lMARCH 15,2020 FREE-Do
not pay for this paper.
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NEWSLETTER
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camnews@vcn.bc.ca
401 Main Street Vancouver Canada V6A 2T7 (604) 665~2289 Email: carnnews@shaw.ca
Website/Catalogue:
carnegienewsletter.org
COVID-19 affected areas
There is a lot of concern with this COVID-19 as it spreads rapidly and the old, infirm and immunecompromised die. The media coverage grows as whole sections of a number of countries get isolated and governments take drastic measures to contain outbreaks. Examples in China, Italy, Iran and South Korea, as well as locking down cruise ships, have highlighted reports for weeks. A local man stopped at the Newsletter Office to ask a deceptively simple question: What steps do governments and health care providers have planned for an area like the Downtown Eastside? The vast majority of people here are immune-compromised, live in or frequent sub-standard accommodations that are poorly maintained/cleaned, are low-income with inadequate nutrition and have a difficulty with accessing services for health. The risk here seems low but barriers for transmission are also low. Following are suggestions put out for service providers and drop-in centres, under the umbrella of the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness.
Life Isn't Always Fair - anywhere out there So suck it up - I've been told for we've all been out there in the cold at one time or another. So shake off your shock and take stock of all, that's still good out there. The past is past so abide in the present and roll with the tides. Search for a newness do something
you previously
Find a new comfort somewhere
haven't tried. zone
- where you truly feel you fit in
giving a surprising reminding
bit of heaven on earth
you that it's still your turf and always was
from the day of your birth! - explore
inga
We've compiled useful tips and resources to stay on top of the evolving coronavirus outbreak in Canada. BLOG: People experiencing homelessness often have compromised health and are at an elevated risk from viruses likecoronavirus COVID-19. Facilities that provide services for homeless people (like shelters and drop-in centres) have increased risk of disease outbreaks due to crowding, inadequate ventilation, large numbers of transient clients (many who are more susceptible to infection) and limited access to health care. The National Alliance to End Homelessness has developed these tips to help providers and system leaders prepare for the impact of a coronavirus outbreak: Be prepared by staying informed about your local COVID-19 situation and establish relationships with public health partners in your community Communicate ,rith staff and clients about facility preparedness and policy updates (i.e. modified hours, nonurgent care by telephone, etc.), and consider using social media to do so Expect the homelessness services sector workforce to be impacted, and anticipate modified service delivery based on staff capacity Protect your workforce by screening clients, staff, and visitors for acute respiratory illness, ensuring use of personal protection equipment, and encouraging sick employees to stay home Protect your clients by separating those with respiratory illnesses, and implementing prevention strategies to minimize exposure (i.e. encouraging frequent hand-washing, increased surface cleaning/disinfection, etc.) Take inventory of supplies (hand soap, food, and more) and order more if necessary
Neighbourhood Small Grants & Greenest City Grants
The Neighbourhood Small Grants (NSG) program is funded by the Vancouver Foundation and administered by Strathcona Community Centre for the DTES / Britannia catchment. The NSG program was created to help build community and strengthen connections right where people live - in their neighbourhoods. This program supports project leaders who have small but powerful ideas to bring people together and make neighbourhoods vibrant. Both the Neighbourhood Small Grants (NSG) and Greenest City Grants (GC G) offer grant opportunities to local residents for amounts between $50 and $500. Grants applications are reviewed and adjudicated by a Neighbourhood Grants Committee (NGC) once the application deadline closes. Grants are awarded to-project leaders for projects that meet the criteria to connect and engage residents, share residents' skills and knowledge within the community, build sense of ownership and pride, or respect and celebrate diversity. Visit the Neighbourhood Small Grants website to review the complete guidelines and criteria for both programs. tWe continue to prioritize ideas that:
-Connect Indigenous and non-Indigenous neighbours -Are led by young people ages 18 to 24 -Are green-focused projects Application Dates 2020 grant applications close April 9, 2020 Grant Amounts
o "!'H''@ Carnegie Theatre Workshop Springtime It;
It;
FOR THE ACTOR 5 Wednesday evenings In April; save the dates! April 1*, 8**, 15**,22**, 29* *Carnegie Theatre **Carnegie 3rd floor Classroom
pm-9pm ~.More details to come~
$50 - $500
No experience necessary
Apply online at www.neighbourhoodsmallgrants.ca
Free, everyone welcome!
Roberta Robertson, Co-ordinator
In/o: Teresa 604¡255¡9401 thirteenojllearfs@hotmail.cam
GET FIT program
INDIGENOUS Feet Program program 1.
New clients will get 1 pair of shoes or 7" tablet.
2.
Refer 2 clients get 1 pair of shoes or 7" tablet
Medicine
program (Long term
medication
only)
1.
Switch pharmacy AND get $60 worth of gift cards over 1 year. a. $20 Gift cord after 1st refill b. $20 gift card after being a client every month for 6 months c. $20 gift card after being a client every month for 12 months.
2. 3.
Get 1 ballot to enter monthly $20 gift card give away. Get 1 ballot to enter yearly $500'gift card give away. Refer 1 person and get 1 ballot for $20 monthly and $500 annual gift card give away.
4.
