The Georgia Straight - Comfort Zone - July 2, 2020

FREE | JULY 2 – 9 / 2020

Volume 54 | Number 2736

Comfort Comfo rt Zone

Few faces and big spaces make the Sea-to-Sky Corridor an ideal getaway Cannabis Career Day • American Woman • Canadian ESports Stars

HEALTH

CONTENTS

COVID-19 health practices can become an obsession

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In some ways, this is an OCD perfect storm.

– Maureen Whittal on the pandemic

For instance, Whittal said, they may be saying to themselves: “if I feel anxious, something must be dangerous, so I’ve got to do something to keep myself safe.” They may even repeat the hand washing, say, if they didn’t feel it was thorough enough.

So the actions of people with OCD are attempts to prevent a feared consequence.

But underlying the fear, Whittal explained, is a specific negative belief about themselves, such as “I’m not good enough” or “I’m an awful person” if they make a mistake. If the “bad thing” doesn’t happen, she said, they may feel that their actions were successful 2

THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT

COVER

Whistler and other parts of the Sea-toSky Corridor offer an ideal getaway for those in need of a great escape: heaps of adventure with plenty of physical distance.

by Craig Takeuchi

hile we all need to continue practising public-health recommendations as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, those very actions—hand washing, avoiding touching things in public, sanitizing and cleaning surfaces—may appear similar to those performed by people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

There are, however, significant differences between the two activities.

In a phone interview, psychologist Maureen Whittal, who cofounded Vancouverbased Anxiety Canada in 1999 and is an expert in cognitive behavioural therapy, explained the difference between someone being vigilant and someone with OCD. According to Anxiety Canada, people with OCD may experience obsessive thoughts about self-doubt or harming others that create anxiety or distress, or they may have compulsions to engage in deliberate actions—including repeated checking of things like switches and plugs, arranging objects in specific orders, or excessive hoarding—to prevent something terrible from happening.

Where hygienic behaviour crosses the line depends on the reason or intent behind the behaviour, Whittal explained, particularly when people rely heavily upon “internal cues of anxiety to guide behaviour” instead of because of being advised to do so. In other words, people with OCD tend to base their actions upon emotion or what feels right instead of facts and objective logic.

July 2-9 / 2020

By Gail Johnson

4

CANNABIS

Cover illustration by Elaine Chen

If you’re hoping to find employment in the cannabis biz, a recruiting firm will soon host a free job fair for this sector on Zoom.

By John Lucas

5

ESPORTS

Everyone has heard of Wayne Gretzky and Christine Sinclair, but do you know the names of Canada’s top ESports players?

By Jon Cranny, John Lucas, Mike Usinger

e Online TOP 5

e Start Here Anxiety Canada cofounder Maureen Whittal helps obsessive-compulsive disorder people.

and their behaviour may become reinforced.

Interestingly, Whittal said, most of those with OCD are aware that what they’re doing doesn’t make sense, but they will often have an ongoing feeling of doubt and “a mixing up of knowing and certainty”. A person with OCD who is asked, for example, if they locked their door after leaving home would have to be 100-percent certain to answer “yes”.

OCD occurs in about one to two percent of the population, and Whittal said she has seen heightened severity of the disorder during the pandemic due to increased stress.

She said she began speaking about COVID-19 to people with OCD in February, and many of them became more anxious in March due to future uncertainty.

The lockdown, she said, was actually easier for them because the rules were clear, but when restrictions were loosened and public-health officials began saying “use your judgment”, Whittal said, “that’s a tough place for someone with OCD”.

Whittal tells people with OCD that public-health messages aren’t meant for people who are already responsible like themselves but are “meant for people who need that reminder”.

“It’s not uncommon for folks with OCD to have incredible amounts of responsibility and feeling like, ‘It’s my job to protect other people,’ and, of course, that’s what public health has been telling us,” she said.

She also advises people with OCD to reduce searches for COVID-19 information and to limit such data to those from primary or reputable sources—such as the B.C. Centre for Disease Control or Health Canada—while avoiding blogs or unestablished sources. Those seeking more information about OCD can visit the Anxiety Canada website (anxietycanada.ca/ ), which has a specific section on anxiety during the pandemic. g

JULY 2 – 9 / 2020

11 10 9 2 6 12 13 14 14 3 8

ARTS BEER FOOD HEALTH LIVING MOVIES REAL ESTATE SAVAGE LOVE SEX TECHNOLOGY TRAVEL

Vancouver’s News and Entertainment Weekly Volume 54 | Number 2736 1635 West Broadway, Vancouver, B.C. V6J 1W9 T: 604.730.7000 F: 604.730.7010 E: gs.info@straight.com straight.com

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PUBLISHER Brian Kalish FOUNDING PUBLISHER Dan McLeod EDITOR Charlie Smith SECTION EDITORS Janet Smith (Arts/Entertainment/Style) Brian Lynch (Books) Mike Usinger (eSports/Liquor/Music) SENIOR EDITOR Martin Dunphy ASSOCIATE EDITORS Gail Johnson (Health/Food/Wine) John Lucas (Cannabis) STAFF WRITERS Carlito Pablo (Real Estate) Craig Takeuchi SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Jeff Li DIGITAL COORDINATOR Jon Cranny GRAPHIC DESIGNER Miguel Hernandez PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR Mike Correia SALES DIRECTOR Tara Lalanne ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Glenn Cohen, Robyn Marsh, Manon Paradis, David Pearlman

Here’s what people are reading this week on Straight.com.

1 2 3 4 5

After a $4.6-million markdown, new West Van home sells for $13.2 million.

Wendy Mesley and Elaine Lui apologize for past use of discriminatory language.

Smaller than a typical lot, West Broadway site assessed at over $4 million.

Dr. Bonnie Henry expresses concerns about COVID-19 outbreak in strip club.

Fresh Express salad products recalled from across Canada. @GeorgiaStraight

CONTENT AND MARKETING SPECIALIST Rachel Moore CIRCULATION MANAGER Giles Roy CREDIT MANAGER Shannon Li ACCOUNTING SUPERVISOR Tamara Robinson

MEDIA CENTRAL CORPORATION INC. 503–192 Spadina Ave.,Toronto, ON M5T 2C2

mediacentralcorp.com

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Brian Kalish CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Rodney Davis SR. VICE PRESIDENT, TECHNOLOGY & ARCHITECTURE Anton Tikhomirov CONTROLLER Igor Kostioutchenko

TECH

Vancouver firms join campaign against Facebook

Small and large companies are flexing their economic muscles to curb dissemination of hate speech

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by Charlie Smith

he heads of two Vancouver communications companies will be calling on others in their industry to join an advertising boycott of Facebook.

Finch Media principal Kylie McMullan and Nixey Communications principal Paul Nixey say in a commentary on Straight.com that they are competitors in a small market. But they also selfidentify as allies of the Black Lives Matter campaign. So they’ve “partnered” to join the #StopHateForProfit campaign, which was launched on June 17 by Color of Change, the NAACP, the Anti-Defamation League, Sleeping Giants, Free Press, and Common Sense Media.

