DECEMBER 1, 2024 carnegienewsletter.org
C`a_.FifetlEpgi N EWSLETTER
ed
carnnews@vcn bcca
401 Main Street Vancouver Canada V6A 2T7
(604) 665-2289
WISH Drop-ln Centre Society Providing Essential Support for Street-Based Sex Workers This DTES non-profit is commemorating 40 years of non-judgmental support to women and gender-diverse people in need. 26 Nov 2024The Tyee
IIa`'e `'ou ever beeii faced with an iTiii]ossible choicc`.' E\'eryoiie deserves tlie opportunit.v to make free, heiilthy and poslti\ c` il`oicei -biit lhc people that WISH Diop-Ill C`eiilre Society exists to serve are ofteii denied that fuiithmental I ight
Based in Vancoin i`r.s Do\\nto\\'n Eastside> the WTSH Drop-ln Ccl`tlc Society has giti\\n to becoi`ie the l£H`gest sex woiker siipport orgcini?ation in Canada. Since 1984, WISI I has been a refuge and ari esselitial point ot-coiil:let for street-basi`tl sex workers v. orking to impr" e tlieir health. s:`fety and \iiell-bcliig flu ougli rights. not rescue Wit]i } our help` WJSI I can contiiiiie to provide this essential siippoil.
rru.st. care atid respect
Many of thiisc v ho w alk thro`igh tlie doors at W` lsH have expel.ii`i`ced targeted` gciidei`-based ai`d se.\tialized violence al`d at`e often deliumaiiized because ot.the work the.\ do. They ha\Je I`aced signiticalit (Itscrimination dlie to systemic ii`cq`iities and coiitllu]€ to be impacte-d by the crimimllzed nature ot` C iiiiada`s Ia``'s surrountlii`g sex \`'orl`. WISH is {i "iiudgmental place of compassioTi and trust v\ 1icri` all participant` ai e ` alued. Tt`is ti `ist. care arlcl I.espi`cl is tlie foundiilioil iieedcd for p:`itlcipa]]ts to build i`elatioiiships u itli Staff alld ileers. and to
increase t]ieir ciiiiiiectic`ns tii the commiinit}'. "Tliank }'oii t.or cariiig iiboilt liie \\t`en 1 co`iltJn`l do it for m} self`.' said ol`e WISLI participaiit
Human riglit`i groiips aroimtl tlie \\orld coiitm`ie to call for lhc decriminalizatioH of adult coi`seii`iial sex woi-k. Utilll all sex woi.keis ha\,e access to tlii` I.ights llie}' desi`]ve. WIsll will I)e there3 actively pushuig
back agail`st the f`orces ot` `exisni, I.acism se\ work stigiTia L"rd tlie impacts ol-colonization Pot slrei`t-based sex workers wtio need siiitport, but who hzoe expeiii.oced ncgatj` e interacliolls \`iith authorltics. WISH js a safi` ha`,tell. It's abou( i`l`oice Eacli day aiid iiight, ai)priixuTiatel}
thcH` J`50 \\oi`ien aiidgem]i'r-diverse gentli'r-diversefolks folks tlepeiid tlepeiia on oii WIS[I `nyiDritoiomeet liicci uiiu
most e``elitial needs -like a \iiariii iiieal oi t] 1iot sliii\\'ei -and to access u rap-aroulid slim)orts that liclii ci`eate ]astjng change.
WIsl1putstheiriTlissionintoactionthioughtheirnigh`l.+drop-in,rirs\-of-its-hind€mergeiicyshelterand Moblle /\ccess Project Van Once participants come to WISH` the}J alsi` ha`e ac.ess tii capacity-building
progrtims` illcludmg iiiie-to-olle suppoll through WISL1' s lnReach worLi`rs` Pro\ iding personali7ed suppoil ib all effect]\Je wa}` to help navigate heiil(h, justice and rlliancial s} stem` thal `tigmatize those w ith lived experlcnce a` set \`orLers. WISH stat`t ieceive liundreds of reqiiests for suppoil every week. and help participal`ts work thoilgh liicreasingl}' ctwiiplicated matters •-\Vcjust\+'aiittollveourlives.u'e|ustwanttoraisL`oui`chilJrei`.\\i`.iiist\`'anttobeliapp}J.health}/'`pro-
clucti\ e people." sold another WIsl I pailicipant. Ytii`i` help ls needi`d
T)onors who give to \\'ISH are s(aliding in solidarit_\ with sex worl\ers. They know `c\ work is woi.L. aiid lliat sex worker rights are hulTian I ights -and thesi` donors mat(e WISH liappen "What niatters iiiost to ine is that }'oii contiii\ic to reiich and siippt>il sex workers \+here the}J are aiitl follov` their lead iii advocating for them and offerin`p tlieiii car.e.. sald uns dctiior.
