FREE -donations accepted.

NEWSLETTER 401 Main Street, Vancouver. VSA 2T7 (604) 665-2289

Hey, did you know that the Carnegie library has DVDs, and music CDs, and books on CD and tape and books in Chinese and Spanish and a book giveaway on Hastings Street every Friday, and newspapers and graphic novels and big, beautiful tables, and friendly staff, and a First Nations collection and reports and articles about the Downtown Eastside?

.aThe human race has a real­ly effective weapon a~d that is laughter."- Mark Twam.

. MAY_1, 2007

www .carnnews.org carnnews@vcn.bc.ca

I wish he'd just let me do my crossword puzzle in peace

Did I mention it's open 1 Oam to 10pm every day of the year?

The Library Will Be Closed

Wednesday, May 2 from 1 Oam to 12pm

while we install a new counter. We're sorry for the inconvenience.

News from the Library Did you know that the library now has DVDs,

videos and books on CD? And coming in early May, we'll also have music CDs. As of May 2, you can borrow up to 2 DVDs, 2 music CDs, 2 books on CD and 5 videos at a time on your Car­negie library card. Remember, there are no late fees on a Carnegie library card, but please try to bring your DVDs and CDs back so that other people can enjoy them!

New Books The Freedom Writers Diary by the Freedom

Writers and Erin Gruwell (305.23) traces an Eng­lish class's journey against intolerance and misun­derstanding. You've seen the movie (with Hilary Swank), now read the book. In One Pot Wonders (641.82) James Barber turns

his hand to stews, fishcakes, chicken and other dishes using a handful of ingredients and just one pot. Designed for cooking on a small boat, they're just as useful for cooking on dry land. Sweet & Sour Peanut Butter Noodle Soup, anyone?

Whether you're a geek or a novice, sometimes computers can get the better of you. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Computer Basics by Joe Kraynak (004.16) lets you get up dose and personal with computers. From finding lost files, to sending e­mail, to publishing your own web page, this book shows you how to get the best out of a computer.

Our 3rd floor display case is still broken. You can see these books & more in the display case in the library. Ask at the front desk of the library if you want to reserve one (or more) of them.

Beth, your librarian.

"The Shadow s Project: Addiction and Recov­ery-We're All In this Together" experience was at first difficult because of being new yet being with familiar faces -because of the topic- & the lack of trust on my behalf.

One of the issues I brought in the production was racism; I face it just like any person(s) in this soci­ety. It came with my background- being from the tsyu (beaver) clan of the wetsuwet'en territory. Experiences there allowed the comments or as­sumptions put upon me by others to burden my journey to continue on ... continue what was in­tended, to share my gifts with others.

I am in search of that... I know it's within me; it's just these negative thoughts of myself are embed­ded and clouding my gifts The first two weeks in this production were tough

but I managed to tough it out -heck I made it to the opening night!!! I am in recovery from whatever substances I got my hands on to numb the pain ... but I got tired of it. I didn't like the hangovers or the blackouts ... I did this on my own without any agencies and

before I had my son, Uligan (wolf) Dinee (man)! This was the beginning of my journey of healing

the wounded heart I have endured as a child. Shar­ing my experience took a lot of courage. I enjoyed expressing my creativeness and say thank you to the production and the cast.

My challenge now is to cope in a positive way with this illness of depression, with the help of local agencies in the down town eastside, and my sisters, and my son for being himself-the Uligan.

Humour is what my late grandparents taught me when in despair. I have this tendency to beat my­self up for not completing my goal( s) ... but heck there's always tomorrow and this play allowed me to complete a step in the right direction.

I raise my hands to you and honour you for making this production come to life-

In Respect, Priscillia Mays ps Stay Beautiful ... ok

3 full-page prints in the Newsletter since January, are from the work of Keith McKellar, street artist known as Laughing Hand. His book Neon Eulogy can be seen at www.laughinghand.com ----

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Dance performance and workshops Thursdays, 3 - 5 PM

The Karen Jamieson Dance Company is creat­ing a performance for and with the residents of _the Downtown Eastside. This performance will be first shown this July as a work-in progress, rough draft at the Dancing on the Edge Festival at the Fireball Arts Centre. The project is cal1ed the Carnegie/Fireball project and is intended to involve people in the community living and working in the area around Carnegie and the Fireball Arts Centre. Anyone wishing to learn more and become a part of this performance project, please come to the Dance 101 Work­shops on Thursday afternoons, 3:00-5:09 PM, in the gymnasium at Carnegie Community' Cen­tre. Everyone is welcome!

For more information, please phone Rika Uto at Carnegie - 604 665 3003.

,... .......... , .. ----··--··-_____ ....... _____ - - -i LEARK TO MAKE ARTS AND CRAFTS i i

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You are invited to join us! 0 n Thursday afternoons from 1 - 3 :~ pm

Eadl workshop a s:::ledfic project is tat. ght. :;)upplies provided free c:J cost.

You keep what you ma~:e . D"op-in style - just show up (Lim ted to 15 participants)

WOMEN Ot-1.. Y f I Frovided by: Atira Women's Resource Society's i Enterprising Women Making Art Project 1 101 East Cordova (corner of CorOOva anj Colurrbia) 1 For more informatior : i Rease :ontact Sheil3 or M3ry at 304-331-1407 ext . 104 I

Mankind's bebut (The Humming Song) ·3 PART I: Darwin's story is a sad tale for sure, growing up with less self-esteem then a head-<>n train crash in his head (no pun intended) he won' t have noticed anyway; his thoughts betray him, his soul abandons him, and the only thing Darwin the Apostle ever asked was the ability to sleep and never wake up again. 1st Bridge: (Darwin's story has no substance just abuse .. those in power who tell us what we are and aren't allowed to use, bridges and rope, ledges and hope, keep thy dream as a predator his prey, man­kind's debut right before god take one last glorious look and call it a day.) PART II: The nerve to bring more life (and death) into the world, soon to be a lifeless rock floating towards the sun, but process is progress says the mad scientist in me knowing full well the future scares the hell out of me. I see people with invisi­ble guns in their mouths but they still dutifully deny reality; we are nothing but a footnote in a poorly constructed song - because words maqke one cry I'll try to make this a hmming song. 2"d Bridge: Bridges and hope, ledges and rope, keep thy dream as a predator its prey, mankind's

debut right before god take one last glorious look no, not today. PART III: We see disease and faulty cures on a daily basis (imagine if I had a heart to break), sor­ry we' re out of stock since TIMEX went into the organ business and then went out and smashed every clock; never seen the hope and faith erode so quickly, icebergs under the tip are just cubes, going once going twice is our future paradise locked away in a mislabeled test tube, when and who will end it is out of the high deep blue, Man­kind' s debut right before god is when things began going askew. Last bridge: Darwin 's story has no substance just abuse, those in power who tell us what we can and cannot use, bridges and hope, ledges and rope, keep thy dream as a predator its prey, mankind's debut right before god take one last glorious Dar­win .. I can only look away.

Robert McGiJlivray

Stunning Shadows Project! Dear my friends, In these past weeks, I have been involved in a

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Downtown Eastside "Shadows Project: Addiction · ~.

and Recovery, We're All in This Together." It' s been shown since last Thursday, April 19 and lasts until next Sunday, April 29, 8- 9:00pm, and is followed up with a discussion session for people who would like to participate. I am a member of the speaking chorus in this show and there is more than just music and singing .. stories on addiction and recovery with many images and lighting ef­fects. We've had over 100 people attending each night in the past three nights.