**We can also help you with your teeth, dentures and eye glasses**
FIRST NATIONS NASAL NARCAN PROGRAM Help stop overdoes and help put Nasal Narcan into -the hands of the social workers and community
outreach.
If you want to help you ONLY need to know your STATUS NUMBER. Come down to the office at 122 E. Hastings inside Brandiz bar to support the program If you are an Indigenous organization
wanting to set up your own supply of
Nasal Narcan please inquire .
••
If you are an OUT REACH WORKER and NEED NASAL NARCAN please come down to the office and we will give you some for FREE *Not everyone will qualify and subject to certain conditions and terms -;Terms and conditions subject to change without
notice*
Call John 778.806.6993
Indigenouslnov@gmail.com
122 E. Hastings St. (Next to Brandiz Bar) Vancouver British Columbia
V6A IN4
5
Addiction Perspective
Things to do besides Drugs and Alcohol.
By Ruby Diamond
This little pamphlet inspires me and supports our experiences as recovering addicts. I believe in order to move from addiction and mend one's own life, one must replace addiction with something more creative, more joyous and more inspiring than the drug or drink itself. We addicts are quite a creative bunch. We are often quite resourceful and innovative, even if our energies are used to destroy ourselves rather than promote our health and well-being. We are human beings on a journey with an intent to reach something richly rewarding and we discover drugs and think we have found the answer. But this is a grand illusion. Ifwe are to be honest and reflect on our- using, we will see a life full of promise has spiraled into a life of great pain and disappointment. What that first drink or drug did for us in the beginning of our journey is at its end a life of pure and utter hell with consequences we never dreamed of. Anyone can become an addict. The disease of addiction is not a respecter of persons. One may be black, white, old, young, rich, poor, woman, man, gay or straight. We do not grow up thinking "Oh one day I think I'll try crack and become a drug addict." No. Drugs are very seductive and very cunning. We often turn to this use because we want to have fun, or just relax or reward ourselves. However, once we have tried drugs, we find out that although they seem to temporarily take away all the pain of living, they are a transient fix. The bondage is that we need more of the same to get that desired effect of the very first high There is hope. Addiction, as cunning and scary as it may be, can be overcome. It is possible for us to gain control of our lives. It is possible for us to not only gain a new perspective, but to learn to enjoy life again without taking anything into our bodies which kills our spirit. There is help and not only is it possible to quit using, it is possible to live an abundant life. I am a walking, living example of a recovered drug addict and there are many other examples like myself. If I can do it, anyone can. Life does not have to be boring and humdrum without drugs. It can be exciting, challenging and full of wonder. We are worth recovery and we are worth God's love. Use this book as you wish. Give it to someone yourself.
And if you have found
you know as a gift. Use it to inspire
some hope in its covers,
I have done my job. So read on!
\
Stay abstinent one day at a time In the beginning, as addicts and alcoholics, most of us cannot stay clean and sober if we think we must keep it up for a lifetime. This is where the "one day at a time" concept is so handy. While yesterday is over and tomorrow non-existent, today is the only tangible experience we have. It-seems daunting and unrealistic and of course extremely difficult if we think we can never pick up a drug or drink for as long as we live. However, we can let the craving pass for this moment or this hour, which will eventually become a whole day. As we stay on track, each day we stay clean will lead to a week, a month or a year. And it is all accomplished by successfully staying abstinent for one day.
Be kind to yourself. When engaging in substances, we addicts or alcoholics are our own worst critics. We are overly critical about the world we live in and the people we meet in community. We find fault in everything including ourselves. It does not have to be this way. Why not extend a kind word to us instead of berating ourselves with ideas such as "I'm ugly" or "I'm useless"? Having a compassionate heart for ourselves is essential to having a compassionate heart for others. It may seem foreign to do this in the beginning, but it is well worth the effort. It is a lot more pleasant to be gentle with ourselves than to be unduly cruel.
Be in Nature Being in nature is a healing remedy from the stress and bustle of everyday city life. Engaging in nature is not only good for our bodies, but good for our minds and inner spirit as well. We can go hiking alone or join a hiking club and go with other people in the deep forest. Any which way we decided, we will pick up a kind of peace and serenity by being among trees, wildflowers and trails if we let it happen. It is a good way to tune ourselves to spirit and find tranquility. We are natural beings and being in nature is something which brings us back to our source.
Exercise Whether it is going horseback riding, splashing in a pool or going for long solitary walks in nature, exercise is a fun, healthy alternative to using drugs. Each person, depending on their own interests and desires, can find an exercise best for them. We may find running outdoors more refreshing than running on a treadmill; maybe a gentle yoga class is'1nore up your alley. In any case, exercise not only fills our day with activity it is essential in the recovery process. Don't forget we have abused our bodies and minds with negative substances for several years and now our bodies need to be treated like gold.
Eat good food. This is a pleasure we do nothave to give up. Learning to cook good healthy meals and sharing them with others is a luxury that we in the West take for granted too often. Eating fresh fruit, vegetables and food high in protein, restores lost brain cells from years of abuse. Sharing meals with friends or even preparing something nutritious for ourselves is an indicator of how much we care about our bodies and ultimately how much we care about ourselves. Three square meals a day and lots of fresh clean water are essential to restoring our health back to our bodies and minds. You will also find that food tastes better when stopping specific habits like smoking cigarettes, and we will have a higher capacity to function because our bodies are getting the vitamins we require to maintain total balance .
