CHANGE THAT WORKS | MAY 2015

DERBY

DEMONSVICTORIA’S ROLLER DERBY SCENE SPARKS A REVOLUTION FIND WHERE AND Contents # WHEN YOUR VENDOR Out front 6 Hoarding was recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders for the first time two years ago. But stigma— fueled by misguided pop portrayals—prevents SELLS MEGAPHONE many sufferers from seeking help. News editor Katie Hyslop explores a new initiative on Vancouver Island bringing support to those FIND.MEGAPHONEMAGAZINE.COM who don’t think they need it. 171

FIND A VENDOR APP DESIGNED BY DENIM & STEEL Vendor profile: Eric 8 He started selling Megaphone in 2011. Since then, Eric has become a widely loved, familiar face in the Grandview-Woodland community, where he works as a vendor at Commercial and 1st. There’s a wonderful variety of people in the neighbourhood, he says. What keeps him going are great conversations with local residents.

MEGAPHONEMAGAZINE.COM Witching hours 10 FACEBOOK.COM/MEGAPHONEMAGAZINE Not everyone is a morning person. For some, the darkest hours of the night are the times @MEGAPHONEMAG when they feel most alive. Laura Trethewey dives into the world of night owls who thrive INSTAGRAM.COM/MEGAPHONEMAG while others sleep, making the case for YOUTUBE.COM/MEGAPHONEMAG rethinking the nocturnal among us.

Mothers at risk 18 Stagnant funding for pregnancy outreach services have left many marginalized B.C. women scrambling for supports. Stefania Seccia examines what’s at stake when a growing group of local expectant mothers are continually denied access to counselling, THANK YOU SUPPORTERS & SPONSORS education, and nutrition resoures. CHANGE THAT WORKS Five years of change 21 MEGAPHONE IS SOLD IN Rolling like thunder 22 Super Cool Tuesdays 27 VANCOUVER AND VICTORIA Downtown Eastside resident James Witwicki looks back on the tragedy that marked his Victoria's roller derby league is thriving thanks Every week, a group of artists and local BY HOMELESS AND LOW- descent into mental illness, addiction, and a to its relentless crew of skaters who volunteer residents get together to talk shop and make INCOME VENDORS. VENDORS bunk in the homeless shelter at First United their time to move a beloved sport forward. art in the heart of the Downtown Eastside. BUY THE MAGAZINE FOR 75¢ Church. Now housed, clean, and with Quinn MacDonald, who skates as “The Wife of The aim: shift public perceptions of what it a fresh outlook on life, Witwicki considers Wrath,” shares how derby changed her life. means to be an artist and who qualifies to AN ISSUE AND SELL IT TO the people who helped him see the light call themselves one. Emi Sasagawa speaks CUSTOMERS FOR $2. in his darkest years. with members of the Super Cool Tuesdays collective about how art can help all of us see Our goal is to provide a voice the world through fresh eyes. and an economic opportunity to homeless and low-income people Cover Photography while building grassroots support By TJ Chase to end poverty. About the photo The Eves of Destruction is a roller derby league that can be found on the flat track in Victoria, B.C., where a local derby scene thrives. Skater Quinn MacDonald (pictured on the cover) pens a personal essay (page 22) about how derby changed her life—and how the sport blazes new trails in how we connect the dots between sport, feminism, and our perceptions about our bodies. Find more derby photography on TJ Chase’s website, TJChasePhotography.com.

