = ~ ~ ~

Twenty Years on Today I dwell amidst t h e mountain c h i l d r e n .

Once flowered; b u t now t h e i r p e t a l s f a l l e n .

They withered w i t h t i m e , a s time h a s followed t h e i r sandaled f e e t .

But now t h e i r pace h a s slowed. ~ h e y ' v e cropped t h e i r h a i r .

And stowed t h e i r j e a n s .

C r e d i t c a r d s ? No l o n g e r l o a t h e d .

Kept b e s i d e h o t t u b s t h e y ' v e loaned.

They s t i l l have v i s i o n s ! Now pragmatized. ~ e n n o n ' swords a r e d i g i t a l i z e d .

And d i g i t s and c r e d i t a r e what some now seek.

Though some s t i l l i d e a l i z e a flowery world, where you s t i l l t u r n l e f t i n t o t h e c o u n t r y s i d e . zut t3 fbT ICLL 7 -CC ..-a F-.-:-L+ a . . .rr\..i i i y arlu uuu vu C -

LV

L

~

L L A ~ L X L ,

J

-L-

meet i n c o l l e c t i v e s u i c i d e .

And who a r e t h e c a s u a l t i e s , no l o n g e r t h i r t y ?

Disciples of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi are asking Canadians to help build a $100-trillion string of lavish cities where people could live in heavenly bliss.

In Toronto last weekend, bankers and developers got the sales pitch from the Maharishi's new company, Heaven o n Earth Development Corp.

High walls would keep out n o i s e , crime, pollution and drugs. Heavenly bliss mansions would sell for $500,000.

Once the company finds developers to build the cities around the world. it would recommend narruvrriuus" 'uuiiding maieriais and collect some of the profits.

News item .a.

-

Jack Samorodin SEAGULL SCREAM SMELL OF WET NEWSPAPER TUESDAY/APRIL 1211988 THE STREETS ARE DAMP YOU LIVE I N DOORWAYS GET STONED AGAIN LOSE YOUR SCREWED UP HISTORY I. D EVERYTHING LEAN AGAINST A LOCKED CAR LISTED MISSING

.

IT'S BLL THOSE EMPTY DESERT HIGHWAY BUS STOPS I N YOUR MIND THAT DISAPPEARING FAMILY OF FRIENDS THOSE BACKYARDS RELOCATED, WIPED OUT, BURIED I N THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SHOPPING MALL, A PLACE, A SQUARE A PLAZA, ANOTHER CENTRE...

SEAGULL SCREAM SMELL OF WET NEWSPAPER TUESDAY/APRIL 1211988.

Tora

Pigeon Park I1

here's a blue-jay among t h e pigeons, s t r u t t i n g i m p e r i a l i n d i g o s , squawking grievance i n ~ o u b l e l ~ u t c h .

S a t i s f i e d , i t s o r t s o u t crumbs, n o t s e e i n g t h e pigeons have n o t even paused.

Some f o l k s never f i t . Not n o t i c i n g , they f e t e t h e wrong ceremonies, f i g h t i n wrong c o r n e r s , go j a u n t i l y i n t o n i g h t , b e l i e v i n g i t day. Advanced backwards from t h e womb, e x a s p e r a t e d e v e r s i n c e , they s t r i d e from midnight t o morning, read t i m e anti-clockwise, speak t h e language Z t o A. But sometimes, i n a f a u l t y moment, y o u ' l l s e e them pause, aware of s i l e n c e and s o l i t u d e , when r e a l i t y l i f t s an e y e l i d , and i n t h a t c o l d b l u e l i g h t , t h e i r world wavers; f o r a d i z z y moment they a r e u n c e r t a i n whether they have dreamed t h i s crowd, o r ' i s i t they who a r e t h e dream: erratic birds t h a t took t h e wrong t u r n somewhere and now c a n t , s e e k i n g home?

J a n c i s M. Andrews (from work-in-progress; Poems of t h e D.E.)

a

1 I

On March 26, a special documentary was presented on the CBC French network. It was about the condition of women in Quebec's jails, entitled "Les Blues au eoeur."

Translated: "Blues of the Hearf It showed that despite the environment and personalities, some of these women were coming to terms with themselves, in total spite of the dehumanizing conditions surrounding them.

In the opening, it described how they got to prison; more often than not through involvement with drugs or prostitution or both. One of these women, (alias) Manon, said that every one in the jail was there because of a man - one way or another. For examples she told of '~uce"- who got busted for trafficking because her boyfriend used her place to hide drugs and the police got a search warrant because she was a known junkie,consorting with a heavy drug pusher; and Manon cited '~arie"who caught her husband in bed with a man, then proceeded to kill her husband a few hours later.