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Get a job, paid or unpaid We addicts and alcoholics need to fill our time with something meaningful. When we first clean up, we are left with a huge gap of time which begs to be filled or else boredom sets in and we again want to escape the hum drum of everyday living. However, if we spend the time wisely looking for work or upgrading our skills to find better work, we will ultimately feel better about ourselves and probably meet some interesting people along the way. Work doesn't have to be boring. It can be meaningful. Once we have savored the responsibility of working day to day, we will feel better about ourselves and be more independent.
Keep a journal Acquiring and keeping ajournal on a regular basis will assist us to live a more aware life. We live in our heads way too much. Getting thoughts down on paper is a great way to dislodge any pent-up frustrations, anger, resentment and fear. Writing things down enables a person to see things more clearly and we can always go back to see what we were thinking a few years ago to track our progress. It doesn't have to be something we share with anybody else. We will always feel lighter after writing in our journals for it is a way of getting to our source. It is all ours and ours alone and it is a great way to celebrate our sobriety.
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See a counsellor Sometimes there are things that only a professional can assist us with because we can't possibly do it on our own. A counsellor is someone we feel comfortable with to discuss deep rooted problems which are hindering our lives. Choosing a counsellor is like shopping for anything else - some are better than others. An effective counsellor will be able to disentangle family dysfunction and societal dysfunction. We need competent counselors to encourage us in the recovery process. Sometimes it requires trial and error. But keep searching, you can and will find the right fit. Think constructively Is the glass half empty or halffull? Thinking positively, especially for addicts, may be very challenging. We tend to take every little situation that crops up in our lives and blow it out of proportion. However, with continued abstinence, we see we can be successful at recovery and this boosts our self-esteem. It is like a snowball running down a steep hill collecting speed. Life is not out to get us anymore. We start to live life with enthusiasm. As we surround ourselves with positive people and decide to think more constructively, we start to gravitate towards the light instead of the darkness, and this is a change that happens as we trust the process and give ourselves a break.
Go back to school Learning new thing is always exciting. We not only meet new friends but expand our minds and expand our horizons. When we put ourselves in a learning environment, we will flourish. Upgrade our skills and life will not be boring. We will grow. It may be a technical school as opposed to university. It may be psychology or English or our GED we have always wanted to get. The list is endless. Thee is no doubt in my mind that as we ., stay abstinent, we will find that things which used to seem daunting become possible. We are never too old to go back to school. It is our choice. Go on a retreat Retreats are places for relaxation and rejuvenation. It allows the mind and body to relax. Keeping our eyes and ears open, we can surely find a retreat we find exciting. We can go with someone or by ourselves, but in either case, we will find out a lot about ourselves. It allows for inner discovery and may be a little scary at first. However, if we overcome the initial fear and take a risk, we may find that a retreat was just what was needed to stay committed to recovery.
Hang out with winners Changing our friends is essential in being able to stay clean and sober. At first it leaves a gaping hole in our social lives but if we want to stay clean it is important. Find people who don't drink or use drugs and hang out. Go where other recovering addicts are. Make the old timers in AA our new associates and we will soon find that we are starting to think like those on the road to recovery too. As we grow in recovery, we will change our circle of friends. Crossing that threshold from using associates to recovering associates can be an extremely challenging time but stay on the path of recovery and we will pass through this time. All we need to do is stay sober. Read spiritual literature Finding out what Higher Power means to us. Explore as many different paths as we can find through our reading of spiritual literature. Keep our minds open to different ways to know God as we understand That. Practice the common principles we find in each tradition. The addict needs to turn his or her will over everyday to a Power greater than their own self. When this conscious contact is made, every day, we find peace and serenity. As recovering addicts, we want to know God and as we abstain from substances, we surely meet our Creator. The important thing is to explore and share our knowledge of spiritual matters. Discuss what we read and have experienced with others. Expand your mind That computer in our heads is not meant to be sitting idle every day. We need to expand our minds with reading or attending lectures on subjects of interest. Find something mentally challenging and work at it for a while. It may be a riddle, or a puzzle, or an unanswered question. It may be something we are not naturally inclined to understand, like the subject of astronomy or physics. Everybody has something they fmd mentally challenging. It will give us enormous personal satisfaction learning a new, challenging skill or mastering a subject. We addicts are geniuses in the rough. Do art Whether it is making puppets, fashioning sculptures or working with oil paint, we can let ourselves express the sensitive side of our natures. There are many kinds of artistic pursuits. Developing this skill not only brings joy, but it beautifies our environment. It is a legitimate way to express our emotions, thoughts and feelings. We can do abstract art or realism, but whatever we choose, make sure we look at it as a constructive experiment. Making art is our birthright. Become patient We did not get addicted in one day so we will not know what it means to be free of the bondage to drugs and alcohol use in one day either. We addicts demand things right now. However, learning to become patient is a skill which develo s over time if we work at it. In our addiction we were extremely demanding, wanting for a high as soon as possible. We could not wait until our next fix. However, being sober begs for patience. Results will occur but not overnight. Trust comes back, clarity of thought returns, and the mind and body heal, but it takes these things time to occur. So be patient with yourself and know that you are on the right track. Become unattached. This is another way of saying 'let things go'. When we hold onto old ideas, old beliefs and old behaviors, we can never change. If we relax and let go of these things, then go about our business and let god handle the details, we are sure to be less stressed out and demanding. Everything in this world belongs to God. When we attach ourselves to anything and claim it is our own, we become attached to outcomes and we stay in bondage. If, however, we move our will out ofthe way, turn it over to our Higher Power, we make that conscious contact and know that we are being taken care of by the Universe. So, become unattached to people, places and things.