2 Change that Works MegaphoneMagazine.com 3 Contributors Director’s Corner

A new chapter with Executive Director Katrina Jones Sean Condon Writer, volunteer Hope in Shadows Operations Manager Katrina Jones is a musician and writer living in Vancouver. Jessica Hannon Her band, Vancouver dark-pop outfit the Belle Game, are currently working on their sophomore record. When not For several years, Megaphone and Pivot Legal Society have Vendor Coordinator working on music, Katrina can be found writing anything worked closely on the Hope in Shadows calendar project. The Misha Golston from articles to lists, watching 30 Rock and running her own partnership grew out of a shared mission to provide a voice and creative agency, Fine Print. economic opportunity for the Downtown Eastside community. Editor Together, we have coordinated our joint vendor programs, Jackie Wong and share both an office space and a vendor coordinator. Recently, Pivot began to rethink its role with Hope in Art Director Shadows and ask whether it was the right organization to Harry Olson coordinate this incredibly valuable community project. As a social change organization, the critical importance of Pivot’s News Editor advocacy and strategic litigation on behalf of people impacted by poverty, Katie Hyslop Quinn MacDonald criminalization, and social isolation has become increasingly clear Writer over the last 12 years. So, during this re-evaluation, Pivot determined Editorial Support that it was not the right organization to grow and evolve the project Geoff D’Auria Quinn MacDonald is a journalist, activist, and roller derby in order to ensure its long-term, positive impact in the community. queen from Port Alberni, B.C. She currently lives in Victoria Pivot decided the time was right to approach Megaphone and Photographers where she edits Concrete Garden, a magazine focused on propose a partnership to produce the 2016 calendar. Pivot recognized Jackie Dives, Sarah Race urban agriculture, and skates as “The Wife of Wrath” and that Megaphone is the best organization to take Hope in Shadows to coaches with the Eves of Destruction. Follow her on the next level—Megaphone knows the vendors and the community, Project Support Twitter @quinnmacdonald. and shares the same values. This year, the two organizations are Carolyn Wong entering into a partnership to produce the calendar and support Writing Workshop Facilitators the vendors. After this year, Pivot will continue to support the Elecia Chrunik, Blythe Hutchcroft, project while Megaphone takes over Hope in Shadows entirely. Julia Kochuk, Sean McGarragle, Megaphone recognizes it’s a huge honour to take over this Shannon Rayne, Yvonne Robertson, project. Through its photography contest and vendor program, Jason Starnes, Nathan Szymanski Hope in Shadows has given a voice and an economic opportunity to Downtown Eastside residents and helped change people's Carlos Tello Board of Directors perceptions of the neighbourhood. Megaphone plans to honour Writer Bob Dennis, David Lee, this tradition and maintain this commitment to the community. Longtime Megaphone vendor Peter This transition is going to take a lot of work, and that means it won’t Kevin Hollett, Jo Shin, Carlos Tello is a journalist and photographer, clown aficionado m Peter Wrinch and former engineer based in Vancouver. His work has Thompson holds the 2015 Hope in be possible to organize the annual photo contest this year. This time of appeared in the Vancouver Sun, the Toronto Star, The Tyee, Shadows calendar featuring one of his change, however, is an opportunity to reflect back on the previous 12 Volunteers and the Vancouver Observer, among others. He is interested in photographs. Peter, like many Megaphone years of Hope in Shadows and the important community stories that Jade Bacchus, Riyaz Basi, arts and culture, human rights, social justice, Latin American vendors, got his start as a vendor have been told through the project. That’s why this year’s calendar Emma Crane, Katie Hyslop, issues, and everything related to his home country, Peru. through the Hope in Shadows project. will feature past winning photos from the Hope in Shadows archive. Mawuena Mallett, Jenn McDermid, Megaphone and Pivot are excited about the future of Hope in Samantha McDonald, Shadows and both our organizations. Pivot will focus its energies on Sarah Sheridan, Barb Phillips, using the law to protect and advance the rights of the most vulnerable Lesley Yuen members of our community. And Megaphone can offer the seasonal Hope in Shadows vendors an opportunity to earn an income year- Editorial Contributors This Issue round, which means more vendors selling both products and more TJ Chase, Katrina Jones, income for people experiencing poverty and homelessness. Julia Kochuk, Quinn MacDonald, Laura Trethewey With your support of the vendors, Megaphone with Hope in Shadows Richard Prest, Emi Sasagawa, will be the 'change that works' that our communities need. Writer Stefania Seccia, Carlos Tello, Laura Trethewey, James Witwicki Laura Trethewey lives in Vancouver where she’s writing Sincerely, a non-fiction book about water and the people who live Sean Condon and Katrina Pacey on, near and by it. Her work has been published in The Walrus, The Globe and Mail, and Maisonneuve and has been nominated for a National Magazine Award and a Western Magazine Award. She likes to spend her time near the shore. Megaphone is published every month by Street Corner Sean Condon Katrina Pacey Media Foundation. Executive Director Executive Director Megaphone Magazine Pivot Legal Society 121 Heatley Avenue Vancouver, B.C. V6A 3E9

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4 Change that Works MegaphoneMagazine.com 5 Out Front Out Front Vancouver Island As the federal election action team makes looms, voters raise headway on hoarding questions on ID laws

