The Georgia Straight - Stay at Home Economy - March 26, 2020 by The Georgia Straight

FREE | MARCH 26 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; APRIL 2 / 2020

Volume 54 | Number 2722

Stay at Home Economy As the medical community and governments mobilize to fight COVID-19, some industries may actually see a resurgence as a result of how people's lives have been transformed

FERAL CATS

RISE OF ESPORTS

CANNABIS

FOOD PREP

HIGH TECH

Virtual F1 race revs up eSports

CONTENTS

March 26 - April 2 / 2020

by Mike Usinger

COVER

The COVID-19 pandemic is tranforming the way we work—and this could have lasting effects on the Vancouver economy. By Charlie Smith Cover illustration by Shayne Letain

NEWS

Feral cat numbers are likely to explode due to the COVID-19 outbreak, according to animal advocate Kathy Powelson. By Carlito Pablo

STYLE

Local lines like Arc’teryx, Wolf Circus, and Casca make a national splash; plus, sneakers to obsess over. By Janet Smith

FOOD

Grab-and-go meals have become the norm in Vancouver after the city outlawed dining in restaurants.

By Tammy Kwan

With the real-life Formula 1 season shut down due to COVID-19, the eyes of the racing world turned to the digital realm.

s elephants in the room go, it was—if possible—larger than most. And when the big question was addressed, the answers spoke to everything from the competitiveness of athletes on all playing ﬁelds to the realities of living in a world where all the rules have suddenly changed. On Sunday night the big-business sport of Formula 1 racing took an innovative step toward salvaging a season that, thanks to the realities of COVID-19, was over before the engines started. With fans taking to stands at race tracks around the world no longer a possibility this spring, owners and stakeholders decided to move competition into the arena of eSports. Give F1 credit for acting quickly. The sport’s season-opening race in Melbourne was cancelled just hours before it was scheduled to get under way on March 13, after a member of the McLaren team tested positive for the coronavirus. Six days later, Formula 1 announced that the remaining races would still take place, but as a newly launched series called the F1 Esports Virtual Grand Prix. The fi rst in that virtual season took place on March 22, with the online Bahrain Grand Prix eventually won by Chinese Formula 2 racer Guanyu Zhou. The race attracted a whopping 350,000 views over its hour-anda-half run time. That number becomes even more impressive when you consider it was almost half of what last year’s Bahrain Grand Prix drew: 711,000 viewers on ESPN. The F1 Esports Virtual Grand Prix numbers become doubly important when you look at who tuned in on Twitch, Facebook, and YouTube. Stats show that the average age of an eSports fan is 31. In a Forbes interview last year, Formula 1 global research director Matt Roberts admitted that the sport was having a problem attracting

a younger audience, with only 14 percent of its fans being under the age of 25. Roberts said: “Esports have been great for us so far. 80 percent of the audience is under 35 years old. That is amazing when you compare this to ageing TV audiences.” And that was a year before COVID-19 had F1 fans realizing that, with traditional sporting events a no-go for the foreseeable future, they can begin seriously turning to eSports for their lockdown-world adrenalin fi xes. So what was the elephant in the room for last Sunday’s race? When the F1 Esports Virtual Grand Prix was first announced, the F1 press release stated the following: “The first race of the series will see current F1 drivers line up on the grid.” That wasn’t exactly the case on race day. Up-and-comer Nicholas Latifi took part, but to date he’s only been behind the Williams team wheel on the F1 circuit during practice runs. Which means he now technically has more experience as an F1 Esports Virtual Grand Prix driver than a real-life Grand Prix one. Racing for McLaren, Lando Norris was the only one on the F1 Esports Virtual Grand Prix track with a previous start in an F1 race. Where things got really interesting was who wasn’t on the track Sunday at 7 p.m., and the reasons for that. Want proof that you don’t rise to an elite level at eSports without paying attention to the 10,000-hour rule of deliberate practice? Consider that F1 driver Romain Grosjean of the Haas team bailed because he realized he didn’t have what it took to hang with experienced gamers. Posting a photo of himself on Instagram in a driving simulator at home, he wrote, “Will hide for now as my level is poor (if not worst).” And then, no doubt because he knows many of us can relate, he added: “My excuse: 3 kids to

1 2 3 4 5

Metro housing board aims for equity

by Carlito Pablo

etro Vancouver is one of the biggest providers of aﬀordable housing in the region. It has 49 rental properties with a total of 3,400 low-cost housing units, where over 9,400 tenants live. However, the regional government’s housing portfolio can be found in only 11 out of the regional government’s 21 member municipalities. Through its wholly owned Metro Vancouver Housing Corporation, the federation of local governments is working to have a more equitable distribution of its properties across the Lower Mainland. On Friday (March 27), the board of the MVHC is expected to endorse a set of criteria for the development of new affordable housing in the region.

The list of considerations includes “regional equity”. This means that municipalities with little or no MVHC housing will get a higher score when it comes to regional equity. Laurel Cowan, program manager of affordable housing, planning, policy, and projects, wrote in a report included in the March 27 agenda of the MVHC board that “regional equity is a priority for new…housing”. The MVHC board comprises the same elected local government officials that make up the Metro Vancouver board. The recommended list of criteria gives regional equity a score of 15. The other considerations are: development potential, score of 10; development readiness, 10; site readiness, 10; walkability, 10; ac-

2 THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT MARCH 26 – APRIL 2 / 2020

12 URBAN LIVING

entertain at home.” As the front stoop takes on new meaning in our homeOn Saturday, Red Bull–spon- bound times, a local company finds its gardening niche. sored F1 star Max Verstappen also By Janet Smith announced he was pulling out, attributing his decision to not being experienced enough with the official e Online TOP 5 F1 game. Here’s what people are For others, their absence from e Start Here the F1 Esports Virtual Grand Prix’s reading this week on 8 ARTS Bahrain race came down to the reStraight.com. alities of spending weeks travelling 6 CANNABIS around a prepandemic world on the racing circuit—and then sud7 CONFESSIONS denly thinking about the implica2 ESPORTS tions of that travel after being told to go home and stay home to help 4 HEALTH COVID-19 from spreading. Sunday’s race took place on the PC 9 I SAW YOU edition of F1 2019, which prevented COVID-19: UBC expert McLaren’s Carlos Sainz Jr. from 7 LIQUOR debunks “myths” participating because he didn’t have regarding ibuprofen. the right gaming setup. Presumably, 8 MOVIES he wasn’t interested in having some Condo owner dinged 9 MUSIC random stranger pop by to begin in$10,000 for improperly stalling a new system. seated toilet. 5 REAL ESTATE In the end, it really didn’t matter Trudeau, Seth Rogen, that almost all F1 pros were AWOL, 12 OUTSIDE and Ryan Reynolds say because that opened up the field to #PlanktheCurve a cast of 20 that included One Dir11 SAVAGE LOVE ection alumnus Liam Payne, forCOVID-19: Why we mer cycling great Chris Hoy, and need exercise now pro golfer Ian Poulter. All of whom more than ever. ended up eating virtual dust, exVancouver’s News and Entertainment Weekly haust, and tire smoke at the back of Volume 54 | Number 2722 Dix says 3,632 acute the pack. 1635 West Broadway, CLASSIFIEDS: care beds are ready Vancouver, B.C. V6J 1W9 T: 604.730.7060 From a pure-entertainment standfor COVID-19 cases. T: 604.730.7000 E: classads@straight.com point, what was brilliant was that F: 604.730.7010 gs.info@straight.com SUBSCRIPTIONS: we’ve never seen—and never will E:straight.com 604.730.7000 GeorgiaStraight see—a real-life racer draw up and exeDISPLAY ADVERTISING: DISTRIBUTION: cute a battle plan like Johnny Herbert T: 604.730.7020 604.730.7087 @GeorgiaStraight did last Sunday. The 55-year-old for- F: 604.730.7012 @GeorgiaStraight mer F1er basically made up his own E: sales@straight.com rules, annihilating an advertising banner in qualifying after failing to control his Alfa Romeo, and taking a shortcut across the grass to vault from WEB ADMINISTRATOR Miles Keir PUBLISHER 16th to first in Lap 1 of the race. Brian Kalish DIGITAL COORDINATOR Jon Cranny The great success of the F1 Esports FOUNDING PUBLISHER ART DEPARTMENT MANAGER Virtual Grand Prix, then, is that it Dan McLeod Janet McDonald GENERAL MANAGER was more insanely entertaining than GRAPHIC DESIGNER Matt McLeod Miguel Hernandez anything we would have seen in realEDITOR Charlie Smith PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR world racing. That might turn out to Mike Correia SECTION EDITORS be the new elephant in the room. g Janet Smith (Arts/Fashion)

cess to transit, 10; opportunities to support relocation of tenants, 5; and municipal contribution to fi nancial viability, 10. The criteria will be used to review submissions by member cities of municipally owned lands that can be used for new Metro Vancouver housing. Metro Vancouver has committed $40 million for the development of more low-cost housing for a period of 10 years. The development will be financed by a new annual $4 million tax requisition for housing, which starts in 2020. MVHC properties are found in Burnaby, Coquitlam, Delta, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, City of North Vancouver, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Richmond, Surrey, and Vancouver. g

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NEWS

Feral cats will increase Giant hornets seek foothold in B.C. as vet clinics shut down

by Martin Dunphy

by Carlito Pablo

One cat’s litter can produce 420,000 cats in seven years. Photo by 42 North/Unsplash

B.C. animal-welfare advocate is anticipating an increase in the number of feral cats because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Kathy Powelson, executive director of the Paws for Hope Animal Foundation, said that programs across the province that are meant to curb the population of feral cats have stopped due to the health situation. These programs are generally called trap-neuter-return, which animal-rights advocates describe as a humane approach to the feral-cat issue. “The concern is that we will see a significant increase in the number of feral and free-roaming cats because there’s not going to be that spay and neutering,” Powelson told the Straight in a phone interview. Powelson also noted that “as the weather gets warmer, we’ll see more kittens being born”. “And so there’s going to be a significant increase in community cat population,” she added. Feral cats are the offspring of abandoned cats and have never lived with human beings. They grow up fending for themselves. Powelson said veterinary service is no longer available to spay and neuter feral cats because of the novelcoronavirus outbreak. She explained that trap-neuterreturn involves trapping a bunch of feral cats and getting them into a veterinary clinic for spaying and neutering. The cats are later released to where they were trapped. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Powelson said, veterinary clinics have put in place protocols to keep their staff safe.