Decide to change. This is a crucial point. Half of the battle of overcoming substance abuses is the decision to make a solid turn around. We get sick and tried of being sick ad tired and when we hit our bottom, we realize that we must change. Deciding to do something about our addiction will save our lives. Change is scary, because of the unknowns, but right now our dance with the familiar is killing us. What alternative do we really have .. death, jails and mental hospitals. The decision is ultimately ours and ours alone. Delay the craving This is a very helpful tool to use. In the beginning, our cravings for the drug seem overwhelming. However, recognize that even though the thought of digesting a mind-altering chemical in our body will satiate the craving and gives is temporary relief, if we wait before we take the action, the craving will pass. We will find that with delay we can successfully overcome the craving for a moment and eventuall-y feel better about ourselves, as we are able to successfully live the day drug free. This delay tactic will soon not be something we have to rely on because the obsession to use and the compulsion to use will eventually lift.
Use herbal remedies There are many herbal remedies out there to deal with depression and worry. One specific herbal remedy is the use of Bach flowers. The rescue remedy is a combination of flower essences such as Cherry Plum, Clematis (]mpatiens, Rock Rose and the Star of Bethlehem which formatted together and used in water provides clarity 'over stressful situations. Dr. Edward Bach, a doctor and bacteriologist, created 38 homeopathically prepared ower essences to deal with such emotions as annoyance, low moods, impatience and absent mindedness. Thee .are just a handful of symptoms which this flower remedy can address. I found the rescue remedy brought up things buried deep in my subconscious for me to resolves. I finally decided to face the fears in my life instead of running away from them and this herbal treatment facilitated my growth. View life as a challenge How we word our experiences is very powerfuL I can choose to look at anything as a challenge or as an obstaclef The idea that we must succeed at any cost puts undue stress and expectations on our lives. However, if we look at life as a constructive experiment and our drug addiction as a challenge, we know that we can enjoy finding a solution to our illness. We put the addiction in perspective, and we know that our problems are solvable because others before us have done it. Name your emotions Many addicts are confus d because they feel something but can't exactly put a name to what it is. We may be feeling shame or guilt and unable to identify it. Resisting one's emotions, especially the uncomfortable ones, leave a person confused and in fear. We know something is wrong but don't know what. However, if we stay with the feeling, name it for what it is and then stop resisting the feeling but acknowledge it, we learn to become aware. With awareness comes understanding and with understanding comes hope for change. The drugs are but a symptom of a greater crisis. Don't give up; with pain comes growth. Practice humility Humility comes when we have an honest appraisal of our strengths and weaknesses. It is nto the same as humiliation, although in our drug and alcohol use many of us endured embarrassment and failure. Being humble is to check in with ourselves and see where we feel inferior and when we feel superior to others. Ifwe are humble, we won't be too disappointed in ourselves. For becoming disappointed leads to ugly feelings and ugly feelings lead us back to drink and drugs to deal with our lives. Being humble requires honesty. When we are honest, answers inevitably show up. It is freeing and it is knowing exactly who and what we are in God's eyes.
Meditate. There are many kinds of meditation. Explore the wide range of options and pick the kind of meditation that suits you. We might say "Hey I don't know how to meditate." Meditation can be as simple as sitting in a chair or on a bed and quieting our thoughts by listening to our breathing, focusing on our higher power. Sitting alone every day in the morning or evening for 10 to 20 minutes and learning to listen to our intuition and that small inner voice that everybody has deep within for strength and guidance will greatly enhance our recovery. We will become our own best friend. And if we heed that tiny quiet voice, which only wants the best for us and is facilitated through daily persistent mediation, we will know our purpose. Conspire with God Turn our will over to the care of our Higher Power. This is a daily ritual which needs to be done in order to find peace. It was said by Carl Jung, the great psychotherapist, that an addict is someone who has an unconscious desire to know God. So, when we are recovering, we make thi-sunconscious activity into a conscious one. We know and rest assured that all is as it should be. Surrendering our lives to a power greater than ourselves is the key to staying sober and clean. We cast our cares upon our Creator. We actively search for his will for us. We finally find peace. We finally belong. Come out of Exile We addicts are willful souls with a deep sense of rebellion. We resist everybody and everything. Our daily activity and lifestyle lead to deepening the feelings of being not like the guy or girl next door. So, we do more drugs and we rebel more. This romantic notion of rebellion is a very attractive one for addicts and is reinforced by mainstream media. People are both curious and repelled. However, a rebel without a cause is what keeps us from healing. We must at some point suspend this rebellious streak and learn to cooperate. That doesn't mean we have to give up who we are. We will always be unique for there is no one else like you on the planet. Don't confuse learning to cooperate with becoming docile. You can retain your originality while learning to cooperate with others. The two do not cancel each other out. Remember, there is strength in numbers. If you learn to cooperate with like-minded people, you can get things done .