As pressiires lnci.ease, the most \/'ulnerable community members are the miiQt impacted. \`'hich is u'h} .\'o`" si)Liport i< needed iiow inore than ever. The costs of iiimiing u lsH programs are e.\cccding available tiiliding, and doi`ations are needed ti` b`is-
tain prograi"`iing. WISH is facing an immen`e deiiiand for ser\ ices as coliditioJi` continue to ``'ilisen` Will }Jou help keep their door` `ipeii? ln hotioiir `" Giviiig Tuesdzi.\ ` you can take p:irt in a matching i`ampaign at WIG;+L Thar]ks to all aiion}/iiious donor` all doiiations u Ill be matched, doubling the iii`pact of }Join gitl Please` gi\ i` gen€i.ously `ctda} t(t suppctrt thi` Iiiiportant woi.I I,Cam more at the \\ IS] I \\eb`ite.
Hello my name is Jaime Louise Doucette. What community means to me is togetherness. I live on the west side and also on the East side. I ant a former sex worker. I started when I was only 13 years old. I used to make ±`rom $10 to $100 dollars a day, asking for some spare change.
I AM part of a LOT today. I have people tliat love me and forgive mc for my past actions. Melissa ga\'e me my addiction, first to powder cocaine then heroine. she found out which one I liked the most and turned ine onto tlie streets as a sex worker, As many years have gone by. I LOVE NOT TO HATE TODAY. I forgive myself and others And I love mvself [t)dcav. I have been addicted to`crystal moth for many years. What I``'e leariied over the years is that Love is the greatest of them all. I.\ie learned to not (`uek with otliers' lives, or it will co]iie back lo l`uck with yours.
Addiction is a hard way to be. Something got me out of the dark side of my life and put my into the light. My jeans are too tight as I suck on my pipc. Line after line.
Time is important tonight I am 8 ball Junkie and an alcoholic.
A real person like you or maybe not like you. I sit all day long at my table, doing line after line Heartaches and stomachaches Heart attacks and strokes Are we having a good time? Torturing, feeling and thoughts in my heart I Feel. What I'\Je learned over the years is that Love is the greatest of them all. [Recognition for Merit-Sandy Cflmeron Memorial Writing Contest (SCMWC)]
Shamed for Povert}' It`s not easy to be poor. Ilo ii`atter \\here you live. But sonie places make it casiei than others I tliiiik the DIES makes it cosier, aiid I think so I)ecause I moved to Riclmond t`mm here` aiid i`o\\ tl`at I`ni liack dgain I si`e the dift`cl.encc e\'eii more c`ei\rl} . Wlien I \`'as a kid. my pal.ents split up. M}/ dad moved Into subsidized housing in Richmond.13C. and iii}' iiiom sta}'ed Hi East Vani.ouver. The two places co`Ild n(tt be ii`ore diffcrent. 1n East \'ai`, m} mom would talk to people at the bus Dtop oi. \\hile liii\ iiig a clgarette Ever} one seemed so friel`dl}'. She lizid f`riends all over the ]ieiglil`ourhood cind \`/e visited many of them Biit ill Richmond` oiir i`elghbi`uis dldJi.t inimediatel} Welcome iis witli oricn arms. I l`ere w'as ]iowhcre Ill walking distanc`e yoii could go and i` \\as iiot socl`illy acceptz`ble tt) stall conversations at tl`e bus >top. Latei iii} inom also mo\ed to Ric]imond From that time oll. althoi]g!i v`e ` isitcd Ea>l Van otten3 R]chiiiond was m}' world. Liki` I said` I li\ed in s`]bstdizcd Tiousing. All m}. neiglibours \vere I)oof. But we \\/ere c;o much niore
asliaiiied ot` it than in East Vaii. You coilld feel the dlscoiiifoil tl`at tlic 1.es\ L`f tlie neiglibourhoitd had witl` iis.1 o\'erl`eard `itmeotie`` mother s.i} 11`g that llie \toi`st 1`ids alwa}'s ca]iie t`rom siibsidizetl hoilsilig` At school. the middle cl.iss kii]s m{`de uit aboiil li:`lf or a bit t`i()re `l`im half of the ``tuulerits. I`hey didli`t tease