That means animal-welfare groups cannot have mass spaying and neutering anymore. According to the Greater Victoria Animal Crusaders, feral cats are a growing concern in cities. On its website, the group noted that feral cats multiply quickly and can spread diseases to other animals. “Cats breed rapidly, and one cat and its offspring can produce 420,000 cats in seven years, with two or three litters per year,” the website notes. According to the B.C. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a five-month-old kitten can get pregnant and give birth to four offspring. The BCSPCA notes online that there is strong public support for nonlethal management of feral cats. The organization noted that trapneuter-return programs have been increasing over the past 25 years. The BCSPCA notes that both housed and feral cats have a “significant impact on wildlife by predating birds and small mammals”. The group also reminds people that abandoning cats is a criminal offence under the Criminal Code of Canada and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. Powelson said that controlling the population of feral cats is a matter of animal welfare. “Having to fend for themselves is a very cruel life,” Powelson said. According to Powelson, some people think feral cats can be left on their own, which is wrong. “Some people assume that cats can live on their own. But...they’re domestic animals. They’re meant to be cared for by people.” g

he B.C. Ministry of Agriculture is asking Lower Mainland residents near the Canada-U.S. border to be on the lookout for a terrifyingly large invading hornet this spring. The Asian giant hornet, a honeybee-killing predator about twice as large as native B.C. hornets, was discovered for the first time in the province last August in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. Its nest was located and destroyed. They were thought to have come from an ocean vessel. According to a ministry news release, a single giant hornet then turned up in White Rock last November, and a pair showed up just across the border, near Blaine, Washington, the next month. Residents along the international border, especially those living on 0 Avenue, from Surrey to Aldergrove, will receive bulletins from the province’s apiculturist containing information about and pictures of the Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia). Special traps will also be placed in the area. Because nearby wooded areas at the border are good habitat for the hornet, authorities think there might be an overwintering queen nearby that will emerge with the warmer weather to start a new nest.

The hornets have appeared in Nanaimo and White Rock. Photo by the Nature Box

Anyone spotting what they think is an Asian giant hornet is asked to report the sighting to the Invasive Species Council of BC at 1-888-9333722; B.C. residents can also fill out a report online. The ministry release states that worker giant hornets are about 3.5 centimetres long, with queens reaching up to five centimetres in length, with a wingspan of as much as seven centimetres. Giant hornets hunt insects, especially honeybees, whose hives they invade and which they decapitate and dismember, taking the thoraxes

back to the nest, where they are fed to larvae. In Japan, native honeybees have evolved defences against hornet predation, but North American honeybees are helpless in the face of the marauder. A few dozen giant hornets can slaughter a hive of 30,000 honeybees in a few hours. Giant Asian hornets generally do not bother or behave aggressively toward humans or animals unless they feel threatened, when they can present a threat as dangerous as that exhibited by so-called Africanized honeybees, or “killer” bees. Reports from Asia—where the hornets’ range covers East Asia (including Japan, parts of China, and Korea), Southeast Asia, and India and Tibet to the west—have blamed the Asian giant hornet for dozens of human deaths over the years. Most of those occurred after victims were swarmed and stung repeatedly by large numbers of the hornets. People who are allergic to bee venom are at risk of developing life-threatening anaphylactic shock when stung. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, using statistics compiled from 2000 to 2017, estimated that an average of 62 people per year died from wasp, bee, and hornet stings in the U.S. during that 17-year period. g

First Nations demand COVID-19 aid

by Martin Dunphy

he First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) has demanded that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declare a national state of emergency. In a March 23 news release, B.C. Assembly of First Nations regional chief Terry Teegee said decisive action needs to be taken before remote and at-risk First Nations communities are hit hard by the global coronavirus pandemic. “Prime Minister Trudeau must take immediate and sweeping action to declare a National State of Emergency before the COVID-19 pandemic sweeps through First Nations and vulnerable communities,” Teegee said. “Historically, First Nations communities have been devastated by pandemics and we must take decisive action now before we see our community and family members fall ill. We must heed the lessons of Italy, China and other countries that have felt the brunt of this pandemic.” The FNLC is made up of the polit-

ical executives of the B.C. Assembly of First Nations, the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC), and the First Nations Summit (FNS). The lack of access to urgent respiratory care was cited as one of the key concerns for remote First Nations communities. UBCIC president Grand Chief Stewart Phillip described the pandemic spread as a “nightmare” and said Ottawa must quickly increase funding to First Nations for essential medical and food supplies. “The time for denial and bureaucratic delay about the spread of COVID-19 is over—our communities are in crisis and we are looking for answers and for resources to stop the spread of this horrendous and nightmare pandemic,” Stewart said in the release. “Canada needs to provide increased funding for Indigenous and vulnerable communities, who are at the highest risk levels, in order to ensure they are able to purchase necessary sanitation supplies, medicines,

equipment, and food supplies so they can take care of their citizens.” The FNLC acknowledged that some First Nations had already declared their own state of emergency in order to implement travel restrictions, and the council said it “encourages every First Nation community in B.C. to declare their own State of Emergency”. “Every First Nations community in B.C. needs to act now to ensure strict social and physical distancing measures are taken immediately,” FNS Task Group spokesperson Cheryl Casimer said in the release. “All communities should be encouraged to cancel or postpone all cultural, community or social gatherings, meetings and events. Community leaders must take the necessary steps to immediately educate all of our citizens, especially the youth, so they learn the risks associated with COVID-19. As well, leaders are encouraged to involve the whole community in efforts to prevent the spread of the virus.” g

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STYLE

Local designers get national nods

S neaker HEADS

by Janet Smith

OUR WEEKLY pick from the world’s new kicks. c THE DEETS: Made of white

Vancouver brands including (left to right) Casca, Herschel Supply Co., Wolf Circus, Arc’teryx, and Obakki made a big showing at the Canadian Arts & Fashion Awards.

ancouver designers and brands have made a huge showing at the Canadian Arts & Fashion Awards this week amid the distraction of COVID-19. Nominees for the 2020 prizes include cool-comfort footwear brand Casca for the Joe Fresh fashioninnovation award; Herschel Supply Company and Wolf Circus for accessory designer of the year; Arc’teryx for outerwear brand of the year; and charity-minded Obakki for the fashion-impact award. Winners were supposed to have been announced at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto on May 29, but due to social-distancing measures, the awards gala has been postponed to the fall. We thought we’d celebrate the local lines anyway by spotlighting a few of our favourite spring looks from the brands. (Note that many of the stores listed here are closed for safety in these coronavirus-afflicted times; we’re just listing them for when the cloud lifts again.) CASCA

What: Avro Knit runners in burgundy ($198), breathable and cushiony in a colour that will let you break out of your black-and-grey winter rut.

The brand: The Vancouver innovators want sneakerheads to buy fewer shoes to help the planet. How? By designing high-comfort shoes that can step easily into all walks of your life, from work to hiking. The line combines classic looks with 3-D-printing tech, offering customizable insoles: its FoorB3D lets you scan your foot with the Casca App. Other pluses: treads with the grip of a boot and sustainably made leathers. Where: Online and the Vancouver flagship lab (4166 Main Street). HERSCHEL SUPPLY CO.

What: Neon pink Heritage backpack ($69.99), a blast of muchneeded colour in these dark times, perfect for picking up a few essential supplies or toting your work-athome strategy to the park. The brand: Founded in 2009 by brothers Jamie and Lyndon Cormack, ubiquitous Herschel has gone global—as in 70 countries—with its classic and studio collections. Breaking out when hipsters around the world embraced its high-quality, low-key backpacks, it’s grown to encompass duffel bags, luggage, raincoats, T-shirts, and more. Where: Online and at its flagship at 347 Water Street.

WOLF CIRCUS

What: Sophia Pearl Necklace in Silver ($198), a cool way to adopt this year’s biggest jewellery trend, with freshwater pearls and a cute recycled-sterling-silver toggle. The brand: The sustainable Vancouver line is all about understated luxury. It employs recycled metals, hand fabrication, and lost-wax casting in its Railtown studio. Founder and creator Fiona Morris launched the line out of her home in 2011 with a wolf ring. She’s gone on to sell internationally and nabbed last year’s $100,000 award through the Fashion Institute of Technology’s Design Entrepreneur program in New York City. Where: Online and at stores like Blue Ruby, Hills of Kerrisdale, Hey Jude, Much & Little, and Walrus. ARC’TERYX

What: The ultralight Alpha pullover in a blast of colour to offset misty Coast Mountain hikes—tourmaline/phoenix. The look is made from Gore-Tex made from reclaimed materials ($670). The brand: Founded by Dave Lane and Jeremy Guard in 1989, the North Vancouver–based outdoor clothing and equipment company is driven by extreme adventuring, meticulous craftmanship, and cutting-edge technology. Arc’teryx released a long and

meaningful statement on the coronovirus crisis and its effect on business, as it closed its retail outlets (but not ecommerce) this week: “We hope that you can find sanctuary in connecting with any form of nature you have access to during these unusual times— even if viewed from a distance or a place of optimism for what’s to come.” Where: Online and at 813 Burrard Street, with a factory store at 2155 Dollarton Highway. OBAKKI

What: The hand-dyed rayon-andmodal indigo scarf ($110) is silky soft and drapes in a perfect, loose, I’m-not-trying way. It also supports the women of Uganda’s Bidi Bidi, one of the largest refugee camps in the world; they use a natural indigodyeing process that’s been passed down for generations. Obakki runs a tailor and textile training facility in the heart of the resettlement area. The brand: Treana Peake founded the company in 2005 as an extension of her dual passions for travelling and humanitarian work. The heart of the brand is the Obakki Foundation, a registered charity that focuses on providing clean water and livelihood initiatives in Africa. Where: Online and 261 East Pender Street. g

leather with a burgundy stripe, the unisex Puma x Def Jam Clyde sneaker rocks a low-cut, old-school-hip-hop vibe; check out the woven Def Jam logo on the tongue. Puma released the custom collection last month to mark the 35th anniversary of the game-changing label behind iconic acts like Public Enemy, Run-DMC, and LL Cool J. The style feels a bit like a throwback to the original Puma suedes the Beastie Boys sport on the cover of their Solid Gold Hits compilation.

c RANDOMNESS: The classic

style is named for 1970s New York Knicks star Walt “Clyde” Frazier, who—in one of footwear’s first true sportstar collabs—helped design the court-friendly style. The look’s malleable outsoles and flexible uppers made them a favourite among the B-boys breaking on Bronx streets in hip-hop’s earliest days.

c STOCKISTS: Puma.com

and Vancityoriginal.com, about $120.

c SOUNDTRACK: Run-DMC’s

“It’s Tricky”, the Beastie Boys’ “She’s Craft y”, Public Enemy’s “Don’t Believe the Hype”. g

Yes, takeout food is still a safe bet by Gail Johnson

There is no evidence that suggests takeout meals—like the one from Tractor shown here—are a COVID-19 risk factor.