Each night we have a guest chair the after-show discussion with members of the audience who would like to give their feedback on the show and on issues related to addiction and recovery. The audience's responses have been very overwhelming and positive with hopes on dealing with addiction and recovery. The show [was] held in the Russian Hall, 600 Campbell A venue, seven blocks east of Main. It [was] pay by donation or pay as you can. There were over 30 people in the cast, from the country's lowest income neighbourhood, the Downtown Eastside, who work[ ed] hard to make this unusual production speak for the people who are addicted and trying very hard to recover, both prominent issues of this country.

A II the best, Susan [Po Shan Wong]

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Shadows of Hope

Last spring, Savannah Walling and Rosemary Georgeson brought twelve writers along with them to Fathom Labs on Galliano Island for a week of script writing. Savannah and Rose were strict task masters. They made us work twelve hours a day but they also fed us three square meals a day too and they even gave us Sunday off. On our last day, Marie Clements of Fathom Labs

took the bunch of us inner city urbanites to the beach and asked us to write ... .. a love poem. The night before, one of the writers, Wendy Chew had us all up until midnight teiJing us stories of"Gaap Gui Cha". This is a tea "cha" made from boiling both the male and female "Gaap Gui" which is highly prized as an aphrodisiac by both men and women, I wrote this love poem for the ones I had come to love as a family- the ones I was with at the mo­ment - the writers on the Shadow Puppetry Play -you know who you are.

Gaap Gui Cha

I don't need no Gaap Gui Cha To fall in love with you Give the Bear back his balls. Give the oyster back her shell. 'Cos I don't need no vial of Sweet flying aphrodisiac All I need is one single drop Of your true and bitter spirit.

Gaap Gui Cha

MaryD

I fell in love with the lady from Toisan She sang sad songs and poured A cup and a cup and a cup From her bottomless bottle of bitter wine

Gaap Gui Cha

I fell in Love with the man wearing a cowboy shirt To reclaim the word of his Interior Salish People A gentle warrior who sees as much Beauty in death as there is in life

Gaap Gui Cha

I fell in love with a woman Whose voice even makes a Hallelujah sound sexy She could have worked for a 1-800-number Instead, she decided to become a gospel singer

Gaap Gui Cha

I fell in love with a comedian ltchin ' and scratchin' and sayin ' That the bedbugs didn' t bother him So why should they bother us?

Gaap Gui Cha

I fell in love with the squatter Who pitched her tent under the stars You can join her -just bring your own butts to her smokin' only zone

Gaap Gui Cha

I fell in love with the man Who dropped me like a hot hash brown To marry a Kentucky fried bride Umm-mm-mmm- finger lickin' good

Gaap Gui Cha

I feel in love with Sweet Marie Cos she knows that we can't live on water And loaves of bread alone. Uh-oh no .. We all need some kinda candy

Gaap Gui Cha

I fell in love with a Rose But I nearly destroyed her Stealing and poisoning her land Twning it into a burial ground

Gaap Gui Cha

I fell in love with a dragon-lady But didn't respect her gifts I took and I took and I took Until her treasure singed my soul.

Gaap Gui Cha

I fell in love with a Holy Family Mother, Father and Son Holding creation like wild pink salmon Glittering and wriggling in the palm of one hand.

Gaap Gui Cha

I fell in Jove with you: Chinatown I The Downtown Eastside I' lllet go of my pride Get down on my knees Ask you to be my groom and my bride Cos' I don't need no Gaap Gui Cha To fall in love with you.

Mary Duffy

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Shadow Masters and Mistresses ) '

"We've come from nowhere to somewhere and today we'll find out where that somewhere is" . Larry Reed cryptically tells us this after an inten­sive weekend of creating shadow puppetry magic last April at the Ukrainian Cultural Center. The process had started earlier for most people.

Many of us had begun as community writers the previous summer under the direction of Savannah Walling and Rosemary Georgeson. Many others performed as actors or musicians in a sample sec­tion of the play presented during the Heart of the City Festival.

This spring you'll get to see the final results of a Herculean effort, involving two and a half years and almost an entire community examining the many permutations of addiction in our lives. I know the final effort will be as magical for the audience as it was to be part of behind the scenes . If not, it certainly won't be the fault of our many artist mentors who were brave enough to take on such a brutal and unwieldy beast as addiction in an effort to dissect its roots and hold them up to the light in an effort to provide some modicum of healing.

I suspect whether or not the final effort gets rave reviews will not matter as much to the creators as the process itself which was c_onducted every step of the way with integrity. This process was hugely consultative of the community, involving hundreds of contributors at every level bringing their own particular gifts and experiences to depict a dragon which has devoured so many lives. That weekend at the Ukrainian Center we came

together as a community to learn new ways of looking at shadows and dimensions. Sharon Bay­ley wrangled us into labour teams to cut strips for frames for the shadows to flit across. Patrick Foley and Melissa Error drew their hearts out. Rosemary Georgeson fed us to the gills. Then, under the direction of Larry Reed and Tamara Unroe, we all became "Mirror People" sitting on the floor to create the cheapest yet most spectacular special effects just by choreographing cutouts and waving concave and convex mirrors back and forth.

"Is this not magic?!" Muriel Williams asks.

Then the actors get behind the screens to do t~eir part. Sue Blue, transformed by a gigantic mask into a grandmother, cradles an equally gargantuan shadow puppet baby that Stephen Lytton affectio-

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nately -christens, "Chucky." And, here amidst the shadows, real life and love blossoms among young actors Montana and Meghan.

We have all been brought together in a whirl of magic and mirrors - but there's no smoke here to obscure the truth

Postscript: This was written last April after Larry Reed's work with us at The Ukrainian Cultural Center. I'm looking forward to seeing the final production this April at the Russian Hall which will add the compelling layer of music to the work of the writers, actors, artists and puppeteers. I am truly grateful to have been given the opportunity to play a small part in this process which connected me so hugely to a community l had worked in for seven years .. but only truly got to know through the soul in its shadows as I was leaving.

By Mary Duffy

The Truth can Hurt

At a recent meeting at city hall, councillors dis­cussed how they could increase citizen involve­ment in shaping the city for the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics. Councillor Kim Capri recounted one of her mem­

ories of the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Games, saying: "One of my favourite stories from Salt Lake City was the story about the schoolchildren that wrote the little welcoming letters to every sin­gle visitor that went on their pillows at night, basi­cally saying good things about their city or inviting them to events or, you know, just celebrating Salt Lake City. "And from what I know of V ancouverites I can

only imagine that our citizens would come up with equally as exciting and heart-touching ideas."