anyoiie for beiiig I)ooi.. but tl`e I)t)or Lids `iimed on each ollier. No one wai`tcd to be seeii as poor. so tliey I)icked on tl`e ite¥( poorest I(id. My lit`e had a \\eird t]iialit}
Inside m}J Iiousii`g coiiiplex` I `vas pc`pillar and \i,cll-Liit`wli. I had rrielids
\\Iio uel`e older `lizm ITie` ii`cluding a pregliant teemged glrl \\ho had di.opi)ed oiit of `chool. aml tlie complex.s I)arciils trusted me to wat.`Ii over the }'ouiiger kids toll I e` i`ii i`ii`dc l`rienils u .Ith kld` froiil outside the coniple` \\'ho l`ad i`onic o\ei-to \'i`It soiiieo]ic. Biit as qooii a` I wciit to scliool` iiiany of the i<iiiie |teoi)le wo`ild]i`t talk to tiii`. Antl other kid.` made fiui ot`i`i} hairc\i\. m}' c[othe`` ai`d m} hab]ts People e\en
spread rumoiirs that I li\ed in a ed]db`)ard box
f\s I got older I felt more alid more mvisible as a poi`r person in Ricl`mond. Once I got tcto old to pl:`}' in thi` pla}'groulld, I lost touch with inost of the peoplc in m} ciimplc`. u'hcn I walked througli the cit}' or ti]ok the bi`s` all I saw \\'ere I`Icel\ mailitaiiied hoi]>es where middle class people lived the kind of live` I
saw on rv. There \vas nowhere I could go to hang out except thil mall \\heie I sav` people buying thiligs I coiildn't afford. or the park wheie I sau people ill athletic gear going for riins. I `ometimes t`elt likc the ciiil}' pool. per`on in Richn`ond, Once` I Caw a sign on a t`liurch sa} ing that oiie in Tour Richiiioiid children was in iiovert.`J. I thoiiglit. if lhat`s tr`ie. then ulicre are all tliese o(her poor
pet)ple' I Lno\`' ii`i\`' the.\' \+eie all hidden awa}' ]iLe I was. tatlght to be ashamed ot`then`sel\cs. isolated t.roiii people uho ]iiight imderstand them` gi\'en no\`helc to go and ineet each other. Vi'i` were. all stiick like prisiiners in c`ells, n(>t e\ en knowiiig it` s(iineone uJas there on (he other side of the \` all` It.s nc\t likc that in the I)TES. The DTFS is rich ill communi`}J. People are less ashaiiied to bc potir` aiid
bee.iuse they accept that ciboiit tliemsclvcs. they can bc compassionate when they see soli`coiie else struggling with po\erty . Inste:id of turi`ii`g on each other_ \`Je have each lither.s backs. This is a tre:`si]re more valuable thaii the possessions that male soii]e i)eoplc thiiik the}' ai e .`niore forliinatc`. than us. As Cliief Dan Geiirge said` it is better to ha\re a little of what lb got)d than a lt)t of what isn`t good, Ma.` C`anii)bel I
[E,SSA`': 2iid place S(`M\+'C]
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ISLAND HAIBIJN We drive up island, windsliield wipers slapping swirling raindrops onto the hard hood. I stare at you, breath steaming in the car.s cool moist air. Tomorrow we will watch a small.llat boat carr}'
your relative in a wooden coffin to the old village, disappearing into ocean mists, We will follow in a dented aluminum vessel and you will show me where you used to dive for sea urchins and clams. I am a b}Js[ander liere, watching the living pages of your life. We make it back to Vancouver. The \`/'indshield still sheds droplets on their downward journey but my tears are dr}J no\\/'.
Yours are hidden behind eyes that blink like wipers.
I met your cousin
Painting with great care lnte]ition matters. plioeiiix w'7iiiter
[POETRY: 2nd Place SCMWC]
Presented by the local 8 uegrass Club and Carnegie Folk Circle, Featuring,
"Soda Crackers", "Stardust Trio", and "Still Wells", Plus some some local
favourites, Harvey "the Keewatin Owl", Eraser Stucirt, and more!