The campaign aims to persuade companies to “Hit Pause on Hate” by refusing to place advertisements on Facebook’s platform until it introduces substantial reforms to curb hate speech and voter suppression.

“Facebook refuses to moderate hate speech,” McMullan and Nixey wrote.

“Facebook refuses to moderate antiBlack racism. The company refuses to

Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg has tried to mollify his company’s critics, but that hasn’t dissuaded some corporate giants from refusing to advertise on the social-media platform.

stop misinformation, and it’s time to put an end to it with our dollars.”

They claim to have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars advertising on Facebook in the past.

Larger Vancouver companies—such as lululemon athletica, MEC, and Arc’teryx—

have also promised not to advertise on Facebook. Others who’ve made this pledge include such multinationals as Coca-Cola, Starbucks, and Honda. Another multinational, Unilever, has declared that it won’t advertise on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter until at least the end of the year.

“Continuing to advertise on these platforms at this time would not add value to people and society,” Unilever said on June 26, when Facebook shares fell more than 10 percent. “We will be monitoring ongoing and will revisit our current position if necessary. We will maintain our total planned media investment in the U.S. by shifting to other media.”

The Stop Hate for Profit coalition has identified 10 things that advertisers should ask Facebook to do, including updating algorithms to stop recommending people to join hate groups.

The movement was launched in response to Facebook allowing hate speech against people demonstrating for justice for police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and others.

“From the monetization of hate speech to discrimination in their algorithms to the proliferation of voter suppression to the silencing of Black voices, Facebook has refused to take responsibility for hate, bias, and discrimination growing on their platforms,” Color of Change said in a news release. g

JULY 2 – 9 / 2020

THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT

3

CANNABIS / PSYCHEDELICS

Career day helps cannabis firms and job seekers

by John Lucas

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CanMar Recruitment’s career fair will encourage newcomers to the cannabis sector. Photo by fizkes/iStock/Getty Images Plus.

n his 15-plus years in HR, K D Khairah has attended a lot of job fairs but never one quite like the event his recruitment firm will host on July 10. Because this is 2020 and everything is different now, this will be an online affair, with all the action happening via Zoom.

CanMar Recruitment’s Virtual Career Day will bring job seekers together with 20 companies in the cannabis sector for a full day that also includes panel discussions on diversity and inclusion and the state of the industry.

There is no fee to attend the event. Khairah told the Georgia Straight that CanMar is hosting the career day out of a sense of corporate responsibility. He noted that almost two million Canadians are out of work due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and he pointed out that the canna-

bis industry has had struggles of its own, citing the 700 jobs Aurora Cannabis recently eliminated as part of costcutting measures.

The Vancouver-based CanMar’s aim, Khairah said in a telephone interview, was not just to assist job hunters but to support the industry as well, particularly the smaller players within it.

“We wanted to do something to bring everybody together, because the cannabis industry has not had good news in the last year or more,” he said. “LPs [licensed producers] don’t make the industry: it’s the smaller companies; it’s the retailers; it’s the extraction companies; it’s the micros. All of these combined together, that’s what makes the industry. Canada is known for small and medium

businesses. Not everybody is going to be an Aurora. Not everybody’s going to be a Canopy.”

Khairah said that job seekers curious about moving into this sector need not worry about having an intimate familiarity with cannabis. If you have transferable talents and experience, you will find yourself in demand.

“If you’re a financial controller at an IT company or a manufacturing company or a CPG [consumer packaged goods] company, you could become a financial controller within the cannabis industry,” he said. “It doesn’t mean that you have to smoke a joint; it just means you have to know how to run your reports and be a financial guru.”

Those whose skills were honed in hospitality and tourism—areas especially hit hard by the pandemic— should also explore the options available within the cannabis sphere.

“We can move them into retail stores, because retail stores are all about customer experience,” Khairah said.

“So they can bring that rich experience from those restaurants, travel, wherever they are coming from, to the industry’s retail side.”

To sign up for CanMar’s Virtual Career Day—and connect with industry players from companies including CannTx Life Sciences, BlueSky Organics, ROSE LifeScience, Christina Lake Cannabis, NextLeaf Solutions, and CannDelta—visit canmarrecruitment.com/canmar-career-day/. g

MORE CANNABIS ONLINE AT CANNCENTRAL.COM

B.C. woman wants to face mortality without fear

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by Carlito Pablo

aurie Brooks’s most fervent wishes may seem ordinary to many people.

“I want to live every day with no anxiety, and with love and joy,” Brooks told the Straight by phone.

The Abbotsford, B.C., woman simply wants to “feel normal again”.

Life hasn’t been typical for Brooks in the past two years. In 2018, the mother of four young adults was diagnosed with cancer.

Since then, she has had three surgeries.

The last was in May this year.

She has also gone through all other treatments, including chemotherapy and radiation.

“There is no more treatment that I have to have,” she said. “Now it’s just the waiting, and hoping it does not return.”

Meanwhile, Brooks has to deal with anxiety and an avalanche of emotions in the fight for her life.

Brooks related that on April 28 this 4

THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT

Laurie Brooks is seeking access to psilocybin after finishing treatment options for cancer.

year, she wrote federal Minister of Health Patty Hadju to request an exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA).

JULY 2 – 9 / 2020

The B.C. woman is seeking compassionate access to psilocybin, the pyschoactive element found in many varieties of socalled magic mushrooms.

According to TheraPsil, a Victoria, B.C.based group assisting Brooks in her application, psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy helps terminally ill people deal with endof-life distress.

“I haven’t heard back directly from the health minister’s office, but they have been in contact with TheraPsil,” Brooks said.

Brooks is one of two people who have gone public about their applications for compassionate access to psilocybin. The other person is Thomas Hartle. The Saskatchewan man was diagnosed with colon cancer in April 2016.

Two others are said to have also applied with the health ministry.

Psilocybin and psilocin, another element found in psychedelic mushrooms, are illegal substances under the CDSA. The

sale, possession, and production of these substances are prohibited, unless authorized for clinical trial or research.

Before cancer, Brooks was living a pretty normal life.

She has been married for more than 30 years. She worked for TD Bank for several years, but had always wanted to go back to school.

In 2016, she left the bank, went back to school, and was trying to get into the nursing program of the University of the Fraser Valley.

Then, in February 2018, she found out that she had colon cancer. She dropped out of school.

“We have the right to medically assisted dying in Canada, but what about the right to live?” Brooks asked. “Why would we deny a medicine that has proven to help patients dealing with PTSD, depression, and anxiety surrounding end-of- life issues live a better life while they’re still alive?” g

ESPORTS

Meet the elite class of Canada’s ESports athletes

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by Jon Cranny, John Lucas, and Mike Usinger

adians Kurtis “Aui_2000” Ling and Jonathan “Bryle” De Guia. He started off as a well-ranked Heroes of Newerth player, but since switching to the generally more lucrative Dota 2, Tan and his teams have taken a solid dozen first-place tournament showings. He’s also known for dancing and doing pushups during his live streams, so screw anyone who says ESports is all about sitting around and staring at a screen.

ny list of Canada’s greatest-ever sports figures has to include Wayne Gretzky, who at the time of his retirement in 1999 held 61 NHL records: 40 regular season records, 15 playoff records, and six all-star records.

