January 15, 2009, carnegie newsletter

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JANUARY 15, 2009 carnnews@ vcn.bc.ca www .carnnews.org www .harvesters.sfu.ca/chodarr

EWSLETTER 401 Main Street, V6A 2T7

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It's not too late It's not too late to prevent the destruction of our Downtown Eastside : the living, vibrant community where 1 and so many others live. lt's not too late to stop the condominiums from rampaging out of control, stealing away our neighbourhood of the Downtown Eastside by stealth. lt' s not too late to start more harm reduction programs like Insite and NAOMI to help those stricken with the disease of addiction.

It' s not too late for the federal government to implement a national housing program which would help immensely with building more social housing in our DTES. It' s not too late to stop the spread of towers in our Downtown Eastside and prevent the continuing displacement there caused by gentrification.

It's not too late to open a food bank in our Downtown Eastside after our only one was closed in October of2007.

It' s not too late to stop the poor-bashing of our DTES residents by the mainstream media, which is just a preliminary step for developers and the rich to take over.

It's not too late to end street homelessness in our Downtown Eastside, so that so many of us wouldn' t have to sleep outside any longer. lt 's not too late for all levels of government to build more proper social housing in our DTES, which would replace the decrepit SRO hotels that pass for housing now.

It' s not too late fo r more much-needed childcare spaces to be made avai lable here to help the single parents raising a family and also maybe trying to hold down a job.

It's not too late to raise income assistance and minimum wage amounts to adequate levels where people forced to subsist on them can live with dignity.

It's not too late; late maybe, but not too lateno, it' s never too late.

We here in the Downtown Eastside are doing something about these thingswhat are the rest of you doing?

-Rolf Auer

2008 CELEBRATE DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS Last year, I started what I hope will be an annual event in writing and recognizing achievements in the Downtown Eastside.

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

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

2008 will, for the Downtown Eastside Community, be remembered for some incredible and inspiring achievements with indications of progress on both individual and community levels.

The following is my li st of landmark happenings events of 2008 that helped the continuous shaping of our Downtown Eastside Community and its people. **WALK 4 JUSTICE .... A dream of our dear departed Squamish Elder Harriet Nahanee, activist & mentor, was to have a bill passed for a national public inquiry into the deaths of the murdered & missing women of Canada.

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

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

Congratulations to Bernie Williams, Nicole Tail, Mabel Todd, Willie Abraham, Gladys Radek, Rene Pratt, Telsa Pratt, Elvis Wilson, Yiki Peters, Rhoda Michelle and Richard Dominick for their dedication. for their courage and for caring about this important issue enough to commit to making a difference **A NEW MAYOR

The second event on the top of my list is the election of Gregor Robertson.. and I want to explain why.

I believe that there is a time when someone comes along who has the potential to lead a people or, in this case, a community, through change. I am not expressing these thoughts through some starry-eyed lens but more from the perspective of having been homeless, having been on the other side, as it were, and knowing that at this time the Downtown Eastside is at a crucial point of "where do we go from here?'.

I think the most important points of Gregor's character that invites hopefulness is his willingness to listen and the idea that he understands that he has to work with the people instead of setting an agenda and telling us what we are doi ng.

This approach encourages the idea ofpossibilities. **Michael Clague Presented With the Order Of Canada

Long-time comri butor and "making things happen person", Michael Clague is rewarded for his years of dedication with the prestigious Order of Canada.

A heartfelt "thank you" from our community to you. **A Gathering to Honour Barbara Clague

Barbara Clague, Michael's partner and community activist in her own right, was honored at a party for her work during a serious illness. This is on the list as one of the most magical events of the year... a room full of love!!

**Wendy Pederson, Jean Swa nson and CCAP

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Mobilizing, influencing participation in voting, rallying around commonalities as tools for change helped Wendy and Jean maximize their efforts to build & activate a once sedentary immediate community as well as extending influence beyond our boundaries .. well done! **The Downtown Eastside Neighbou rhood House To Joyce, the staff & volunteers for providing affir-

mative programming in the little neighbourhood house that could . **THE LISTENING POST

This place of retreat from the chaos provides solace and gentle advocacy. We say "thank you" to the volunteers and staff. **BRUCE THE MUSICAL

A theatre piece that shared the ups & downs of being an activist at a time when it wasn't cool and the heart of a man who didn' t care ! Kudos to cast and Theatre ln The Raw ... well done! **HEART OF THE CITY FESTIVAL

Creating a special day that focused on the aboriginal culture as well as other cultures during the festival is a step forward in our efforts to cultivate understanding and so to ... respect of each other, in our downtown eastside community.