By Katie Hyslop By Katie Hyslop

Thanks to popular TV shows like TLC’s Hoarding: Buried Alive or Animal Planet’s “About five per cent of the Confessions: Animal Hoarding, hoarding— an inability to stop acquiring “stuff,” population suffers from or throw any of it away—is receiving unprecedented public attention. hoarding. That's just two Unfortunately, a more nuanced public understanding of the condition hasn’t percent less than depression followed our popular fascination with it. Hoarding was recognized in the – one of the most common Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental If you’re a Canadian citizen and at least vouch for them, the new rules stayed. m Victoria Megaphone vendor and Disorders for the first time in 2013. But mental health conditions.” 18, it’s your constitutional right to vote The ruling was upheld on appeal. noted anti-poverty activist Rose stigma can prevent sufferers from seeking in the October 19th federal election. But Ironically members of the Council of Henry is fighting for the rights of help, says Dr. Eric Ochs, clinical lead putting that right into practice will be tricky Canadians, which has partnered with low-income people with no fixed for Vancouver Island Health Authority’s if you don’t have proper identification. the Canadian Federation of Students to address to vote in the upcom- Hoarding Education and Action Team Last year’s Fair Elections Act made challenge the Fair Elections Act in Ontario ing federal election. Photo: Ian Charleson and Joshua James (HEAT), which started three years ago. several changes to the way federal Superior Court later this year, speculate Dominic. Hoarding-focused television shows elections are run. The Act requires voters the Henry case could be the final nail in “actually make a lot of judgments, and impairment disorders like hoarding are to present two pieces of ID, at least one the coffin for the Fair Elections Act. talk about ‘catastrophe’ and ‘horror,’ often low-income. “It’s not entirely clear with their permanent address. It also “The B.C. court pointed to vouching and ‘look at this mess!’” says Ochs. if that’s because maybe the disorder leads places limits on citizens’ ability to vouch as a kind of fail-safe mechanism for “That kind of response is not making them to having a lower income,” she says. for their peers without proper ID. people who otherwise have difficulty anybody feel less stigmatized.” Island Health Authority’s team has a Until 2007, we didn’t need ID at all if we in proving their identity and/or their Still, most hoarders usually don’t website and phone number for people were on the registered voters’ list or if we place of residence,” says Garry Neil, see their actions as problematic, he who hoard, or those who love them. had our voter identification card. Those the Council’s executive director. says. “They tend to be attached to their Ochs says there’s little in the way of on the list could vouch for the identity Unlike the Act Henry fought, the things, so it’s got a positive association, mental health funding specifically for of several others. It used to be common Fair Elections Act limits registered even though it’s causing trouble.” hoarding on the island. But mental practice for First Nations’ chiefs to spend voters to vouching only for another The trouble hoarding causes extends health workers from HEAT, modeled Election Day at a polling station to vouch for person’s address, not their identity. beyond an inability to host dinner after similar teams in Vancouver, San the whole community, for example. Without ID to prove who you are, you can’t parties. Hoarding is a safety hazard Francisco, and Toronto, are coordinating But in the last eight years, the vote, potentially excluding people living when stuff blocks emergency exits or with fire safety officers to help hoarders Conservative government has proposed and on reserves, in shelters, or without photo flammable materials are stored too close before their “stuff” consumes them. passed changes to the federal elections act ID. And if you can only find one voucher to heaters. It can also spill over into the It’s hoarding harm reduction that 10 different times, including restrictions for you and your partner, for example, you workplace, costing people their jobs. puts a person’s physical health and on vouching and acceptable voter IDs better flip a coin because vouching was Ochs estimates about five per cent of the safety first. “After that we can talk passed last year. Designed to protect us limited to one vouch per voter back in 2007. population suffers from hoarding. That’s about folks who might be interested from fraud, these laws could prevent Since the case won’t be heard until just two per cent less than depression— in improving their mental health and people without a home—or those living after Election Day, the Council filed an one of the most common mental health making their lives better,” says Ochs. far from it—from casting their ballot. injunction to put the new rules on hold conditions. There’s no definitive cause There’s no definitive cure for hoarding. That’s what Rose Henry believes. until the 2019 election. Neil argues it only for hoarding, though it is associated But it can be curbed with support. HEAT Henry, a well-known Victoria anti-poverty takes a fraction of people turned away at with depression, as well as anxiety, started the island’s only monthly peer- advocate and Megaphone vendor, has been the polls to turn an election, pointing to schizophrenia, and brain damage. support group earlier this year. As part of helping low-income people vote for over the last federal election as an example. University of British Columbia efforts to address stigma around hoarding, 20 years. She fought the 2007 Act to amend “The reasons the Conservatives have psychology professor Sheila Woody, the group is convened for people dealing the Canada Elections Act and the Public a majority government is if you take who studies hoarding in Vancouver’s with what organizers call “clutter.” Service Employment Act at the Supreme the final few ridings in which they Downtown Eastside, says hoarding crosses Group leader Ochs hopes group members Court of British Columbia in 2008. won to get their majority, it’s like a economic lines. But it’s more apparent will volunteer to lead future sessions “[Prime Minister Stephen] Harper was 6,000-vote difference,” he says. among low-income people living in DTES with his support. “We’re going to get a putting through a proposal that would But even if the injunction, scheduled hotels because, as she puts it, “a person whole range of people in there,” he says. forbid people with no fixed address the right for July 2-3, should fail, Neil says “the who has a really small place to live is “We’re going to talk about strategies, to vote,” Rose recalls. That law restricted results of the next election could be [called going to meet that criteria faster.” understanding the nature of the problem.” vouching to one person per registered into] question,” potentially pushing While no direct correlation between voter. It also required identification the case in the Council’s favour. income and hoarding has been found, that stated a permanent address. Woody says people with functioning The judge agreed the Act could run roughshod over voters’ constitutional rights. But because someone else could