Many of these women did find support with each other, and whether ir !gas ~n,craj-c r p h y r l c s i t h e p s i c t was that no matter what happened inside or outside they had each other. Lasting friendships formed and some led dual lives, like 'Corrine" with a family and children

."

outside and a lady lover inside.

One woman, called 'Terese' the old pro, had been on welfare but was making - her 'living' shoplifting - not content with petty stuff she w,as also stealing Toro snowplows, sometimes two a day.

For almost all the women at Tenguay Provincial correctional Centre their main vision was of personal F-EDOM! "Almost" because of the story of one woman, a art ha', for whom freedom meant no more than a return to the life she had had it would be back to square one. She saw nothing but a return to the vicious circle she came from: abused as a child, raped by her father and family friends, forced into a life of drug addiction by her mother, gang-raped by,bikers, then taking justice into her own hands with a shotgun. While all that was in her past, she sees no outlets for her but what she's known all along.

This may not be a very rosy picture to look at but changes are needed in our society if we are to achieve our true selves. We can encourage personal growth by using all the means available. Maybe then our society will be for the better.

PS: After her release, 'Martha' attempted suicide.

By JULIEN'JOSEPH LEVESQUE

i

camp has provided to our community over the last 42 years. In fact, the GVRD has proposed turning the whole operation over to the Elks Club for the price of $1.00 a year for the next ten years, with the option of renewing this lease for another ten On April 27, the Greater Vanyears. Yep, the Elks Club. The couver Regional District (GVRD), same Elks Club which operates will decide whether or not to prithree other camps in B.C. and the vatize Camp Capilano by turning same Elks Club to which the proover all responsibilities for its vincial government gave $25,000 operation to the Elks Club. for the clearing of yet another At stake is our community's consite near Horse Lake. A11 this, tinued access to a B.C. Camping dear friends, was done with neihjj"ciaii"ll acci-&lid Zdciiiiy ther any attempt at informing nor the only natural setting which many soliciting advice from the public. children and adults of this area Sounds sort o' sleazy, doesn't it? can enjoy at present.

Only by the fortuitous and caring The camp was made available by the determination of Betty Greenwell fundraising of Vancouver school and many of her friends, associates children in 1946, on the occasion of and relatives at Hastings and CarVancouver's selver jubilee (60th) negie Community Centres has the year, for "the perpetual use and enpublic - that's you and me joyment of the public" and under the averted (some say "deferred") real auspices of the Vancouver Parks social disaster, at least until the Board for the City of Vancouver.

April 27 GVRD meeting.

The Parks Board decided in May of Friends: turn off the TV, put 1987 that it would not renew its down your beer, tell the kids to lease as it was under pressure to give you a couple of minutes, and cut its budget, in which the camp's phone Betty (299-2788) or Pat resident director's salary of $36,000 Wilson (254-4035) or ~onalda' Viaud was deemed too exorbitant. (Let us (665-3006) or Sam ~nobelen(682-0951) not forget that ONE (1) CF-18 to find out how YOU can help save a fighter jet costs around $30 MILgood environmental experience for LION!) Without a camp director-yourselves, your friends and your current Camp Director Jack Way has family. It may be making a phone been working there with children and call, writing a letter, showing up adults for 24 years--the camp would for the meeting or just spreading lose its B.C. Camping Association the word. accreditation which ensures safe And, get this, if YOU don't do physical and programming standards. something about this NOW, many of us The Parks Board seems to have now and in the future are going to turned over the camp operation to lose something (again?) of inestithe GVRD without any assurance of mable value forevermore. We can the safeguarding of the historic WIN this one, but only if a lot of civic responsibilities which the us care and do something about it.

capilano ClrISIS

By SAM MEISEL

money f o r renovating Carnegie t h r u p r i v a t e s o u r c e s , and t h e n t h e C i t y paid f o r it. It had been abandoned s i n c e 1968. Carnegie c o s t $2 m i l l i o n t o renovate and opened up January 20, 1980. It had made a r i v e r of i n k from 1974 u n t i l then; r a i s i n g a l o t of controversy. Mayor A r t P h i l l i p s was n o t i n t e r e s t e d i n Carnegie. It took a l o t of Stepdancing. P o l i t i c a l Step-dancing, a t l e a s t t o be a b l e t o re-open Carnegie Library.

Carnegie o r i g i n a l l y w a s a l i b r a n y b u i l t i n 1902 by a S t e e l magnate, Andrew Carnegie, who gave a $50,000 grant t o build it.

Even i n 1902, i t was c a l l e d t h e Carnegie L i b r a r y and i t a l s o provided a room f o r t h e "poor boys", 50 t o 100 of whom came i n d a i l y t o r e a d and p l a y games: a n o t h e r room w a s t h e games and r e a d i n g room f o r t h e ragged men, 200-500 of whom came i n d a i l y . L a t e r they added a n o t h e r s t o r e y f o r a museum. Before re-opening i n 1980, they added two additions t o the o r i g i n a l building.