Also, congratulations for being recipients of the City of Vancouver's Cultural Harmony Award **CENTRE A & THE LIVING BLANKET An international event begun by Doris Bouttignol of France, "The Living Blanket"Exhibit was a powerful testament to struggles around the world; whether we talk of war, missing women or any other inhumane practice. Kudos to Hank Bull and the sta ff of Centre A for this exhibit, inviting the Women 's Memorial Quilt to participate and for their efforts in integrating the downtown eastside community and making the community feel welcome. **ABORIGINAL FRONT DOOR

A service agency that has struggled and is determined to survive and make a contri bution to the downtown eastside. **THANK YOUS to the many organizations that provide programming, services and work to develop new initiatives that serve this community ... and to every individual for participation in Downtown Eastside activi ties

By DALANNAH BOWEN

Untitled Steven A. Cardinal (2008)

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

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

My hope floats carelessly, and endlessly through the air like the dried Dandelions white particles, during a hot summers day.

Floating higher and higher.

I step into the sun and shiver from the pureness of it reminiscent to the longing of a woman's touch finally significant, together, imposing a sudden shiver, as the Goosebumps elevate the hairs standing on the back of my neck.

Increasing my state of consciousness, I reach for it blindly like a man reaching for his lover in the cover of darkness and unconditional love it moves, as if to entice a chase, and simultaneously envelopes me, to indicate that it was with me the entire time ... and will be ... forever and ever.

What is it? you ask ...

It is hope.

Facing The Downtown Eastside Drawings By JORGE CAMPOS Carnegie Art Gallery Month of February

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

The winding unmarked paths in the virgin woods bring The Sphinx's three stages of life. I dream of spring, A mid-winter night's tale on a frosty evening, And a hare dashing down a hole. I dream of spring Under the quilted fabric of our lives that bring Welcomed sleep and full contentment. I dream of spring And inhale Monet's floral beauties. Embracing, We evoke the poet's refrain "I dream of spring."

Barbara Morrison

WORKSHOPS IN HUMOUR & POETRY WRITING SNOW FLURRY's

Every Thursday at the UBC Learning Exchange Snowfall, snowball, slushy sliding slipping & glid- ~·: 612 Main Street: January 15 - March 19,2009 ing, hydro-planing cars, trucks, buses fishtailing, ' •' Poetry: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. with Liz Ross sloping and stuck. Sloppy sidewalks, split-second This course will focus on mate rial culture- on those guessing, water rising with snow flurrys ice capobjects that have special significance to you and your ping weather worries. Stopping, starting, waves of writing. There's no limit to your inspiration! wet water drown clogged catch basins plugged - at Humour: 1:00 -3:00 p.m .with Roger Pylypa you hurt slog off hard in misdirection but forget about the sidewalks why not hit the streets 'cause Instruction and workshops in humour writing. Bring no one appears to shovel no more; at least they get out the comic genius in your writing, explore your plowed and salted and on very rare occasions, when :e: funny side, or at least get a few cheap laughs. ,,, extreme winter wonderland horrors make their usu:.;. Seating is limited. Register in-person at front desk. ally unexpected invasions;; icestorms can be both prolonged and fleeting when the rain feels like pelting spitting bullets I wish l hope for a few degrees higher when it turns to simply flashing sleet.

I can for certain take a punch and stand a beating but will this ever end this black ho le of ice?! and depression blues - with longer, boring, darked and chilled out days spent ducking for shelters wherever they may be or exist while you dodge snowdrifts, snowplows and black icy asphalt on aching knees in constant pain????????? WHO ever thought that in LotusLand we'd pray for a steady, soothing -:e: VANCOUVER OPERA ' •' rain!?! " Tire Night Before the Opera" I see dim little lights at the end of a tunnel that's as long as the Winter Solstice, personified in megamultiples where omnipotent portals explore and

By Bizet reveal the incomprehensible eons too soon to be.

The first 75 people will receive free tickets to the To overpower these freezing, apocalyptic winter final dress rehearsal ofth<? opera. wars envision the finish, the eventual possibilities of too-hot-to-touch sandy beaches, a cool breeze Wednesday, January 21 @ 7pm wafting amid and among swaying palm trees ... dry Carnegie Centre Theatre ground where you could run instead of sliding side Presented by Vancouver Opera's UBC Learning Exways in slush waves. change in collaboration with the Carnegie Centre.