6 Change that Works MegaphoneMagazine.com 7 Vendor Profile Vendor Voices What keeps Legislated Eric going? into Poverty The people of Richard Prest speaks out Commercial Drive and his trusty bike This article is dedicated to my good friend Andrew Velutis and the many more who have been legislated into poverty. The public is being systematically priced out of making a good living by the rules (laws) that are passed by provincial and federal governments. As you know, the cost of living is not regulated, but our “It was in the fall of 2010 when I started selling income is regulated in many ways. Our minimum wage just Hope in Shadows calendars, the 2011 ones. I’d seen the got a $0.20 per hour increase. Wow. I bet that has made a posters at the Carnegie and thought I’d give it a try. I was difference in your lifestyle. First off, it’s taxpayers’ money and looking for some work at that time, some income. that means all of us. We spend it here where we pay taxes on “And that whole thing went really well. It was a learning our purchases and that is what makes an economy work. experience because I’d never done anything like that before. I’m concerned about how money seems to have no value “The good thing about the calendars is they sell quite well. anymore. The purchasing power of the currency has a big They have a certain amount of automatic appeal because impact on how we eat, where we live, and if we have a life at they’re fairly well-known in the city. So it was nice to start all. In my mind, monetary system is a form of dictatorship with that. I knew nothing about Megaphone at that time. for the elite one per cent and is such a selfish mechanism “Then I recall the calendar sales slowing down in the New COMMERCIAL DR that a democracy is not possible in a monetary system. Year. And I started with Megaphone in February 2011. That was When a system is focused on the bottom line only, definitely a little more difficult to get sales and to find a spot to there is no room for caring about social problems as it is ROBSON ST sell at. But I’m patient and I was able to see the light at the end considered red ink on the bureaucrat’s bottom line. of the tunnel. I started getting to know people on Commercial FIRST AVE The government is voted in to manage our country and BIDWELL ST Drive. Grandview is a wonderful neighbourhood. It’s a nice province and look after our interests as a people. But it seems mix of the older style of city and some of the new. People just that once they’re elected, big business, through their lobbyists, enjoy getting out and spending time on the streets out there. have a direct line to the way governments write laws. It seems “In the beginning, there were several spots I was trying to sell they are written to suit their big business employers. They at. But I’ve mainly been selling on Commercial Drive. There’s a have a significant impact on this province and its people. greater variety of people there. It’s very diverse. Different groups Back to poverty. In B.C., 841,191 people are using food banks, of people mix together and get along well and enjoy the area. marking a 25 per cent increase from 2008 to 2014. Up north in “Selling Megaphone definitely leads to a connection with the the Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunuvut, home to large community. Most of my jobs have been on my own or working with First Nations communities, food bank use went up a whopping groups. This is a whole different thing, on my own working right 247 per cent between those years. Forty-eight per cent of food in the middle of a community. For me, it has required different bank users were on social assistance. Of that group, 48 per skills, people skills in public that I didn’t use in other jobs. cent were women, 45 per cent were families with kids—either “My last job had some similarities. I was serving quite a few single or two parents—and 38 per cent were children. customers. I was a contractor. That gave me some of the customer Poverty is not just Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside issue. It’s service skills I use to sell Megaphone. But prior to that, I was everybody’s Issue. It’s everywhere. And yet it seems to me that working with small crews in the field and in office settings. people working in B.C.’s public sector are very well compensated “Some of the delivery work I was doing before had very tight and so, too, are people working in municipal governments, in time constraints. It wasn’t nearly as flexible as Megaphone. Metro Vancouver, and at Translink. In B.C., we seem to have That was very stressful. It had an effect on me, for sure, after no problem spending money on ministers’ portfolios, their a number of years. But I always appreciated my customers. pension plans that the rest of us wish we had, and their travel “One activity I really enjoy is riding my bike. It’s basically expenses. And yet we lead the country in child poverty. a feeling of freedom to me. It does something special We will be legislated into poverty unless we either for a lot of cyclists. You often see the joy in them. have our own lobbyist or organize as a voter’s block “Twice now I’ve ridden from Alberta down to the Coast. of committed voters in the tens of thousands. Camped along the way. The last time was the summer of 2013, Just like the monetary system is unsustainable, so is the style when I came back. I was back there for over a year to help of governance that excludes us—poor people—from real input. my mother out and then I cycled back down here again. People don’t vote because they feel it doesn’t matter anyways. “What keeps me going selling Megaphone is I enjoy it. I enjoy That’s a tough trick; just make people stop paying attention and Andrew was very well liked. We all helped him. the neighbourhood. Every day I look forward to meeting up caring so you can run the province and country like an empire. The only time any agency came to his aid was when with my customers, their families, and their acquaintances. My friend Andrew was a skilled lighting and he becameterminally ill. Social services did not come “What I’d like to tell my customers is this: thank you for cameraman. He was a union man. to his aid till then and gave him disability funds; it stopping by and for your support. Thank you for the smiles, Andrew served in the military, worked on big movies here in was The Hollyburn Society who got him a place to die. waves, and hellos, and for the good conversation. B.C. until the tax battle with the film industry killed the movie Andrew died a hurt man. I think he had been so “I’d like to thank them for their generosity and their industry. He went to Calgary to work the Calgary Stampede and screwed by his country just like most of us. care and their concern for me. For everything.” was flooded out with no place to live. He went to work as a traffic I guess we all have to become billionaires so our elected control person until winter set in, then came back to Vancouver, officials deem us important enough to hear. Eric sells Megaphone at Commercial and 1st in Vancouver. applied for EI, and was turned down twice. He had earned too much money for welfare. And not being a drug user, he did not Richard sells Megaphone in front of Whole Foods Market want to be in a homeless shelter, so he had to live on the street. at Robson and Bidwell in Vancouver's West End.