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4
@ 7:00PM carnegjeco#ff[uflj:¥ncset:treTheatre
€%(uNN¥RF&RN§LFUoELCKRASS, MUSIC!
Prepare a P]a€e For AIL E|>igi.aiihs "In m}' father`s house ai.e man}. mansions. . . I go to prepare a place for }iou." -Jolin I 4:2
"Build thee more stately mansions. 0 m}i soul." from The Chambered Nautilus By ()liver Wei`dell Holmes ln early Spring in the botanical garden, when fresh dark soil piles up above te sodden grass, where below, industrious mammals burrow in comfortable tunnels: and on forest floors new co}iote tracks punctuate melting siiow, the birders come to clean oiit nest boxes,
preparing the past }'ear's dwellings for the new: the iiiessy nest full of` dirty feathel`s had held a t`amily ot.tree swallows: aiiother`s soft` cleaii moss cradled the tiny eggs of c]iickadees long gone. With so much care, we hiHiialis, like gods, provide Prepare a pl{ice for tilly birds. aiid do i`ot distui.b coyotes` dells or sqiiii`rel trees.
Biit wliere, 0 God, are tlie clean iiest boxes for those of` iis youl. .choseii` species? More stately mansiolis we liiimaiis lieed i`ot` but hunt)le homes for ever),'olie.
Where are the safe ha\''cns for frail tena]its of cit\' streets` whose vans fire ransacLed, v.'hose r{iin-soaked te-nts get \\il.ecked? I-`orlom. they wander, chased from one teniporar}' wayside to ai`other
no shiny archways of` welcome to inhabit here, no doors to close for privacy or open to freedom. from life:s iinrest.
0 soul` I see a pearly place beyond. reserved for the pious praying Ones but where here oil Earth. the habitats we need in our communities? ill \what safe and spacious shells can we care for our beloveds now? Come. let us prepare a place for all \\'-e love. Jennifer S. Getsinger
from the Library The days are short and the nights are cold` so why not pop into your local branch of the Vancouver Public Library to bt)rrow a newly released book? Here are a few to highlight. Written by award-winning Anishjnaabe author Tan-ya Talaga` 7.fag Fa//I.i.g is an Indigenous focused unfolding of Canadian history. Beginning with the life of her great-greal-
THE GOLDEN BIN
I PRAY THIS YEAFI THAT I WILL u''[N
THE CHANCE TO DlvE Ti]AT GOLTur.N BIN
THE GOLDEr`' BIN IT Hol.Ds No TIN HAS COFFEE BRASS AND MAYBE GIN
IT JL'ST MIGHT IIOLD A DREAM 0R TWO A LOTTO TICKET TRIPS T0 THE ZOO TVS RAI)IOS COMPUTERS OLD THERE.S JUST NO TELLING Wl]AT IT MAY H01. D
grandmother` Talaga describes the coordinated system of residential schools, "Indi-am hospitals" and asylums desig]ied to desti.oy Indigenous culture ill Canada. Mcticulousl}/' researched and, yet. still personal` this book is ]`or anyone that is looking for an updated history of Canada througli an Tndigeiious lens. I/Ic jl41csftfge, b}J Ta-Nehisi Coates, is about stories aiid story-telling, and l]ow iiiiaginative marl-ati\/'es and m}J'thnlaking expose and distort our realities. This book takes the I.eader to Senegal, South Caroli-na, and Palcstine, in
order to disentaiig]e the destructive myths that shape our \\/orld.