The o r i g i n a l Carnegie was completed i n 1903. It was b u i l t w i t h c o a r s e g r a n i t e and sandstone. It was t h e main l i b r a r y i n Vancouver u n t i l 1957; t h e n it became a museum e n t i r e l y u n t i l 1968.

J i m McDowell t h e f i r s t d i r e c t o r h i r e d me on November 4 t h , 1980. He i s t h e f i r s t employer t o g i v e me a chance i n Vancouver. I t r i e d and succeeded i n not making him r e s e n t i t . H e was a v e r y s t r i c t man b u t

what should happen i n Carnegie.

The f i r s t t e a m I worked with w a s a f a n t a s t i c team of b e a u t i f u l people. Only two of t h e L i b r a r i a n s a r e l e f t of t h e o r i g i n a l team. Everybody l e f t f o r elsewhere.

I worked from November 4, 1980, u n t i l Feb.19, 1988 i n t h e Carnegie.

When I s t a r t e d I was a d e r e l i c t t r y i n g t o p u l l myself o u t of misery.

Carnegie t a u g h t me a g r e a t d e a l about myself. A t f i r s t I was s c a r e d s h i t l e s s . I never thought I would l a s t s o long t h e r e .

I s t a r t e d a s a doorman, g e t t i n g t h e drunks o u t . I managed t o b u i l d t h a t part-time job t o a f u l l - t i m e p o s i t i o n . Every time someone of t h e o l d team l e f t , a b i g chunk of my h e a r t l e f t w i t h them. Then t h e newer l e f t a f t e r a few y e a r s and i t h u r t again. Those people loved me more t h a n I thought .m-I was p o s s i h l ~ i n t _ h T q +_n~.. loved them too.

But t h i n g s change and some of i t I brought about myself and I do n o t f i t i n t h i s c e n t r e as a doorman b u t I s t i l l enjoy being a patron.

I hope t h a t Carnegie w i l l l a s t f o r a l o t more y e a r s .

Now I am t o o o l d t o be a doorman, but I know t h a t I helped i n buildi n g up t h e s e c u r i t y i n Carnegie. I hope t h a t i t w i l l b e f o r t h e b e s t of everyone. I chose t o l e a v e because I ' m t o o o l d t o p l a y macho man.

I want t o evolve i n my s p i r i t u a l i n n e r s e l f and i f p o s s i b l e be my I am going t o s c h o o l own master. and do my c r a f t .

Twenty years ago things were d i t ferent. So different that I sometimes think that this story never happened even though I know it did.

The scene was Calgary; Bowness to be exact. We were all sitting around after hours, having a beer in ~orne's store. A "beer" isn' t true - we'd had qulte a few - and true to our custom we were starting to bang the gong around, as the say -ing goes.

Imagine if you can, seven friends only six of whom are present. The inevitable happens; we talk about the missing one. "He's out with another one," Dick says.

"Who is it this time?" asks Lorne.

"Some girl who came into the store when Shirley was away,"replies Dick.

"Tell us ,I1 we all chorus. So he did Now the guy we're all talking about is our friend, Billy. We called him 'Billy Goat' among ourselves, because of his habit of cheating on his wife. Billy's wife, Shirley, is a real looker, and we found it hard to understand why Billy should cheat on her.

"What he needs," says one of the guys, "is to get caught by some husband; that'll teach him a lesson."

The words were no sooner out than we all looked at one another, as if the same idea had occured to all of us simultaneously.

It was unanimously agreed that we would create a situation whereby Billy would get his come-uppance, only it would be a controlled situation...under our control. Besides, it could be good for a laugh.

It took some time to find the tight girl, but find her we did.

The kind of girl Billy would like;

shapely, blond and vivacious. Over drinks, we six fellows introduced her to our plan. She enthusiastically agreed to it, and we were past our first step.

Steps two and three followed shortly thereafter. Most of our wives were friends and every Wednesday afternoon they had their get-together, usually at a different house each time. The day we chose to initiate our plan, the girls were all at my house. Billy was alone at his store.

He was busy on the phone when G r e t a walked i n ; (Greta 22 ccarss

was our blond.) Seeing a goodlooking blond in his store, Billy couldn't believe his luck. Making short shrift of his caller, Billy hastened to wait on this customer who had so providentially dropped into his store.

Everything went according to plan. Billy said this, she said thus. He said when, she said how.

The upshot was, he was to meet her that night on a dirt road above Bowness. She would be parked in a white convertible. He was to drive to within fifty yards of her car, park, and turn off his lights. She would blink her lights and he would then leave his car to join her in hers.

Up the hill comes Billy, spots the white convertible and stops at the agreed upon distance. A few seconds later she blinks her headlights, Billy leaves his car and starts walking towards hers.