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4 THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT MARCH 26 – APRIL 2 / 2020

ith more restaurants suspending dine-in service and oﬀering takeout and delivery amid the COVID-19 crisis, many people wonder whether it’s safe to get their food this way. Health experts say yes. To start, the novel coronavirus (which causes COVID-19) is not likely to be transmitted by food itself. “There is no evidence out there that, so far with [COVID-19], that it’s foodborne-driven or food service– driven,” Dr. Ian Williams, chief of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Outbreak Response and Prevention Branch, said in a recent webinar. “This really is respiratory, person-to-person. At this point, there is no evidence really pointing us towards food [or] food service as ways that are driving the epidemic.” The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued similar information. According to its website, the organization isn’t aware of any reports suggesting that COVID-19 can be transmitted by food or food packaging. Unlike foodborne gastrointestinal viruses such as norovirus and hepatitis A, which often make people ill through contaminated food, foodborne exposure to this virus is not known to be a route of transmission. “The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person,” the FDA states. “This includes between people who are in close contact with one an-

other (within about 6 feet), and through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes.” Although it is possible that the virus could be present on the surfaces of food packaging, there is no current evidence to suggest this is associated with the transmission of COVID-19, according to North Carolina State University. However, people can take steps to reduce risk. Handle takeout or delivery packages with gloves, remove food from external packaging, then properly dispose of or recycle the packaging as well as the gloves. Wash hands thoroughly. Those concerned about packaging of food bought at grocery stores can follow the same steps where possible. Cans and plastic bagging can be wiped with sanitizing wipes. Health bodies have issued strict guidelines to everyone working in the food supply chain to practise proper hygiene practices, including washing hands and surfaces regularly to keep the risk level low and having employees who are exhibiting symptoms to stay home. g

REAL ESTATE

Video tours offer an alternative to open houses

by Carlito Pablo

Ivan Chan turned his photography hobby into a creative Vancouver business.

avid Hutchinson thought he had seen it all. As a Vancouver realtor for around 20 years, Hutchinson has witnessed many ups and downs in the housing market. With COVID-19 on the rampage, Hutchinson says things are totally different. “Nothing has halted the market like this,” Hutchinson told the Georgia Straight in a phone interview, noting that open houses are being cancelled because of concerns over the novel coronavirus. “This is new territory for realtors,” he said. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver has strongly advised realtors to avoid open houses to curb transmission of the virus. The board suggested virtual tours, a tool that Hutchinson uses along with other means he employs in his trade. “We’re going to have to be creative,” the realtor said. For virtual tours, real-estate agents can turn to companies like Ivan Chan Photography and Videography. In addition to photos, the Vancouverbased creative company puts together video tours and 360-degree virtual walk-throughs. The company was founded by Ivan Chan, a UBC graduate who took his photography hobby to a professional level. Chan expects digital presentations to be in greater demand as realtors have to find alternative ways of showing a house without buyers being physically present. “One way to realistically show the house just as if you’re there is through a video or virtual tour,” Chan told the Straight in a phone interview. According to Chan, potential buyers can do a video or virtual tour in the comfort of their home. A video tour is like watching a movie. A 360-degree walk-through allows viewers to click on dots on the screen to move to the next scene, just like how Google Street View works, Chan explained. “Virtual tours can show a seller’s home with enough realism that it can replace walking into open houses,” Chan said. He noted that people are already accustomed to viewing videos and photos when they shop online for various consumer products. As for Hutchinson, the Vancouver realtor is concerned about how deep the current requirement of social distancing will affect the housing market. “At some point, you have to get onto the property, and do some kind of due diligence,” he said. According to Hutchinson, it’s rare for a property to sell without the buyer seeing it in person. Buyers also need to see a notary for the conveyance of a property to complete the transaction. “I have a couple completions this week, and it’s very difficult to get hold of a lawyer,” Hutchinson said. According to Hutchinson, delays in sale completions can have a “domino effect” on the market. If one sale doesn’t complete, it will affect the sellers’ ability to purchase another property, the realtor explained. The B.C. Real Estate Association announced online that it is supporting recommendations by local real-estate boards to stop open houses. The BCREA also stated that it is working with the 11 realestate boards across the province as the market “slows as a result of the pandemic”. g

FEATURE

Staying home shakes up economy Economists say the COVID-19 pandemic could bring about long-term structural changes

by Charlie Smith

ver the past 10 days, UBC economist Giovanni Gallipoli has witnessed more changes in his workplace than what ordinarily takes place in a year. With classes closed, he and his faculty colleagues have been working crazily, figuring out how to offer instruction, test students, and receive assignments online when everyone is at home. Gallipoli has researched the growth of information-technology jobs, so he’s no newcomer to understanding the impact this sector has the economy. Now he and his colleagues are relying on IT workers to help them make monumental transitions. It’s all being done in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and public-health officials’ desire for social distancing to flatten the curve of new infections. “In times of crisis, usually you adopt changes really fast—and sometimes these changes are not reversed,” Gallipoli explained. “These occur during wars or during periods of upheaval—social or otherwise.” In other words, this new stayat-home economy will likely have long-lasting ramifications on the consumption of goods and services in Canada. For now, restaurants are prohibited from offering table service—only takeout and deliveries are allowed. Professional sports events, concerts, and other large gatherings are banned. And that’s throwing huge numbers of people onto the unemployment rolls. “I think we haven’t seen the worst yet in terms of health costs or economic costs,” Gallipoli added. “Both ways, it will be painful to people, actually.” The deputy chief economist of Central 1 Credit Union, Bryan Yu, also feels that the COVID-19 pandemic is bringing unprecedented changes, particularly to tourism, restaurant and food services, and retail. “A lot of them have been shuttered,” Yu told the Straight by phone while working from home. “This is not something we’ve seen: where entire sectors of the economy essentially see zero activity.” He pointed out that the federal government and central banks around the world are trying to ensure there’s sufficient ongoing liquidity and credit available to businesses. But unlike other economic contractions, this came as a largely unexpected shock. “You don’t [normally] see revenues completely fall off the map,” Yu noted. The impact of COVID-19 varies, depending on where people are living in Canada. Alberta, for instance, has been hit with stunningly low oil prices, with Western Canadian Select falling below $8 per barrel. According to Yu, Vancouver will feel a greater effect from the ban on foreign visitors because its tourism sector is a larger portion of the economy relative to other parts of the country. In Ontario, the shutdown of factories, particularly in the auto sector, is affecting those along the supply chain. B.C.’s unemployment rate was five percent in February. Yu expects it to rise above eight percent in the second and third quarters of 2020. By the fourth quarter, he anticipates that businesses will start to resume normal operations. Ontario’s jobless rate was 5.6 percent in February, and it’s also expected to climb. Yu described the COVID-19 pandemic as a “temporary phenomenon, although a very severe phenomenon” from an economic standpoint. Yet amid all the gloom, Yu also suggested that certain sectors are faring better than others. Purveyors of basic necessities, like grocers, are experiencing strong sales. Creators of direct-to-consumer products and online retailers like Amazon are also poised to profit from people spending

UBC economist Giovanni Gallipoli, like many of his faculty colleagues, is learning to teach students in new ways. Photo by UBC

enormous amounts of time at home. Then there are producers of items that can monitor people’s health, mobile apps, and video games, which are also well-positioned for the stayat-home economy. “According to Verizon, overall video-game Internet traffic has increased 75% since restrictions were imposed in America,” the Economist recently reported. “Bungie, a videogame developer, says that average daily user engagement on their game

The big winners will be public and private liquor stores, which are going to supply booze to people forced to drink at home. There could also be significant changes to transportation over the longer term. Steve Miloshev, owner of the Motorino store in Vancouver, told the Straight by phone that he’s expecting demand for scooters, bicycles, and motorcycles to increase as more people decide that they want to avoid public transit.

Central 1’s Bryan Yu expects B.C.’s jobless rate to rise above eight percent; political economist Seth Klein hopes that stimulus programs advance the Green New Deal.

In times of crisis, usually you adopt changes really fast—and sometimes these changes are not reversed. – UBC economist Giovanni Gallipoli

‘Destiny 2’ is up 10% worldwide and as much as 20% in the markets most affected by the coronavirus.” Another growth area is eSports, for those looking for alternatives now that the NHL and NBA have suspended their seasons. (For more on that, see the article on page 2.) Yu plans on paying attention to the commercial real-estate sector. Once people get used to working from home, will companies want to bring them all back into offices? Especially if that involves incorporating new social-distancing measures in the workplace if there is no COVID-19 vaccine? These are open questions. The beer, wine, and spirits market is also undergoing an astonishing transformation, at least over the short term. That’s because companies can no longer distribute their products in bars and restaurants.

“During a crisis, people are changing their priorities,” Miloshev told the Straight by phone. “They’re changing their perceptions. They’re changing the way they behave.” He emphasized that he’s “not excited for this situation”, expressing sadness for those suffering from COVID-19. At the same time, he hopes it will spur positive behaviour in the future. “The tangible priorities will crystallize after a crisis like that,” he said. “People will start living more healthy and take more care for the environment.” THAT PERSPECTIVE is shared by Vancouver political economist Seth Klein. Like many parents, his family life has been upended by the global COVID-19 pandemic. When reached by phone, Klein told the

Straight that he’s been busy developing a home-schooling routine for his five-year-old son—something he never imagined doing. His wife, Vancouver city councillor Christine Boyle, has also been spending far more time at home. On March 23, she participated in a “virtual council meeting”, where local politicians amended the city’s state of emergency bylaw. Klein devoted the past year to writing a book on climate change, drawing upon lessons from the Second World War. He felt that people needed a touchstone of that former crisis to comprehend what needs to be done to address runaway greenhouse-gas emissions. The book was sent off for copyediting just as the COVID-19 crisis unfolded at a scale nobody could have imagined a few weeks ago. But he sees some key differences. With COVID-19, unemployment is increasing and the gross domestic product may shrink, whereas the jobless rate went down and GDP went up during the Second World War. He’s hoping that policymakers will embrace the Green New Deal—a set of social and economic reforms to stimulate the renewable-energy sector—to promote economic growth after the pandemic is brought under control. “Now I think we’re seeing some great battle about to unfold in the next few weeks where the defenders of the fossil-fuel industry are going to be trying to seize on this opening to extract from the public the capital that it couldn’t get a few weeks ago,” Klein said. “Many others, myself included, are saying we do, indeed, need a massive government-intervention response, but not this one.” That’s not the only major choice facing policymakers. UBC’s Gallipoli said that there’s also an economic and political debate unfolding over whether virtually everything should be closed to address the pandemic. According to him, a serious and well-enforced shutdown could be tolerated by the system for up to two months, though at considerable pain to the public. He suggested that this would be preferable to trying to keep the economy going, even if this approach didn’t have as much success in reducing the rate of infection. “The first view seems to me somewhat more realistic because I can’t think how one could keep the standard functioning of things if you get these peak infection rates, you get congestions in the health system, and then you generate panic like what effectively happened in Italy,” Gallipoli said. “When you embed a situation like that, then it becomes really dangerous.” g