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Master a musical instrument Can we have "rock and roll" without the drugs? Even veteran musical celebrities are coming to that conclusion. Listening to music often heals us. Playing our own music will help us to express parts of ourselves which may otherwise be difficult to get at. We can express anger, love, triumph and sadness in our music. We can even find out how music therapy can help us to uncover the deepest and darkest parts of ourselves. Listen to music, play music and express music. Don't worry if you're not Keith Richards. That is not the point. The point is having fun. Know that everything is a choice Everything is a choice? We might have very negative or destructive thoughts which look on the surface as being inevitable. However, all our actions and behavior are choices we make. Some are conscious choices, while others are subconscious choices. It is the subconscious choices that seem the most inevitable because we are not connected to them in a way that allows us the understanding and awareness to make different choices. However, if we choose to think destructive thoughts and retain feelings which give birth to destructive behaviors, we can learn to choose to think positive thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Just because they are constructive doesn't make them less believable. Think of the best for us and we will get the best. It is all about choice. Trust in God Know that no matter what God has in store for us, we can lean on Him when times are tough. It is this miracle knowledge that changed my whole life around. I started to trust that God would provide for me when it seemed that all other avenues in my life were blocked. When I felt a tinge of depression, I put my faith in
Him. This came to me after I had been watching an evangelistic show on television. The preacher asked the question "What happens when all else fails?" He then said" "Turn to what you do know." And one of these things was putting my trust in god. I knew that drugs and alcohol led to three places: jails, institutions and death. This we do know. However, the signature of every addict is that spiritual void. Only the spirit can fill it. So, let the Spirit lead us. Trust the process We do not use drugs for one day and then suddenly recover by saying now it is over. We used drugs and alcohol for years. So, don't expect twenty years of using, repressing our emotions and running away from reality to go away in one day. Trust the process. Trust that as you abstain one day at a time, things will get better. We shall receive everything we have lost; we will get closer and closer to more awareness of our purpose and destiny on this earth and we will know what trust is. Things will improve even when it feels like we are going backward. Know you are exactly where you are supposed to be and trust the process. Take risks For addicts, fear often freezes us form taking risks in our emotional lives. Taking a risk by reaching out and not worrying what others think of us often leads to surprising discoveries. We may find that the thing we feared to do was nothing more than a human fragility and not necessarily the truth. As we try new ways ofliving and take risks in our personal and emotional lives, we find that we can draw closer to our fellow human beings, for as we break down the wall of the ego and acknowledge our humanness we connect with others in a profound way.
Stop blaming This is not the same as not taking responsibility. It is an attitude and shift in perspective. Complainers always have something negative to say and never do anything about it. They focus too much on the problem and never on the solution. When confronted on this issue we tend to react in anger. I:twe really want to change our lives, we must have gratitude for what we already have. The suggestion, to stop complaining, is not sticking or heads in the sand and forgetting our struggles. It is saving ourselves from losing what we already have. Remember what we focus on grows, so focus on gratitude. Start or join a support group Nowadays there are support groups for everything. Whatever our interest, we can find a group for it somewhere. In recovery, we not only need places we can go to feel validated and supported, we need support for our varied interests in order to get in touch with our destiny. If we, for instance, can't find a certain interest group to join we can create one of our own. Organizing a support group is a fun activity We can become initiators when we meet people with the same interest as ourselves and enjoy learning and growing from it. In this way, we become helpful. Ask questions No question is a dumb question. Ifwe didn't ask questions, we wouldn't find solutions, even ifthe answer isn't quite what we wanted to hear. As addicts and alcoholics, we thought we had the answer to everything and everyone. Yet in order to learn a new way of life we have to ask questions of ourselves and others in our world. A question always begets an answer, and it is in our asking and searching that we can fmd solutions to difficult emotional, mental spiritual and physical problems. We listen to learn and learn to listen. We ask to answer and answer to ask.
TOPIG Prescription and illicit drug addiction: An epidemic since the mid-20th century. How do we prioritize human care? As such, are the internal systems of care in need of pubic enquiry? Humans are an interesting mix of a united family and great diversity. When it comes to social responsibility/or individual suffering, is addiction an opportunity for us to view how we treat humanity in terms of priorities?