8 Change that Works MegaphoneMagazine.com 9 Life Night Moves Unique and beautiful chronotypes the clocks spring forward and back Why you’re so tired Humans are naturally a diurnal species, to take advantage of the sunlight. It seems strange to live in a society that meaning that we conduct our business An hour’s difference might not seem like places a premium on productivity, yet runs during the day. But more people than much, but the day after Daylight Savings according to an outdated one-size-fits-all When you’re asleep, they’re in their prime. you might think chafe against the 9-to-5 Time has become one of the most dangerous schedule. Wouldn’t it make more sense to schedule. Sleep research has advanced to a for workplace injuries. Car accidents rise work during the hours we’re most alert? The case for rethinking night owls stage where we know that every person has as well. And it’s late chronotypes who We can feel when that window opens and a distinct chronotype, the scientific term feel the full brunt of Daylight Savings we suddenly enter “the zone,” churning By Laura Trethewey for an individual’s circadian rhythms. Time. Weeks after the shift they continue out work we’ve neglected all day. Chronotypes are complex concoctions to play catch-up with their sleep. In some parts of the world, this is mixed with genetics, age, geography, In fact, Daylight Savings Time does not starting to be recognized. In Denmark, Once upon a time, I was thrilled to stay up late. When my parents and external factors like the demands come from farming. Its origins date back for instance, where morning people are hosted parties, I’d camouflage myself into the walls and relish each of one’s job or the sleeping routine of a to the First World War when the Germans referred to as “A People” and evening people partner. Approximately 25 per cent of needed more sunlight to conserve fuel. as “B People,” night owls have started to illicit minute I got to stay up past bedtime. All the magic seems to the population consists of night people, Why do we still practice this organize for less restrictive schedules. 15 per cent identifies as morning people, outdated agricultural tradition? Companies can get “B-certified,” meaning happen at night when you’re a kid. As soon as you close your eyes, and the rest fall somewhere in between. they’re friendly to night owl schedules. About two-thirds of the population suffer Depraved by the bell Famous early risers, such as Steve Santa Claus is riding his reindeers and your stuffed animals come from “social jet lag,” a term coined by There are other ways in which long- Jobs, seem to confirm the rule that alive. Eventually my parents would notice me standing in the corner chronobiologist Till Roenneberg for that established schedules reward early risers. morning people are simply better, more perpetual fatigue we feel when our internal The school day, for instance, typically productive members of the society. and the party would be over, for me anyway. Lying in bed, I would clocks clash with the duties of our day. runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., even though Chronobiologist Till Roenneberg writes teenagers tend to be late chronotypes. about this prejudice in Internal Time: fall asleep to the sound of voices in the next room and dream up Agricultural traditions in times of Tinder Before adolescence, kids need a lot Chronotypes, Social Jet Leg and Why You’re In preindustrial times, working during of sleep, but as they enter high school So Tired (Harvard University Press): amazing things I would see and do when I could stay up late. the daytime made sense. It is just so much they stay up later and sleep in longer. “Owls are at best, extroverted artists easier to dig up potatoes when you can This is often dismissed as lazy teenage and intellectuals, or at worst, people who My childhood self would be disappointed by how little late-night see what you’re doing. Sayings like “the behaviour, but more likely they’re just engage in dark arts and exert evil powers.” gallivanting I do today. I fall asleep sometime after midnight and early bird gets the worm” and “early to exhausted from a schedule that doesn’t But some argue that it’s night owls who bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, take their sleeping patterns into account. might have the jump on early birds. The wake up sometime before nine. Addicted to coffee, dragging myself wealthy and wise” reinforced the idea that A 2008 study found that when high school evolutionary psychologist Satoshi Kanazawa sleeping in was lazy, if not economically started just one hour later, the amount of at the London School of Economics has to my desk; there never seem to be enough hours in the day until ruinous. Early-morning proverbs surface kids getting a full-night’s rest rose by 15 per found evidence that night owls have higher in almost every culture; in Russia, they cent. Again, that extra hour of sleep might IQs than other sleepers. His theory is that it’s night again. Even though I’m unconscious for most of it —or gather mushrooms early, in Italy, fish. not seem like much, but high school grades night owls have an evolutionary advantage perhaps because of that—the night hours still hold mystery for me. In industrialized societies, many jobs go on to determine who gets a scholarship because they can choose to override the can be done anytime and anywhere, so or admitted to an elite university. Before natural daytime setting of humans. long as there’s a a wifi connection and leaving high school, the odds are already a laptop. Yet we continue to follow a stacked against late chronotypes. brighter-is-better routine. Twice a year,