Dream ,,, of anything the opposite of my now oxymoronic -:e: HUM 101: JANUARY DOCUMENTARIES cataclyptic state. I feel the change come over me '•' Saturdays Carnegie Theatre starting 6 PM. after too many corners & within uneasy reach compelling circumstances ---don't you agree with me January 17 (just nod) on what l'm relating to you on how to -9/11 & American Empire Intellectuals Speak Out deal with the unwonderful winter blues and survive -Loose Change 2nd Edition in a muddled, fluish stateg sniffling sedatives and ,,, January 24 conjuring up a sunny something, a frame of mind -Painful Deceptions untroubled, and pass it on to brothers and sisters: · ,,, "temperature's risin ', sun's in the wind, gathering -Hijacking Humanity Ptlfls I and 2 January 31 clouds are dispersed and birds are returning" and by the time that gets go ing Spring will be han gin' -Scientific and Ethical Questions 9111 Revised -Bursting Bubbles of Government Deception round ... !

ROBYN LIVINGSTONE

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Benefit Concert performed by Jim Byrnes

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

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

For those of you interested in languages, we have acq uired a number of language-learning sets, consis-ting of both more conventional materialsbooks, DVDs, COs- and less conventional ones, including MP3 files w hich can be downloaded onto an !pod or MP3 player, and Spanish and Chinese vocabulary flashcards for use in the library.

Finally, Bruce Alexander, Professor Emeritus at SFU has published an important new study on addiction using Vancouver as a prototype, entitled The Global-isation of A ddiction: A Study in Poverty of the Spirit. Dr. Gabor Mate calls it "an essential compendium . .. a deeply origina l work that challenges the cherished assumptions of policy makers in London, Washington, [and] Ottawa".

Aaron (part-time librarian)

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

C lassroom II , Carnegie's 3rd floor Sign up at 3rd floor Administration Office. Each sess ion is limited to 15 people. Plan to attend the full I !1:! hour session w hen you sign up.

Refreshments are served.

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for The Saint James Music Academy Anglican Church at 3Q3 East Cordova

Friday January 16th at 7:30.

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

T he proceeds of the concert will be given to The Saint James Music Academy, an independent, nonprofit organization, now in it's seco nd year of classical music training fo r children growing up in the Downtown Eastside. Patterned on the Royal Conservatory of Music program, the 50 students are trained in piano, cello, choir, v io lin, guitar, and bass with not only practical training, but theory as well. All the instructors (who fo r the most part donate their time) are c lassically trained. Students are initially selected by school adm inistrators (Strathcona and Seymour Elementary Schools) in the DTES and then interviews with the Academy, prior acceptance. The majority of chi ldren range in :e' â&#x20AC;˘': to age from 6-12 come from very diverse cultural backgrounds, many single parent fami lies, others :e:: ,,, from large two-parent families. What they share is ..,1,.. a common desire fo r their children to learn music, :e:: which is often cost prohibitive. Music Lessons are ,,, free to families with limited resources. Snacks are :e:: ,,, provided in the afternoon and in between lessons, there are dance and art classes. At a time when the Downtown Eastside is undergoing rapid change, we have estab lished a music education program which w ill remain accessib le to ch ild ren from low-income fami lies.

We can only remain accessib le with the support of our community, and the communities that surround us. Local businesses such as Fluevog Shoes donated generously toward s the purchase of instruments for the school. Sunrise Market and Eclipse Awards have a lso given generously to the Music Academy by providing support with snacks, and making awards for the ch ildren at the end of the school year. Please join us on the January 16th to support Saint James Music Academy, it w ill be a well spent20 dollars and a good time too!

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Torn Between You

Carnegie Community Centre Association Board and Committee Meetings January I February 2009 Seniors Support Group: Thursday January 15, 2:00p.m. (Theatre)

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

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

Marking an Anniversary A small business called Solder & Sons opened its doors on January 15, 2008. It's located at 247 Main and has good coffee, great teas, used books and an eclectic array of audio in mediums ranging from the latest in compact discs to old vinyl albums.