Suddenly, another pair of headlights flash on, blinding Billy.

He can't see her car anymore and these headlights are coming right at him. A man's voice yells, "~oolaround with my wife, will you? I'll get you, you s.0.b."

1 )

-

Eyes bulging, Billy sees a man's figure appear from the other car.

Silhouetted in the headlamps, he can only see the glint of a rifle in the man's hands. Billy turns and runs, terrified, right past his car. Down the long hill, stumbling in the dark goes Billy.

Behind him he hears the blast of a shotgun it really helps him along.

Hours later, Billy comes out of hiding and retrieves his car from the hill, after making sure there is no white convertible or any other car up there except his own.

The day after we all met at our favourite watering hole. "Hey Billy how did you make out last night?"

"You don't wanna know," says Billy.

"I almost got killed," says Billy.

"Oh, yeah?" we say.

"Yeah, her husband showed up. " "Oh, ya don't say," we say.

So Billy proceeds to tell us what we already know. What he didn't know was that it was Dick who yelled and fired the shotgun in the air; and all of us who watched him run and run and run.

Months later, my wife says to me, I1 Jack, do you knnw R i l l y & SShirlet are going on a second honeymoon?"

"No kidding," I say.

"You'd never think of taking me on a second honeymoon," she says.

Risking a battle, I say, "Maybe he's got more reason than I have for a second honeymoon."

She says, "OH YEAH!"

By JACK CHALMERS

...

s

Spring --- - -

\

Fest

At First United Church the congregation is beginning an annual event. 60 groups were contacted and 14 from our area will take part in this community celebration. FUN, MUSIC, FOOD, GAMES, HOMEBAKING,

..

WHAT WOMEN ARE MADE OF Written by Love, grace, freedom, lees, Michele No. 5 Fantasy, nector and honey Champion men (stallions) , ladies' choice Soft shoulders and dangerous curves Dreams and Cream and sensuality WHAT MEN ARE MADE 0 Sugar and spice Pureness,xendecness -, Competitiveness, stre Rigidity, muscularity, power Baby's breath perfume Stamina, machoness, manliness Giggles and secrets.

Masculinity, physique Curry and spike Volunteer Mind, body and soul

r i .1 BOOKS, ! 1 m 4 ~ ~ ~ 0A~n ~

Recognition

S e n s ~ x v svnmsz, ~ e c ' s22221s

30, Saturday, 11:OO-2:OO.

Week in Canada April 17 23

Family man, Bachelor parties Protector of society and home Blood, sweat and tears Hard bodies and love Tick'ly sideburns and whisker and whispers

-

SPECIAL EVENTS in CARNEGIE

Monday the 18th - Seniors Dance Tuesday the 19th - Volunteer Dinner, Awards & Cabaret Wednesday the 20th - Free Bingo with gifts & prizes Thursday the 21st - Volunteer Workshops (daytime) - Community Forum - Safety on Our Streets Friday the 22nd - Workshops (daytime) - Social Evening Saturday the 23rd - Stage 401 Sunday the 24th - Second Hand RoseIParade & Fashion Show

@$b

hank YOU For Caring

[

In the past couple of months many changes have taken place at Carnegie, some of which are good for the community that we serve and some of them not so good. But, ,most of them originated on the 3rd floor without the knowledge of the various committees and members.

Lately we are finding ourselves befuddled by rules and regulations that cannot be construed, by any sense of the word, as beneficial to the lowly volunteer. Recently I had the opportunity of speaking with a senior staff member and he so correctly echoed my view with his words that the volunteers are at the bottom of the list that includes staff, board, patrons, etc.

I for one cannot abide with this philosophy: without the lowly volunteer, the C.C.C. may well close its doors as a community centre. It's the volunteers that tutor, cook, run the concessions, cut hair, run the hobby shops, 6 hundreds of other tasks - that if left to paid employees would bankrupt the centre and close its doors.

L E T T E R CJ

Recently I read an advertisement in the Volunteer Voice about the work that the volunteer does, asking for the help and support of new volunteers. Who in their right mind, if they knew about all the rules, would want to join our elite force of volunteers.

Volunteer recognition week is almost upon us and, in my opinion, we really don't have much to rejoice about. But then some of us may find "sic" pleasure in becoming sheep and going along with everything that's handed down to us as gospel. At least Moses had tablets; all we have are lines on paper, and sometimes not even that. The volunteers were not even approached & asked .what they would like to do in their week.

Maybe, though, we can take pleasure in not accepting everything that is handed down and we can start saying "NO. This is my centre too and I don't think 'that' is in the best interest of the people who come here.'' So I say. again: fight back and say no if you don't agree.

Dan Billings, Chairperson Volunteer Support Group. ..- --

Have you ever sat down and thought about what would happen to all your possessions if something happened to you?