10 Change that Works MegaphoneMagazine.com 11 Life Let's Do This SHOWCASING OUR SKILLS

`The creative potential of near-sleep how much he hates Vancouver in between his drive home. But the encounter didn’t At night, our thoughts do tend to get a musical sets dominated by the Tea Party. strike Pyra as romantic or interesting. Cooking little looser, less linear, more associative. Late-night hosts enjoy looser rules about “Sometimes you get someone socially A leap that looked impossible during Canadian Content requirements and they isolated who wants to talk your ear off the day moves within reach at night. also have the creative freedom of safe- about whatever,” she says. This month, The short documentary Petit Heures harbour hours: that special window between Draculea will stop broadcasting on CiTR, captures the everyday beauty of Montreal 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. when children are asleep but she’ll continue to podcast her comedy with heart shuttering down for the night. The and adults can say pretty much whatever shows and work on the electro music streets are empty, the neon glows off the fuck they want. And do. she makes under the moniker maQlu. the black pavement, there is an eerie, Draculea’s lack of interest in her Heartwood Café cultivates hard-to-define beauty to the night. Lighting ourselves awake nighttime ways shouldn’t surprise me. I community in Mount Pleasant “There are things we can’t see during the Von Kloss likes the DJ booth lit to a don’t greet people on the street with a merry day,” the narrator tells the camera, “things moody hue, the only light source a lamp isn’t-it-all-great-we’re-awake-in-the-day Story and photo by Julia Kochuk we never see, that we could see at night, with an upturned shade perched on top. hello. But still, there is some fundamental but we miss them because we’re asleep.” When Draculea moves into the booth, she difference about lives lived at night. A late-night host at UBC’s student immediately flicks the overhead light on to If anything, getting around the city is When the beloved Rhizome Café closed its doors in 2013, radio station CiTR echoes that sentiment. buzzing fluorescence. “I’m legally blind,” easier: traffic jams don’t exist, the world Mount Pleasant neighbours wondered what would become of “There is a completely different energy at she says. “I have the strongest contacts I has a more meditative, gliding quality. the place on Broadway and Kingsway. Rhizome was known four in the morning when all the normals can get and I need all the light I can get.” Of course there are difficulties, too. for its welcoming, queer-inclusive, kid-friendly environment. are asleep,” Vampyra Draculea tells me. The lightbulb is one of the inventions On my way out of CiTR, a security With its bookable meeting room, calendar of events, and For the last 10 years, Draculea has run most responsible for humans shifting guard stops me. “How did you get warm interior, it was a well-loved gathering space for the her show Vampire’s Ball from 1 a.m. to 4 toward later sleeping patterns. Some in here?” he asks suspiciously, “I social justice set. In winter 2013, Heartwood Community Café a.m. every Thursday. “For songwriting estimates say that, since Edison patented locked all the doors hours ago.” opened in the former Rhizome space. Today, the friendly anyway, the best ideas come when I’m the bulb back in 1878, the average person neighbourhood bistro is a hub for healthy, affordable meals almost half asleep. At 5 a.m., I’m trying gets three hours less sleep per day. Vampyra Draculea’s nighttime activities and a sought-after menu item known as Soup for the People. to go to bed and I’m thinking of a chorus. Artificial light permeates modern life: can be found on http://pyradraculea.com Megaphone recently sat down with Heartwood’s community So, I get up and bang out the lyrics.” the soupy orange cast of streetlights, the development manager Melanie Matining and general manager Many creative types, from Franz Kafka flat glow of a computer screen, the blunt Ana-Luz Cobon. We talked about how Heartwood is strengthening to Marcel Proust to Glenn Gould, worked fluorescent tubes of a cubicle office. A well- the roots that Rhizome planted and their plans for new growth. best during the evening. Others, such as lit room averages only a couple hundred the legendary early riser Haruki Murakami, Lux (the measurement for light intensity). wake so early they may as well be night owls. A cloudy day can get up to 10,000 Lux The American author Nicholson Baker and a sunny one can reach 150,000 Lux. wakes at half past four, fuelling his first And it’s not just the lack of sunlight that writing session with hazy, near-sleep affects us—it’s the lack of total darkness, On Rhizome’s legacy: On justice, not charity On urban agriculture in a changing city: thoughts. He returns to bed for a nap and too. Not matter how tightly shuttered our “Rhizome was open for eight years and did “There are a bunch of awesome community “One thing we’ll try to do to continue the then rises again, for a second jolt of creative windows, light seeps around the edges, amazing things for community-building in cafes [in Vancouver], and we never want to cycle of food security is to connect more power. through blinds and around curtains. Vancouver. When they closed, they called compete with each other. At Heartwood, with local urban agricultural organizations. The average Canadian spends out to different communities saying, we we’re unique in that our vision is to create It’s not only about chopping up food and While the world sleeps, say anything approximately 90 per cent of her life want this space to continue to be centred a space that nourishes social justice and providing it, but also about food production Despite the lower listener numbers indoors. We forget how pervasive this weak on social justice. One group they asked liberation. One way we do that is with Soup and people working in those industries. during the evening, late-night radio light is until we emerge from a building, was Trinity United, part of the United for the People. It’s based on food security, Figuring ways it can come full-circle. hosts like Vampyra Draculea tend to stick blinking in the sunlight, or throw our Church. The United Church owns the space the idea that food must be accessible. It’s a Sometimes it’s hard. We’re super low in around longer than the daytime disc heads back to a jet-black country sky. and provides so much support—financial beautiful way of being able to break bread, resources. It’s always a struggle to figure jockeys. “That’s the nice thing with college The effect is so strong that in towns with a and emotional. The United Church has a even if you’re not doing it by sitting at the out how we can continue as a community- radio,” she says as she waits in the CiTR population under 300,000, where the sky is really good history of activism. We have table together. We can eat with dignity centred business. lounge for her show to begin. “There are darker from less light pollution, people tend a lot of gratitude for their support.” together and provide for each other.” these late-hour spots where I can rule the to rise earlier than in cities. -Melanie Mataning (MM) -MM “Gentrification is coming closer and roost cause there’s not too many people closer to Mount Pleasant. Even if lots of who want to take them off my hands.” The night is ours “I grew up in the United Church and used to “Soup for the People isn’t charity, but community services come with that, there's Draculea, who is 36, has a florid Scottish The clock in the DJ booth reads 2:07 a.m. be the chef at a United Church business on community collaboration. We use quality still the property value shockwave. We’ll be complexion and many phantom holes in her Just over an hour into Vampire’s Ball, and Gambier Island. This is my neighbourhood. ingredients and team up with local swept up in that. It’s tough, but at the same ears and nose from where piercings used Draculea shows no fatigue. If anything, she I grew up the daughter of a queer parent.” suppliers to create [a soup] that everyone time, it’s another chance to work together.” to live. She wakes in the early afternoon seems to be waking up: her thoughts are -Ana-Luz Cobon (AL) can access, whether you can pay 10 cents -MM and goes to sleep sometime around four flightier, the memories come back quicker. [for a bowl], or 20 bucks. It’s pay-what- or five in the morning. She likes to arrive I am sunk down in my seat, losing my train On why queer spaces matter: you-can. We wanted to offer a physical, at CiTR hours before her show begins of thought, worried about how I’m going “I knew Rhizome as a queer space. I grew tangible piece of who we are. The soup because the security guards tend to lock to drive home when I’m half asleep. up in North Van and went to Victoria for changes all the time. It’s always vegan and the building early. On more than one “Can you tell I’m fading?” I ask Draculea. school. Whenever I came back to visit I gluten-free so it’s accessible to everyone.” occasion, Draculea has found herself (or her “Yeah,” she laughs. would be like: there are more queer people -AL guests) locked out. As she waits in CiTR’s Before I leave, I try to get Draculea to here than in Victoria as a whole. I felt at rumpled lounge for her spot to begin, the expound on the special sides of living home. It was so inclusive and welcoming.” talk radio show Sex in Van City, hosted by and working at night. Does she get any -MM a buxom lady who signs off with a kiss to regular late-night callers? When the the microphone, comes over the speakers. clouds are just right, CiTR’s radio signal From 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. is the Hans Von can bounce all the way to Washington. Kloss Misery Hour, run by a disgruntled A bartender from Everett used to call Pyra man from Poland who likes to rant about after he got off work, requesting a song for