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

PRT

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

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Peter Golletz DERA Tax Service

9:00-11 :OOAM 1:00-3:00 PM Mon Tues Thurs & Fri 12 East Hastings Street Msg. 604-682-3269 ext. 7727

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

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

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

But it's now -the time that only a human voice can dispel This sterile emptiness .. Your human voice.

Later you say -later we will talk of pain &fear After the habits of everyday. Now is time for work And yet I know by then the pain & sorrow will be forgotten or maybe just buried beneath the noises of a new day

Last year, as hotel after hotel shut down I got discouraged and depressed Guy would remind me of the CRAB victory Positive, he kept hope alive Guy passed so young Drumming, sweetgrass and candles at Oppenheimer His name signed in two places on the brilliant wall murals Songs, prayers and funny, kind words ...

Wilhelmina Miles

Scavenger

"Guy'd give you the shirt off his back and a bus ticket." " He was always there if you needed someone to listen to."

"He really wanted to be mayor."

"Guy was the first to welcome me here. We both loved the prairie sky ... " "All the news reporters knew him."

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

"He loved to tell his story. If you wanted to see Guy run ...

You just had to tell him there was a camera over there."

"I'm glad he was generous with the bus tickets ...

He used to hit me up for them."

"Don't worry about Guy. He's with Elvis and Marilyn Monroe ...

And all our other loved ones."

S) 1'.

A lot of us miss that Guy

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

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

But you acted handsomely, stepping with that deft movement.

A quick foot here, a turn of the head there, picking up the imaginary marcels of your feast.

All the while quietly starving as you waited for the thaw to uncover its hidden treasure.

~

Leith Harris

Maximum Fun Running·

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Judy Morrison

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

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

The best in the New Year.

All my relations, Bonnie E Stevens

Carnegie Community Action Project (CCAP)

Newsletter Find us in the Carnegie Association office (604-839-0379)

Jan 15, 2009

Earle Crowe moves into Penthouse "Welcome to our community." That's how Earle Crowe began his talk to assorted politicians and community members at the opening of the Pennsylvania Hotel on Jan 7. ,.

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

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

Earle told the crowd that he had been sleeping in a tent in CRAB Park for 3 years. He said he didn't like SRO because, "there's no ..-- dignity in SRO's. You don't have your own washroom.

[The one you do use] is plugged with shit." Earle is now a 路 Pennsylvania resident."

Now I can ask a friend to come over for a coffee or a beer. We need more of these so everyone can get off the street," said Early.

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

City Staff Take Action on Jay Rooms and Rooms Open Up time in the future.

On Oct. 31 CCAP wrote an official email to the city saying we wanted the 12 rooms opened as single room accommodation and the bylaw enforced.

No answer.

In early December the new city council took office. On Dec. 18 CCAP got an email from Windsor saying: "We recently carried out an inspection of the above premises and noted that the 12 rooms had been converted into office space, without permits and in violation of the Single Room Accommodation ByLaw." "Notification has been sent to the owners of this violation and the file has been referred to the City Prosecutor to pursue laying charges."

"Once I hear back from the Prosecutor with respect to the charges I will advise you."

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

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

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

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

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

On October 1, the agent for the owner of the building met with CCAP and said there were only 6 rooms, with another 6 closed by fire damage, and that it would cost $200,000 to make them all habitable as rooms.

He wanted CCAP to agree not to demand that the SRA bylaw be enforced, claiming that he might build some social housing (with condos) at some 2

CCAP Signs on to Poverty Reduction Campaign You can get involved in campaign to years, and by 75 per cent in ten years, in reduce poverty too. recognition that poverty is concentrated Would you like to be part of a big BC in these populations. campaign to reduce poverty? If so, the * Within two years, ensure that every Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives British Columbian has an income that has an open letter ..,..,......._,,....,_...~-.,....,.. reaches at least 75 per calling for specific cent of the poverty targets and timelines line (using the LICOfor reducing poverty AT). in BC. They are collecting * Within two years. names of groups that ensure no one has to sleep outside, and end will endorse an open all homelessness Jetter to all political Hf"t--. within eight years parties in BC. The (ensuring all letter calls for these homeless people have targets and timelines: good quality, * Using Statistics appropriate housing).