No matter if you live in a tent or in a Mansion, we all have things that we hold near and dear to us, and someday, yes, we must think about it: what would be done with them?

I would like Jane to have that, Pat to have that andoh! yes, I know that Hector would love to.have that because he always talks about it...

But, if we don't have a will, they won't get the things that we've

treasured through the years - that we know they would like to have as a remembrance of us.

I am telling you this because my step--father died without a will.

There were things he wanted each person to have and all we had were arguments when I was home in March.

I vowed then & there that that wouldn't happen to my family, so George and I went and made out our wills. Everything is settled.

Believe me, we never know when our Number will be called but we all have to go.

By LILLIAN HARRISON

Thinking of You Let me think of you With a smile in my heart I want to remember the good times not the bad. .

Y

When my filled eyes take on the beauty of the stars I think of you.

To All the Big Mammas

For you are too special to remember without happiness.

She's got a big ass and her breasts hang low .yet, She's One Hell of a Woman.

from Sheila Bell In memory of my friend, Roy Hubbard

..

Jungle is the world out there ii'nnnxiniis penpie a r e fniinii ~veryw'nere Helpless you feel looking at all this Nothing I can do you say? Oh! but there is.

Daily, smile and give a little kindness Express yourself with tenderness No - matter where you are be loving Verity as always in its place; keep trying Establish around you confidence and trust Road is long my friend, but you have to try.

Louise Delan VOID SCREAMS

She's got two big arms that hug the world to her kias, She's One Hell of a Woman.

...

Playboy and Penthouse would call her a freak to her lover, She's One Hell of a Woman.

...

She cares and she loves and she gives all she can SHE IS ONE HELL OF A WOMAN ! & Sheila Baxter

~~

l i W ~ Flip the down pillow up Block the blinding clarity Of her absence ? & U A .mu..! CRAB PARK Screaming at you you'll never sleep

By WILLIAM J. CARDINAL Again sans moi jamais plus sans moi Jamais please god make it end I like going to Crab Park because It won't you know it gives me a chance to be alone and think for a time. I can sit on Thrash harder, gnash, grind your body the benches and watch the geese and Harder, wring out the sweat ducks while listening to the airThrough glass eyes, wetly staring at planes and helicopters.

Nothing another bleak and bleary dawn If I was a writer, I would spend Down crashing soon damn sleep won't come a lot of time in Crab Park because Come won't sleep please come here my imagination works overtime.

Curl up her pillowed body banished As a matter of fact, there's a Now forever ecpty stain the night Soviet sub surfacing from the water Screams a void the night ignores you now. I think I'll paddle over in my canoe and ask them what they want mike kramer

HELLO! It's me again, the captain.

I recently realized that this is an election year - and that I should do what is proper for a change. ~ibby's beans, Campbell's soup WATCH OUT!! The Captain is coming & (yes, it is true) I will run for Mayor of Vancouver. (............. more info in the next issue Crassly yours, Captain Chaos

Here in NO& America old age is the target of jokes, but there are many pluses to the minuses of old age.

The old person naturally slows down, loses stamina and can't keep up with others. We get pretty forgetful but are able to recall events from long ago - recall the "good old days." The talk of the "good old days" is a sure sign of old age.

There are many people who are old in years but not in appearance.

They keep physically & mentally active because that is how they have lived their lives. They have the experience of many years, and the understanding gained is stiii useful. These people have the ability to give some guidance to the young even though this is often dismissed as unwanted or even a nuisance.

An old person experiences serene tranquility at times; more often as time goes by. Their wants become less....but don't get me wrong; some people never stop being greedy or bringing misery to others instead of trying to bring happiness - with kindness and generosicy.

Greed is, and has always been, a form of incurable sickness for

those who avoid human fraternity.

What a waste!

As an older person, I see mankind working toward destruction. There doesn't seem to be much an individual can do to stop it except to slow down, as individuals, and try to set an example. This may accomplish more than trying to stop the suicidal trend of humanity.

What keeps me thinking is the talk of 1st intelligence. People of Earth, with an appalling lack of imagination, never think of the possibility that people of other planets may be here right now.

Imagine if more intelligent beings were here right now oniy LO observe and then take their information back to their home. It's my opinion that they would pass the message on that humans have very low intelligence and that Earth is best left alone. Well, observe yourself. We, as the human race, are destroying our beautiful planet. If you came from somewhere else, what would you report back about the relative intelligence of Earth's inhabitants?