Finally, for fiction, we have rtrc HeJ.s/ which is part of the Clive Cussler ..Isaac Bell" series, v`iritten by Jack Du Brul. Woah, that was a mouthful! The year is 1914 and America's
greatest detective Isaac Bell is pitted against a master thief and his assassin accomplice, who are planning to pull off a theft of a billion dollars from the Federal Rcserv-e. Happy Reading` Daniel
YOU'LL KNOW I'VE FOUNI) THE GOLDEN BIh'
FOR Or`. My F^cE wlLL BE A GRiL`' A VCR MAYBE I'\E FOUND A BRICK OF GOLD MAYBE A CROWN
ONE TIIIr`-G I KNow i'LL Flrun No D{)pE THE GOLI)EN BIN HOLDS LOVF. AND l]OPF IT MAYRE THICK TT MAYBE TtJIN Bl'T STILL ``'IijL BE TliE G(}LDEr`' BihT
TIIE Col,DEN BIN IS FULlj OF GRACE IT'S FULL OF LOVE FOR EVERY RACE TFIE GOLI)EN BIN IS NEVER I,OCKEI)
TIE GOLDEN BIN IS FULLY STOCKED MAYBE T'LL FIND SOME HOOTS 0R SOCKS TIIE GOLDEh' BIN IT HOLDS N0 ROCKS
FROM THE EAST NORTH SOUTH 0R WEST TIIAT GOLDEN BIN WIIjL 811 THE BEST
ur`'LIKE TTIE UNCARING C[TV TART
THE GOLDEN BIN GIVES FROM TI]E HEART IN SUN SNOW SLEET OR RA|PIT l1`GIVES ANl) GIVES WITH N0 PAIN
THE COOSE TIIAT LAID TI]AT GOLI)EN F.GG
KNows THAT I wor`'T NEED To BEG r`o r`'EEI]LEs IN THAT GOLDEN Bm' THF GOLI)EN BIN SOMEDAY I'LL WIN. Carl MBclhonald
Come join the Highs & Lows Chc)ir for a free Wnter Concert! Featuring Sudanda and the Legion of Fl}/ing Mon-keys as well as tlie Highs & Lo\`'s, the concert will include the world premieres of`two new choral songs -Peace by Claudja Stewart and Brave Little Hunter by Sydney
Water, both arranged by Earle Peach. Music will start at 2:00 PM on Saturday Deccmbcr 14 in the 411 Seniors Celltre at 3502 Fraser Street (Fraser & 19th). New-socks, toques & gloves t`or Carnegie Centre will be welcome but not required for attendai`ce.
+ W0f`jd Pr`em!.ef.€S` of` rFWo J`7C`t/` Sop?gL* i= ir@gkc8=» -try t~cBOu{Ei,.£kGf s$6wa#b` r!'1(i
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Saturday December at 2pm 14th
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THE NITE BEFORE
T'was da night before welfare and all through da land everybody was starving both woman and man da minister of welfare was in bed but awake he was getting some there so da checks they could walt Then all of a sudden there arose such a clatter "Que Pasa?" he yelled! "say what? Waz da matter?"
he ran tripped over da cat and knocked over da fan He looked down da hallway and what did appear? A binner, a native and a few other peers a tired old woman, her face full of woe gave out a yell "hey cough up da doel" The minister pouted "l'm sorry l'm wrong" but alas of course we've all heard that song he gave out the cheques and he passed c>ut stale beer then he said with a sneer "see ya same time next year!' Carl MacDonald
I have a brown face, today I am the common enemy I feel the hatred on the bus I am the common enemy
remember the story splashed across the front news?: Sikh man bashed to death with a baseball bat? he is the cc)mmon enemy when he bled on the public washroom's cold cement floors on the grounds of Beer Creek Park? Did you rip off his turban?
He is the common enemy his wife's tears cry out a thousand times, wailing for the loss
of that man because she is the common enemy too many immigrants with brown faces coming Into Canada
we are the common enemy Reena Virk surrounded by a mob she too bled to death she too was the common enemy the common enemy is my brown face lt is the millennium folx
when will I stop being
the common enemy? Ruby Diamond
Gabor Mate on Addiction and the State of Downtown Eastside Gal)or Mate postulates that the long term effects of trauma on tl`e bi`ain is addiction. Defined, addiction is a somethillg that gi`'es the doer temporary pleasure that one cannot gi`Je up despite the negative consequelices.