Canada's low-income cut off after tax ln order to achieve (LICO-AT), reduce these targets, we call BC's poverty rate upon political parties from 13 per cent to 9 per cent in four to commit, prior to the May election, to specific policy measures and concrete years, and to 3 per cent in ten years (meaning, effectively, a one third actions in each ofthe following policy reduction within the mandate of the next action areas. Special attention should be focused on the needs of those most likely government, and a 75 per cent reduction within a decade). to be living in poverty (single mother households, single senior women, * Ensure the poverty rate (using the Aboriginal people, people with LICO-AT) for children. lone-mother disabilities and mental illness, and recent households, single senior women, Aboriginal people, people with immigrants and refugees). disabilities, and recent immigrants (Continued on page 4) likewise declines by 30 per cent in four

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

Policy Action Areas 1. Provide adequate and accessible income support for the non-employed.

2. Improve the earnings and working conditions of those in the low-wage workforce.

3. Improve food security for low-income individuals and families.

4. Address homelessness and adopt a comprehensive affordable housing and supportive housing plan.

5. Provide universal publicly-funded child care.

6. Enhanced support for training and education for low-income people.

7. Enhance community mental health and home support services, and expand integrated approaches to prevention and health promotion services.

Seth Klein Director, BC Office Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives seth@policyaltematives.ca tel. (604) 801-5121 1400-207 West Hastings St. fax. (604) 801-51 22 Vancouver, BC V6B 1H7 CCPA webpage: http:, . \\\\ . ;:lO I1 c alternJtives.ca

Poll says Briti5h Columbians want poverty reduction The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives recently commissioned a poll by the company Environics. The poll found that: * 87 per cent of British Columbians believe the Premier should set concrete targets to reduce poverty; * 77 per cent said that in the face of a recession, governments should focus even more effort on supporting the poor; and * 74 per cent said they would be more likely to support a provincial political party that pledged to make poverty reduction a high priority. - JS

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

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

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Shelters or Homes, Which Cost the Most?

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

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

But when you look at the costs of shelters versus housing. the results are amazing. According to a November news release from the Ministry of Housing and Social Development (welfare). the government budget for its Emergency Shelter Program is about $50 million in

2008. This money funds 1500 emergency shelter beds. Now let's do the math: $50 million divided by 1500 = $33.333. Now divide the $33,333 by 365 days in a year, and you get $91.32.

That's the cost of a shelter BED per day: $91.32.

Last year CCAP 1 learned that developers could build a new 400 sq. ft self contained apartment for a rent of about $1200 a month or $40 a day. Let's sec now, if the government spent $40 a day for a unit of good. new housing for a homeless person, it could afford an additional $50 aDA Y on support services before the good housing and support would cost more than a shelter bed. So yes, we need those temporary shelters because the housing isn't built yet, but why isn't the government rolling out a housing construction pro&,rram with health supports so it can SAVE BIG BUCKS? - JS

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

Downtown Eastside groups like the Carnegie Community Action Project.

DERA and Pivot have been asking the city to use this bylaw to do maintenance and repair work in hotels when landlords refuse to do it. - JS

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

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

Council also asked its staff to report back

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

LILAHC members live, volunteer and work in the DTES and have 100% allegiance to low-income people of the area. The complete list of who is in this group can be found in the Aug 1 issue of this newsletter (found in the Carnegie

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

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

Right now CCAP (with LILAHC's support) is mapping with low-income residents as the second stage of visioning.

Another thing we are doing is planning a meeting with housing providers,

6

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

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

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

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

businesses, revitalization groups and condo owners. We want to discuss issues arising from our visioning process such as health, housing, incomes, small business survival, drug use, towers, income mix and safety.

Is it possible that we could find common ground with groups like Business Improvement Associations? Well, maybe.

We suspect everyone wants a safe and healthy neighbourhood. Preliminary conversions with a few business reps indicated to us that they may be keen on getting more new housing in the area if that

Strathcona Residents Association call most of the Oppenheimer Area (core DTES) "Strathcona".

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

/

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will help get people offthe streets.

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

. . .attend the meetings will bring their sense of inquisitiveness and be respectful of all points of view, even those they disagree with."

"Thanks very much and we hope to see you at the first meeting, which could be exciting, and, at the very least, interesting!!"

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

7

Did you know?

*

*

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

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

*

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

*

*

Poverty is the single greatest

cause of homelessness

*%

Aboriginal people comprise

Population of DTES: Nearly

of the 16,000 residents living in the DTES are low-income as of 2006.