By ARCHIE MIAISHITA

h i story ( a b r i d g e d f o r t i m e and s p a c e ) SO WHAT? happened t o h e r story our s t o r y my my mike kramer

Now And And And

the the the the

f i r s t woman t o hug me was my mother. second woman t o hug me was a l l of t h i r t e e n . t h i r d woman t o hug m e was t h e second augury of h e a l i n g , f o u r t h woman t o hug me w a s a s e x - t r a d e worker,

A-a

+L-

T'KLl.

ruru

L L ~ C

LLLLII

WUIIICIII

io

ill15

-

r n ~w a 2 s+_~BI?-Y 0--

And i t seems t o me t h a t t h e n e x t woman t o hug me w i l l be my f r i e n d f o r l i f e .

And i t seems t o me t h a t t h e s e v e n t h woman t o hug me w i l l have a hungry s o u l . aud s o won't mind i f t h e f i r s t t i m e I touch h e r s o u l I d o n ' t t a k e long t o o r t h a t t h e second t i m e I t o u c h h e r s o u l I seem i n e p t o r t h a t t h e s e v e n t h time I t o u c h h e r s o u l I choose my f a v o u r i t e p l a c e And t h o s e who a r e offended now do n o t know what t h e women who t a u g h t t h i s hungry, v i r g i n - p o e t do: t h a t t h e body i s a metaphor f o r what words c a n n e v e r s a y .

And t h e t h i r d and l a s t augury of h e a l i n g was a book, c a l l e d t h e Tao Te Ching

-

M e r l i n ' s Prophecy The h a r v e s t s h a l l f L o u r i s h i n w i n t r y w e a t h e r when two v i r g i n i t i e s meet t o g e t h e r ; t h e King and t h e p r i e s t must be t i e d i n a t e t h e r b e f o r e two v i r g i n i t i e s can meet t o g e t h e r

- William Blake And maybe, j u s t maybe, two v i r g i n i t i e s have a l r e a d y met, somehow, o v e r a poem r e a d l i v e on Feb.gth, and c a l l e d " i ~ o r i z o n From t h e Side" Slow Tornado

S. B.

Feminism i s a slow t o r n a d o t h a t swirls from t h e i n s i d e o u t u n t i l we a r e n ' t i n Kansas anymore S.B.

Stephen B e l k i n

, I

I I

I

1

lJhen I wrote a story a while ago in the Carnegie Newsletter, I said I would tell you the outcome of that day in court. Here it is: The girl involved was only seventeen at the time. She had taken cocaine and then proceeded to wreck the apartment, throwing furniture and things out the window.

She held a live grenade at the window and kept 7 cruisers & many police officers at bay from 8:30 in the morning 'ti1 noon - and her day in court arrived.

The Judge sentenced her to spend the rest of the time until her 18th birthday in jail and put her on probation for the next 2 years.

She can only live in accomodations of her parole officer's choice for that period of time. She must do 1,000 hours of community service work and pay $650 towards damages

by November or spend another year in jail.

So you see, these things don't just happen in the Downtown Eastside but all over. Before you take that first Illegal Drug, stop and think of what the outcome could be and ask yourself - is it worth it?

By LILLIAN HARRISON

CLOSED MINDS '

Our words a r e r i p p e d o u t of our t h r o a t And t o s s e d a s i d e l i k e garbage By t h e c l o s e d minds who r e f u s e t o l i s t e n But i t ' s t o t h e i r disadvantage Vacant heads w i l l never g e t anywhere But s i t a t home and s t a r e a t t h e w a l l They t h i n k they've g o t r e p l i e s t o a l l t h e q u e s t i o n A s they walk through t r o u b l e d times and f a l l

I

We're gonna u s e t h e freedom of speech To open t h e c e l l s i n t h e i r b r a i n Closed minds, t h e y ' r e b l i n d So t h e y ' r e running s c a r e d a g a i n

I

We're speaking up about t h i n g s &L--lllCrL LIICY i l m l ' ~w a n t i n b a r We're i n t r o d u c i n g them t o t h e r e a l world I n v i t i n g them t o a c c e p t t h e t r u t h they f e a r Well, they could go on l i v i n g i n a f a n t a s y world And c o n t i n u e t o t h i n k e v e r y t h i n g ' s f i n e But we're gonna keep pumping i n t e l l i g e n c e I n t o t h e i r v a c a n t minds.

A n i t a Gingrich (Dignity P l a y e r s )

To t h e Carnegie P a t r o n s , Volunteers & Staff Moving on i s never easy t o do.

Change d o e s n ' t come e a s y e i t h e r , e s p e c i a l l y when i t f e e l s l i k e we j u s t got s t a r t e d !

I am l e a v i n g Carnegie. My husband, Pablo, has been o f f e r e d a job i n Ottawa and we a r e moving t h e r e a t t h e end of A p r i l . My l a s t day of work w i l l be A p r i l 23.

I ' d l i k e t o take t h i s opportunity t o thank everyone f o r t e a c h i n g and guiding me (I have l e a r n e d a l o t . ) There have been some rocky times; times we d i d not a g r e e and times when throwing i n t h e towel was

tempting b u t we a l l hung i n .