MARCH 26 – APRIL 2 / 2020 THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT 5

FOOD

Restaurants reinvent for new reality

by Tammy Kwan

he COVID-19 pandemic has hit the local restaurant industry very, very hard. Many food establishments around town already voluntarily closed at the beginning of the week in efforts to slow the spread of the virus, with some aiming to limit food waste as much as possible. The City of Vancouver announced that it was exercising emergency powers to order all restaurants, bars, and cafés to discontinue dine-in services effective midnight on March 20. B.C.’s provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, also ordered all restaurants in the province to end dinein options the same day. That means all local dining establishments must switch to takeout and delivery services if they want to continue to operate, and some businesses are adapting to it more easily than others. Meghan Clarke is the co-owner of Tractor Everyday Healthy Foods, which has several locations around Vancouver. She told the Straight in a phone interview that sales are down 75 percent at its downtown stores, which are usually its highest-volume spots. But Clarke said takeout and delivery are helping, and it wasn’t that big of a shift for her business because of its grab-and-go business model. “A lot of people are ordering online through our online order platforms. We’ve done this for a long time and we have the food on a pickup rack, and people are in and out of the stores in five seconds,” Clarke explained. “We’ve built our platform on healthy grab-and-go from day one, [and] that’s in the premise of our concept. The shift in being able to provide that is not drastic, because we’ve been doing that for the past seven years.” Tractor Foods has just announced they have teamed up with local tech company Ready to allow for safer and more convenient ways to order takeout at its Kitsilano location. Customers can use their phones to connect directly to the restaurant menu and order items for immediate pickup or at a later time. If they want to order at the restaurant, there will be a podium for guests to view the menu, order, and pay using only their phones. “We will fight hard to keep being able to provide healthy, quick-service food to our community,” Clarke said. “We really believe [that] having those alternatives there are important for people.” DownLow Chicken Shack (DL

We need to change our restaurant style in order to survive. – Hidekazu Tojo

In response to the city’s shutdown of dine-in service, iconic sushi spot Tojo’s Restaurant has created a new menu for pickup and delivery. Photo by Leila Kwok

Chicken) and DownLow Burgers are also eateries that have originally been created for takeout options, which means it’s a bit easier for these food spots to adapt to the new provincewide restaurant requirements. “Our model was already built for it, so we have obviously had to make some adaptations every step of the way with regards to social distancing and making sure everyone is looked after and taken care of,” Doug Stephen, owner of DL Chicken and Downlow Burgers, told the Straight in a phone interview. Besides takeout, delivery will also be an added service at the sister eateries. “We’ve made the decision to do it in-house so we can keep as many of our own team employed as possible,” Stephen explained. “We will continue to operate as safely and responsibly as we possibly can, while maintaining employment for as long as we possibly can.” Stephen also emphasized that he would not use food-delivery apps because he would rather maintain full staff employment and not have to raise menu prices due to those apps taking a cut of sales. “There are some business models haven’t been able to adapt, and some staff will be in a very difficult situation in a matter of weeks,” Stephen said. “Effectively, this industry has been abandoned.” He said he hopes the restaurant industry will change and dining establishments will adapt after this pandemic experience because he believes it won’t be the last time this happens. For Railtown Cafe and Catering, owner Dan Olson acknowledges that his business is more equipped to switch to takeout and delivery than others in the city.

“We have meal-to-go programs, like our turkey-to-go and Easter-togo meals during the holiday seasons, so our kitchens are fully equipped for it, and we are prepared to navigate through this difficult time,” Olson wrote by email. He has also launched a new meal program that offers large individual heat-and-serve portions. Special discounts are being given to all pandemic frontline workers. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t also a challenging time for Olson and his restaurant and catering business. Railtown has shuttered all four of its brickand-mortar locations, creating hardships for those workers. Its catering side has also scaled back operations. “It is very sad times for our hospitality industry, especially staff that has been with us for a long time,” Olson added. “It is survival of the fittest at the moment, [and] we are taking it one day at a time.” It’s a different story for Vancouver restaurants traditionally known for their dine-in experience. Unlike businesses that can easily switch to takeout and delivery, there’s a much steeper curve for learning and adapting. Tojo’s Restaurant is one of the most iconic dining establishments in Vancouver. Proprietor and chef Hidekazu Tojo has been serving his awardwinning Japanese cuisine for decades, and he has regulars enjoying his food at the bar or in its expansive dining room every day of the week. But everything has changed for Tojo. “You know, I am 70 years old, [and] this is the worst case ever in my life,” Tojo told the Straight in a phone interview. “We have employed many people, some for a long, long time. But we need to change our restaurant style to survive.”

He’s using his creative mind to adjust to the new restaurant regulations. Tojo has created a new menu, which will be available for pick-up and delivery Monday through Saturday, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. It includes dishes like a chirashi (“scattered”) sashimi and veggie bowl, signature rolls, various starters and salads, nigiri, tempura, and larger entrées. He said that sourcing imported seafood has been hard, and he will focus on featuring local seafood and vegetables from organic farmers. Special discounts and complimentary dishes will be offered to those working in the frontlines. Don’t expect to find Tojo’s on any food-delivery apps, because delivery will be done by staff. “We thought it would be nice to have the connection with our customers and make sure all our staff are still able to work,” Tojo said. “We have lots of customers calling me and saying they miss my food. That’s why we make a very limited menu for to-go.” Yuwa Japanese Cuisine is another restaurant that primarily focuses on creating a unique dine-in experience for guests. It’s a neighbourhood eatery that used to offer a small amount of takeout food for regular customers, but never with this new kind of capacity. “This is, obviously, a big shift for us,” Yuwa owner Iori Kataoka told the Straight by phone. “The takeout response has been small, [because] we still have to let people know that we are doing takeout.” She said she hopes to have delivery service soon. Kataoka is working closely with the restaurant’s chef to create a suitable menu for their new business method. Bento boxes and sushi and sashimi platters are in consideration for the to-go menu. “We are trying to survive through it and, most importantly, we have to keep employing people even though

we don’t make money here,” she added. When asked what percentage of business she thinks that takeout and delivery might help recover, Kataoka didn’t have a definitive answer. “It’s really hard to say at this moment. We have to consider what people are looking for. We cannot just stick with what we have been doing,” she said. “If I can do 50 percent, [then] I can retain a certain number of people, that’s for sure. That’s kind of our goal.” It’s not all stormy weather for Yuwa, though. Kataoka said many of the restaurant’s regulars are calling and saying they want to offer support. “We get really nice messages from our customers, and we are feeling very thankful for all our regulars,” Kataoka said. Vancouver’s restaurants are going through a rough patch, but many owners are using their creativity to help them get through these difficult times. Say Mercy has created a “staff meal” menu of dishes that range from $5 to $10 that can be purchased to eat fresh or freeze for later. In the spirit of giving back to the community, each order placed will require a $2 donation to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. Although Ugly Dumpling chef and owner Darren Gee emphasized that his restaurant wasn’t just a dumpling house, he is now helping his small business survive by selling its handmade dumplings in frozen form, which has garnered plenty of interest and support from the community. Popular spots within the Aburi Restaurants group, such as Miku, Minami, and Gyoza Bar, are also introducing to-go menu options for takeout and delivery. Food lovers will be able to get takeout items like a deluxe sushi platter for three, an aburi sushi bento box, ramen, curry, gyozas, and more. For those who want an easy directory to find takeout menus for pickup or delivery around town, check out the Breaking Bread initiative: a central hub for restaurants across B.C. and beyond offering everything from curbside pickup to delivery, and services from meal prep to groceries. Gourmands may not be able to dine in at their favourite restaurants during the pandemic, but it’s for the best: social distancing will help flatten the infection curve. And, to be honest, eating your favourite foods in the comfort of your own home might be the best of both worlds. g

THC could induce psych symptoms

by John Lucas

n what is sure to be a controversial finding among cannabis users and proponents, a review of existing research published this week in The Lancet Psychiatry suggests that a single dose of THC may induce a variety of psychiatric symptoms associated with schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders. According to a news release issued by The Lancet on March 17, “A single dose of the main psychoactive component in cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), can induce a range of psychiatric symptoms, according to results of a systematic review and meta-analysis of 15 studies including 331 people with no history of psychotic or other major psychiatric disorders, published in The Lancet Psychiatry journal.” The study was funded by the Medical Research Council and was conducted by researchers from King’s College London, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Imperial College London, Leiden University Medical Center, Yale University School of Medicine, Con-

The study notes that these symptoms are not associated with CBD. A review of research published in The Lancet Psychiatry suggests THC may induce symptoms associated with schizophrenia. Photo by Christina Winter/Unsplash

necticut Mental Health Center, and VA Connecticut Healthcare System. The study also notes that these psychiatric symptoms are not associated with cannabidiol (CBD), one of the other major active compounds in cannabis. The authors reviewed four studies examining CBD’s effects on the development of the same psychiatric symptoms and no significant differences were found between the effects of CBD and the effects of a

6 THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT MARCH 26 – APRIL 2 / 2020

placebo. “In studies that focused on whether CBD counters THC-induced symptoms, one study identified reduced symptoms, using a modest sample, but three larger studies failed to replicate this finding.” The aforementioned news release quotes King’s College professor Oliver Howes as saying: “As the THCto-CBD ratio of street cannabis continues to increase, it is important to clarify whether these compounds can

cause psychotic symptoms. Our finding that THC can temporarily induce psychiatric symptoms in healthy volunteers highlights the risks associated with the use of THC-containing cannabis products. This potential risk should be considered in discussions between patients and medical practitioners thinking about using cannabis products with THC. This work will also inform regulators, public health initiatives, and policy makers considering the medical use of THC-containing cannabis prod-

ucts or their legalisation for recreational use.” There’s an important distinction to note here. Although the researchers found that a dose of THC—which they say is roughly equivalent to a single joint—can induce symptoms that mimic those of certain psychiatric disorders, THC does not, in fact, cause said disorders in users. This will come as little surprise to cannabis users, who are well aware from decades of anecdotal evidence that smoking a joint can make some people a little paranoid, but it has certainly never made anyone schizophrenic. To put things in perspective, consider that in a commentary he wrote for the Georgia Straight last August, author and activist Dana Larsen noted that “every analysis of relative drug harms lists cannabis as one of the safest psychoactive substances there is”. You can read the paper, which is titled “Psychiatric symptoms caused by cannabis constituents: a systematic review and meta-analysis”, at The Lancet Psychiatry’s website. g