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

*

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

*

Canada is the only country in the industrialized world 路without a national

housing strategy

*

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

*

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

CCAP's Blog:

Vancity

http://ccapvancouver.wordpress.com/

Support for this project does not necessarily imply Vancity's endorsement of the findings or contents of this report."

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f• 2009 Poverty Olympics

SUNDAY

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12:30 Torch Parade starts at VANDU 380 East Hastings

lpm Opening Ceremonies at the Japanese Language School 487 Alexander Street

Family Friendly

Free Admission

Poverty Olympics' mascots Creepy the Cockroach, ItChY the Bedbug, and Chewy the Rat, Opening and C losing Ceremonies, events like Skating a round Poverty a nd the Housing Hurdles, a special appearance by Mr. con Dough.

Cockroach Cake will be served.

Free. Everyone welcome.

For info or to get involved , call 604 729-2380.

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Subject: Chief of Police Offering an Apology I rece ived a call last week that the police were preparing to offer an apology in the case of the death of Frank Paul. Thankfully, Peggy Clement, Frank's cousin isn't prepared to accept it. We're not as easily fooled because today, we now speak the same language.

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

The issue of systemic discrimination, criminali zation and victimization of our Indigenous people is too widespread and has become too much of a norm to simply accept yet another apology by the Queen's servants. Should Frank Paul's case get shoveled under with bureaucratic imperialism, o ur issue becomes one of protecting our youth, our elders, our defenseless people on the streets against the justice system itself as a whole! On our own land.

It's not going to go away with an apology. Our society, our nations, our children, need to know that they and their ancestry will be treated with dignity.

The Aboriginal community knows that it is time for concrete responses. Society should be amendab le to look at police as individuals based on their actions, not romanticize the whole such as movies

did for the R.C.M.P. Aboriginal people, leaders and supporters all along have stated that officers of the law must be held accountable for criminal acts or crimescover ups, for obstructing justice, for murder by physical force, firearm, neglect, destroying important evidence protecting themselves, hate or race based actions or taunts, ... leaving a defenseless, unarmed human being out in the freezing cold to die.

Spin doctors sell their souls to use verbiage: "we've learned from our 'mistakes'," 'we want to work with Aborigi nal organizations,' "I was trying to protect officer so and so" .... "I was in fear fo r my life .. " "the cost to taxpayers .. " .. blah blah blah... It's also the spin doctor who vilifies or negates our public comments, letters to the editor or our lawyers' stance. It's a game becoming more and more common knowledge, and what of the taxpayers tab for them? It's in the millions believe me. *In the article it states that the department "hopes that the fami ly will be a part of it..." meaning that they will go fo rward with the apo logy whether or not the family is present.

Why now? What's up? Chu, in speaking with the media after a day-long organized community meeting, listening to the First Nation experience, still defended his officers and basically, saw no wrongdoing. I only attended to witness and wasn't disappointed.

The time fo r change is now. Our leaders, tribal councils, organizations and grassroots must do o ur parts and the justice system must do theirs.

Kat Norris Lyackson First Nation Coast Salish Territories Indigenous Action Movement

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

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

The February 14th Women's Memorial March is sponsored by organizations and individuals like you and is held to honour the li ves of women who die each year due to violence and to remember more than 40 women who are still missing. Each year the Memorial March committee must raise fund s to pay for such things as hall rental, sound system, food , red & yellow roses, memorial brochures, blankets, posters, candles, tobacco and other expenses. lfyou would like to sponsor a component of this year's March call Marlene at (604) 665-3005 Please make cheques payable to the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre, Women 's Memorial March, 302 Columbia St. Vancouver, BC V6A 4J I. All donations overS I 0.00 will be gratefully acknowledged with a tax deductible receipt.

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

Thank you very much for your time and attention On behalf of the organizing committee of the 2009 February 141h Women's Memorial March

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@NOON GATHER AT CARNEGIE CENTRE THEATRE (401 MAIN STREET, CORNER HASTINGS, VANCOUVER) @ 1 PM MARCH BEGINS FROM MAIN AND HASTINGS For more information call Marl we George at (604) 665-3005

DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE CENTRE FOR THE ARTS AN INTRODUCTION The Downtown Eastside Centre for the Arts Creating Opportunities for the Artist in Everyone The DE Centre for the Arts is open to everyone for artistic exploration and expression creating connections with self, one another, and community.

Why DE Centre for the Arts will contribute to our community, provide much-needed space for creative exploration and expression, and create a significant new initiative for the Vancouver arts community.