(Regular Council Meeting, April 03, 2007). In the interest of civic participation, I am conduct­

ing a UBC-based opinion survey in order to docu­ment how Vancouver residents truly feel about their city and the coming Games. Both praise and criticism are welcome. If you would like to make your voice heard, copies of the survey are in the Carnegie Action Association office on the 2nd floor of the Carnegie building. To contact the sur­vey's organizer, phone Mike at (778)327-9563

Volunteers: May 2007

Wed. May 9- Volunteer Committee Meeting 2p.n. Classroom II

Friday May 11 -Karaoke with Steve 7 - 1 Op.m. in the Theatre

Wed May 16 - Volunteer Dinner, 4:30 Theatre 12 Volunteer Hours to Attend

Friday May 25 -Karaoke with Steve 7 - 1 Op.m. in the Theatre

Volunteers of the Month for April2007-

Ernie Jeff; Seniors Coffee Seller Peter Davies; Computer Room/Reception/Kitchen

April was Volunteer Recognition Month

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Volunteero(the Year: ADA Df3NNfS

4 Special Merrils: Mike McCormack, Les Mac­Donald, Elaine Desjarlais, Rocky Bapt~te ·

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Economics of Binning "''' 1"11 l - ~

What's the biggest government social program for low-income people in Vancouver? Judging by the number ofbinners I see every day, I'd bet that it is deposit refunds on bottles and cans.

Most people look at bottle deposits as an envi­ronmental policy. I think it should be seen for what it really is - the main source of income for thousands of people in this city.

A bottle deposit is really a government sales tax. You buy a can of beer; you pay a ten cent tax for the can. But it's a tax that you get back if you bring the can back. It's like claiming an income tax return. If you throw the can in the trash and it gets buried in the dump, you don' t claim your ten cents and the government keeps it. But if some­body digs the can out of the trash and returns it, they get the money. It becomes a tax that's paid by one person and collected by another person. This is a re-distributive or social transfer tax.

Most people who have decent jobs don ' t bother to return a lot of the bottles and cans that they pay a deposit on. It's not worth their time to do so; they can make more money working overtime at their job or whatever. If you don't have a decent job, binning is a way to legally earn a little bit of survival money.

You're invited to THE LAUNCH OF a new book:

"Dying for a Home: Homeless Activists Speak Out"

By CATHY CROWE

WHEN: Saturday, May 6, 2-4 pm WHERE: Gallery Gachet, 88 E Cordova Street .

In Dying For A Home Crowe brings us voices of ten homelessness activists advocating for change. The word homeless conjures many stereotypes, but rarely does it suggest bravery, courage, charisma, or intelligence-qualities demonstrated by each of these detennined individuals. Crowe gives us a chance to meet these extraordinary activists, many of whom have lived on the street for a decade.

When you have lots of people with decent jobs r and incomes buying lots of bottled drinks (who couldn't be bothered to collect their deposits back) combined with lots of poor people who are willing to root through the trash to collect those cans and bottles and cash them in, you get a large-scale so­cial welfare program that collects a tax from the rich and gives it to the poor.

Right wingers hate this kind of tax - they are al­ways complaining about paying taxes that help low-income folks. But it's hard to whine about bottle deposits. If you don't want to give your de­posit to someone else, then just return that damn can yourself1

We should take advantage of this situation. We should demand that the deposit on all containers should be increased from 5 cents to I 0 cents. And we should demand that every single can and plastic container have a deposit. This would take more money from those who can afford it and give it to those who need it more. The income gap between the rich and poor would become a tiny bit narrow­er. It is also a demand that environmentalists could support as it would increase recycling and reduce the amount of garbage going to the dump. It is time to think creatively and push for strategic

policies that make life better for people and the planet.

-Tom Baker

• Free admission, refreshments served • Door prizes • Books on sale from People's Co-op Books

For more information, contact 604 872 1134

http :1 lwww. btl books. com/New_ Titles/dyingforahome. htm Co-sponsored by Between the Lines, Fearless, Gallery Gachet, Out of the Rain, Ten ant Resource & Advisory Ctr.

***************************************** Cathy Crowe is a street nurse in Toronto & has worked in the area of homelessness for 18 years. *****************************************

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LEGACY? It has been some time since I've contributed any­

thing to this news letter. As usual I find myself in opposition to those self serving aspirations of the few at the expense of the many. These occurrences do follow a trend that I call evolution. The root of this evolution can be traced back to the twentieth century if you will but indulge me.

World society did not escape the Twentieth Cen­tury unscathed. The three major calamities of that century were the First World War, The Depression (dirty th irties) and The Second World War. During these major catastrophes the family unit suffered tremendous blows to its structure. So much time was devoted to desperate foraging for the bare es­sentials to the point of clinging to life itself. There­fore children slid down the rank of priorities, so much so that the product, if you will, post war, was incomplete. Childhood had passed them by and now they must face and shape the world with the tools they were able to develop, for the most part, by themselves.

Raising a child includes many intangibles that are normally developed through relations between children and their parents, relatives and friends. These are then passed through the generations and, all the while, nurtured as an essential, sacred and precious legacy. As can be expected, these elements were sorely diluted as the stugg 1 e for survival ensued through the early twentieth cen­tury. Repair of these damages has been illusive on many fronts. This begs the question: "if you never had it, how can you pass it on?" The baby-boom was, for the most part, adolescent during the nineteen-sixties. The first generation, post war, tested their strength; defying many po­litical powers and rebelling against the establish­ment. Change in the nineteen-sixties was major and, for all intents and purposes, seemed "for the better". But the economy turned volatile when the baby-boom surged into the work-force. We (the baby-boom) had created, by our very existence, unending work for the previous generation, (New hospitals, schools, and universities) as the tidal wave passed through these institutes toward the work force. Our arrival devastated the existence

of employment. The birth of double digit unem­ployment became a nemesis to society. No gov­ernment admitted that this was a problem. They all promised, in vain, that unemployment would end. They did and still do call those people who receive assistance from government lazy and in­competent. These circumstances have lead to dismal depress­

ing subsistence to many people who found it ne­cessary to gravitate to the Down Town EastSide (DTES). The geography here has seen its own evolution as a community was shaped out of skid row. Thanks to the literal blood, sweat and tears of crusaders who devoted their very lives to alle­viating the struggles of the defenseless masses. Community centres and other necessary institutes were born as a result of their tireless toils and, in the long run, some of these people had Jiterally given their very lives in the process.

This brings me to the area which causes me con­cern. My tenure at Carnegie Community Centre, thus far, is nearing the ten year mark. The con­cerns of this centre became my focus through this duration. So many of the clientele here still hurt and/or carry baggage from lives gone by. There is a quiet majority through the membership who would rather either deflect unpleasantries or fly from them. To date, the staff and volunteers have been successful maintaining a peaceful oasis in one of the most dangerous districts in the world.

There were so many people responsible for the reputation (living room of the D T E S) that we stiiJ try to uphold. In the twenty seven years of operation Carnegie has seen what you might ca]] generations develop and then dissipate. Many people start to actually succeed in doing well for fellow recipients. In the midst of this, predatory eyes keenly watch from the side lines. Unfortu­nately we can't all perform the same tasks. Fur­ther, we can't all be good at them. So the birth of one person's jealousy toward another rears its ugly head as the destruction of all the good will in­tended in the first place. So goes the syndrome of the generations that pass

through Carnegie. Obviously it isn't as attractive as it used to be, what with an ever declining budg-

et for the good things in life. These days we are witnessing new priorities that demand the funds we used to be able to enjoy. Now those funds are

paid to ambulances for overdoses as the drug trade is alive and well in our D T E S. The influ­ences of the drug trade permeate through the very fabric of our community. If that weren't enough, commerce has found renewed value in the real estate of our community. With all of this important stuff happening in what seems to be a battle waged upon the neighbor­hood's poor, we still see rivalries among our-selves. How bizarre! There was a time when we could uphold the attitude that this is actually the living room of the D T E S. This community cen­tre earned the reputation to be the oasis where a person could afford peace of mind and forget about [or think about, or rally to deal with] life's hard knocks for a spell. We created the atmos- ·~ phere where a person didn't need to have their guard up 2417 because danger didn't live here. Then the Liberal government caused a huge tum­over in this place and we ended up with new faces who became the majority.