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CANADIAN DRUG POLICY KILLS DRUG USERS. COLONIAL DRUG POLICY KILLS DRUG USERS. WE WAH,. SAFE CLEAH DRUCS FOR ALL DRUC USERS. HOW' WEDIIESDAY MARCH 18 2020
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UPHOLDING THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WHO RELY ON PUBLIC SPACES: PART 1 Pivot's presentation was based on two of their recent projects: Project Inclusion': Confronting Anti-Homeless and Anti-Substance User Stigma in BC, a study on the criminalization of those who are homeless and/or use drugs, and their publication Know Your Rights: A guide for people who rely on public space, This workshop was held in a just recently erected tent at Oppenheimer Park on December 13,where about 100 and possibly more unhoused people are currently tenting under harsh weather. The tenters at the park experience frequent street stops, confiscation of their belongings, invasions of their privacy, and criminalization, alongside homelesness, poverty, and a lack of safe drug supply. Those who rely on public spaces for their survival are vulnerable to more interactions with police and private security, and it's important that they understand and know their rights in order to protect themselves, Project Inclusion: In this study, Pivot travelled across British Columbia to hear from those who have faced criminalization while homeless and/ or using drugs, The perspectives they gathered echo what many of our community members in the Downtown Eastside have been sayi ng for a long time: the law sets people up to fail. The policies and laws created and enforced by the police, the health care
system, and the court system come together to criminalize people who are already at the margins of society. The political analysis underlying the study's findinqs is that a punitive system focused on incarceration and -involuntary treatment identifies the root of social problems as individuals who decide to commit crime, Any system that seeks to abolish the present one must identify the true root causes of "crime" and poverty: capitalism and colonialism, As the study argues, these problems are social and interconnected, not individual. A Guide for People Who Rely on Public Space
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Street stops: Experienci ng a street stop is different than being detained, Unless you are being detained (which you can determine by asking if you are), you don't have to stop, answer any questions, or consent to a search of your belongings, Exceptions to this may apply if you are being detained or under arrest, driving a car, or riding a bike, Even under these conditions, you don't have to say anything without a lawyer other than your name and address, and in the case of detention you don't even have to give that information, Sometimes, speaking to police may end an interaction more quickly. However, anything you say to them can justify further investigation, If
you decide to speak to the police, do not lie. It's better to say nothing than to lie (and potentially be charged for obstructing police, or offences related to "Misleading Justice"). I'm being detained. What now? If a police officer tells you that you aren't free to leave, then you are being detained. You can be detained if a police officer doesn't have enough evidence to arrest you but are investigatinga crime and have grounds to believe that you are involved in that crime. You have: The right to remain silent--unless you have committed a bylaw offence, then you must provide only your name and address; The right to be told the reason why you are being detained; and The right to a lawyer right away (and be informed of this right) During detainment, officers can do a "pat down" search for officer safety generally this only permits a cursory search for weapons. I'm being arrested. What are my rights? You can be arrested if the police have grounds to believe that you have or are about to commit a criminal offense.
To speak to a lawyer, in most situations Don't answer any questions until you have spoken to a lawyer! Once you have asked for a lawyer, the police can't continue to question you until you have exercised this right. How can bystanders hold police accountable? If you are witnessing someone being detained or arrested as a bystander, there are things you can legally do to hold police accountable during interactions. Following, recording, and observing police are all legal activities, as long as you keep a reasonable distance and aren't physically interfering with an investigation. As a bystander or someone actively interacting with the police for any reason, you may ask for an off icef's surname and badge number. It is best to not be alone while you document police activities. If police tell you to stop filming, tell them "It is not illegal to film an officer." If police tell you to leave an area, tell them "I am just observing, not interfering." (If there is a live safety issue, such as a live weapon, you are required to leave.)
To be told why you are being arrested;
If police try to seize your phone or camera, tell them "My phone/camera is not evidence, and I do not consent to you taking it." If they tell you that your video may produce evidence of a crime, offer to send the video to them.
To remain silent (other than saying your name and address); and
By: Danelle Ortiz
You have the rig ht:
02
CCAp, BCClA, PIVOT AND HOGAN'S AllEY SOCIETY CALL FOR A MORATORIUM ON STREET CHECKS VPD review of street checks released by Vancouver Police Board New provincial Policing Standards fail to address racial biases and the underlying harms of street checks, and the just-released Vancouver Police Department (VPD) policies and VPDcommissioned review perpetuate stigmatizing norms and behaviours that discriminate against vulnerable people instead of protecting them. Downtown Eastside-based community groups are jointly speaking out against the Province's Promotion of Unbiased Policing - Police Stops standards, which came into effect on January 15,2020. The standards uphold outdated views and de-legitimized practices of random checks, also known as police stops or "carding" - even though their efficacy has never been proven. 'C
Across Canada, police agencies have been under pressure to cease the discredited practice of street stops, also known as "street checks" or "carding." In Nova Scotia, the practice has been revoked through a provincial moratorium. To date, Nova Scotia is the only province to outright ban the practice, despite similar calls for police accountability across Canada. Cities such Toronto, Edmonton and 03
Vancouver have commissioned reviews in response to community pressure, and Montreal and Ottawa have also been under pressure to stop the discredited practice. Research overwhelmingly demonstrates that street checks, police stops and "carding" are inherently biased against Black, Indigenous and other racialized groups. Despite this evidence, provincial police officers and policy analysts insist that these mechanisms are necessary to "allow them to do their jobs, and protect vulnerable people". l.arna.Muqabo, community organizer with Hogan's Alley Society, says, 'The police are so attached to this [concept of street checks] and hold it for dear life. It borders on racial profiling, cuts across class, and destroys trust. Show me any correlation between street checks , and making any difference." The administrative usefulness of street checks has never been proven. Among the mounting criticism of street checks across Canada, is the Halifax, Nova Scotia Street Checks Report, researched and written for the Nova Scotia NS Human Rights Commission by Dr. Scot Wortley. Dr. Wortley reported: "The majority of the police officials who took part in the
consultation process admitted that many street checks are of poor quality and contribute little to public safety. At almost every police meeting and focus group, the phrase 'garbage in, garbage out' was used to describe this situation."