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

Many of the arts programs for personal growth and creative development for Downtown Eastside artists and their audiences have limited capacity, availability, access, range, and depth of opportunities.

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

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

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

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

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

It will provide opportunities to attists who want to develop their artistic skills to move forvvard to professional careers in their chosen disciplines.

It will be accessible for everyone with an interest in participating, contributing, or becoming engaged in the personal, cultural, and social development of our community.

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

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

It will offer opportunities for aboriginal youth to learn and experience art in the presence of elders and for elders to contribute their life-experiences and pass on traditional teachings and skills.

It will work with the community to develop programming that is re levant and serves the needs of the Downtown Eastside in relation to how the Centre can complement, contribute to, and enhance other initiatives and enterprises in the community.

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

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

WHAT'S NEXT On Tuesday January 6, 2009, our first pilot program will begin with T he Women's Memorial Quilt Part 2.

After that, every Monday/Tuesday from 2-4, community members will be invited to come and make squares to add to the quilt.

Our goal is to work until the end of January to make the squares leading up to the Women's Memorial March taking place on February 14, 2009.

This workshop will be held at InterUrban Gallery at 1 East Hastings. Monday & Tuesday afternoon from 2-5:00 is the scheduled time to work with Diane Wood. Materials will be provided. We also invite the community to make their own squares. Please check with us regarding size so th at it can be joined with the main quilt.

Many people w ho have experienced the missing & murdered women tragedy, whether first hand with a fam ily member, or through friendship and o ther associations, did not have a chance to honor them by participating in the first Women's Memorial Quilt Project. We feel that it is very important to offer a new opportunity to do this. An elder wi ll be available for these sessions and for all of our programming.

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

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

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

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

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

DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE CENTRE FOR THE ARTS WOMEN'S MEMORIAL QUILT PROJECT/PART 2 (In Collaboration With Carnegie Community Centre ) SCHEDULE AFTERNOONS (Monday/Tuesday) 2-5 January 6-27 making squares January 27-30 blocking & joining the squares February 2-5 hang exhibit exhi bit opening February 5 February 13 exhibit closes February 14 Women' s March LOCATION INTERURBAN, I EAST HASTINGS

Take back the Land: E nforce C hief Kiapilano's Eviction Notice against the genocidal Catholic Ch urch Sunday , January 18 @10:00 am "Holy Rosary Catholic Church" Dunsmuir and Richards , downtown Vancouver

Bring Drums, Banners and the Names of the Disappeared Help exorcise the spirit of genocide from our land!

The Truth about Forcing the Poor into Shelters.

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

DOWNTOWN

EASTSIDE YOIJTH ..

ACTIVITIES SOCIETY

NEEDLE EXCHANGE VAN·-3. Rouiesa . ..

City- St4~pm -lb45pm Overnight- t2:30am_.:.. "r30am Downtown Eustslde ~ 5a30pft! - I:30au

604-685-6561 604-251-3310

CFRO

102.-7FM CO-OP RADIO .. ·. .

Next issue Submission deadline: Thursday, January 29 Free Showers for homeless persons nl 327 Cnrrnll TinS NEWSLETTER IS A PUBLICATION OF TilE Cft.RNEGIE COMMUNITY CENTRE ASSOCIATION Articles represent the views of individual Contributors and not of the Association. . ..

Wed 7·8:30am; Saf 7·10am; F1l WOMEN ONLY ~_:~M

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I We acknowledge that Carnegie Community Centre, and I

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this Newsletter, are occurring on Coast Salish Territory.

•-------------------~ WANTED Editor: PauiR Taylor; cover idea Lisa David; I I Collation & distribution crew: Harold, Liu Lin, Bill, Mary Artwork for the Carnegie Newsletter

1 Ann, Miriam, Rolf, Tina, Videha, Kelly, Hal, Robyn, Nick,

, Jackie, Matthew, Lisa, Red, Pablo, Ida, Priscillia.

1

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TIM STEVENSON CITY COUNCILLOR i.t

• •

SERVING THE COMMUNITY

WITH PRIDE

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

Jenny Wai Ching Kwan MLA

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

Do you Have a Legat Probtem?

Are you Charged with a crime?

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

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

• •

• • •

Small illustrations to accompany articles and poetry Cover art -Maximum size: 17cm(6-3/41 wide x 15cm(61 high.