The concerns of these people are not of the same fabric that existed before their arrival. These people could care less about the struggle to open this place and keep it open that took place through the years to date. They could care less that there were people hard at work here, making it possible for them and future generations to find this refuge.

The baggage that seems to accompany so many new people is quite evident in the language, atti­tude and the battle ground scenarios that ensue. There just doesn't seem to be enough experience here to sooth these troubled souls as quick as we used to. The big pictur~ is that there is never a shortage of poor people who may or may not have been abused. They will continue to arrive here and hopefully we wil1 have recovered from our own pain so that we may be of some help.

By GERALD WELLS

I always thought you would come to me In the shape of a beautiful lover I never dreamed you would steal my heart With no shape at all

I always pretended I needed arms to hold me And lips to kiss away my pain Yet I fmd fulfillment In the embrace of empty space

I always wished you would speak to me With words of tender sweetness Now l know you whisper silently Of your undying love

I always knew I would find you Although I foolishly looked with my eyes You were here all along Hiding j ust out of sight in my heart.

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It's Rapture Time

It's rapture time mine unfound friend Fifty thousand children killed. Let's not pretend Their killers aren't invisible, they just don't talk I'm not sorry. I broke your leg, let's go for a walk Cross mountains of rotten stones and charred bones Where you left shadows of weeping willows all alone.

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It's rapture time .let's go where you left baby spirits crawi When we git there you'll take the plunge, take the fall, You know what I'm talking about- don't play the fool You are abusers n' killers of Indian Residential Schools Many eons pass your church is still of the walking dead Of poisonous lies, devilish injustice What do you dread?

It's rapture time go to where aimless treks must cease Truths prevail, lies die, 50,000 baby spirits shall rest in peace and a mass of silence will awaken one day When our ancestors of Four Directions shall show us where they lay Mine spirit cries, mine spirit roams and will continue to roam 'til fifty thousand murdered babies remains are buried and their spirits brought home.

All my relations William Arnold Combes

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Safer Crack Use, Outreach, Research and Education Project OPEN HOUSE: May 4, 2007, from 3-5 pm at VANDU

Come hear about the Safer Crack Use, Outreach, Research and Education project (SCORE)

The SCORE project: Crack is one of the most commonly used drugs in the DTES and has been associated with a variety of harms: Hepatitis C; mouth sores; lung and throat damage; unsafe sex practices; violence; social isolation.

There has been few harm reduction initiatives in Vancouver that specifically target the harms associated with crack use. The Safer Crack Use Coalition (SCUC) of Vancouver began distributing harm reduction kits in 2004 and gathering information within the community about the services needed among people who use crack. Vancouver Coastal Health has distributed mouth-pieces on a pilot basis and other organizations have attempted to provide kits. These activities have been limited by the lack of public funding.

Members ofSCUC partnered with researchers to learn more about how to reduce harms associated with crack use and to learn more about useful outreach services for high-risk and under-served people who use drugs. The project received funding from Health Canada Drug Strategy Community Initiatives Fund and the Centre for Addictions Research of BC. The project dates are December 2005-March 2008.

Today, Winnipeg, Ottawa, and Toronto distribute harm reduction smoking equipment. Their programs are funded through public health programs.

SCORE Philosophy: Harm Reduction; Community-based research; Women-centred approach; Honesty and integrity; Respect Flexible and responsive

Work to Date: We designed a brief survey with input from men and women who use crack: to develop a better under­standing of people's crack use practices, to expand our understanding of the general physical and mental health issues experienced by people who use, and to realize the health and social service resource needs of people who use. 126 women and 80 men completed the survey during January-March 2006. Everyone who completed the survey had reported using crack at least once in the past month.

Key Survey Findings: Over half (64%) of the participants reported smoking crack daily and 41% of respondents reported injecting drugs in addition to smoking crack. • Almost everyone (98%) reported using Brillo® frequently and men reported using someone else' s mouthpiece more often than women. • Almost half of the participants (49%) reported that they could not find a mouthpiece when they needed one. • Most people (82%) used metal push sticks and 35% of people said they preferred not to use a mouthpiece at all. • Coughing up phlegm, dry coughs, feeling nervous or anxious, insomnia and feeling sad were the five most common health concerns. • Friends were rated as the highest source of support for over half of the participants (50%) and going to a doctor was the most frequent strategy when asked what they usually did if they had a health problem.

Carnegie Community Action Project (CCAP) IB

Newsletter For more info visit Association Office- 2nd floor Carnegie Centre May 1, 2007

Tenant Rights on Rent Increases It's legal for most non profit places to

charge the full welfare shelter allowance for rent. So they are allowed to increase rents by the $50 shelter rate increase.

Places owned by private landlords are not allowed to raise rents more than about 4% unless the unit is empty. There is an exception to this but it is quite complicated and not used much. Landlords are not allowed to raise the rent more than one time per year for each tenant. They must give you 3 months notice of the rent increase on a proper

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form. This table lists the approximate allowable rent increases for different rent levels:

Amount Approx allowable Rent Paid Rent Increase

Per Month

$325 $13 $350 $14 $375 $15 $400 $16 $425 $17 $450 $18 $475 $19 $500 $20 $525 $21 $550 $22 $575 $23 $600 $24

Do You Live in These Hotels? A condo developer named Robert

Wilson of Georgia Lane Development owns the GASTOWN HOTEL along with SHALDON and ARCO HOTELS. Last month organizers from Save Low Income Housing Coalition including Carnegie Action, PIVOT and DERA met with tenants and the Property Manager. Rumor has it repairs are happening in the Shaldon as a result!

If you live in these buildings, consider coming to our next meeting for tenants only: Thursday, May 3, 6 p.m. on 3rd floor in Classroom 2 Carnegie Centre for dinner and strategize how to get improvements to your hotel.

On Thursday, May 10, 6 p.m. Classroom 2 on 3rd floor Carnegie Centre we'll meet with the Property manager again. ~Wendy P. ******************************** Tenants of the DODSON HOTEL and

JUBILEE ROOMS YOUHAVERIGHTS! lfyouhave

experienced these problems in your hotel: • Bed Bugs • Repairs not completed • Had your door removed • Been moved out of your room

illegally • Harassed by management or staff • Illegally evicted

Contact DERA and learn about the rights you have as a tenant.

2

Advocates from DERA and Pivot legal society hosted a meeting with tenants of the Dodson Hotel and Jubilee Rooms recently. Find out what happened at this meeting and help organize for change.

For more information contact Anna (DERA) 682-0931 ext 109 ********************************

Mayor Sam raises eyebrows during speech

V ANCOUVER/CKNW (AM980) Comments by Vancouver's Mayor during his Second Annual Address to the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association have raised a few eyebrows.

In his noon-hour speech, Sam Sullivan told hundreds attending the luncheon that his Civil City Initiative will hopefully change the entire face of the downtown eastside.

He said, "Civil City means mothers will not hesitate to send their children on a bus by themselves to the Downtown Eastside to take piano lessons." .