I l o v e my job a t Carnegie & I l o v e t h e people I am sad t o go.

I ' d l i k e t o congratulate three groups of people: t h e Volunteers f o r t h e i r continued hard work and d e d i c a t i o n ; t h e new Board f o r l i s t e n i n g t o t h e people & accomp l i s h i n g s o much; and t h e s t a f f f o r being a very s p e c i a l group of people t h a t have given more than w e ' l l e v e r know.

Carnegie i s a very s p e c i a l plaqe. You can be s u r e 1'11 be back t o v i s i t ! I won't say "goodbye", j u s t ''s e e you l a t e r ! "

...

Robin Sobrino

A brilliant and poignant essay by ~ l o y dB. Fenton, a man who is totally devoid of conceit.

.-

The greatest question that humanity has ever posed is, and always will be, "Who invented the parsley garnish that is served with most meals in cheap restaurants and is it really necessary?"

But we aren't here to talk about that. It is one of the lesser questions of humanity that concerns us; what is the meaning of life?

My Uncle Ralph once said, " ~ i f eis like a bowl of yogourt: it's a substance composed of bacterial culture and fruit." Of course my Uncle Ralph was a few bricks short of a load and no one understood anything he said. Woody Allen said "The meaning of life is death, so why bother shaving?", but that's a rather fatalistic point of view and besides beards are itchy.

In order to get to the heart of this question, we must examine man's pulmonary artery. To comprehend this we would need several graphic diagrams and a minimum of 2 years

c

p

0

R

N

Clubhouse Tofu

medical training, so let's examine our motives for existence instead.

Why does man exist, or woman for that matter? Many of you are probably saying "To Live!" I have only one thing to say to those people: 1' Don't confuse me." Do we exist to work in a 9 to 5 job, 5 days a week with no chance for advancement, a boss who hates you, and a lifestyle so expensive that you have to mortgage your kids in order to buy a VCR just like the one your bigshot neighbour Mr. Jones keeps bragging about? Probably, so get used to it.

This in a nutshell is the meaning of life, so get used to it - this may be the only one you get. Even if there is such a thing as reincarnation, you may come back as a tree which would cut down on the number of parties you're invited to. (Unless you come back as a birch...)

At any rate, the point is that you can't count on this so smile and have some fun or at least smile and pretend you're having some fun so you don't drag everybody else down. And for Gods' sakes bathe frequently and change your underwear et l e a s t +WICP 2 v e e k ketchup & mustard in bowl, mix well.

Spread this on bread, add lettuce & tomato, serve open-faced.

Serves 2 or 3 people.

702. cake Tofu cut into 6 slices tbsp. oil cup flour cup ketchup tsp. mustard 3 slices bread lettuce/tomatoes (sliced small)

1 cup Tofu (mashed) 1 litre water (4 cups) +i tsp. salt

Place Tofu slices between double layers of dish toweling for 5 min.

Heat a pan & coat well with oil.

Dust Tofu with flour and fry for 2 to 3 min, each side. Combine

Mash Tofu in a bowl, add water all at once. Put on stove; heat but don't boil. Stir constantly. Add salt and refrigerate till cool. ~ litre.

Costs about 2 9 a

Soymilk

*'

GOING HOME FROM THE CARNEGIE

T met a l a d y on t h e S k y t r a i n . We t a l k e d of t r a v e l l i n g t o f o r e i g n lands. Our eyes would l o c k f o r moments, then s m i l e s made t i m e s t a n d I a s s t i l l a s a w h i t e dove s l e e p i n g .

From Main S t r e e t S t a t i o n , p a s t Broadway, beyond Metro Town, we t a l k e d of h e r U n i v e r s i t y days t h a t were t e n y e a r s passed. Through t h e next two s t o p s , w e t a l k e d about t h e Carnegie Centre. I t o l d h e r s h e might, more t h a n l i k e l y , probably, would l o v e t h e Carnegie, and i n v i t e d h e r t o come t h e r e and s h a r e h e r know-

l e d g e , a s a Tutor.

When t h e t r a i n a r r i v e d a t my s t a - 1 t i o n , I discovered t h a t i t was a l s o !1 h e r s (WOIJ)!

It was r a i n i n g a s w e walked t o t h e edge of t h e S t a t i o n where w e spoke b r i e f l y , t h e n p a r t e d . 1 Tom. Claude. Everybody! I f i n t h e n e a r f u t u r e you happen t o s e e < someone coming through t h e Domed doorway, l o o k i n g deeply i n t o your i eyes a s k i n g f o r i n f o r m a t i o n , and you s e n s e y o u ' r e t a l k i n g t o a brave, f r i e n d l y woman, who would t a l k t o a j q l o n e l y s t r a n g e r on t h e S k y t r a i n , Please give her a welcome!