DRINK

Get through this crisis by Liquor makers fill a pandemic need stocking your home bar

by Mike Usinger

DIY isn’t just for home-renovation projects; it’s also for booze. Photo by Mike Usinger

efore we go any further, let’s reflect on some simple but incredibly important words of encouragement: you can do this. And by that, we mean you can build a home-bar program at a time when going out for cocktails isn’t on the horizon. Assuming that you’re not one of those covidiots who can’t seem to stop themselves from flocking to Kits Beach every time the sun is shining, you’re going to be spending a lot of hours at home over the next little while. And with that in mind, it won’t hurt to get good at something. Bartending is one such skill. At some point, you’ll have a social life again, and nothing impresses guests like a host who knows what to do with a fully stocked liquor cabinet, a shelf full of bitters, and a jar of housemade cardamom simple syrup. A quick confession: I’m not, and have never been, a professional bartender. I have, however, spent a lot of time on barstools in places like the Keefer, Shameful Tiki, and La Mezcaleria, all of which have cocktails worth venturing out for once this pandemic blows over. And what I’ve picked up is that, while bartending is a pursuit you can never fully master, it’s something you can do at home passably enough to impress your fellow upscale liquor nerds. Over the next little while, we’ll delve into all sorts of things, from the fact that simple syrup doesn’t need to be simple if you’ve got a cinnamon stick or a bunch of rosemary, to the way throwing a chipotle pepper into a mason jar of tequila can take your margarita to places that would impress Bobby Flay. First, let’s deal with the essentials. The beauty of learning to tend bar at home is that either you’ve got everything you need, or you’re

going to have to improvise. You’ll mix most drinks in a cocktail shaker. If you don’t have one, there’s nothing to prevent you from embracing your inner hillbilly with a mason jar or a washed-out pickle jar. The role of ice? That would be not only to chill the cocktail, but, just as importantly, to dilute it—think of it as taking the edge off, while playing an essential role in marrying a drink’s flavours. That means you’re not using cubes that have been sitting in the freezer since Stephen Harper was prime minister. You know what’s crazy? You’re ready to go right now. Here, prove it to yourself. Let’s make a Manhattan. If you’re at all into drinking, you’ve got a bottle of whisky around the house. Canadian Club is best, but even Jack Daniel’s or Knob Hill bourbon will do. Odds are equally good that you’ve got sweet vermouth on hand (a Carpano Antica if you were feeling flush before everything went south, Martini Rosso if you’re like the rest of us), and a bottle of Angostura bitters. Pour all of the below into a shaker filled with ice. 1 3/4 oz whisky 2/3 oz sweet vermouth 1 dash Angostura bitters Purists will rightly argue that you stir and then strain it all into a cocktail glass, but we’re making our own rules at a time when the old rules don’t apply. I like a less boozy Manhattan (if there is such a thing), so shake vigorously and strain into a martini glass. The final step? We’re going dry Manhattan here, so cut a two-inch strip of lemon peel and then twist it over the drink. You’ll see the oil hit the surface and then dissolve. Just like your problems right now. There. You did it. g

ne of the many amazing things about alcohol is that it has uses beyond making one forget about COVID-19, the seismic shifting of the world as we know it, and the fact that your thumbs are really starting to hurt from playing Overwatch 17 hours per day. Alcohol is also a key ingredient in hand sanitizer, which is flying off the shelves at the same rate as 24-packs of Charmin Ultra Soft toilet paper and Robin Hood all-purpose unbleached flour. And luckily, it’s something that you’ll find at Vancouver’s dozens and dozens of craft breweries and grassroots distilleries. Already much-loved to the point where they are woven into the fabric of Vancouver, members of the craftliquor industry have now been given the green light to step up big-time to help fight COVID-19. British Columbia’s Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) has temporarily authorized brewers and distillers to manufacture alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Previously, discretionary authorization was required from the government to produce any such alternative products. In a news release, B.C. attorney general David Eby said: “Some distillers are donating the ‘excess alcohol’ from their distilling process to a third party that can produce hand sanitizer. Others are producing the hand sanitizer themselves, taking steps to ensure products contain the necessary level of alcohol content to make them effective. Distillers will be able to donate or sell the hand sanitizer they have manufactured, and the authorization will be reviewed on an ongoing basis as the provincial health context changes.” Over the past couple of weeks, the likes of East Vancouver’s Parallel 49 and Odd Society Spirits had already started to branch out from a product you use during socializing to one you rely on as a major tool in reducing the after-effects of human contact. Parallel 49 has been producing hand sanitizer, which it is canning (instead of adding more plastic to the waste stream) and sending out into the world for people to use to refill their plastic pump bottles. In a sign of goodwill, the first 4,000 cans off the line will be donated to local businesses and charities. “Obviously, this situation is unlike anything we’ve ever had to deal with,” Parallel 49 co-owner Anthony Frustagli told the Straight. “We’re trying our best to keep the lights on

Vancouver distillery Odd Society Spirits is one of several local craft-liquor businesses that are using their facilities and materials to produce hand sanitizer.

and protect jobs. At the same time, we asked ourselves, ‘How can we help B.C. get through this?’ There’s a dire need for hand sanitizer, and we have the equipment, people, and materials to produce it.

There’s a dire need for hand sanitizer, and we have the equipment to produce it. – Anthony Frustagli

“Our first batch is earmarked for charities, nonprofits, and disadvantaged individuals in the community,” he continued. “Beyond that, we’re working on bulk product to

supply essential services like public transit, first responders, and frontline health-care workers.” Odd Society has also stepped up to give back. General manager and co-owner Miriam Karp informed the Straight: “We also want to be of service, and have produced a limited supply of hand sanitizer that we have designated for not-for-profit organizations within the community that are in need.” The distillery had already been making a limited amount of hand sanitizer. Now that it’s been given the green light by the government, it will begin on commercial production. Challenges include sourcing containers and other supplies needed to get the product out to the public. “We were fortunate that we had just made some gin, so we had the first runnings in order to make 100 litres of sanitizer quickly,” Odd Society Spirits distiller Joel McNichol added. “But it was and still is a challenge to source glycerin, peroxide, and bottles so that we can make more.” g

The Georgia Straight Confessions, an outlet for submitting revelations about your private lives—or for the voyeurs among us who want to read what other people have disclosed.

Scan to confess Othering I am subscribed to a FB group for a regional community a couple hours outside of Vancouver. Half of the posts right now are bashing “city people” for coming to the region. They suggest putting up barriers on the road and only letting locals in. However, I know most of those people... (con’t @straight.com)

Hysterics

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I’m seeing people on social media who are mad at everyone who isn’t panicked and angry about COVID. It’s like they don’t realize that turning yourself into a mass of anger and negativity and fear is actually bad for your immune system, and doesn’t help anyone else either... There’s a healthier way to respond to this situation. (Not taking it seriously isn’t it either.)

Online Dating Action Yeah, it’s getting busy online because everyone is locked away... but I just got this message... “Hi over there!” I write back about four sentences. The reply is another one liner... I can’t be bothered with this. This lock-down is gonna suck.

Well this is bad timing right? My nasty seasonal allergies are kicking in to high gear at the same time as the virus scare. Similar symptoms. 2020 is just a complete shitstorm so far.

Celebrities Stop I am tired of celebrities telling us all how we can do better, like them, by staying at home. I have no problem with the staying home concept, but I hate hearing about it as they post from their mansions. Stop applauding... (con’t @straight.com)

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to post a Confession MARCH 26 – APRIL 2 / 2020 THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT 7

ARTS

Music plays on, in creative new ways

by Janet Smith

ven as Vancouver arts groups have been reeling from the effects of social distancing measures this week, they have been shifting into creative mode in the virtual world. From intimate, at-home commission series to full-blown virtual viewing parties, the classical and new-music community here has proven that it’s not only one of the industries hit hardest by COVID-19, but also one of the quickest to switch keys. “It will be interesting to see, when life gets back to normal, how much of this will have stayed with us,” observes Chor Leoni Men’s Choir artistic director Erick Lichte, who’s hosting his group’s first regular Wednesday-night live stream on April 1. “I have great faith and hope in the artists all over the world in how they’re going to find new ways to reach out, and I’m kind of excited to see what comes.” For its part, Chor Leoni has cooked up a sort of TV-inspired weekly online concert-show, in the face of what Lichte recognizes as one of the most pandemic-unfriendly art forms out there. “Think about it: our job is to put a large number of people in a room, have them sit as close to each other as possible so they can hear each other, and breathe for three hours,” the choir maestro, who will be hosting his group’s live stream, tells the Straight from his Vancouver home. “Then, when they’re done rehearsing, we put a thousand people in the same room to listen to them. I mean, it’s almost comical: we’re so tight it’s just a horrendous petri dish. But it hurts us not to do it!” At next Wednesday’s launch at 7 p.m. Inside Chor Leoni Livestream presents a mix of seven years’ worth of high-quality concert videos the choir has recorded in halls around the world, with commentary and special guests. It will stream on Facebook (@chorleoni), YouTube (chorleoni), and Instagram TV (@chorleoni). For this first edition, Lichte speaks with conductor Ethan Sperry about Translations, his new recording of Ēriks Ešenvalds’s works on the Naxos label. In another innovation, the ensemble will also stream its recorded music set to imagery by a local artist. In the first installment, Ešenvalds’s In Paradisum will be brought to life in artwork by Vancouver artist Tiko Kerr. In addition, the choir members will be on the line with commentary. “I think it will be a real eye-opener for the public on how we react,” says Lichte. “It’s a chance to come together as a choir once a week and remember what we do and why we do it, but also share that with the audience. “Yeah, we could have just released these videos on YouTube,” he adds, “but what we’re all missing is a sense of occasion; if you’re like me, you’re like, ‘Oh, it’s a Saturday, but it doesn’t feel different from any other

idea of what this time was like, as a series of sketches from all these different artists who are all in the same position. Will we become more hopeful in the coming weeks, or do things turn really bad?” In the first commission, Vancouver flute star Mark Takeshi McGregor plays what he says is one of his favourite flute solos, PierreOctave Ferroud’s “Bergère Captive”, a choice that illustrates the constraints that some musicians are living under, having to practise at home. As he puts it in the video introduction: “Normally, I see myself as a performer of Canadian music, of contemporary music, but I’m home today and all of my neighbours are home today, so I thought I would mix it up and give them a bit of a break.” You can find the commission videos at little chambermusic.com/isolation-commissions/ and through social media, including the group’s YouTube channel (LittleChamberMusic), and sponsor your own at Little Chamber’s page on Canada Helps (www.canadahelps.org/en/ dn/47150).