Province buys 10 hotels On April 3rd the provincial

government announced that it had bought 10 hote.ls in or near the Downtown Eastside. The hotels are the Marble Arch, St. Helens, Carl Rooms, Rice Block, Molson Bank Building, Park Hotel Apartn1ents, Walton, Orange Hall, Orwell, and Savoy. They have a total of 595 rooms.

After the news conference Premier Gordon Campbell said that people who live in these hotels now will not be evicted.

The hotels will be used for supportive housing, which means that mental health and addictions services, counseling, and employment training may be provided to residents. Housing minister Rich Coleman said that non profit groups would run the hotels.

The government also announced that they would fund 287 units of new supportive housing at three sites in Vancouver: 1321 Richards St. (87 units), 337 W. Pender St. (120 units); and 980 Main St. (80 units) . One of these developments will have small suites (180 to 200 square feet).

While it is a good thing that the province has preserved these hotels for low income residents, we still have over 4000 privately owned rooms in the DE that are at risk of closure, conversion,

demolition, or simply rent increases that make them too expensive for low income residents. Plus, we desperately need provincial and federal money to build at least 3200 units of new standard sized apartments ( 400 sq ft) that low income people can afford. By buying these hotels, which are mostly full, the province has not solved homelessness, as there are still about 1500-2000 homeless people living in the streets of Vancouver right now.

Mayor Sam Sullivan, who attended the news conference where the purchases were announced, said he would recommend that $5 million of

'

city money be contributed to the province to help pay for the hotels.

The Carnegie Community Action Project (CCAP) wants the city to use that $5 million to buy or lease more hotels, plus buy at least 3 more hotels to comply with the Homeless Action Plan's recommendation that the city should buy 1 hotel a year.

CCAP also wants the province to implement the recommendations of the Inner City Inclusivity Housing Table which called for 3200 units of new housing, a 50% increase in welfare rates and an end to the barriers that are keeping people in need off welfare and making them homeless. ~Jean Swanson

3 fl

VPL reading: Death in a Dumpster

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·.

- l

'

- ~

Join Carnegie Action volunteers for a reading of this play by Sheila from the Carnegie writers group!

WHEN: Monday May 7, 7:30-9 pm WHERE: VPL Central Branch Transportation available - see Wendy in CCAP office at Carnegie ********************************

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

•

4

You're invited to THE LAUNCH OF CATHY CROWE's new book 11Dying for a Home: Homeless Activists Speak Out11

WHEN: Sunday, May 6, 2-4 pm WHERE: Gallery Gachet, 88 E Cordova Street Free admission, refreshments will be served - Door prizes - For more information, contact 604 872 11 34 Co-sponsored by Between the Lines, Fearless, Gallery Gachet Out of the Rain, and TRAC Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre Cathy Crowe is a street nurse in Toronto & has worked in the area of homelessness for over 18 years.

•

.,..

• One hundred eight participants (52%) reported having never heard about or seen any information about safer crack use and 148 (72%) answered no when asked ifthey knew of any services for crack users. • Thirty four ( 17%) participants reported that police or security guards had either stopped them or tried to stop them from getting help or supplies.

Service needs include: Less harmful non-injection drug using equipment: Pyrex stems, metal screens, wooden push sticks, and mouthpieces. Expanded mental health services designed for people who use crack. Harm reduction education about safer crack use and further study of why people prefer to manage health problems on their own. Kit Construction: Women who have experience with or exposure to crack are involved in the assembly of the harm reduc­tion kits. Each kit-making session includes four women and two members of the SCORE Team. Theses­sions happen in a safe and confidential setting that includes services the women can access. The women are recognized as having expertise. As we sit around the table and work together to assemble the kits, women lead an open dialogue on issues that are meaningful and important in their lives. This is a place to share ideas and opinions about support systems, safety, and self-care with one another. As of mid-January we have made close to 8000 kits and we plan to make another 6000. All of the kits will be distributed in the DTES. We are very grateful to the women who have shared their time and expertise with us and are working to develop community updates about the information we have gathered. We also want to thank our peer ad-

->- visory members for their role in making these sessions happen. 1 Kit Distribution:

Distribution of the harm reduction kit is one of our key activities. Kits have been distributed to the women making the kits, during educational activities with groups at V ANDU, and in collaboration with other . services and the street nurses. As of mid-January, we have distributed over 2500 kits in the DTES. The reaction from people getting kits has been positive. Folks appreciate the kit and the knowledgeable, friendly distribution teams. Other Project Activities: Post-kit surveys, Interviews and focus groups, evaluation, exploring sustainablity, reports and recommen­dations, community capacity building, and developing advisories.

We are preparing information to share with Vancouver Coastal Health and the BC Harm Reduction Committee to explore the sustainability of these important harm reduction supplies.

Who's Involved in SCORE? The people involved in this project come from a wide range of backgrounds: sociology, nursing, psychol­ogy, medicine, and addictions. The research team: Joy Johnson, Jodi Loudfoot, Vicky Bungay, Syd Mal­chy, Susan Boyd, Jane Buxton, Cayce Laviolette. In the community: Men and women who use crack or have had experience with crack, VANDU Women's Group, Peer-outreach services, Safer Crack Use Coa­lition, Service Provision Agencies

For more information contact: Vicky Bungay, Phone:604:822-5081 E-mail: score@nursing.ubc.ca

POETRY NIGHT Downtown Eastside Poets gather and make their creations matter.

(YQ!! might be a poet and just not know it!)

Saturday, May 5, 7pm. Carnegie Theatre

aD-~~?· .. .. .... . .. . .... . .... .. .. . ........ . .. . .. . .. ·oa Congratulations to

Downtown Eastside Poet

Maxine Gadd

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

: Her book, Backup to Babylon, was one of five : • • : nominees for the Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize. : ~ The winner will be announced during the 23rd :

60£> annual B.C. Book Prizes event. J. (}Q• •••••••• • •• •• •• • •••• •• • • • ••• • ••••••• • •• ••• • • • •• • • ·~&

[This piece appeared in the DE Womens Centre newsletter and was submitted anonymously]

BECAUSE WOMAN's WORK IS UNDERPAID OR UNPAID & what we LOOK like is more important that WHAT we do & iF WE GET RAPED IT IS OUR FAULT & iF WE LOVE WOMEN IT'S BECAUSE we can't get a real man & if we expect community care for our FAMILY we are selfish & if we stand up for our

'

rights we are LOUD & if we don't we are typical weak females & iF We WANT TO GET married WE ARE OUT TO TRAP A MAN & iF WE DON"T WE ARE UNNATURAL & BECAUSE we aren't deemed re­sponsible ENOUGH TO DECIDE if WHEN AND HOW WE WANT TO GIVE BIRTH

WE ARE FEMENISTS

Daddy Don't Go

I wanna go home, don't touch me Mother be gone in a shrewish wake Please be not there and do not stare Just disappear into a distant sphere Sisters don't fight, don't argue, don't you dare If you do I' II cover my ears again and again A terrible nursery rhyme, this factual fable That happened once upon a time, heard From my cradle When innocence reigned as preordained When nightmares too over, took shape, With all of you to blame . From heavenly pleasant to too brief dreams Thoughts of various surreal empowering themes But beware of brother, out of sight/out of mind Spinning spidery webs also left behind Winnersllosers, jeepers/creepers, what's the score Who knows? Who cares anymore? Night falls slowly, we'll all be silenced Say nothing, whisper curses as ill winds bJow A wfuJ memories pass - they move from to to fro Teardrops fall from my seemingly angelic face As spirits wane and wither, til nothing -no trace. All is done and I lay me down to sleep Twilight dawns and slumber creeps

~

The sandman sprinkles stardust on my face I wish I \\·ere. I wish I was in time's distant space A perfect Shangr:i-1a, completely unharmed Endlessly thrilling, vibrantly alive and charmed The most, the best, karmically pure times A cozy safe home where nursery rhymes Run to the beats of divine grace Through encroachingly mysterious, mystical verse

Robyn Livingstone

The Crows Did Not Come Today

The crows did not come today. I did not see their blue-black shapes Waiting in my tree.