,

BIG

Gary GUSL

NEED

HELP

?

DF.-RA can h e l p you with:

* * *

* * *

any welfare problems U I C problems netting legal .assistance unsafe living conditions i n hotels or apartments disputes with l a n d l o r d s income t a x

J 3 E R . A Is Located a t 9 East Ilastlrlgrr or phonc 6 0 2 - 0 9 3 1 .

1.3..A HAS IllCICN SERV I NG Tt IE I)OWfJTOtlN I<AS9l'!il l)E !yjI? 15 YICARS - -FHEE

A r t i c l c s rcprascnt the vicwb o f i n d l v l d u a l c o i ~ t r t b u t u r u and riot of thc A s s o c i a r i o ~ ~ .

- d o n a t i o n s acccplccl.

poverty HE MINISTER declined. Declined!

B.C.'s minister of social services and housing, Claude Richmond, . has no time to attend a forum on poverty (April 6, 7:30 p.m., ' Britannia High School).

One can only wonder about his priorities and auestion the sinceritv df his commit: nlcnt to helping the province's needy: he declined.

T h e ministry's annual reports offer o n e of t h e clearest pict u r e s of t h e deepening pressure on poor B.C. families.

It should be obvious to even the most flint-hearted bureaucrat that keeping incomes for the poor at half the federally set poverty line isn't even cost-effective.

What we don't spend to provide rr;tjisi.jc nngcrr. &wsr.cer

!9?

families in Ged, we spend in other ways: escape hatches called alcoholism, drug abuse, family violence, youth prostitution, institutionalisation.

We lose bright, eager minds to malnutrition, frustration, and anger. The loss and unnecessary cost to society are incalculable.

Yet the social services system lurches along to fund crisis intervention rather than prevention.

And that is the real misuse of taxpayers' dollars a system whose neediest are allotted so little that some have no choice but to cheat and steal if they are to survive.

-

In the legislature on Friday, New Democrat MLA John Cashore (Maillardville-Coquitlam)drew on the ministry's annual reports and on other sources to show how B.C. stigmatizes its poor.

Ejefore Bill Bennett's 1982 restraint policy B.C. had 250 family support workers. Today. that program is all but gone. Last week the Vancouver School Board,, 'set aside $lZO,(pQ\9.@Ire four , childcare worfiefi-fii pinpoint family problemsthat a k t learning - a service the ministry bnce provided. . . . .

How much pave $@l?qs an(i support to famlliesd@ined?

Cashore offeiLS these examples: in 1982, B.C. spent $17.8 million on family support services. By 1986 the figure had plunged to $10.6 ' million a 40 per-cent decline.

In 1982,2,454childrencbecame wards of the province; by 1986, the number had jumped to 3,192 - an increase of 30 per cent. In 1982, 306 of those children were takeninto care because they had been physically abused; by 1986, the , figure had risen to 523, up 70 per cent.

Cashore calls those numbers 'la frightening condemnation of social. policy."

It is especially so given that there were 837,380 children in C. in census 1981, when . year .."--....-.-I. ..--.

-

parent of an order teen $361 a month, but the welfare parent of an older teen only $62. Children and parents on welfare quickly &t the message that the child's Iot'Will improve if he is a ward of the \% government.

The ministry.recognizes fob, foster children, at least the increasing cost of caring for an :., older youngster. The foster parent of a child up to five years gets " $244.89; of a qhild aged six to nine, $256.20; of a child aged 10 to 11, $290.41; of a child aged 12 to 13, $325.26; of a child aged 14 to 19, $361.22. Yet the* is no increase allowed as children on welfare get older and their needs increase.

(Welfare formulas are complicated. On March 16 I wrote that a three-person family's $435 support benefit is cut by $50 aRer ' nine months. That was incorrect.

In fact the basic support benefit of $385 rises by $50 to $435 after . nine months. My apologies to the ministry.)

At very least the minister should make room on his agenda for the poverty forum. The object is not to embarrass him, but to seqk : ;mlulioog:Yo~$dU@~hewmlolr~" wan@to bdpm oPtbltetTo&W a 4

--

C

.-

I-

B

~IW~IILI~S

u~reru~iu~rrrrr~i was 6 7

per cent. In 1986, B.C. had 800,173 children, and 12.2 per cent unemployment.

In 1982-83, B.C. spent $64.5 million to maintain children as wards of the government; by 1986-87,the figure had risen to $80.8 million.

Television ads now stress that B.C. ''urgently" needs foster homes.

But by failing to alleviate the grinding poverty that leads to - ' stress and violence, ministry , policy appears to support familybreakup, : Infact,weevenseemto acourage the apprehension of . children from low-income families.

The ministry pays the foster -I

chaos

._

-1