And don’t forget about alpine-skiing great Nancy Greene Raine, eight-time NBA all-star (and two-time MVP) Steve Nash, or sprinter Donovan Bailey, an Olympic gold medallist who once held the title of World’s Fastest Man. ESports players might never appear in such rankings or rise to household-name status. Nonetheless, it takes fast reflexes, quick thinking, and genuine skill to become one of the best in the world. The gamers on this list have those attributes in abundance—and they have the prize money to show for it, too.

8. TWISTZZ (RUSSEL VAN DULKEN)

Team Liquid (Counter-Strike: Global Offensive) Russel “Twistzz” van Dulken has achieved notoriety for a lot of things. A clip of the Kelowna, B.C.–born CS:GO pro shouting “Sit the fuck down!” after a particularly impressive manoeuvre last year cemented his take-no-prisoners image. And then there was the time his ex publicly outed him for alleged infidelity on Twitter—but let’s not focus on that. Twistzz is considered one of the best CS:GO players of all time, and the fact that he’s still only 20 years old means he has “future legend” written all over him.

1. ARTEEZY (ARTOUR BABAEV)

Evil Geniuses (Dota 2) At 23 years of age, the Vancouver-based Babaev has become one of the most popular streamers in the community, with 583,000 followers on Twitch. His roles of Carry and Solo Middle in Dota 2 have become his specialty and helped him amass earnings of over US$2 million during his career. A recent highlight came last year, when he and Evil Geniuses finished fifth and sixth at the International 2019. Babaev put on a real show, getting a solo rampage versus five enemies during his game against Vici Gaming.

2. AUI_2000 (KURTIS LING)

CR4ZY (Dota 2) In 2018, Ling became the 20th-highestearning ESports player in the world. Dropping out of the University of British Columbia to focus on Dota 2 full-time seemed like a sketchy idea at first, but with the career he’s had, it was the right call—seeing as how he has earned US$1.8 million in prize money so far, which is more than he would make as a sociology major. After winning the International 2015, Ling was kicked off the Evil Geniuses team for unclear reasons and replaced with Artour Babaev.

Ling created his own team called Digital Chaos with little success, but then rejoined Evil Geniuses for a short stint before being kicked off the team once again. After bouncing around a few teams (Speed Gaming, Cloud 9), Ling has now landed at team CR4ZY, playing Position 5 and captain.

3. ZAYT (WILLIAMS AUBIN)

NRG Esports (Fortnite) Williams “Zayt” Aubin is a 20-year-old Fortnite player from Quebec who currently streams for NRG Esports North America. Finding a lot of success in the world of Fortnite, Aubin has become a four-time

Vancouver’s Artour “Arteezy” Babaev has pulled in a cool and crazily impressive US$2 million as an elite ESports player specializing in Dota 2. Photo by Dota 2 the International/Wikimedia.

World Cup qualifier, Duo FNCS winner, and ESL Katowice winner. Zayt’s total earnings so far are just over US$1 million from 39 tournaments, and his Twitch audience, which currently sits at 165,000 followers, is always growing.

4. ELEVATE (HAYDEN KRUEGER)

100 Thieves (Fortnite) This past June, wearing a white Oxford cap and a massive grin, Elevate posted a picture of himself and his mom on Twitter along with the caption “Officially Graduated Online School”. For most kids, a next step would be filling out university applications, but no need for that. Last summer, at the age of 17, Elevate won US$2.4 milllion as a competitor in the inaugural Fortnite World Cup—not bad for a third-place finish. (Put the green-eyed money-envy cat back in the bag; he split the money with Ceice, his competition partner.) While Fortnite was Elevate’s 2019 ticket to the prestigious 100 Thieves organization, these days the grass seems greener elsewhere for the Calgary-born ESports athlete. Witness this tweet on June 21: “I really want to get home and play some valorant.”

5. ETERNALENVY (JACKY MAO)

Current team: N/A Trying to get a definitive word on where Jacky “EternaLEnvy” Mao is at these days isn’t easy. After being banned from normal competitive matchmaking by Dota 2 last year, he eventually jumped back into bed

with Cloud9. And just when it looked like he was ready to seriously pad his career earning total of over US$1 million, Cloud9 announced that it was dropping its entire Dota 2 roster this past April. Perhaps EternaLEnvy is indulging in his passion for anime, or perhaps he’s in school, which would explain tweets like “I feel like it’s so hard to sleep with noise now but I could sleep through every class why.” Whatever the case may be, there’s no denying that, at the age of 28, EternaLEnvy—famous as one of Dota 2’s most colourfully controversial players—is likely faced with some hard decisions about where he goes from here.

6. NAF (KEITH MARKOVIC)

Team Liquid (Counter-Strike: Global Offensive) For a guy whose gaming handle, NAF, is short for “Nutty As F*ck”, Vancouverbased Keith Markovic understands that sometimes you have to play by the rules.

As a member of Team Liquid—and with a past that includes stints with Renegades, OpTic, and Luminosity—the 22-year-old has developed a reputation for walking a smart line between being disciplined and being willing to take big-payoff chances.

9. KARMA (DAMON BARLOW)

Most recently Seattle Surge (Call of Duty); now retired He announced his retirement just a few weeks ago, in early June, but we’re including Damon “Karma” Barlow on this list anyway, because he’s so badass. How badass? Karma is the only three-time winner of the Call of Duty Championship, capturing back-to-back titles in 2013 and 2014, and reaching the top spot again in 2017.

Karma’s motto has been cited as “Hate losing more than you love winning,” which is a weird flex, but okay.

10. ROYAL2 (MATHEW FIORANTE)

TOX Gaming Sentinels (Halo) Saskatchewan-born Mathew “Royal2” Fiorante has been one to watch since he first turned pro at the tender age of 14.

According to his hometown newspaper, the Regina Leader-Post, Fiorante’s team is considered “the New York Yankees of professional Halo”, which presumably makes him its Babe Ruth. At any rate, Royal2 is far and away the best Halo player this country has ever produced, with almost three-dozen tournament championships to his name. g

7. MOONMEANDER (DAVID TAN)

CR4ZY (Dota 2) Vancouver-based David “MoonMeander” Tan plays for the Croatia-based CR4ZY, but he should feel right at home since his teammates include fellow top-tier Can-

MORE eSPORTS ONLINE AT ECENTRALSPORTS.COM

JULY 2 – 9 / 2020

THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT

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LIVING

Beat the summer heat with bedding that breathes

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by Janet Smith

added bonus that you can throw it into the washing machine. Meanwhile, the Casper Humidity Fighting Duvet is designed to do just what it says: it’s made from a mix of fluff y down, lightweight cotton, and— wait for it—Merino wool, which, as any Wet Coast hiker knows, is sweat-wicking and moisture-absorbing, and regulates temperature. Small, rectangular chamber construction keeps the fi ll consistently distributed ($400 to $550 at Casper.com).

t hasn’t happened quite yet, but as we move into July, Vancouver nights will become sweltering enough to make you feel like you’re caught in an endless, sweaty loop of Body Heat—except that you look like a hot mess instead of Kathleen Turner in a pristine white dress.