Gabor Mate states in one video that all addiction is caused by childhood trauma. aiid that addiction is not a failure of will, \iJeakness of character, or a disease. If a child was abused or ncglcctcd early in life, that clijld would ha\Je such patterns of problems later in life. Addiction is a response to siiffering where addicts are in a state of emotional pain, likely eiitreiiched` \\/There their behaviours are punished (aiid that addi.`ts come from extremely stressed households). Many addicts ha`ie some family l]istory of poverty,
physical/mental illness, suffered soine le\'el/form of abiise, or encountered homelessiiess, job loss. among havillg other medical or social problems; and the family cycle in which they were brought up in is dit`ticii]t to escape. Tliere are other factors still, of coiirse. In addition, Gabor Mate siiggests that di`ug add]cts fli.e ofteii ostracized and put i]`to jail I.ather thaii sup-
ported by tlic communlty into reliabilitation solutions. Mate sat/s it's possible to lieal fi.om traunia -but doctors do not lia\'e tlie word traiima in their medical vocabular}/I: tliey do not look at w'1iere tlie addicticm
behaviour comes from. They oiily see ho\\ to help the client o`iel.coine the beha\/'iour aiid the outcoiiie of problem solviiig; this meai`s tliey do not look at the backgrou]id of \\iliat led to the addictjciii in tlie first place. Toda}.` luckily. t`ar and t`e\\i mental liealth professio]ials like some .Pcci. Na`/'igatoi`s/Support wo].kers' eiii-
ployed b}' various of BC"s health autliorities, especially soliie `Outi-each workcrs`' i`ui`ses etc.` reach out to tlie most vuliierable people in our city. Ttie}/ attempt to mitigate the imi)acts of homclcssliess t`or those
living on Vancouver's Downtown Eastside -those intcrt\\iined wjtli mental health. di-ugs/alcohol abuse, and a multitude ot` problems. At the end, the lucky ones are able to recover and resuliie productive, purposeful and meaningful lives` while still a iiiimber remain ill in the streets.
Clara Lau
{ESSAY: Recognition for Merit scMWC]
The DTES Endeavor Where do we go from here Now that all of our cities have grown up all of our money is hoarded and most of the people without it
No Wonder people lose hope to drugs No Wonder do they look for solace Thls is a sign ln front of all of us:
Are we game for a fight? City oh City what have you done? aren't we all from the light All you've created is an uneven fight Has that damned your Soul?
ls it the fact that we've crashed? How long will we be punished? When will there be salvation?
Harken back to the light
Harken back to the Soul of the Earth Karl Hinton
IN SADNF,SS & LOVE Who loves you when you are sad? When tears fall and the rain never stops? Who is your t`riend? Your companion? Your lover? Someone who does not judge
That yo`i are deemed heavy, teary, a cr,vbaby When e\/erything feels surreal or unreal Tliat you lose yourself picking up the pieces
W]ien burdeiis a].e heav}'` no cmotiol`s
When the sk ies ``hed tears again and again That there are i`ries hidden far in the uni\i'crse When no one \\TiTes poems, stciries, songs When nobod} \`rites postcards, do phone calls That e\ ei} bod} tra\'els and you're immobile As a (Tee. As a log As a bod}' inade of`water Knowing c\'erythlng goes do\`rn the drain This life is a rollercoaster. vertigo-iiiducing Thus, who will love }'ou when you're sad? Wl]cn lit`e seems storm}'. thorny, and dark And the Sun's sunrises and sunsets stop Wheii cveTybody. \i'ishes }'ou your collapse Aiid all }Jour lovers have turned tlieii. backs Who do you lia\-c whom you still call ti-ust?
Can justif}J the emptmess aiid melaiicliol}J'
And will still care foi. you in times of disti.ust?
Ai`d Ilo sLipp]y of freslily-bi-ev,led coffee
Who has the magic to i"ike }/ou laugh?
No caffeine is strolls eiiough for the \\i'eai)/I The tests of`time` emotions` aiid ccoiiomy
Alid easily turn that fi`o\`Jli upside dowi`? Who got tlie lo\Jc? That iinco]iditional lo`ie? That without a doubt gives without askii`g
Someoiie wlio has unconditional love Who js tliere when no one else does? Somec>iie wlio liever holds an}; grudge
Someone who never stabs at the back ln sadness, }'ou may be a different person A new versjoli no oiie has seen before Your smiles ha\Je turiied upside down And your anxiety drags you to isolation You can not get up to schocil or woi`k Tliat your mi]id can not Just brush it off
All {iro`md us ai.e pi`oducts of ineqiialit}J
Ot` capitalism, industlial izatioii` supremac}/'
That v\'lio will lo\ie you when you are sad? Whci] e\-ei)'oi`e else has dreams and a life? High educatioi`. CTreat-payi]ig jobs. Vacatioii
That in times of chaos. wlict are co]icerncd? Who thliil`s of your welliiess and beiiig? Th.it. whatevei` is around and about, wlio will? Who will watch this chaotic` ricr}', crumbling
lnheritcinces. Money. Intergeneratioml wcalth Marriages, houses. rentals, and investments Coiiipetitive insui-ances. coverages. life plans
Sell`-detonating, self-destructilig iiiii\'erse With you? The s:`d` intriguing, beautiful }`ou.