Clockwise from left: Chor Leoni’s Erick Lichte hosts a weekly virtual viewing party, while the Little Chamber Music Series That Could’s Mark Haney launches Isolation Commissions, with Mark Takeshi McGregor.

day.’…We’re very clear that the impetus is COVID-19, but this is not going to be a woeis-me show. Hopefully, it offers a bit of an escape; it’s about beauty and transcendence.” OVER AT THE LITTLE CHAMBER Music Series That Could, live-streaming on a more intimate scale has taken on roles as both emergency funding and a chance for artful reflection on these punishing times. The new Isolation Commissions offer donors a chance to give a musician of their choosing $200 to film a four-minute video performing at home—be it an improvisation, a favourite piece, a work of comfort, or a work in progress (the artist chooses). “Last Monday, when the shit hit the fan, my email inbox was full of cancellations and I had to cancel a concert series,” says managing artistic director Mark Haney. “I’ve been telling everyone this is really a chance to be reflective of this time, and it’s the artists’ chance to, in a low-key way, show how this impacts your artistic practice. I wish it was more money, but $200 is a trip to the grocery store or a way to top up the rent.” The well-known local composer and doublebass player has already collected a list of 25 donors and commissions for artists—some of whom have performed with the Little Chamber roster, and, to Haney’s delight, some who have

Hopefully, it offers a bit of an escape; it’s about beauty and transcendence. – Erick Lichte, Chor Leoni

not. The performers include Rebecca Whitling, Heather Pawsey, Rachel Iwaasa, John Korsrud, and Petunia. That’s $5,000 in emergency funding to musicians struggling to make ends meet. “When I first put it out there, I thought, ‘Well, I hope someone goes for it,’ ” says Haney. “Every day, a few have come in and they’re from all over the spectrum: artists supporting other artists, people I have never met, saying, ‘I want to support this person.’ “Everything is moving so fast, I’m curious: what does Week 3 of this look like? Hopefully, when this whole situation is not what it is now, this [the commissions] will give a general

WATCH FOR more groups to launch virtual concerts. Early Music Vancouver, which was recently forced to cancel the remaining shows in its 50th-anniversary season, is one that has ideas in the works. In the meantime, here are two more local classical and new-music streaming initiatives to escape, reflect, or get inspired during lockdown: UNACCOMPANIED: A NEW ONLINE CONCERT SERIES The Canadian Music Centre BC, in partnership with Redshift Music Society, streams video recordings of live performances of Canadian works written for solo instruments. To launch, 10 musicians have been asked to choose and perform one of these works, with plans to expand as new funding becomes available. Names include sax player Colin MacDonald, soprano Dory Hayley, and cellist Marina Hasselberg. Watch for performances at musiccentrebc.ca/, the organization’s Vimeo page (musiccentrebc), and on Facebook (@CanadianMusicCentreBC) and Twitter (@MusicCentreBC). MUSIC ON MAIN YOUTUBE CHANNEL The new-music series has been ahead of the curve, posting scores of videos, including concert performances and lively, informative Musical Moment talks with the likes of composer-performer Aaron Graham and composer Laura Bowler. It’s a way to relive the shows you saw or the concerts you missed when you took going out for granted; don’t miss the vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth at the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival, putting its chops to Caroline Shaw’s exhilarating “Partita for 8 Voices” at the Fox Cabaret. g

Movie picks for these isolated times

by Miles Keir

ou’ve socially distanced, so now what? How do you manage to while away the hours when you can’t go anywhere? Here are 10 movies to watch that take place in confined spaces.

THE TERMINAL (2004) Tom Hanks plays an Eastern European tourist who gets unwittingly caught up in bureaucratic glitches after his homeland erupts in a fiery coup. After surrendering his passport, he finds himself stranded in JFK International Airport as the days turn to weeks, then months. WAYDOWNTOWN (2000) Four office workers make a bet for one month’s salary to see who can go the longest without going outside. As the friends navigate the mazelike core of downtown, they start to unravel in their own particular ways as the yearning for fresh air starts to take its toll. THE BREAKFAST CLUB (1985) A brain, a beauty, a jock, a rebel, and a recluse. Five dissimilar teens meet in Saturday detention and bond over

THE MAN FROM EARTH (2007) When a group gathers for a university professor’s farewell party he reveals that he is actually a 14,000-year-old caveman who relocates every 10 years before people catch on that he is not aging. Over the course of the evening, his colLOCKE (2013) Set entirely inside a leagues interrogate him on his outBMW with only one character on- landish claim. screen, Locke is a riveting journey with Tom Hardy as a married man FREE FIRE (2016) A gun deal gone who is informed that the woman wrong turns into an hour-and-a-half he’s had an affair with is about to warehouse shootout filled with bulgive birth. The next hour-and-a-half lets, one-liners, and double-crosses. is spent on speakerphone with the various people in his personal and TWITCH CITY (1998) Don McKellar professional lives as he attempts to stars as Curtis, a misanthropic agorakeep his job on track and confess the phobe who spends all his time obsessively watching TV and dealing with betrayal to his wife. a rotating series of roommates, some MOON (2009) Sam Rockwell stars more odd than he. The two-season as an astronaut on a three-year shift CBC series also features Molly Parker, at a lunar outpost with a talking Callum Keith Rennie, Bruce McCulcomputer as his only companion. He loch, and Mark McKinney in this offis tasked with collecting moon gas beat, untraditional sitcom. that holds the key to Earth’s energy crisis. As his contract is coming to More suggestions: The Lighthouse, a close and he is getting ready to re- Rope, Reservoir Dogs, Misery, The turn home to his family, accidents Sunset Limited, 12 Angry Men, The and a startling discovery make him Hateful Eight, Glengarry Glen Ross, question the real reason he is there. Rear Window, Exam, Room. g

wakes up in the underground shelter of a doomsday prepper (John Goodman) and another survivor (John Gallagher Jr.). As she pieces together the apocalyptic events, she soon finds that the information she is being fed may not be the truth.

Hey, look—he’s self-isolating, just like you! In 2004’s The Terminal, Tom Hanks plays a tourist who ends up stranded at JFK International Airport for months.

music, pranks, a little bit of weed, in the form of a robot girl named and sharing secrets. Ava. As the two interact in the claustrophobic atmosphere, the true naEX MACHINA (2014) Alex Gar- ture of Nathan’s plot comes to light. land’s sci-fi fantasy stars Domhnall Gleeson as Caleb, a young program- 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE (2016) A mer who is invited by his CEO, survivalist’s bunker is the setting for Nathan (Oscar Isaac), to his secluded this edition of the Cloverfield franprivate mountain retreat, where he chise. After a car accident, a young encounters a humanoid AI creation woman (Mary Elizabeth Winstead)

8 THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT MARCH 26 – APRIL 2 / 2020

MUSIC

Tuneful docs to fill the concert void by John Lucas

ECHO IN THE CANYON

ith events big and small alike cancelled and postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, stockpiling toilet paper and barricading yourself in your home seems like a better choice than setting foot outside. (Just kidding about the toilet paper; definitely donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do that.) Here are a few music-related movies you can stream to fill the concert void while youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re self-isolating.

MISS AMERICANA (2020; available on Netflix) It might be a vanity project carefully crafted to engender sympathy for its subject, but Miss Americana is worth watching even if you think you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stand Taylor Swift. Director Lana Wilson gives us a peek behind the curtain at Swiftâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s songwriting process and lets us observe her political awakening. More potently, she shows in vivid detail what itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like to be one of the most famousâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and mercilessly scrutinizedâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;women in the world in the 21st century. Spoiler alert: it kind of sucks a lot of the time, but you do get to hang out with Brendon Urie and the guys from Queer Eye, so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clearly not all bad. This should be required viewing for anyone who still harbours a shred of respect for Kanye West. 20 FEET FROM STARDOM

(2013; available on Sundance Now) Sometimes itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the backing vocals that make the entire song. Sure, the Rolling Stonesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gimme Shelterâ&#x20AC;? is great in its own right, but try to imagine it without the impassioned wailing of Merry Clayton. You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t, probablyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s equally likely that you have no idea who Clayton is. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the point of this doc from Morgan Neville (who later made us all mourn the loss of Fred Rogersâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; and our collective innocenceâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;with Wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t You Be My Neighbor?). Neville gives the ironically unsung heroes of rock â&#x20AC;&#x2122;nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; roll their well-earned turn in the spotlight, with the likes of Mick Jagger, Sting, Bette Midler, Stevie Wonder, and Bruce Springsteen enthusiastically singing their praises. I guarantee you will never hear â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sweet Home Alabamaâ&#x20AC;? quite the same way after watching this. ANVIL!: THE STORY OF ANVIL

(2008; available on DocumentaryHeaven.com) Everyone loves a good underdog story, and thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something particularly compelling about a tale of someone who almost made it but then, well, didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. This is certainly the case with Toronto heavy-metal band Anvil, whose career high was playing in front of tens of thousands of Japanese metalheads as part of the touring Super Rock festival

(2018; available on Netflix) Jakob Dylan and director Andrew Slater do their best to document the music scene of a very specific place and time, namely Laurel Canyon between 1965 and â&#x20AC;&#x2122;67. This narrow scope means there are a few conspicuous absencesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;presumably Joni Mitchell will get mentioned in the sequelâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;but interviews with the likes of Roger McGuinn, David Crosby, and Michelle Phillips are enlightening, and electrifying archival footage of the Byrds and Buffalo Springfield is enough to convince you that something was indeed happening there. Footage of the Wallflowers frontman running through era-appropriate classics in-studio and on-stage with Beck, Cat Power, Fiona Apple, and Regina Spektor is less essential, but weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll cut him some slack because heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bob Dylanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kid.

Jo Lawry, Judith Hill, and Lisa Fischer are among the unsung talents featured in Morgan Nevilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 20 Feet From Stardom.