The fact is that sticky weather can take a toll on your sleep—something you need a lot of in the face of our pandemic times.

Here are some bedding essentials that can actually help you cool off, from the natural and organic to the high-tech.

UNDER COVER

SHEET SENSE

For cool sheets, 100-percent linen is a classic that looks straight out of a magazine spread. Vancouver’s Dream Designs crafts pure-linen, eco-conscious sets in-house (starting at $349 for an entire set, $149 for a fitted sheet, dreamdesigns.ca/). Sourced from flax that’s spun in Italy and woven in Portugal, featherweight Last Light is another alternative; it breathes and has a stonewashed, lived-in feel. You can opt for drift wood grey, but we like it in beyondcrisp white ($82 to $386 at providehome. com/). Hemp is another breathable alternative, and it’s a more sustainable crop

Left to right: the Casper Humidity Fighting Duvet finds a temperature-regulating mix of down, cotton, and Merino wool , while Au Lit Fine Linens’ Washed Waffle Ecru makes a light coverlet for the season.

than cotton. West Elm’s Hemp & Cotton Sheet Set comes from Fair Trade Certified, organic materials that get softer with every wash ($270 to $315 at westelm.ca/). Or go beyond basic white with Dream Designs’ silky organic cotton-sateen sheets, durable but soft and airy at a 250 threadcount; we suggest summery turquoise Sea Glass or a hit of festive Paprika (starting at $229 at dreamdesigns.ca/).

DUVET DREAMS

Consider Eddie Bauer’s FreeCool PCM Down Alternative comforter: hypoallergenic, it boasts truly space-age technology, using so-called micro-encapsulated Phase-Change Materials originally engineered for astronauts to regulate temperature fluctuations. (The queen was on sale for $182 at last check at eddiebauer.ca/.)

It has a 100-percent-cotton cover and the

At the height of summer, if a duvet seems like too much, a light coverlet works well— and looks good during the day. Canada’s Au Lit Fine Linens offers a Washed Waffle Ecru made from a Pima cotton woven in Italy; it’s a neutral beige that looks serene with white sheets ($184 to $266 on sale at aulitfinelin ens.com/). A far less expensive option with the same waffle look is IKEA’s cozy-but-cool VÅRELD style; it’s $49.99 for white at Ikea. com, but the lime-green version pops and is on sale for $39.99. At Hudson’s Bay, Martha Stewart’s white Floating Leaves Cotton Quilt ($200 to $280 at thebay.com/), with its scrolling design and scalloped edges, makes us think of waking up in the Algarve. g

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JULY 2 – 9 / 2020

ADVENTURE

Treetops and freeride trails beckon thrill seekers

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by Gail Johnson

physical distancing. You’ll only be allowed on lifts with people from your own group.

histler may be best-known for some of the raddest skiing and snowboarding on the planet, but come summer, it’s an adventurer’s playground, with everything from aerial-rope courses to white-water rafting. And COVID-19 isn’t about to stop the rugged fun from unfolding this season. Here are a few ideas to get you excited about a summertime visit while maintaining physical distancing.

ROLLING ON THE RIVERS

Float, bounce, or zoom your way down a river on any number of rafting trips; the one thing they all have in common is spectacular scenery as you paddle along pristine waterways surrounded by towering, snow-capped peaks.

TAG’s Wedge Rafting, Canadian Outback Rafting, and Whistler Blackcomb are among providers whooshing people down the Green, Cheakamus, and Elaho-Squamish rivers.

SWINGING FROM THE TREES

The Adventure Group (TAG)’s Treetop Adventure Course is a skill-testing outing where you make your way from cedar to mighty cedar high above the ground along swaying ladders, ropes, nets, and wires, all while safely harnessed, of course. The full course, which takes about three to four hours and calls for some serious balance, has more than 70 obstacles, while there’s a shorter one for kids; they both run rain or shine.

As part of pandemic safety measures in place, be prepared to have a noninvasive temperature check done and answer a COVID-19 questionnaire before you reach the forest canopy, and possibly wear a mask at times. More info is at TAG Whistler.

RIDING OFF THE BEATEN TRACK Whistler’s Treetop Adventure Course offers fresh mountain air and lots of distance from others, making it consistent with Dr. Bonnie Henry’s COVID-19 advice. Photo by the Adventure Group.

ZOOMING DOWN THE SLOPES

With more than 90 trails, the lift-serviced Whistler Mountain Bike Park boasts the most terrain of any attraction of its kind in North America. Even with a reduced footprint this year due to the pandemic, there’s still plenty of area to cover, whether you’re seeking gently undulating trails or you’re an expert in search of steep declines and thrilling jumps. Freeride trails have human-made

features like gaps and narrow surfaces, while technical trails typically emphasize natural obstacles such as roots, rocks, and logs. Head to Bike School for lessons (for kids or adults); beginners can sign up for a three-hour intro to the park.

COVID-19 safety protocols include wearing a face mask while in line and when loading and unloading chairlifts, which will have reduced capacity to ensure

Odyssey buggies are 4X4 vehicles with two or four seats that the team at Canadian Wilderness Adventures can teach you how to manoeuvre in about the same amount of time it takes to don the mandatory full-face helmet and purchase collision insurance. On its Off-Road Buggy Tour, you motor along rugged, forested trails and rolling mountain roads, stopping to take in spectacular views and maybe even spot wildlife like bears and deer. The tour suits families and beginners; the company also offers outings in Jeeps, ATVs, electric mountain bikes, and canoes.

See its website for more details. g

WE ARE THRILLED TO WELCOME YOU BACK SAFELY TO THE MOUNTAINS!

Enjoy the scenery with e-bike rentals in Whistler-Blackcomb!

JULY 2 – 9 / 2020

THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT

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TRAVEL

Wide-open corridor offers safe space for guests

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by Charlie Smith

histler mayor Jack Crompton wants Vancouverites to know that his resort is open.

But not in the way that it’s been in the past.

“It’s certainly a different experience than it was before COVID,” Crompton told the Straight by phone. “We’re physically distanced. People are wearing masks. Our community has been planning to provide a safe reopening for the last three months, so we feel ready to host.”

Quoting provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry’s mantra of “few faces and big spaces”, Crompton emphasized that this is something his community can provide.

“Mountain culture is why we exist,” he said, “so helping people experience those big open spaces is sort of in our bones.”

For those who crave cultural experiences, the Audain Art Museum and the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre are open in Whistler. Crompton also pointed out that Whistler Blackcomb is welcoming mountain bikers.