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Megan McDermott, Policy Director for the BC Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA), says "In the context of an 'exclusionary zone' in BC's North and daily violations of human rights, we're already operating in an extra-judicial environment of hyper surveillance and over-policing. These measures diminish public trust and security instead of protecting vulnerable people. Nova Scotia has had a moratorium in effect for six months, and "carding" has been banned across Ontario since 2017,and they haven't fallen apart." The BCCLA released a press release on Tuesday lambasting the street check review and VPD policy. The VPD policy, updated in the last month to align with the new Policing Standards, too broadly defines reasonable grounds for arrest, and places the onus on law enforcement officers'to determine if a "psychological detention" is taking place. Psychological detention exists when a person feels that they are not free to leave an interaction with police. The Vancouver Police Board Street Check Review released this week was written by Ruth Montgomeryof Pyxis Consulting, a former Edmonton police superintendent. The report contains substantive evidence that street checks and police stops are heavily biased and
arbitrary - yet reinforces status quo policing beliefs that street checks just need to be "fixed up" and accompanied by better training. The Vancouver Courier reports that, in June 2018, a request under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act required Vancouver police to post data on its website that showed police conducted 97,281street checks between 2008 and 2017.Of those checks, 1Sper cent (14,536)were of Indigenous people and more than four per cent (4,365) of black people. Indigenous people make up just over two per cent of the population in Vancouver, and Black people less than one per cent Subjective and poorly-defined rationales for street checks allow for biases aqajnst people who are poor, people who use drugs, sex workers and those with mental health. Current Policing Standards and VPD street check policies include exemptions for "wellness" checks, reinforcing the notion that they are benign rather than harmful to vulnerable people. Meenakshi Mannoe, Criminalization and Policing Campaigner at Pivot Legal Society, says, "There is grave potential for the stops to be misused. Consider that people are stopped just because they are in the DTES. In heavily surveilled communities, there is very little interaction with the police that feels voluntary. When we bring up street stops, folks tell us they don't want police, they want help from peers." 04
CCAP, BCCLA, Pivot and Hogan's Alley Society moratorium on street checks (continued) Pivot has been calling for a moratorium on street stops since July 2019 and published a recent blog that responds to the provincial standards. The community
groups are calling for:
An immediate moratorium on police checks, police stops and "carding"(defined as any interaction that results in physical or psychological detention and is not either detainment or arrest) More action and involvement from public bodies such as the Human Rights Commission, to review this practice from a Human
Rights perspective and make recommendations An independent review of the practice, by an arms-length body from VPD or law enforcement We acknowledge that our work takes place on the unceded traditional territory of the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the xwma8kwayam (Musqueam). Skwxvvu'Zrnesh (Squamish), Sto.lo and Sal flwata7/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
THE FINANCIALIZATION As part of the recent K-Oocs social justice film Festival, the documentary film "Push" was screened. The film depicts the housing struggle that exists when housing is seen as a commodity. As part of the screening, there was a keynote presentation by UN Rapporteur on Adequate Housing Leilani Fa rh a, who is featured in the film. Here is a brief transcript of her presentation: "The financialization of housing is a phenomenon in Canada in particular, and global in scope, including other cities like in Chile and South Korea. The "financialization of housing" is not "housing finance". We mean uber 05
call for a
OF.HOUSING
amounts of capital invested in housing as an asset and as a way to grow capital, park capital or leverage capital. "We are often talking about huge amounts of money. Asset managers find housing and snatch up cheap debt such as single-family dwellings and apartment dwellings that are deemed in their algorithms that they can leverage more capital off the property. The business model is based on getting a good return in investment. Big private equity firms like Blackstone and asset manager firms such as Timbercreek in Canada are [buying up] not just one or two units but thousands in one transaction. Buy it, fix it, sell it. Or
do cosmetic upgrades, increase rents and tenants living there can't afford it and get evicted or self-evict because they can't afford it." "Rest assured it is happening in Vancouver is well. A company called Starlight Investments bought six apartment buildings in Toronto, has institutional partnership with Blackstone and bought two buildings in Vancouver. They are also active in Burnaby and Victoria. Starlight is quite aggressive in upgrades.
Timbercreek Asset Manager owned property at the Herongate community . in Ottawa, and in fall 2018 evicted 500 people from racialized countries, [despite] huge advocacy. All of this is contrary to right to housing. Housing is a fundamental right. Forced evictions, and evictions into homelessnesspeople's lives are ruined. It's not to be taken lightly."
Remember to join or renew your membership at the Carnegie Centre in order to be able to vote at the AGM in June 2020. To run for the board of the Carnegie Community Centre Association or to nominate someone, you must join or renew your membership by the first week of April. To be a candidate for the board, you must live, work or volunteer in the DTES, . have contributed at least 30 hours of volunteer work at the Centre in the previous year, and you must be present at the AGM.
..
Members enjoy voting rights and access to activities and outings. Please renew or sign up atthe front desk today!