LAST DAYS HERE (2011; available on YouTube) Bobby Liebling is a pioneer of doom metal. His band, Pentagram, formed in 1971 with the implied goal of becoming Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heavier-thanheaven answer to Black Sabbath. Unfortunately, Liebling is also a hopeless screwup. Well, not quite hopeless: hope is pretty much all the erstwhile frontman has left by the time filmmakers Don Argott and Demian Fenton catch up with him. The 50-something Liebling is hooked on heroin and crack and is living in his parentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; basement. His determination to riseâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and rockâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; again is a case study in human resilience, and it suggests that rock â&#x20AC;&#x2122;nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; roll can, literally, be a lifesaver. g

ships of his life is both amusing and from Cape Town tracked him down in the late â&#x20AC;&#x2122;90s, he toured South Afcringe-inducingly awkward. rica like a conquering folk-rock idol. ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER TIME By the time director Malik Bend(2013; available on iTunes) jelloul catches up with him in the You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to have seen the early 2010s, Rodriguez is back in the Coen Brothersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Inside Llewyn Motor City, still doing back-breakDavis to appreciate Another Day, ing labour and living in the same Another Time...but you should humble house he had called home probably watch it anyway. In that for four decades. Searching for Sugfilm, Oscar Isaac plays a cat-loving ar Man is a portrait of a man who fictional singer-songwriter on the seems to be as unfazed by his failGreenwich Village folk scene of ures as he is by his successes. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a the â&#x20AC;&#x2122;60s. Turns out that, in real life, deeply odd character, but damn it, Isaac is a pretty talented singer and those songs are fucking beautiful. guitarist, talents that he puts on display in the T-Bone Burnettâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;produced concert documented here, alongside actual folkies past and present, including the Avett Broth- > Go on-line to read hundreds of I Saw You posts or to respond to a message < GIRL ON BIKE WHO DARK BEAUTY AT ers, Joan Baez, Rhiannon Giddens, THANKS FOR STOPPING APPROVED MY BEER PHARMACY LINE BEWARE OF MR. BAKER the Milk Carton Kids, Kebâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Moâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, BY! CHOICE. (2012; available on YouTube) Marcus Mumford, Patti Smith, I SAW A: s I AM A: r I SAW A: r I AM A: s I SAW A: r I AM A: s WHEN: MARCH 18, 2020 The two main takeaways here are that Gillian Welch, Dave Rawlings, and WHEN: MARCH 22, 2020 WHEN: MARCH 17, 2020 WHERE: LD Pharmacy, East WHERE: In Front of Ginger Baker (who died last fall) was Willie Watson. Hastings WHERE: Kitsilano Beach. Epicurean Bakery an unrepentant asshole, and that he I know you from my previous I was walking along Kits Beach You had dark hair and dark was one of the best drummers to ever SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN work in a busy cafe, you always (from the tennis lot area) when eyes, I suppose skin as well and grace a stage with his powerful and (2012; available on Amazon Prime) were so kind and I always was I saw you ride up to me on your short hair. I was in rush to get I had a blue toque on and out of those lights. You deserve inventive prowess. How combative In the early â&#x20AC;&#x2122;70s, Detroit singer- somehow attracted by your bike. You stopped coming, I was carrying a 6 pack of Steam a compliment, at least, you was he? Ask director Jay Bulger, who songwriter Sixto Rodriguez seemed aura. stopped working but yesterday Whistle IPA. You briefly slowed looked lovely. I was tall with got punched in the face for his trou- to be poised on the verge of great- I bumped into you randomly ( down and said â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good similar hair/eye colour. choiceâ&#x20AC;? Before continubles. For my money, the best bit is the ness, with his gritty tales of life on you were coming back home beer work), I was secretely ing to ride off, then you sort of LIQUOR STORE GUY interview with Bakerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s former Cream Detroitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mean streets earning him from dancing and jumping in my slowed down again, looked bandmate Eric Clapton, who took a record deal and the attention of head, so happy to see you back at me, and then kept rid- I SAW A: s I AM A: r I wish I was faster on my WHEN: MARCH 18, 2020 great pains to ensure that the drum- big-time producers. After a couple again! we chatted, you said my ing. WHERE: Marpole Liquore Store dog was cute but I kept my feet and actually replied to you on Oak mer would definitely, absolutely not of LPs that failed to sell, however, he distance because of this or came up with an excuse to by any means be a part of his next dropped out of music altogether and f***ing coronavirus. I d love to get you to talk to me, but sadly Saw you in a liquor store in was a little tongue tied. Marpole and it seemed like you project, the supergroup Blind Faith. went back to working as a manual know you better... in these dif- IWould love to meet you again... ficult dark times I understand checking me out, and This conviction lasted until the day labourerâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;completely unaware that we should avoid to meet but youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re welcome to one of my were then ended up in the line of Blind Faithâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first rehearsal, when in South Africa, his songs were be- maybe we can start with texts. beers. behind me. If you remember guess who showed up, ready to play? ing taken up as anthems of resist- If you feel the same, respond to ON A BUS IN WEST VAN the girl in the orange sweater (I by telling me what drink was stocking up on a lot of The fact that Baker remained blithely ance among an entire generation this you used to have and where I m & AGAIN AT DELANYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S booze) and want to grab a beer convinced that his relationship with opposed to that countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s restrictive from. Talk to you soon I hope. CAFE sometime after this whole virus thing blows over, let me know! Clapton was one of the great friend- apartheid regime. When some fans I SAW A: r I AM A: s in 1984. After that, precisely nothing happened for these guys. That makes it all the more poignant when members of Metallica, Slayer, and Anthrax pop up to cite Anvil as an important contemporary and inf luence. Naturally, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an attempt at a comebackâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;which only really took off after this doc was released. In his review of Anvil!, Straight movie critic said of director Sacha Gervasi that he â&#x20AC;&#x153;has a keen eye for unintended comedy and the big-screen drama inherent in lovable, foul-mouthed lunkheads who have stuck together, sometimes to the exclusion of their generally supportive wives and families, in order to stay hell-bent for leatherâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and Dependsâ&#x20AC;?.

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I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: MARCH 19, 2020 WHERE: Chinatown

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I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: MARCH 13, 2020 WHERE: Thomas Haas, Kitsilano

I saw you at a particular chocolate cafe today. I was unble to say hi as I was meeting with some people to sign paperwork. You: looks like Dave Grohl, rocking an amazing pair of headphones and sitting alone. You looked at me a few times and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m hoping itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mutual. Would love to grab a hot chocolate with you some time!

# # $ $ $

You were an Uber Eats bike courrier picking up an order for delivery. You had on a fannypack that looked like human belly (weird). I said that on first glance I thought you just had a really red belly button and you told me you do (gross). I liked you. Maybe we can sit a safe distance apart sometime if you see this.

WHEN: MARCH 12, 2020 WHERE: Bus from Van to West Van / Delanyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cafe

I was in the very back corner next to a woman with a huge bouquet of flowers. You got on the bus in Vancouver and sat facing me. You were wearing hikers, a blue wool sweater, and white and blue earbuds. We made eye contact and I thought Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to speak to you if we get off the bus at the same stop. You stayed on all the way until about 18th in West Van. When you got off, I thought I missed my chance. I was going to 24th and would be at an appointment for nearly 2 hours. When my meeting was done I went to Delanyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cafe. Low and behold there you were again! Working on your laptop, with your ergonomic mouse. I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hardly believe it. I was sitting behind you working on my laptop, I tried to find a good time to speak to you again but didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. We ended up leaving at the same time, but you were wearing your earbuds again and I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t bring myself to interrupt you. We both ended up walking along the sea wall. Contact me if you would allow me to try again at the cafe. :)

FLAMINGO SOCK WEARING BLOOD DONOR

I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: FEBRUARY 22, 2020 WHERE: Oak St Donor Clinic We chatted during and after our blood donations about sock deliveries, my future halloween costume and the book I can only assume youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re reading right now: American War. I should have given you my number so you could tell me how much youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re loving it!

LISTENING TO MUSIC ON THE 100 BUS

I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: MARCH 12, 2020 WHERE: Marine Drive Station I was waiting on the 100 22nd Ave bus at Marine Drive station listening to music on my headphones. You got on the bus and we made eye contact briefly. You sat next to me and were on your phone and then listening to music. You smiled when I got up to leave. I regret not saying hi when you sat beside me. Let me know if you somehow see this!

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TALK MEN OFF GET TALKED OFF 10 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT MARCH 26 – APRIL 2 / 2020

SAVAGE LOVE

Weigh the risk of intimacy in a pandemic by Dan Savage

b MY QUESTION IS on managing “grey area” intimacies during the pandemic. I have a lover/friend that I’ve been hanging out with—fucking, drinking tea, going on hikes, eating ice cream, watching movies, and other activities—for about nine months. He’s 36 and was married for 10 years, and due to that experience he’s been a bit emotionally “boundaried” but he’s still really sweet and a good communicator. I’m in grad school doing a double masters, so the small amount of time we’ve been spending together has worked well for me. Here’s the issue: he’s also an ER doctor. Do I keep seeing him during this pandemic? I just moved to the city where we both live for my grad program and he’s my main source for connection, comfort, and support here. Every time I see him we both feel tremendously less stressed and our connection feels emotionally healthy. I just know he is bound to be at a huge risk for exposure and since he’s not a committed partner and we don’t live together, I don’t know if he falls within or outside of my physicaldistancing boundary. It seems like the best thing to do from a logistical perspective is hole up with my cat and not see another soul in person until a vaccine is invented or something, but I don’t know when that will happen. - Physical Distancing Do’s And Don’ts “This is really a matter of a personal risk/benefit calculation,” said Dr. Daniel Summers, a pediatrician who lives and works near Boston. “What PDDAD is willing to accept as a risk may be different from what someone else would.” There’s definitely a health benefit to getting together—we are social animals and isolation is bad for us—but your lover is at high risk of infection.

When front-line health-care providers get infected, they tend to get sicker than the average person who gets infected, according to CNN, which is something else you need to factor into your risk/benefit calculation. Additionally, does your boyfriend’s workplace have the protective gear he needs to minimize his risk of exposure? “We’re all doing our best to take as many preventive steps to lower our risk of being exposed,” said Summers, “but there’s still a maddeningly unacceptable shortage of personal protective equipment like masks, gowns, and gloves nationwide. I hope he has sufficient access to these things. But is there a risk he could get exposed to the virus at work? Definitely.” Summers lives with his husband and four children, and in addition to the precautions he takes at work— where he may be seeing patients with coronavirus (he doesn’t know for sure because tests still aren’t available)—Summers strips down to his underwear on his front porch of his home when he gets home from work. His clothes go straight into the washing machine, he goes straight into the shower. “I’m still afraid of bringing it home,” said Summers. “But with four kids home from school, my husband’s sanity depends on my being present as much as I can. So for me, staying away isn’t an option. That’s not the case for PDDAD. She has to decide whether the undefinable risk of exposure isn’t worth it. Or, alternatively, she can decide the connection she has with him is important enough to her own wellbeing that the risk is worth it. But only she can make that decision for herself.” If you decide the risk of infection is too great—or if your boyfriend decides the risk of infecting you is too

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- Just Concerned If the authorities want to start rounding up reckless idiots who are endangering others, JC, the beaches of Florida might be a good place to start. Or the Oval Office. And if your first impulse is to involve the authorities, then you aren’t “pro sex workers”, JC, because the authorities—particularly the police—are a danger to sex workers. Instead of calling the cops, reach out to this guy on those social-media sites and encourage him to see his clients virtually: i.e., instead of face-toface meetings, he should go full camwhore for the time being. So if you want to want to help, JC, and not just police or shame, you should hire this guy to do an online

situation? And, while we’re all in lockdown, do you have any advice on how to be hot over video when you’re generally a clumsy spaz?