And for sightseers, the Peak 2 Peak Gondola is operating, offering a 360-degree view of mountain peaks, lakes, glaciers, forests, and perhaps the occasional bear.

“Come to Whistler and adventure dif-

Mountain biking (shown here, in Whistler) is just one of many outdoor and cultural activities available in the resort municipality as it reopens for the summer with social distancing in mind.

ferently,” Crompton said. “Come ready to find that quiet spot and enjoy time with just your family.”

Whistler is a major contributor to the B.C. economy, generating about 25 percent of the province’s gross export tourism revenue, according to the mayor. But in the summer, it’s more of a domestic playground than a magnet for international

We invite you to keep your passion for adventure alive,

visitors, who can no longer cross the border for nonessential travel.

In fact, communities along the entire Sea to Sky corridor are eager to welcome British Columbians now that the province has entered the third phase of its economic restart. There’s a free Tourism Pemberton app to find out what’s open in that community, which is 32.7 kilometres north of

Whistler. The area offers spectacular fishing, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, motorcycling, running routes, and water activities, as well as agritourism.

Unfortunately, the Pemberton Museum, which showcases the region’s colourful history, remains closed at this time.

Down the road in Squamish, Mayor Karen Elliott has sound advice for visitors: do your homework before hitting the road.

“If you find yourself at a full parking lot or trail head, you need to have a plan B in mind: somewhere else you can go if you don’t get your first choice of activity,” Elliott told the Straight by phone The exploresquamish.com website explains what is open and which areas, such as the backside trail up the Squamish Chief, are still closed. The district’s slogan is “Hardwired for Adventure”, but the mayor is hoping that people stay within their limits.

“This summer is all about fun and welllness—and playing within your comfort zone—because we don’t need extra calls for our search and rescue teams,” Elliott added. “It’s more complicated under COVID-19. We want to keep people out of the hospitals.” g

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8

THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT

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FOOD

Whistler food trucks and patios welcome visitors

E

by Gail Johnson

verything seems to taste better when you’re surrounded by natural beauty. In Whistler, there’s deliciousness to be had amid the gorgeousness of the Coast Mountains.

To increase outdoor-dining seating this summer in light of COVID-19 public-health requirements, the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) introduced a streamlined process for temporary patio extensions.

Check updates in its Doors Open Directory.

Food trucks are rolling at Lost Lake Park and Rainbow Park. Folie Crêpes (with sweet and savoury options), Lucia Gelato, Teriyaki Boys, the Turmeric Trailer (which is run by a U.K.-born chef who trained at Michelin-starred restaurants and who specializes in vegan and vegetarian cuisine), Carte Diem (“seize the souvlaki”), and Mountain Squeeze, with its cold-pressed juice, are among this year’s offerings. Locals’ tip: Lost Lake Road may be closed from late July to early August or later due to the annual western toad migration—a sight worth seeing in itself. Food trucks may or may not be operating there during those dates; check the schedule for updates at the RMOW website.

Fairmont Chateau Whistler, meanwhile, is launching its new Woodlands Rooftop

The Fairmont Chateau Whistler has turned its Woodlands Rooftop restaurant into a pop-up family-style barbecue joint with live music, great scenery, and creative seasonal dishes.

pop-up restaurant for weekend family-style barbecue service on July 1, complete with live music. The backdrop couldn’t be more beautiful, with the resort being situated at the base of Blackcomb Mountain, and the hotel’s executive chef, Isabel Chung, crafts creative seasonal dishes that are equally impressive.

Watermelon salad with local tomatoes in lime dressing, warm baby-potato salad with grainy mustard–and-egg dressing, and zesty

summer coleslaw with dried fruit get things started. On the grill are signature-spiced striploin, smoked pork ribs, rotisserie chicken, and summer veg (including pesto-basted zucchini, eggplant, portobello, and onion).

The cost is $49 per person, with an optional $15 add-on including Lois Lake steelhead, white-prawn skewer, and scallop skewer.

Sangria, slushies, sparkling wine, beer, coolers, and more are on the drinks list. Reserva-

tions are recommended, and more information is at www.chateau-whistler.com/.

Cure Lounge and Patio at Nita Lake Lodge overlooks the hotel’s pretty namesake. A customer favourite on the menu is braised short-ribs linguine with sautéed mushrooms, pine nuts, Grana Padano, and café au lait sauce; so is the house-made vegan falafel wrap, which comes with cucumber salad, spiced hummus, marinated cabbage, and banana peppers. You’ll also find share plates like Rossdown chicken wings and poutine. To quench your thirst, kick back with a gin-and-tonic flight, sip a Strawberry Rose Spritz, or try a special mocktail.

If you’re looking for a livelier setting with prime people-watching, head on over to Dubh Linn Gate Irish Pub in the Pan Pacific Whistler Mountainside Hotel.

Here—in the heart of the action near the Whistler and Blackcomb gondolas looking out to the village stroll—you can dine on classic dishes from the Emerald Isle like steak-and-Guinness pie or bangers and mash. There’s also jerk-chicken chili, pretzels and a crock of baked-ale cheese, vegetable pakoras, New Orleans shrimp po’ boy, and more. Live music and happy hour both happen seven days a week. g

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THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT

9

BEER

Sea-to-Sky’s ale trail serves up fresh flavours

A

by Mike Usinger

the merch store, hit the taphouse of one of the first craft breweries in the province.

Yes, Whistler Brewing’s roots go back to 1989, long before there was any such thing as Yeast Vancouver.

The beers: For those who don’t want to undo all the hard work put in on the slopes or while hiking the trails of Whistler, the Mighty 90 Low Cal Pale Ale is a no-brainer. The rest of us will have offerings like the Honey Lager, Black Tusk Ale, or seasonal Grapefruit Ale.

s Vancouver’s stature has grown, so has that of Whistler and Squamish. Here’s a six-pack of great craft breweries up the Seato-Sky Highway.

SQUAMISH

Howe Sound Brewing 37801 Cleveland Avenue The tasting room: Think (appropriately enough, given Squamish’s history of logging) wood and lots of it, with the brewpub’s gorgeous wooden floors, walls, and thick overhead beams.

The beers: For accessible and light, go with the Howe Sound Lager or the Pilsner Plunge. Or get adventurous with seasonals like the Super Jupiter Mango ISA. Backcountry Brewing #405-1201 Commercial Way The tasting room: The last thing anyone wants when escaping the city is a room that looks industrial-chic. Backcountry Brewing travelled back to the ’70s for inspiration, creating a space that pays homage to chalets from the era of the Crazy Canucks.

The beers: Ridgerunner Pilsner and Widowmaker IPA are always on tap.

Howe Sound Brewing’s tasting room has lots of wood. Photo by Howe Sound Brewing/Instagram.

A-FRAME Brewing #1-38927 Queens Way The tasting room: The folks behind AFRAME Brewing had a simple goal during the design phase: building a space that replicates a weekend at a lakeside cabin.