Savings` busiiiesses. rich alliances` clubs. p{ils
-Mildred Grace German
Yet. after all the riches. spotlights. fame: gains Who will love you teiiderly when you are sad?
Wheii sadness makes you lose thatjob That fame. That gain. That beauty. Sanit),' When }'ou lose track of time in despair That you cry aiid can iiot get out of bed When sobs make you late for gatherings E\'erybody gives you tlie cold shoiilders And many think you arc but incapable Because you allow hiiimn feelings to grow Becaiise the clouds are suddenly wet and gre}' Out of your control. W'orries shadow the broke Judgeful e} es \\'hen bumming for a smoke When painful sorrow shuts your will to live That all seeii`s full of pain. so meaningless
When songs are sad and the flov\ ers too That life goes on and will go on witliout you When nobody cliecks on ho\\' you are and do
ln My Life,I Love You Mc)re
Chair Yoga in my Community Yoga is o]ie of tlie most popular sports all over the world. It can build strength of muscle. improve our bodies' flexibilit}/' ai`d balance. This activity can also better your mood. reduce your stress. relieve },'our
anxiety, advance your self-confidence. Each Frida}/. I am happy like a bird soaring in the sky. Because Chair Yoga is hc]d at Carnegie Community Centre's seiiiors lounge, which is every week I look t`orward to doing. With relaxing aiid beautiful music` t`ollowing coach's instruction. a group of seniors do all types of Yoga movemei`t. Stretch theii. arms, turn their necks, lift their legs, mo\'e their shoulders, bend the bod}' forward. and etc. The Yoga coach has ricli professional kno\`iledges and skills. with maii}i yeai.s' teaching experience. During class. slie showed Yoga poses precisely witl` instruction. Sometimes she \\iould walk to each learnei`, corrected their \`'-rang mo\/'emcnt patjontly. Her movement is graceful. Her instruction is simple and clear. Her voice is gentle. Wc fol[owcd her move, indulged in doing Yoga, almost forgot cvcrything around us. Overtime, m}' e]ierg}' has been advanced` m}` mus.`les has more strengtli. I also ha\/'e become niorc confideiit. I stal.t to lo\ iiig (]oing Yoga gradually. On Thursday of e\Jery week, I \\/ill go lo cliief orrice of carnegie C`oi"iiuiiit} C`eiitre to check tlie schedule of Yoga class.
Chair Yoga gi\Jes us an oppoilunity to sti.etcli and adjust oul. bodies, calm down aiid relax our miiid. It
leads all lealiiers to cnjoy' the i]iiicr cncha]`tmciit of Yoga. At tlic saliic time. the event creates peacet`iil at]1iosphere among mii]tjcultura] seniors at tlie centre, deei)ened tlieir iinderstanding` boost their f]iclidsllip.
The Chaii. Yoga eveiit make our seiiior's life mu.h colorful. It embodies respect, care alid love from lcadei.s, stat`fs ai`d voluliteers of Cariiegie Community Ceiitre. Thanks a lot to tlie C`amegie C`entre.
Jin Wa,lg
[ESSAY: Hoiiourable Mentio]i SCMWC]
"Ycstcrday is liistory, tomorr()w is a mystery,
Back in the Day today is a girt of God, which i` why wc czill
wheii world and I were still wild
my horse.s v,'armth on bare thighs Tan me jnlo J`reedom as air
galloped through my hair wind and breath and bo}' ]i\ cd tttgetheT Gilles Cyrenne
it the present," -Author unknown.
Fun With Seroquel August 2022
ltd been on 300mg of seroquel every da} for 13 years. had been suicidal with major de-
pression aml lots of anxiety. Seroquel is an anti-psycl`otic often used to calm down people \`/'ho are not psychotlc. It's kind of like a tranquilizer, but witliout the tolerance problems lt helped me sleep. I was tired of tlie prescription referral process. and 1 knew I could never be very mindful on seroqiiel, so I Just decided to quit. My daughter had just had a baby son in July. Why did I quit at this time`.' Pure Luck. Could ha\re been on seroquel t`orever. I had been \\'ithoul seroquel since monday cvel`Ing. It became hard to tliink Abut anything and ever}ithing was confusing. Sometime on Sat or Sun, I fell and banged the corner of m}' forehead. I must have laid there for a long time. Although I \\'as unaware of it` I was in a li`ring di.Cam. I had amnesia from the concussion and a dcliriurn from tlie withdrawal ln tliis dream, I v./'as in New Zealand, but it was like I had been there for a long time. It was like I had been transported to New Zealand and there I \`Jas Tlie delusion was so strong. My mind \`'as of`t` on its own` coloring reality ally \\ray it wanted. I was still living ln m}' I.oom oil frasei. st biit it ``/asn't Vancoii\/'er an)`more it was Aucklalid, N.Z.