Subject matter relevant to issues pertaining to the Downtown Eastside preferred, but all work will be considered; Black & White printing only Size restrictions must be considered (i.e. if your piece is too large, it will be reduced and/or cropped to fit; All artists will receive credit for their work; Originals will be returned to the artist after being copied for publication; Remuneration: Carnegie volunteer tickets.

Please make submissions to: Paul Taylor, Editor.

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

Bad Relationship

'here is no relationship more painful and destructive, more dangerous and explosive, 1ore useless and expensive, than the on again off again the love and the hate, :!lationship, wi th the one known as lady H )he tempts and teases, seduces and uses, until you surrender to er all-taking powers. vVith her unspoken words, you will give all you have, and then some more ou will lie and steal, you will rob and cheat ou will go days with no sleep and nothing to eat. )nee she gets a hold of you there's no letting go SPEAKING OF DANCE he will suck you dry of everything you know. ~· Speaking of Dance is an illustrated lecture series t1ale or female, young or old, black yellow or white '1..-: developed to enrich and deepen your experience of he discriminates not. , , dance. These public lectures and discussion groups Vo u can sniff her, smoke her, mix her in a spoon, arc a springboard for exchanging ideas and dcvel· • oping a deeper understanding of the world of dance our addiction to her will come way too soon.

The pain of her leaving or you pushing her away, and contextualizing the form in the broader Vanan become so unbearable after just one day. couver co mmun~ty and the world ~f art_ and cu_lt_ure . .he knows you'll come crawling back on your hands and knees, Pr~sented by art_tsts, curators, art h!ston~ns, cnttc_s, he can ask for and get, anything she please. wrtters, ac~dem_tcs ~nd othe~ creattv~ thmkers, thts You'll discard your friends. job and family along the way, lecture senes wtll gtve you mformat10n, language · ·t k t t th h h d and you tl ny 1mg 1 ta -es o ge roug t e ay.

T confidence d 9 need to speak about dance.

7 30 Thoughts run through your head of from whom you can borrow, Lues aLys, :I V- pm p bl' L' b ary ower eve , ancouver u ac 1 r Central Branch, 350 West Georgia St o you can pa~ lady II whe_n you wake up ton:orrow. ve lost my wtfe and my ktds, my house, my JOb, Admission is FREE.but Seating is limited.

1y mind and now my life. I hate this bitch more than you know January 13,2009 et I can't say get lost and let her go.

Speakers )h lord I've tried, so many a night, yet I give into her pain Kaija Pepper - Dance Critic and Writer vith not even a fight.

Mirna Zagar- Executive Director, The Dance Centre The pain of withdrawal is unbearable at a time, February 10,2009 hat killing myse lf has entered my mind. In fact a time came Speakers Artemis Gordon- Artistic Director, Arts Umbrella vhen I gave it a try. The fuckin bitch kept me breathing, Deborah Meyers- Dance Critic and Writer he wouldn't let me die.

My time wasn't up, it was not to be, she had some more Ma rch 10,2009 tain and torture for me.

Speakers Barbara Bourget - Artistic Director, Vancouver \!lore years of dependence, addiction and sorrow, International Dance Festival he knew I would scrape by, beg and borrow.

Henry Daniel - Professor of Dance and PerformTo live another day, month or year, it's not ance Studies, Simon Fraser University eally living, how did I get here?

April 14, 2009 One thing for sure with this relationship thing, Speakers t can all begin with a one night fling.

Sa nta Aloi - Professor Emerita of Dance, Simon Don't get involved with this lady H. Fraser University ~ er name sometimes changes to jazz or sweet jane, Emily Molnar - Independent Choreographer and 1ut one thing for sure that remains the same.

Artist in Residence, Arts Umbrella ;he'll tease ya and please ya till she gets under your skin.

Be smart and say NO, don ' t let her wi n. http ://ccapvancouver.wordpress.com/

Richard Ambeely

Under One Umbrella 2009 You are invited to a community event this Saturday, January 17. Under One Umbrella will have delicious food and amazing door prizes all day, as well as 35 different services. There will be free clothes and winter gear, haircuts, bike repair, massage and acupuncture, help with getting on income assistance and Fair Pharmacare, foot soaks, housing information, flu shots, services for families, em -ployment support, Aboriginal services, addiction and mental health services, recreation, free pet food , hygiene kits, th Street Nurses, the MAP van ... and much more!

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

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

Katie Hume