Upholding the Rigf!ts of People Who Rely on Public Spaces: The fourth workshop in the CCAP Legal Workshop Series 06
CARNEGIE
COMMUNITY
ACTION
PROJECT
111:15 AM EVERY
FRIDAY
The Carnegie Community Action Project is a project ofthe board ofthe Carnegie Community Centre Association. CCAP works mostly on housing, income, and land use issues in the Downtown Eastside (DTES),so that the area can remain a low income friendly community. CCAP works with English-speaking and Chinese-speaking DTES residents in speaking out on their own behalffor the changes they would like to see in their neighbourhood. Join us on Fridays 1l:l5 am in classroom 2 on the third floor of the Carnegie Centre for our weekly volunteer rneotinqsl Downtown Eastside residents who want to work on getting better housing and incomes and stop gentrification are welcome to attend. Lunch is provided.
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CONCERN
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Office: 2nd floor of the Carnegie, 401 Main Street, Vancouver Phone: 604-665-2105 Email: info@carnegieaction.org Website: wwwcarnegieaction.org
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Thank you to vancity for supporting CCi~p'swork. Support for this project does not necessarily imply that funders endorse the flndiFlgs or contents of this newsletter.
NEED TEeH HELP?
For more Information on Community Tech Cafes: Dionne Pelan, Digital Literacy Coordinator UBCLearning Exchange - (604) 872.2325 or dionne.pelan@ubc.ca William Booth, Outreach Coordinator DTESLiteracy Roundtable - dtesJoc@gmail.com
Supporting Partners: ~
THE
~
Learning Exchange
UNIVERSITY
Of
BRITISH
COLUMBIA
Science 101
.'
Science 101 is a free 3 month non-credit barrier free, introductory course offered to adults who are interested inJearning more about the world around them. Learn from UBC professors and gradu~te students- . about fascinating andfil1l topics in science!
Location and times Lectures: Tuesdays & Thursdays from 6:00 to 8:30pm on UBC campus. "Optional weekly tutorials and a variety of fieldtrips.
Course dates May 6th to August gili;2019
Information sessions March 6th at 6-7 pm at Carnegie Community Centre, Classroom IT(40 11\.1ain St) March 15th at 3-4:30 pm at the UBC Learning Exchange (612 Main St) March 20th at 6-7 pm at Camegie Community Centre, Classroom IT(401 MainBt) . 00 March 22 at 10:30 am - 12:30 pm at Oppenheimer Park March 29th at 3-430 pm at the UBC Learning Exchange (61 Main St)
Contact us at: 604-345-0348 or science 101@science.ubc.ca www.science.ubc.ca/10l
FACULTY OF SCIENCE iHE UNIVERSITYOF BRITISH COlUMsrA
from the Library In honour ofInternational Women's Day, which was on March 8th, I am focusing on books by, or about, Indigenous women. Although slightly dated, Great Women from our First Nations, written by Kelly Fournel, provides brief biographies on a number of women leaders who have increased the profile of Indigenous women. Included are Suzanne Rochon Burnett (broadcaster); Lorna Williams (professor ofIndigenous education); Sandra Lovelace Nicholas (the first Indigenous woman appointed to the Canadian Senate); and Susan Aglukark (world-renowned singer and songwriter). River Woman is a book of poetry by Katherna Vermette, who won the Governor General's award for English-language poetry in 2013. The theme of the collection is love and trauma. Trauma exists permanently but love repairs trauma, is a force of reclamation, and is a form of decolonial action. Finally, Red Women Rising: Indigenous Women Survivors in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside by Carol Muree Martin and Harsha Walia, in collaboration with the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre, is a report based on the lived experiences of Indigenous women on the Downtown Eastside who face daily systemic violence. A few of the topics include violence and safety, displacement from land, housing, child welfare, the justice system, and health and wellness. In addition, there is a comprehensive list of recommendations. On a related note, I invite you to our screening of The Films of Alanis Obomsawin which will take place in the Carnegie Centre theatre on March 23rd, starting at 6pm. Two films will be featured: WabanAki, a lyrical account of Obomsawin's return to the village she grew up in and Incident at Restigouche, which is about the Quebec Provincial Police's raid on the Restigouche Reserve over the salmon-fishing rights of the Mi'kmaq. Happy reading and watching, Daniel
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We acknowledge that Carnegie Community Centre, and this News/etter, are occurring on Coast Sal ish Territory.
THIS NEWSLETIER IS A PUBLICATION OF THE CARNEGIE COMMUNITY CENTRE ASSOCIATION Articles represent the views of individual contributors and not of the Association. WANTED Artwork for the Carnegie Newsletter -Small illustrations to accompany articles and poetry. -Cover art - Max size: 17cm(6 %')wide x 15cm(6')high. -Subject matter pertaining to issues relevant to the Downtown Eastside, but all work considered. -Black & White printing only. -Size restrictions apply (i.e. if your piece is too large, it will be reduced and/or cropped to fit): -All artists will receive credit for their work. -Originals will be returned to the artist after being copied for publication. -Remuneration: Carnegie Volunteer Tickets Please make submissions to Paul Taylor, Editor. The editor can edit for clarity, format & brevity, but not at the expense of the writer's message.
401 Main Street, Vancouver V6A 2T7 604·665·2289 Website carnegienewsletter.org Catalogue carnnews@vcn.bc.ca email carnnews@shaw.ca
Jenny Kwan MP Vancouver East NDP Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Critic 2572 E Hastings St Vancouver, BC V5K IZ3 T: 604-775-5800 F: 604-775-5811
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