The beers: Favourites include the awardwinning Okanagan Lake Cream Ale.

name isn’t Nancy Greene or Jackrabbit Johannsen, the second you hit the slopes you’re probably dreaming of that first après-ski beverage. BrewHouse is one of the busiest spots at Whistler-Blackcomb.

The beers: No one has ever been disappointed by the 5 Rings IPA, which took home B.C. Beer Awards in 2012 and 2014.

WHISTLER

Whistler Brewing Co. 1045 Millar Creek Road The tasting room: After touring the brewery, and loading up on “beeraphenalia” at

BrewHouse 4355 Blackcomb Way The tasting room: Assuming that your

Coast Mountain Brewing 2-1212 Alpha Lake Road The tasting room: Billing itself as a boutique craft brewery, Coast Mountain Brewing prides itself on being welcoming to both newbies and connoisseurs. An intimate tasting room provides a laid-back destination for both long-time locals and tourists from far-flung locales.

The beers: Go deliciously heavy with the Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout or the Black Diamond Vanilla Bean Stout. The adventure doesn’t stop there at Coast Mountain Brewing, which is to say you’ll have trouble choosing between the Fruit Snack Blackberry Lime Berliner Weisse, the Juice Box Sour Wit, and the Surveyor IPA. g

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THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT

JULY 2 – 9 / 2020

in the Hilton Whistler Hotel & Spa

ARTS

Dancing on the Edge artists shift gears for a new era

by Janet Smith

W

Left to right, Josh Martin in the film Brimming (photo by Diego Romero); Vanessa Goodman in Solvent (photo by David Cooper); and Olivia C. Davies in Wishing Well (photo by Jean Francois-Boisvenue).

hen the Dancing on the Edge festival takes place this week, it won’t look anything like it has over its 32-year history.

That’s because, of course, COVID-19 means all performances have to adhere to social-distancing measures. But the fest is still managing to present a full roster of online and in-person contemporary-dance works.

We reached out to three artists boldly venturing into new terrain for the event.

Company 605’s Josh Martin debuts the solo dance film Brimming, shot by David Cooper, as part of the mixed Edge 6 program (July 7 and 11 on YouTube). He says it started by exploring the body as a container— “something that both shapes and holds us”.

He conjured images of a container that was becoming overfilled—“sloshing, leaking, its frame beginning to warp and bend under pressure,” he tells the Straight. “I happened to be invited to share some research at Boombox, which is a performance space housed within a commercial container truck,” he says. “I think working in that confined space really helped me explore a sense of an interior process pushing up against an exterior wall. There is this saying of ‘Get out of yourself’ that feels relevant, imagining this rigid structure and what might spill out of it.”

Action at a Distance’s Vanessa Goodman has created the new solo video piece Solvent in collaboration with musician Scott Morgan (Loscil), premiering it as part of the Edge One program (July 3 and 6 on YouTube). She says the work overlaps with the aquatic themes of Never Still, which premiered at the Firehall in 2018 and included vivid video imagery of dancers plunging into water. “Circulatory systems, both internally and externally, are a structural inspiration,” she says.

And O.Dela Arts’ Olivia C. Davies will be premiering a live performance of Wishing Well to a small audience in the Firehall Arts Centre courtyard (which will also be livestreamed). The healing, meditative piece is an outdoor performance installation that

draws from the intended live work Gidaashi: The Wind That Takes Us (“I didn’t want the dream to die,” Davies says). The duet is created by Davies and Vuntut-Gwichin poet Melissa Frost, and features them with three other dancers—Rianne Svelnis, Ziyian Kwan, and Kelly McInnes. Blending poetry, movement, and storytelling, it’s about being stripped of cultural identity and the reassertion of language, protocol, and ceremony.

Here’s what the artists had to say about what it was like venturing into pandemictimes performance.

Was this a live work that you had to “pivot” to turn digital, and what was that like?

JM: “My original proposal to Dancing on the Edge was, of course, a work imagined for a live performance setting. But with all the uncertainty and such reduced ability to control that type of audience experience for this year’s festival, I was much more drawn to the option of contributing screen-based work....I wouldn’t say that the work itself has had to pivot per se, but I have certainly felt myself pivoting, almost daily since April, grieving for the work I want to be doing while forcing myself to redirect my practice and get excited by all the other possibilities available.”

VG: “This presentation at DOTE is a standalone, video-specific piece. Scott and I often work online, sending each other music and movement footage as part of our process.

Time in the studio is definitely a significant component of how we work together, but this digital pivot is not a huge stretch for us.”

How do dancers or creative teams rehearse during COVID-19?

JM: “It was fortunate that this project was already a solo, and already being created for a small enclosed space. So, aside from the child-care issues, the rehearsal aspect was a relatively easy in my case. Just find a flat surface and move. But I have certainly felt the longing for more face-to-face interaction with my collaborators throughout, and the

complexity of communicating artistic notions becomes when that physical, in-person transmission is absent.”

OD: “The original ensemble members are all working on their scores individually in their own spaces. Early on in the planning stages for this engagement, our conversations centred around sanitation and other precautions that would be taken by both the venue and O.Dela Arts to ensure the dancers and crew would be kept safe during performances. Choices to maintain safe distance between dancers throughout the piece were made as part of the artistic direction of the work. This is one challenge that can actually be easily managed with the specific venue of the Firehall’s courtyard—it is quite a spacious, open-air space where audience members can be distanced without losing access or sightlines to the performance space....As choreographer-director, I have provided them each with a score that was devised in our earlier creation sessions that will now be further developed on their own....We will all come together for the final rehearsals, and it is here where I will witness their work and make any final adjustments before we share with audiences.”

What are some of the biggest challenges taking dance into fi lm or online?

VG: “The main challenge with this project is that the majority of the footage is self-shot, which can be a tricky way to gather footage.

It’s difficult not to be able to work with all of my usual collaborators. I am filming most of this material at home with a very modest lighting setup. Since I am used to working with lights in a very interactive way with James Proudfoot, there’s a limitation doing it myself. On the other hand, the DIY approach has led to some creative results that I might not have found otherwise.”

JM: “For me, the challenge is to just fully turn on that part of my brain—the part that sees in 16:9 and remembers a completely different palette of tools and capabilities are available. Simultaneously, I have to let go of any expectations of that kinesthetic transference I count on in live shows, which I think will never quite drift the same way through a screen.” g The Dancing on the Edge festival runs from Thursday to next Saturday (July 2 to 11) at the Firehall Arts Centre and via online platforms; see the full schedule at dancingontheedge.org/.

MARTIN GUDERNA Gallery Cadillac 555 Hamilton Street, Vancouver Exhibition: July 3rd to July 12th, 2020 daily, 11 am to 6 pm JULY 2 – 9 / 2020

THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT

11

MOVIES

Obituaries & In Memoriam

American Woman puts a moody new spin on Patty Hearst story

• Up to 10 images • Online only • Self-serve • Guestbook forever • Unlimited length • Verified

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GO TO EPITAPHS.STRAIGHT.COM TO POST AN OBITUARY lly igita val D e i anc nd Fest D g 2 3 in een or the Scr f Sarah Gadon’s Pauline and Hong Chau’s Jenny form a tentative bond as they hit the road in American Woman, a fictional film inspired by an activist who took part in a kidnapping caper.