b I’M A QUEER poly woman and I have a two-part question about sexting/ Skype sex. I didn’t used to think twice about shooting off a nude or a nasty text in my 20s, and I’ve never had qualms about casual relations. But for me there has always needed to be a baseline of friendship. After getting burned a bunch of times—especially by straight men (queers and other genders are generally way kinder)— I just wasn’t feeling it anymore. Fast forward a few years; after doing a lot of work, I started feeling myself again. I started talking with a man that I’d met through mutual friends and flirted with a little in the past. I was upfront with him and told him I would be down to get dirty again sometime but needed to build up some form of friendship first. He enthusiastically agreed and started talking to me about this and that every other day or so. We were talking about meeting up in person when the coronavirus lockdown happened and now my libido has shot through the roof. We ended up exchanging photos and got off on FaceTime together. After that, crickets. I would send an innocuous question and get a two-word response. I feel really disrespected and used, but at the same time I can see how he doesn’t owe me anything. I was in a similar situation like this before, where a man told me that no matter what, he wanted our friendship to be a priority and then ghosted me immediately after we slept together. My questions: what can I do in the future to avoid this sort of

Unfortunately, FRIEND, there’s

- Female Resents Insincere Efforts Necessitating Deceit

no surefire way to prevent people from lying to you about being friends in order to get into your pants—virtually or eventually—or to prevent them from changing their minds about being friends once they’ve gotten into your pants. (The former is more likely, but the latter does happen.) Your only options are relying on your bullshit detectors to weed out people you think might be playing you and getting better at shrugging off, blocking, and forgetting the dishonest people who manage to get past your bullshit detectors. As for tips about being hot on Zoom or FaceTime or Fox Nation or whatever, I’m afraid I can’t help you there, FRIEND, as I am the clumsiest spaz that ever spazzed. I hate having my photo taken, and if a room is dark enough for me to feel comfortable getting naked in it, it’s usually too dark for someone else to see me—whether they’re in the same room with me or sitting in front of a computer on the other side of the world. But someone who’s more at ease in front of the camera (and with whom I’m currently quarantined) tells me that slightly dimmed lighting is better than harsh lighting, leaving something on is hotter than taking it all off, and—if you want to maintain your anonymity—keeping your face and any identifying tattoos out of the shot is a good idea. g Email: mail@savagelove.net. Follow Dan on Twitter @FakeDanSavage. Listen to Dan’s podcast at www.savagelovecast.com.

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session. (Bear in mind that sex workers are suffering right now too because most are being responsible and not seeing clients. Their incomes have plummeted to zero and they aren’t eligible for unemployment benefits.)

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great—you can still be there for each other. You can Skype and Zoom; you can text and sext; you can leave groceries on his porch and wave to him from the sidewalk. But if you decide to keep connecting with each other in person, PDDAD, you should minimize the amount of time you spend moving through the city to get to each other’s places. And that means— emotional boundaries be damned— picking one of your apartments to hole up in together for the duration. You can follow Summers on Twitter @WFKARS and you can read him at Slate’s Outward.

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MARCH 26 – APRIL 2 / 2020 THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT 11

URBAN LIVING

Stoops find new beauty in trying times by Janet Smith

Garden TIP SHEET

LOCAL GARDEN STORES have seen

STOOPS Design has landed on a timely idea, bringing seasonal arrangements to porches and entryways—some of the few safe places to watch the world go by these days. Left to right: the company’s basket containers bring a breath of spring, evergreens as a scultpural foundation, and this year’s citrus looks.

he front stoop brings to mind nostalgic images of the past—maybe southerners lounging on wicker chairs and sipping ice tea, or doo-wop groups belting it out in front of a ’50s brownstone. But here’s betting this part of home design sees a resurgence in these pandemic-plagued times. Canadian housing guru Avi Friedman wrote in his 2015 book of essays A View from the Porch, “If the telephone reduced the need for face-toface contact and contributed to the erosion of the front porch, computers and smart phones became the porch.” But now the entry area, even if it’s just a townhouse step, allows one of the last safe spaces from which to watch the world, talk to neighbours, and get fresh air. With this in mind, it would seem that North Van–based STOOPS Design has landed on a timely idea. Built from their shared love of gardening and nature, Sarah Duyker and Cindy Mast’s company beautifies front entryways. And sure enough, business is buzzing despite,

and arguably because of, the restricted world we live in right now. “People have more time and they’re stuck at home; they want to spend more time outdoors,” Duyker relates, speaking to the Straight during a brief break from work. “It’s like one of those simple pleasures that can still be enjoyed right now, where you’re wanting to create a space that feels comfortable and makes you feel happy. “Being connected to the earth is really therapeutic and relieves stress,” she adds. “And obviously we do that for people, too.” STOOPS offers on-site container planting four times per year, switching it up each season and customizing the look to each home on a subscription-style program. Depending on the season, that can mean changing doormats, adding a natural wreath, or planting new container flowers. This spring, Duyker has been adding a lot of light, airy baskets to the foundational clay or ceramic containers, playing yellow, orange,

a surge in vegetable-seed sales in the past week. Whether you’re staying busy around your yard or patio or kicking into full-on Walking Dead garden-subsistence mode, here are some of the seeds you can direct-sow this early in the season (assuming we don’t get a freak hit of frost).

c ARUGULA Sow these peppery/nutty greens

and coral daffodils and tulips in artful varieties every few weeks from mid-March to April. off lacy greens, using wax-leaf privet or topiary (They don’t like the heat.) Reap the rewards as the entryway’s evergreen foundation. in as little as four or five weeks, when you “It was born out of the idea that our front harvest them with scissors. Throw them in a salad, pop them on a baguette with goat entrance is first impression to your home,” cheese, or cover a homemade pizza in a Duyker explains. “It’s an invitation and it leafy mountain of them. welcomes people if you have plants out front. We’ve both travelled around a lot and stoops c SNOW PEAS Add sticks or twine to your are a big thing in London and even Toronto.” plot or your container, and watch a sweet The pair has also launched a line of Starter crop wind its way up in less than eight weeks—easy-peasy. Eat these babies STOOP premade containers that can be depods and all, in salads and stir-fries, or livered and dropped off to your front door or just as a crunchy work-at-home snack. moved to your balcony or patio—sculptural mixes of showstopping bulbs in spring’s hot c KALE Sown this time of year, cold-hardy citrus hues, shorter grape hyacinths, moss, and kale can take more than two months to get to harvesting height, about 22 taller accents. centimetres. The good news is that it If nothing else, STOOP’s ideas might inspire sprouts fresh leaves when you pick it; you to spruce up your own front door—even those take a couple weeks to come back. if no one outside of your own family will be Use it for an extra-nutritious Caesar salad, passing through it anytime soon. Think of it as in a hearty potato soup, or go full West a way of reaching out without breaking socialCoast and throw it in a smoothie. g distancing rules. g

Get outside, but keep your distance

by John Lucas

hese days, it can seem as if, apart from your own living room, nowhere is safe. From the office of the prime minister on down, the message we are getting on a daily basis is: stay home. It’s good advice, because the prevailing wisdom, according to the World Health Organization, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, among others, is that social distancing is one of the most effective strategies for slowing the spread of COVID-19. What exactly is social distancing? According to information posted by the BCCDC, “Social distancing is a way that we can slow the spread of COVID-19 by limiting close contact with others. Even though we are not sick, we should still keep about two meters (six feet) or the length of a queensized bed from one another when we can when outside our homes.” For many of us, the drive to get outdoors ramps up as we move into the warmer months. According to provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, we should feel free to do so— mindfully. “It is okay, if you are not in selfisolation—yes, you can go outside. But go only with your family members in small groups and maintain those distances,” Henry said in a press briefing on March 23. “It is important for us to keep our health and mental health going as well through this.” In other words, get out there, but be vigilant about social distancing. Sadly, it is abundantly clear that many people are not getting the message. On a recent sunny Saturday afternoon, the Straight hit the nature trail at Coquitlam’s Crystal Falls— and so did a lot of other people. This would not have been a big deal had everyone followed the basic principles of social distancing. Alas, a good number of hikers we encountered that day did not, blithely spread-

Not every Vancouver-area park or trail has shut down—yet—so you can still enjoy nature while observing social-distancing protocols. Photos by John Lucas

ing themselves out across the entire width of the trail, seemingly oblivious to the close proximity of others. For the sake of public safety, many popular trails are being shut down altogether. B.C. Parks has shut down the popular Stawamus Chief trails

Straight editorial staffer, but we won’t hold that against him.) Hui says that, if you still plan to go for a hike—if you can still find an accessible trail—combining trail etiquette and social-distancing protocols with a healthy dose of common sense is the way to go.

People need to be extra cautious and extra safe and not go as far afield or in as difficult terrain as they normally might want to. – Stephen Hui

in Squamish, for example, and Parks Canada has announced it will restrict vehicle access to all national parks. Stephen Hui is the author of 105 Hikes in and Around Southwestern British Columbia, and vice president of the Wanderung Outdoor Recreation Society. (He’s also a former Georgia

12 THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT MARCH 26 – APRIL 2 / 2020

“For hiking there’s kind of a general etiquette when you’re passing people on the trail,” Hui told the Straight in a telephone interview. “Whoever’s going uphill has the right of way, and so if you were coming downhill, you would kind of step aside for them to go by. But now you have to be able to give them

that six-foot berth, so if you’re in an area where you can’t do that—where it’s unsafe to do that because there’s a drop-off on either side or there’s a sensitive environment that you don’t want to trample—then that’s not a trail that people should be doing.” Hui also cautions against wandering into the backcountry or taking unnecessary risks in the woods. “The search-and-rescue people seem to be worried about their capacity to be able to respond to incidents,” he says, “so I think people need to be extra cautious and extra safe and not go as far afield or in as difficult terrain as they normally might want to, because they’re just going to be putting other people at risk and stressing a system that really isn’t ready to do all that stuff.” Those who choose to get their fresh air closer to home will find that they can still enter city parks (for now), but that their options for activities are severely limited. All playgrounds have been shut down, and the parking lots at higher-traffic parks and beaches (including Kitsilano Beach, English Bay, Queen Elizabeth Park, Stanley Park, and VanDusen Botanical Garden) are currently closed. In a bulletin on March 20, the park board issued a

set of guidelines for park and beach users, asking the public to: • Keep at least two metres (six feet) from others • Visit parks and beaches during less busy times • Limit the number of visits to parks and beaches to provide opportunities for others to access • Avoid gathering in groups • Limit high-touch recreational activities such as volleyball or frisbee • Wash or sanitize hands after touching communal surfaces • Stay home if you are feeling sick, especially if you are coughing or experiencing a fever If you choose to ignore the rules, you are putting your health and that of others at risk, and Hui says you should brace yourself for a trial by social media. “I think that if people go out in groups and flout the health officials’ recommendations and orders, they’re going to face some major public shaming when they post their photos on Instagram,” he says. “So in some ways that is helping to regulate this a bit. People need to be responsible and think about other people.” g