February 28, 2013 Volume 12 • Number 9 50¢ Newsstand Price
INSIDe
downtown
Do you need immigration help?
Family Caregiver Tax Credit – page 2
also Film Festival Fun – page 5
302 -141 VICTORIA STREET 250-314-6555
Your neighbourhood. Your newspaper.
Old friends connect and make the JUMP
Ever doubt the power to make true change? Let’s introduce you to Glenn Hilke and Harold John. Through his work with Open City Productions to support those without home security in Montreal, Glenn met Harold. In 1992, the two men collaborated to bring the idea for an Open Mic Cabaret that toured area shelters and missions to life in their city. These events were modelled after a similar project in Los Angeles and were refitted for Montreal. The two men recruited buskers from the Metro in Montreal and paid them as entertainers. The men and women who resided in the temporarily lodging the Cabaret visited were also encouraged to get up on stage. Together, Glenn and Harold facilitated many poetry, art and theatre workshops at area community centres in addition to organizing three cabaret shows per week within the city’s network of shelters and missions. Residents knew that the project was ongoing and after spending a little time in the audience, some eventually would gain the courage and motivation to participate in the show themselves. Harold, a guitarist, songwriter, poet and photographer, developed a passion for this Cabaret project. “It was like a baby I nurtured,” he describes. He was hired and continued as coordinator until he left
Harold John (left) and Glenn Hilke have partnered to form the non-profit group Jubillee Urban Movement and Partners (JUMP). One of the projects theySPH are-working on is hosting an Open Mic Cabaret at New Life Mission. Fr Earlug Mar 22.indd 1
Montreal 5 years later in 1997. Fast forward 15 later to River City. Glenn recalls being out on an autumn bike ride with his son about a week after he and his wife relocated to Kamloops when he spotted Harold on the corner of 11th Avenue and Victoria Street.
In this moment when the two men were reunited, the first words to come out of Harold’s mouth were, “What took you so long?” With a white afro and beard, Harold is pretty tough to miss. He is affectionately called “Frosty” by those he has developed a relation-
ship with. Harold’s demeanour however, is anything but frosty and after ten years as a Kamloops resident, he’s still in the habit of giving to and improving the conditions of the disadvantaged. After moving to the Thompson Valley, – continued on page 2
Papa Tee’s buy 3 pizzas Pizzeria get 1 free march Special
gluten-free products ! made in-house ravioli • lasagna pizza
705 Victoria Street
Delivery • Take-out • Dine-in
Mo-Fr 11:30-2 & 5-9 • Sa & Su 11:30-9
250-828-0838