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THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT

JULY 2 – 9 / 2020

dWhen people think of the Patty Hearst affair, they picture the kidnapped heiress herself, sporting a beret and machine gun.

But behind the scenes there was another, lesser-known player: Wendy Yoshimura, an antiwar activist and Symbionese Liberation Army member who was hiding with Hearst when they were finally caught as fugitives.

Yoshimura and her final months with Hearst are the starting point for this meditative, moodily shot effort written and directed by Semi Chellas (of TV’s Mad Men and The Romanoffs). The film is fictional, inspired by the real events and based on Susan Choi’s novel of the same name; Yoshimura is called Jenny Shimada here and played by Hong Chau, who made such a buzzily out-of-the-box impression in Alexander Payne’s eclectic Downsizing.

Quiet and stern, Jenny is the enigmatic centre of American Woman, a pacifist who used to make bombs, as the film reveals early on. Her story is told in flashbacks from an FBI interrogation; “I’d sure like to know why you girls are so goddamned mad,” the agent patronizingly tells her. The movie goes on to hint that, in 1975, there was a lot for any woman, especially a woman of colour, to be royally pissed off about.

Jenny is an ex-radical in hiding, working as a caretaker to a wealthy old woman (a biting Ellen Burstyn)—a scenario that establishes the film’s themes of class and race—when she’s recruited by activists again. She’s hired to keep watch over the

rural Upstate New York hideout where Hearst stand-in Pauline (Sarah Gadon) and her two volatile captors, Juan and Yvonne (John Gallagher Jr. and Lola Kirke), are holed up after a police shootout has killed the rest of their group.

A connection builds between the two women, Jenny somehow drawn to Pauline’s vulnerability and empathetic to what appears to be her trauma-induced fear, Pauline to her watcher’s gentleness, especially compared to the abuse from Juan— the angry anticapitalist who calls his captive “princess”.

Time stands still, and Chellas gives these scenes a dreamlike feel, leaves rustling, crickets chirping, all enhanced with poetic lensing by Vancouver cinematographer Greg Middleton.

When the pair break from Juan and Yvonne, the movie shifts its tone dramatically into that of a more romanticized road movie, Pauline and Jenny speeding their way west.

The overall mood is a world away from Paul Schrader’s dark descent into brainwashing and captivity, 1988’s Patty Hearst.

American Woman is more interested in the post-’60s political and cultural forces that led to such radical acts, presented here in hushed, meditative tones.

In the end, Gadon’s Pauline remains a cipher, shellshocked, unstable, but coy.

Chau, the core of the movie, fares better.

Yoshimura had a fascinating life that led to her activism—especially having been born in a Japanese-American internment camp.

That’s only mentioned briefly here, but Chau is strong enough to bring a compelling new perspective to this bizarre chapter of history—and to the entire idea of the identity of the “American woman”. g

REAL ESTATE

Province buys Main Street’s Famed Hobbit House up for American Hotel for housing sale for almost $2.7 million

O

by Charlie Smith

T

by Charlie Smith

The purchase of the American is the latest by the B.C. government during a hotel-buying spree.

he B.C. government is continuing with its hotel-buying spree, announcing its latest purchase on June 29.

According to a news release, the province paid $17.9 million for the American Hotel and an adjacent vacant site at 928 and 938 Main Street, respectively.

The B.C. government plans on retaining the 42 housing units. As people move out, they will be occupied by new residents “ready to leave supportive housing and live more independently”, the province said.

The American has been a single-roomoccupancy hotel since it was renovated in 2010. In recent years, it has also been home to the Electric Owl cabaret.

The site next door at 938 Main Street was advertised by Colliers for nearly $6.8 million. It was described in a brochure as an “exceptional development-ready opportunity just steps from the site of the future 1 637 ATLANTIC ST I $1,149,900

St. Paul’s Hospital in the False Creek Flats”.

The previous week, the B.C. government bought the 110-room Howard Johnson Hotel at 1176 Granville Street for $55 million. It will continue to be operated as “temporary supportive housing” as the province considers the building’s long-term future.

At the same time, the province also announced the $19.4-million acquisition of the 63-room Buchan Hotel at 1906 Haro Street.

In May, the province bought the 65room Comfort Inn Hotel at 3020 Blanshard Street in Victoria “We are working to develop a model of supportive housing that meets people’s needs with appropriate health, mental health and addictions supports, and creates opportunities to live a safer, healthier life as part of a community,” Social Development and Poverty Reduction Minister Shane Simpson said in a June 22 news release. g 3 bed, 2 bath, 1,169 SF 1/2 Duplex Main level has an open plan living w/ Fisher Paykel appliances, built-in speakers, quartz counter-tops & a covered front porch. Up fts. large master w/ vaulted ceilings, second bedroom & full bath. Lower level has another bedroom & full bath

ne of the city’s most recognizable homes is on the market after managing to avoid the wrecker’s ball a few years ago.

The James Residence, a.k.a. the Hobbit House, is up for sale for $2,698,000.

In 2017, the 2,900-square-foot home at 587 West King Edward Avenue won a Vancouver Heritage Award of Honour.

Prior to the 2014 election, there were fears that the home would be knocked down as part of a large townhouse development. However, the house was retained as a result of a rezoning application.

According to an article by Irene Lo on the 604 Now website, this is one of three so-called Hobbit Houses in the region designed by Ross Anthony Lort between the first and second world wars. They were created in the style known as Provincial Revivalism. Another is on West Broadway

5 bed, 4 bath, 2,518 SF House Original woodwork, moldings, French doors, stained glass windows, fir floors & banister.

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Lort was born in Birmingham, England, and his firm designed many buildings in Vancouver, including the extension to the Vancouver Art Gallery that opened in 1951. He died in 1978. g

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THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT

13

SEX

Sex-worker advocates hope for federal changes

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by Charlie Smith

hen David Lametti was reappointed as the justice minister and attorney general after last year’s federal election, he received a mandate letter from the prime minister. In it, Justin Trudeau emphasized that the government fully defends the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

“You will continue to ensure that the rights of Canadians are protected, including through your strong support for the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms,” Trudeau stated. “As Minister of Justice, you will see that the administration of public affairs is in accordance with the law.”

But many sex workers and their allies feel that one piece of legislation—introduced by former Conservative justice minister Peter MacKay in 2014—is offside with the charter’s Section 7 guarantee to the right to life, liberty, and security of the person.

The Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act criminalizes the sale of sex, bans others from materially benefiting from such transactions, and makes it illegal to advertise the sale of sexual services. Sex workers and their allies say that this Harper government law forces people in the trade to remain in the shadows, where it’s more difficult to screen clients. That leaves sex workers more vulnerable to predators.