I had lived in New Zca]and 30 year ago, aiid somehow I was thei.e. E\'entual]y on tues, my daughter caiiie to the doo+. of`the I-oom wliere I lived and ki`ocked. I had beconie coiiscious by this time. I saw this beautifiil woman staliding tlicre in soliie kiiid of bright light. I said ..you lookjust like my daughter." She said "I i`iii youi. daugliter" Tt was like seei]ig someone again after a long loiig time. I thought my famil}/ had collie to save mc Hi N Z. M}/ soil in law tool mc to Vancou\ier Genei`al Hospital Emergency I tliought I was ill Auckland Emergeiicy and nobody could convince me olhcrwise I had a big bruise on the corner of my forehead. We sat tliere foi.13 houi.s w itli all tlicse other peoi)]e` just \`Jaiting. Filiall}'. I was admitted and seiit upstairs. I felt like I'd hit thejacki)ot I was goHig up.
I remember lookiiig out ot`m}' hospital room alid I could see dowiitown Aucklaiid in the distance. (This v\ias dctua[ly Metroto\\Jn). I was upset at times but generdlly loved being at the hospital. I had been so isolated by covid for so long and it was iiice to be around caring people. it \ty'as like a vacation soiiiehow. M}J problems were much smallerthfln others in tlie wai-d. I spent days trying to figure oiit the password on my phone The problem \vas that it was my old
phone. Eventually my daughter figured it out. and found the new oiie. I'd written a hint somewhere, so 1 got the password. I checked the dailyjoiimal on my phone and discovered I'd quit seroquel. Nobody kiiev.' what was wrong with me. I told m}J daughter. she told the doctors. The}' were skeptical. She said, go ask him. The delusion ended after a fe\+' days. and lny daughter finally coiivinced me that I was in Vancouvcr. Hadn't I noticed the canadian accents? Seroquel rediices the levels of doi)flminc and serofonin. The ver}i chemicals that make iis feel good.
After \`i'ithdrawal,1 felt reborn. I could suddenly see the ob`'ious, things I couldii't see be-
fore. Seroquel had iiiade me kind of dull` \\/ithoilt me knowiiig it For many weeks I had to re-reniember things. but I didn't kno``J' what those things were. I had a terrible attention span and coiildn't drive for months, but I liked seems things as if for the I st time This was the zen attitude of` Begiimers Mind. A gift from my concussion. I ha\'e been reborn ever sincc. No seroquel or antidepressants. Just a dail}Jjoiirnal. and inimersion in miiidfiiliiess. zen. aiid CBT. I read aiid listen to many audio books, over aiid over.
R. Alex Newman
[ESSAY: Recognition for Merit SCMWC]
-€gs.tlt!Rt=8i.€.,f THIS NEWSLETTER IS A PUBLICATloN OF THE
WL' :`ckni>wleilgL` that Cat.IiLlgii' CommiiniLy Ccnl r``. an(I
this Newsfotter, are occurring c>n Coast Salish Territory.
Jenny I(wan MP
CARNEGIE CoMMUNrT¥ CENTRE AssoCu\TIDN
Vancouver East NDP
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How to Work for Change Advice from community organizers working in the DTES from 1970's to present. Shared at the Heart of the City Festival panel: Learning from Our Past Victories,. featuring Wendy Pederson, Anne Livingston, Libby Davies, Chris Livingstone, and Phoenix Winter.
#1. Convince people that their voices matter; #2. Tell real stories;
#3. Use social media; #4. Think big and act small;
#5. Use a diversity of tactics (lobbying AND demonstrations
for example); #6. Build alliances on the inside and outside of government;
#7. Know when laws and the system can help you; #8. Work at all levels;
#9. When there is no majority in government, use the minority;
#10. Create a new reality of what ownership is; #11. Double check the information you use for accuracy; #12. Keep culture in our lives;
#13. Don't be crabby and squeeze the joy out of the work; #14. Support each other,. Share hugs.