I guess crew's breakfast time is past Anyway, I will throw the bread; It will disappear.

But I will not see those bright, inquisitive eyes Nor witness the graceful plummeting to earth: A ritual that has given my morning meaning.

Wilhelmina

My love is like red raspberries Sweet and dark and juicy Bringing memories of hot August days Rolling in the hay A scent of sun and grass

My love is the song of locust s Lazy whirring from the dust; Childhood games: wild and free: Grasshopper, give me some molasses

My love is the salty tang of the ocean The sound of surf on windy beach, The comfort of all that inevitable Back and forth; that in and out.

Wilhelmina

(

NPA's Ladner just the latest to whack DERA A Councillor Peter Ladner's V broadside against DERA over its seniors grant is but the latest se­ries of cuts from various councils aimed at compromising DERA's work in the community ["Grant cut hits seniors' helper", April12-19].

I served as president of DERA from 1993 to 2003, and I can at­test that the $31,000-plus grant was merely the amount left after the original $50,000-plus grant got whacked in 2002, which meant then that the service could only be offered three days per week as op­posed to five. This cutback came on the heels of the cancellation of its community organizer's grant

• Why We Celebrate!•

M<Aba s GnrK\nodlds Hoot4q Caenaony

SUNDAY

Host Dnuu Pk:ked Ddy

MASTER OF CfiEMONIES: Mr. Harold Beilnont, Seatde

ASSIST ANT EMCEE:

Pmcess ~ Blaue ha&lt

Dance Edllbldoosl Hoop Danae

Art~ Cnft Martet

SPECIALS: -setof~

Moeber/Dmallb!r Spec bl

Mr. Jere Petes rruatrw cenw 3350 Vlctuda DIIH

EVEIYDIE IIELCOE I DRU1 FlEE EVBIII Grand Entries: Fri 7:00pm Sat lpm & 7 pm Sun: 1:00 pm

INFO: Cedar Couage Neighborhood House: {604) 874·4231

_ POW WOW COMMITTEE CANNOT BE RESPONSIBlE FOR TRAVEl COSTS a lOST OR STOLEN ITEMS -~.:' ·n· ~ 1 ~ ADMISSION BY OONATlON ......,_.._

in 2000 and a residents' relocator grant prior to that.

These cuts came long before the presence of the Anti-Poverty Com­mittee and at a time when DERA made a sincere effort at collabo­ration with city staff and council members on emerging issues. Ani­mosity toward DERA even crossed party lines. I was once asked at a reconsideration hearing b'y then councillor Fred Bass if I understood the term "biting the hand that feeds · you". With friends like this ...

Is it any wonder that DERA has perhaps concluded that the actions they're now engaged in are about all that's left to them? If dialogue doesn't work, you can't assume people won't opt for rage over passivity.

As Ladner continues to shop his "blood money" around the commu­nity to find a surrogate service pro­vider for this grant, one could only hope that local agencies would dem­onstrate the kind of solidarity that once held sway down here by refus­ing to accept this venal largesse.

That would leave council with an extra $31,000 it could divert to wor­thier endeavours. Maybe it would help defray the legal costs of evict­ing the Falun Gong woman from her South Granville shack; maybe it could be put into a Crime Stoppers fund as a reward for the kidnapped Olympic flag. This is, after all, what governance is all about: establish­ing priorities.

> IAN MAcRAE I VANCOUVER

l--<J?i;l1 1 ,.

' '

It's the Olympics, stupid

The title of this article is not meant to insult you, dear reader. It's just a paraphrase of a sign that hung in Bill Clinton's campaign office, when he was running for President against George H. W. Bush, which read, "It's the economy, stupid." It was intended to emphasize a supposedly obvious point as .to why Bush was going to lose the election (which he did, by the way).

My usage of it is intended to challenge the au­thorit ies who continue to deny that the 2010 Win­ter Olympics and their accompanying protests play no role in government policy making.

I've already written about how the Harper gov­ernment's March 19 f~deral budget completely ignored homelessness in Canada. (The Carnegie Newsletter, April 1, "Homelessness: too important to ignore, Pt. 2") Also in the aforementioned is­sue, Vancouver East NDP MP Libby Davies is quoted in Hansard as denouncing the 2007 federal budget for the same reason, among other things.

The February 20, 2007 provincial budget was billed as "the housing budget" by the Liberals. This claim was widely criticized as bogus and de .facto window dressing.

In a Vancouver Sun article on February 26 by Frances Bula, the opening quote goes: "The prov­ince' s so-called housing budget has so little money for actual housing that Vancouver will be lucky to get half the units it needs to meet its target for cut­ting homelessness by 20 I 0, says an internal memo from the city's housing director."

In an interview in the article, provincial Housing Minister Rich Coleman "insisted that there is much more to come in terms of new housing. He said there will be much more news in the next 60 d " ays ...

On April 1, 2007, The Carnegie Newsletter

printed my article describing the accelerated gen­trification of the Downtown Eastside caused by the developer speculation resulting from the impend­ing 201 0 Olympics, and how residents were be­coming more worried about the future of their homes.

On the next day, the Canadian Press released an article titled, "Poor kicked out of their homes for 2010 Games and UN must monitor: NDP MLA." This described a valiant effort by Vancouver­Mount Pleasant NDP MLA Jenny K wan to involve the United Nations to act as a watchdog on behalf of human rights to check the mad rush of develop­ers to buy out Single Room Occupancy hotels in the Downtown Eastside, and evict their tenants, so as to build more expensive edifices in preparation for the 20 10 Olympics.

Meanwhile, during the past year, legitimate pro­tests (and otherwise) had been proceeding (some­times noisily, and often extremely publicly and effectively) against the 2010 Olympics, frequently in combination about disappearing housing and lack of affordable housing.

On April3, the news that Rich Coleman had fo­recasted broke. The provincial government bought 15 residential buildings from their owners, prom­ised to renovate them (without disturbing the te­nants), and build an additional seven supported housing buildings providing another 287 living spaces.

In an April 4 article by Maurice Bridge in The Vancouver Sun titled, "Provincial government be­comes landlord to poor and homeless," there was this quote: "Although Campbell said the province was not swayed by repeated demonstrations and legal battles over low-income housing, [Pivot law­yer David] Eby said he believes public pressure led to the hotel purchases. 'I think it's a direct result of the concerted advocacy that has taken place by Downtown Eastside groups ... I know that without the advocacy we've had around housing in the Downtown Eastside, this announcement wouldn't have been made today."'

On April 12, in an article by The Globe and Mail's Rod Mickleburgh titled "ICBC getting in the Olympic spirit," there was this quote: "B.C. Public Safety Minister John Les defended the heightened security [at the ICBC announcement].