12 Change that Works MegaphoneMagazine.com 13 Where You'll Find Me Arts Feature MEANINGFUL PLACES IN OUR COMMUNITY Lonely Planet Meet the man behind Rock star livin,’ one of Vancouver’s only Peruvian restaurants demystified Story and photo by Carlos Tello How the Belle Game For Peruvians, the second half of the 1980s was not the era of New Wave music, outrageous hairstyles and Atari video games. stays sane—and Instead, it was a time marked by extreme economic recession, scarcity of fundamental products like milk or bread, and politically stays friends, according motivated violence. If you ever ask a Peruvian over 30 years old about the 1980s, you are be bound to hear a horror story. to its keyboardist The economic turmoil of the decade forced many Peruvians to consider fleeing the country. That was the case for Eduardo By Katrina Jones Laos, then a young entrepreneur. After being granted permanent Photos courtesy of the Belle Game residency in 1988, Eduardo came to Canada for a reconnaissance trip. But he ultimately decided to go back to Peru. “In Peru I had at least a few things going on for myself. In Canada, I had nothing,” he explains. Fourteen years after first considering the idea of leaving Being in a band could easily be one of the Peru, Laos found himself again entertaining the possibility. most challenging, delicate and forthright Alan García, Peru’s president between 1985 and 1990, had just relationships you’ll ever have with anyone. announced his intention of again running for president, and You and your bandmates are (hopefully) early polls indicated he had a great chance of winning. Vancouver’s Latin American community is comprised of first and foremost friends, but you are Laos, then married and a father of three, wouldn't risk the a little less than 10,000 people, around 1.5 per cent of the also creative partners, business partners, possibility of his children going through all the suffering city’s total population. It is truly remarkable that Silvestre your first line of defense, and sometimes he experienced in his youth. So he packed his suitcase has managed to survive for three years, Eduardo says. In the last people you want to talk to. and left Lima, Peru’s capital, to resettle in Vancouver. order to keep the business afloat, Eduardo and his family If you’re lucky, you’re each other’s In Vancouver, Laos started making a living out of importing spend most of their time working at the restaurant. support system, but you’re also lucky if your Peruvian produce and seasonings. Then, three years ago, he and “We work seven days a week, 364 days a year — bandmates are willing to push you into cold, his family decided to open Silvestre, one of the two Peruvian food the restaurant only closes during Christmas Day,” uncharted creative territory. It’s a delicate restaurants in Vancouver and the only one located downtown. Eduardo said. “It takes a lot of sacrifice.” balance between friendship and business- Located a few meters from the famous Gastown steam clock, Eduardo has known about the sacrifices parents sometimes ship, laughing and crying, excitement and Silvestre is a Peruvian food restaurant, a deli, and an ice have to make to ensure a better future for their children even frustration—it’s all a little manic, but it’s cream parlour. The restaurant boasts a vast menu that ranges before he first entertained the possibility of leaving Peru. Two also a terribly exciting and fun way to live. from traditional Peruvian desserts to the iconic Ceviche, generations before him, his grandparents left their home country, I’ve been fortunate enough to engage in a dish made out of raw fish marinated in lemon juice. China, to resettle in Peru. And now it’s his turn to sacrifice this, the Rorchach test of relationships, There are even options for the more adventurous costumers: himself for the well-being of his family in a new country. since 2009 with my band, the Belle Game. anticuchos, for example, are Peruvian-style skewers “I miss the Peruvian lifestyle, having more time to share with I met guitar-player Adam while studying at made from cow's heart marinated in dried red chilli. family and friends,” he says. “Sometimes I can’t find myself here.” McGill. We had a weird long-distance-band Today Eduardo, who is 51 years old, spends most of his time But watching his three children grow up and accomplish thing for the following two years with the donning an apron and serving customers. He is officially the their dreams gives him the strength to press on. His two older other two band members, Alex and Andrea, restaurant’s administrator, but he is always ready to step in when kids go to university here in British Columbia, and the third who were living in Vancouver at the time. an extra hand is needed. So it’s not uncommon to see him wiping one has just gained admission to Simon Fraser University. We used this time to iron out what can tables, serving ice creams or taking orders in English or Spanish. “They are making a name for themselves here,” Eduardo says, only be described as our awkward years. Silvestre’s main costumers are members of Vancouver’s proudly. The year 2011 is when we all permanently Latin American community. Peruvian food, despite landed in Vancouver. Since then, we its prominence in Latin America and parts of the haven’t looked back: together we’ve United States, is mostly unknown in Canada. released an album, toured the U.S., Canada When Canadians go to Silvestre, it is usually following an and Europe, played major international invitation by a Latin American friend. But when that happens, festivals, received very kind and welcomed Eduardo is able to introduce his home country to his new costumers press, and won a couple of awards. and tell them about Peruvian culture, history, and traditions. All in all, it’s been a good few years, but “After eating here and learning about our culture, that doesn’t come without its challenges. costumers become potential tourists,” Eduardo What follows are my thoughts on how says. “I see myself as a cultural ambassador.” to keep band life from falling apart.