This law was introduced after the Supreme Court of Canada struck down three

Sex workers and allies say that legislation passed by the federal Conservatives in 2014 that criminalized the sale of sex and advertising sexual services forced them into unsfe areas.

prostitution laws in 2013 for infringing on a sex worker’s constitutional rights to life, liberty, and security of the person and freedom of expression.

Vancouver Centre MP Hedy Fry told the Straight that she expects Lametti to revisit MacKay’s legislation by applying a

constitutional lens.

“What the attorney general will do is look at it, decide whether or not it is charter-compliant or in compliance with the Supreme Court ruling on Section 7 of the charter—and make amendments and then present the amended bill to the

House,” Fry said.

She added that the government intended to do this during its first term. However, Fry said that the first Liberal justice minister, Jody Wilson-Raybould, had her plate full with cannabis legalization and medical-assistance-in-dying legislation.

Earlier this year, Fry took part in a Zoom meeting with 22 representatives of sex-work organizations across Canada.

One of the participants, Susan Davis of the B.C. Coalition of Experiential Communities, told the Straight that there was a frank discussion about the impact of federal legislation on sex workers’ safety.

According to Davis, Fry told the group that Lametti “seems supportive of changes to the Harper-era law”.

“We’re hopeful that sex workers will be included in a more meaningful way than they were during the development of that bill,” Davis said.

Fry said that the COVID-19 crisis “ripped off the top of this in a major way”.

The Vancouver MP explained that to obtain the $2,000 per month Canada Emergency Response Benefit, someone has to explain to the Canada Revenue Agency what they’ve been doing for a living. But if a sex workers admits to this, they’re confessing to criminal activity.

“So they never did that, and many of them can’t get CERB,” Fry said. g

Does coming-out dread inform kinks later in life?

by Dan Savage

b MY NEW BOYFRIEND just opened up to me about his kinks. Nothing crazy: just bondage and humiliation.

While he usually meets and dates guys off kinky dating sites, we met “the old-fashioned way” a few months before COVID-19 slammed us here in Chicago: at a potluck dinner party thrown by a mutual straight lady friend. Your name came up during the conversation about his interests: he told me he was taking your advice and “laying his kink cards on the table” before I had made too much of an emotional commitment. What’s interesting to me, Dan, is how often this happens. My boyfriend is easily the fourth guy I’ve dated in the last few years who laid down the exact same kink cards: wants to be tied up, wants to be called names, wants to be hurt. I’m learning to tie knots and getting better at calling him names when we have sex and I’m actually really enjoying spanking him. But I was talking with a friend—our straight-lady mutual (with the boyfriend’s okay!)—and she told me she’s never had a straight guy open up to her about wanting to be tied up and abused. Are gay guys just kinkier?

- Talking Over Perversions

I have a theory…

When we’re boys—before we’re ready to come out— we’re suddenly attracted to other boys. And that’s something we usually feel pretty panicked about. It would be

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THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT

JULY 2 – 9 / 2020

Sex-advice columnist Dan Savage theorizes that early gay panic can combine with sexual desire to later eroticize fears.

nice if that first same-sex crush was something a boy could experience without feelings of dread or terror, TOP, but that’s not how it works for most of us. We’re keenly aware that should the object of our desire realize it—if the boy we’re attracted to realizes what we’re feeling, if we give ourselves away with a stray look—the odds of that boy reacting badly or even violently are high. Even if you think

the boy might not react violently, even if you suspect the boy you’re crushing on might be gay himself, the stakes are too high to risk making any sort of move. So we stew with feelings of lust and fear.

Sexual desire can make anyone feel fearful and powerless—we’re literally powerless to control these feelings (while we can and must control how we act on these feelings)—but desire and fear are stirred together for us gay boys to a much greater degree than they are for straight boys. We fear being found out; we fear being called names; we fear being outed; we fear being physically hurt. And the person we fear most is the person we have a crush on.

A significant number of gay guys wind up imprinting on that heady and very confusing mix of desire and fear. The erotic imaginations of guys like your boyfriend seize on those fears and eroticize them. And then, in adulthood, your boyfriend wants to reexperience those feelings, that heady mix of desire and fear, with a loving partner he trusts. The gay boy who feared being hurt by the person he was attracted to becomes the gay man who wants to be hurt—in a limited, controlled, consensual, and safe way— by the man he’s with. g On the Savage Lovecast: would you choose to live in… Kansas? www. savagelovecast.com. Email: mail@savagelove.net. Follow Dan on Twitter @FakeDanSavage.

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is looking for Carpenters,Greater Vancouver, BC. Permanent, Full time. Wage: $ 27.00 per/h Skills requirements: Experience 2-3 years, Good English. Education: Secondary school Main duties: Read and interpret blueprints, determine specifications; Measure, cut, shape, assemble and join materials made of wood, lightweight metal and other materials;Operate measuring, hand, and power carpentry tools (i.e. drills, saws, guns).Fit and install trim items as required;Supervise helpers and apprentices; Follow established safety rules.

Company’s business address: 1265 Benneck Way, Port Coquitlam BC, V3C 5Y8 Please apply by e-mail: polarexteriorinc@gmail.com

Tricom Building Maintenance Ltd. is looking for Cleaning supervisors, Greater Vancouver, BC. Permanent, full-time job Wage - $ 21.00 per/h. Skills requirements: Good English. Education: secondary school.

Previous experience as a cleaner or similar position is required;Previous experience as a cleaning supervisor is an asset. Main duties: Supervise and co-ordinate the activities of cleaners; Hire and train new cleaning staff; Resolve work-related problems and customer complaints; Periodically inspect job locations before and after the cleaning; Prepare work schedules and co-ordinate activities with other cleaning teams. Company’s business address: 307 – 1477 West Pender St. Vancouver, BC V6G 2S3 Please apply by e-mail: hrd@tricomcanada.ca

Hospitality/Food Service

1 COOK Needed for PinPin Restaurant

Fraser St, Vancouver. At least HS Grad with 2 yrs.

Experience. Permanent F/T, $18.00 per hour Duties: Prepare/Cook complete meals or individual Filipino/Chinese dishes & Supervise kitchen helpers. Maintain inventory, Records of food, Supplies and Equipment. May help clean work area.

To apply please send resume to pinpinrestaurant@gmail.com

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The Compassionate Friends (TCF) Burnaby TCF is a grief support group for parents who have experienced the loss of a child, at any age.

Meet the last Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m.

For location call Grace: 778-222-0446 "We Need Not Walk Alone" compassionatecircle@hotmail.com Burnaby@TCFCanada.net www.tcfcanada.net Vancouver Society for Sexuality, Gender & Culture Educational group with monthly meetings are planned for: 1st Tuesday of each month, 6:30 PM 8:30 PM Vancouver Public Library - Firehall Branch 1455 W 10th Ave (by Granville St next to the Firehall) All are welcome, and we are looking for Board Members from the Health, Counseling, Education, and Business Professions Info: Michael or Darren: VSSGC@yahoogroups.ca

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PETER WALL’S AMBERLODGE 1045 W. 14th Avenue, Vancouver

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THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT

JULY 2 – 9 / 2020