'Ninety-nine point nine per cent of British Colum­bians are fed up with that nonsense (anti-Olympic protests) .. . . The O lympics are going to be a great event, and we are not going to have much toler­ance for those kinds of activities."'

I attended the showing of "Five Ring Circus" (about the coming of the O lympics to Vancouver) at the Carnegie Centre. When the announcement came in the film that 78-year-old Olympics protes­tor Betty Krawczyk was sentenced to be put in jail for I 0 months, people in the audience booed.

Didn' t sound to me like ninety-nine point nine per cent of British Columbians were fed up with the protests. Sounded a whole lot more like what David Eby said .

By Rolf Auer

Global Warming People, people come on! This is a rude awaken­

ing. We as humans are not realising we are re­sponsible for this and everyone needs to come to their senses.

Our waters are warming up, our trees are dying, the air we breathe is so polluted... Recycling should be a major thing .. r iding bikes would help .. so much carbon dioxide goes in our air. It's given Mother Earth less oxygen to survive, what with all our human errors. Children need to be taught by

DECISIONS

Why does life have to be this way, why do I never have money for stuff, how come that every­day I pray things just seem to get more and more rough? People always talk about the things they want, and the things they have they always flaunt; to me this seems rude and brings upon me a bad mood. Why -because I have nothing- & the reason is ' drugs': Some people say it's cool; some people say it's fun; some people say it's easy all because of the large amounts they 've done ... but none of this is really true, I say to myself' if only I knew' .. but I d idn't and now it was too late; in my twisted mind I'd sealed my fate. The only thing I knew was to smoke my drugs and chill with my crew, but everybody has a second chance, another opportunity to change their stance .. this may be hard or it may be a breeze .. for me I smoked a ci­gar just to have it ease but this would only last so long before I went back to doing wrong. The worst thing was the high didn't last and next thing you know I'd need another blast. I couldn't see then but I can see now, I was wasting my life and I didn't know how our lives depend on the decisions we make. A beautiful piece of work that drugs would love to take. Now I'm here trying to get some help, to move on in life and forget the days I was dealt. We can't kick the habit all on our own so do yourself a favour and grab the phone; look

-t- 1- up your local help line and things wi11 turn out fine 1-

~ David Brian Little

example how to save our planet and especially our ..___,_C.....:~~::::::.;,....­environment.

Locking up your bins won't help; more & more garbage is going to land ' mines'/ We need a rule, a law, that makes all companies that pollute our air & water pay stiff fmes. Raise the price of gas so that people would learn to cope using bicycles or just another way to get back 'n forth.

It is getting so scary to live in this world; there will be more & more disasters all over the world. Due to our stupidity we are killing Mother Earth.

All four comers of the globe need to come to­gether and work together, criticizing the building of bombs and stop the kiUing that solves nothing. Come on people, wake up and smell the pollution.

All my relations. Bonnie E Parker

Wandered from the light..the world becomes ob­scure .. how do I know right from wrong while my intuition 's blurred? Lost soul , abandoned dreams, sporadic and sedated I can only blame mysel f for this nightmare I've created My hollow heart breaks each time I visualize your face Now's the chance to right my wrongs, though the past I can't erase Reminiscin' on the good times .. the past becomes so painful I take a breath, a tear fall s - for all my fallen Angels

Lisa Black

Gallery Gacbet Call for Artist Proposals

We accept proposals for solo, group, juried, and curated exhibits in our two exhibition spaces for April 2008 through March 2009. Gallery I is our larger, front space. Gallery II is a smal1er, more intimate space at the back of the gallery. We also accept proposals for major exhibitions, screenings, workshops, perfonnances and collaborations. We pay artist fees, as well as provide support for open ings, catering, marketing, mailings, equipment, etc.

Include in your package: • at least 10 supporting images (prints or digital) per artist • artwork list including title, medium, dimensions and year • artist's CV for each participant (exhibition history) • written proposal stating a well-thought-out theme for the show (250-500 words)

Proposals will be looked at more favourably if you are willing to do an artist talk or complimenta­ry programming, or if it thematically coincides with other events and festivals. Gallery Gachet also welcomes exhibits which address themes of mental health and survivor issues. We actively look to create and maintain collaborations within the DTES, mental health, and Vancouver arts communities.

Deadline: July 15, 2007. A workshops for artists wanting help in submitting proposals is scheduled for May 9 (below).

Workshop: How to Write a Successful Exhibit Proposal Wednesdtm May 9, 7-8:30pm, Free How to write/prepare a successful exhibition pro­posal for Gallery Gachet or other spaces ( commu­nity to commercial), as well as tips on representing your work. Facilitated by Irwin Oostindie. Register in advance <rsvp@gachet.org> 604.687.2468.

Gallery Gachet May exhibits: GALLERY I

LAURA BABAK-NAGY I'm Finished With Horses: A Retrospective May 4- 27with Reception: Friday, May 4, 7-10 Video, sculpture and paintings from an interdiscip­linary artist and mother who lost her struggle with cancer. Laura was a much-loved and respected member of the Gallery Gachet Collective. Following exhibi­tions in several BC arts venues, and while caring for her son Emery, Laura planned to return to ECIAD to pursue graduate studies in fine arts and launch a new area of studio practise.

Laura Babak-Nagy's work has often drawn from the iconic figures and symbolism of horses. Horses have always been a rich gateway to.the human im­agination; images of horses span the history of art and contemporary visual culture, from Paleolithic cave paintings to advertising images. Horses are embedded in our creative consciousness.

GALLERYD GROWTH By Grace Lam In our secondary gallery view new images by Gal­lery Gachet member artjst Grace Lam.

Trying to escape this lucid nightmare In which I exist Though I'd rather know truth Than live my life in bliss FeeJing hopeless, blind in darkness Searching for Heaven in Hell Trying to find light in this hole In which I fell. Praying for guidance but no one seems to hear My inner child's crying out But I'm captivated by fear. I cry sometimes because I feel so alone

That you always haunt me wherever 1 go Searching for the escape I could never find Emotions roll ageless in my synthetic mind

Lisa Black

DOWNTO\\~

EASTSIDE YOUTH ACTIVITIES SOCIEn·

NEEDLE EXCJIANGE VAN-3 Routes: 604-685-6561 City -5:45pm -I 1:45pm

Overnight- I 2:30am- 8:30am Downtown ·Eastside- 5:30pm- 1:30am

612 ~lain Street 604-151-3310

<CJP'JR<((]) R®)!.7JFJW 1

' s ·•zza -==-i

'NEWSLETTER

www.carnnews.or~

carnnews(Q)vcn. be .ca

THIS NEWSLETTER IS A PUBLICATION OF THE

CARNEGIE COMMUNITY CENTRE ASSOCIATION Articles represent the views of individual contnbutors and not of the Association

2007 DON A Tl ONS Libby D.-$1 00 Rolf A.-$50 Barry for Dave McC-$125 Christopher R.-$50 Margaret 0 .-$40 Penny G.-$50 Janice P.-$30 Wes K.-$50 Gram-$400 John S.-$60 Leslie S.-$20 Michael C.-$80 Sheila 8.-$20 Wilhelmina M.-$25 CEEDS -$50 Saman -$20 Phyllis L.-$200 Paddy -$ 125 Bob S.-$ 100 Barry M.-$q5 The Edge -$200 Mel L.-$20 Greta P.-:$:~0

Submission dead:lne for next Issue:

Thursday, May 10 Carnegie Community C~ntre

Contact . ....... ' . Jenny ...

Wal Ching Kwan

ML.A

Working for You 1070-1641 Commen:ial Dr VSL JYJ

Phone: 775-0790 Fax: 775-0881 DoWf'ltown Eastside Residents Association

12 E. Hastings St, or call 682-0931

•

"Th~job oflh~ n~wspaper Is to c:omfortlh~ af­fl/ct~d 11nd 11jJ1/clthe comfortable."

· The famous quote is about a hundred years old and can be traced lo the work of finley Peter Dunne. one of the great joumalisls of lhe day

Editor: PauiR Taylor; ' .. -. ...., I I

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JOB POSTING: Competition #AY042007 Position Title:

Aboriginal Counsellor and Activity Worker Department: Pathways Project Job Status: BCGEU Bargaining Unit Job Site: #4-11220 Voyageur Way, Richmond V6X 3E1

Qualifications: Must have relevant education and 2 years experience as a youth counsellor/ worker. Must have experience working in the Aboriginal commu­nity and knowledge of issues pertaining to Aboriginal youth and families Must have experience planning and coordinating youth activitiesand have basic first aid and a drivers licence General Skills: Well developed oral and written communication skills Well developed interpersonal/ conflict resolution skills Well developed in networking, planning, organization Well developed computer skills including Publisher, Word & Excel Ability to work with Aboriginal youth ages 12 to 18 Ability to work as a team member or independently Creative, enthusiastic, positive, and detail oriented Knowledge of RYSA, other local organizations an asset

Duties: The selected candidate will: provide individuals with emotional and social support provide family support, counselling and parent education organize and lead programs, activities and special events for Aboriginal youth and families network with Aboriginal community and professionals complete various office and administrative tasks

Term: 4 days/week beginning May 30,_ 2007 Hours: Wed - Saturday Noon - 8:00 pm Wage/Benefits: As per CBA Reports to: Manager of Programs I Executive Director Preference will be given to Aboriginal applicants. Please send your resume via email to info@rysa.bc.ca or fax to 604-271-7626 by the clos­ing date of May 7ttt, 2007. Applicants will be inter­viewed during the week of May 7ttt and should be available for an interview. Quote Competition A Y • 042007 in your correspondence.

You Must Think (Thoughts on taking part in public "consultation")

You must think I have nothing better to do.

That I actuaiJy enjoy wasting my time. .

And cooling my heels in the lobby

You must think I'm dumb.

And a patsy.

You must think I can' t tell the difference between a silk purse and a sow's ear.

You must think big words bewitch me.

And pretty pictures beguile me.

And lots of stats and footnotes bother me

And thick reports -they bewilder me.

You must think I don't know a put-on from a put­down.

You must think ten hours go by like ten minutes at one of your processes.

"' I I

----- - -

• You must think I feel p~qud to see my name on one of your email addre'ss.tists.

You must think I look forward to ·endless rounds of meetings and late nights and missed dinners.

You must think I don't notice your condescension when I speak.

You must think it doesn't bother me to make nice with officials and developers.

That I'm impressed by you making speeches.

And moving motions

And amendments.

And calling the vote.

You must think I don' t know you made up your mind before we even started.

And that you don't care ifi realize it or not.

You must think I don't know the meaning of the expression, The fix is in.

Well, I do know. 'Cause I'm not befuddled, be­guiled, impressed, convinced, or bewitched, both ered or bewildered.

In fact. ..

I'm going to go out and hug a tree instead.

And join a sit-in.

And rewrite your billboard, and stand in front of the bulldozers.

And dump garbage on your lawn.

And do things that I wouldn ' t put in print.

My things. Not your things.

Know what I'm saying? You think about it.

Bob Sarti

NeLgV1bourvwod News. *A note out of the ether has the current clump of

miscreants passing themselves off as the provin­cial government trying to silently slide through an amendment to the T.ribunal Act. This body of law has ramifications in about 9 other Acts like Work­ers Compensation, many Medical and Human Rights articles and, of course, Tenants ' Rights.

Right now, the Tribunal itself has the option of decliningjurisdiction where Human Rights are in question. That means they have a whole series of actions that a person can take if his or her rights have been violated by a landlord, say, that the Tri­bunal can either allow or disallow. At present any high school kid could make a convincing argu­ment that being discriminated against on the basis of Race, Creed, Colour, Place of national origin, Gender, Religion, sexual orientation, source or level of income or other socio-economic factors is a matter of one's human rights. Corporate and slum landlords (and probably most

business and corporate employers being forced to sit as equals at Labour Relations Tribunals) find this pesky. The ' good deal'(for them) new bit is: 46.3 (1) The tribunal does not have juris­diction to apply the Human Rights Code. (2) Subsection (1) applies to all applica­tions made before, on or after the date that the subsection applies to a tribunal.

The amendment, part of an otherwise bland om­nibus piece of legislation, specifically forbids any legal tribunal to even consider whether your rights have been denied. Now, if it was just a matter of duplication, okay, then you'd take it to the Human Rights Commission and ask them to hear the case BBBBBUm the same bunch of mean, greedy bottom feeders eliminated the Human Rights Commission a couple of years ago. Ipso facto this amendment, if voted into Jaw, eliminates the pos­sibility of applying the Human Rights Code to almost anything. Isn ' t democracy grand!

*On the cover of the last issue there was the ad about the Shadow's Project and' We're All In This Together' To most people that is a universal truth. Some soul basking in the glow of enlight­ened self-interest, scrawled 'NO WE'RE NOT' in the blank white space lower left and slid it under the office door. Not a sign of the times but a signal of how far we have to go.

By PAULR TAYLOR

In The Carnegie Art Gallery for the month of May

Beginning May l , 2007 there will be a Carnegie Community Action Project photographic art dis­play set up in Carnegie's Art Gallery on the 3rd fl.

Come and see photos of the activit ies CCA P is involved in on your behalf.

Photos by ~harbara

to celebrate

Mother~s Day Pottery, Paintings, Cards, Jewellery, Knitting, Prints

May 2, 2007 --- 9:30am- 4:00pm 2005 E.44th Avenue at Victoria Drive

~~~~~!!!! 604-871-9788

Living

Life can be a mystery We cope day to day We try to plan our future and sometimes we succeed Failure is no big deal Just pick up the pieces And try a little harder Never be ashamed to ask for help; Swallow that pride, go for that success. It will overcome your fears.

Knowledge is the greatest accomplishment No matter if it is big or small. Just keep striving for the best.

Bonnie E Parker

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West Vancouver Concert Band Come & hear the big band sound of this

38 year old community orchestra. FRIDAY, May 4th, 7:30PM

Carnegie Theatre

Vegetable love

Love is like a lettuce leaf Frail and limp after its day

Used to be it had the quality of a Macintosh Crisp and sweet and tart Or maybe a Chinese radish- hot on the tongue

Lately, it's mashed potato sandwiches declares a jaded man

Too many nubile young loves

I want ruby-red tomatoes in my salade deamour Organic carrots in my soupe de jour

Fresh and dirty beets for boiling in their skins And avoca does of course

Wilhelmina

In the dream I always play the fool In the dream My defenses always fail In the dream My desires are never fully satisfied In the dream My heart is broken over and over.

Wide awake I always play the fool Wide awake My defenses always fail Wide awake My desires are never fully satisfied Wide awake My heart sings its endless joy.

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