14 Change that Works MegaphoneMagazine.com 15 Arts Feature Arts Feature

Touring

Talk to each other. On tour, it’s always better to overshare than to undershare. Don’t assume. Don’t bottle it up. Don’t turn your back. Sometimes your bandmates Get some rest. want to talk about things that might Hate to break it to you, but the “rock seem trivial to you, but the road bends star” life isn’t a thing, at least for emerging In the Studio In General everything out of whack. So all of a bands. Maybe it is if you’re rich enough to Meditate. sudden, if it’s so necessary for your value a bottle of Jack and a pack of smokes Namaste, friends. Try your best to find Eat well and plan. All you need is love. bandmates to talk about the new over showing up and getting paid at your some sort of calm on the road, whether There’s nothing more important than But seriously, don’t forget that the Kristin Wiig movie, or those ridiculous next gig. But to us, it’s not worth the risk. your meditation is just being in nature, getting all those vitamins and minerals. situation you’re in with your bandmates shoes they wanted, let them. Your As a friend of our producer once said, listening to Deepak or simply closing your Otherwise, your brain is mush. And there’s is so unique and complicated and messy drummer has your back onstage. Have being in a band these days is like being eyes and taking a deep breath. Can’t stress no sense in saving up all those dollars and and challenging and amazing. For lack of a their back when chatting in the van. in the Navy. Work hard and be in bed by this enough—take at least 15 minutes toiling over all your songs only to get in to better word, it’s not a normal relationship. 0100 hours. If you want to take advice every day to get to that special place. the studio and not be able to think. I tried Things are bound to get tough or trying. Be honest. from a "super cool band” like us, there’s the “rock star” diet last time I was in the Remember to use any extra ounce of There’s nothing wrong with telling nothing better than giving your teeth studio and I came home with bronchitis vigilance and patience you may have someone you need some space. How a good brush and curling up with an and a bad attitude. It’s not a good look. before snapping and losing your cool. many times have you not told someone episode of Seinfeld after a great show. Start with the following: vegetables, fruit, this, only to yell at them about how water, nuts, seeds, protein, sleep. Repeat. Don’t make it your everything. dumb their shirt is a week later? Whether you love comics or cats, make Don’t believe the hype. sure you have other passions, friends and Just take a breath. Just do it. The studio relationships outside of the band. The is the worst place to get in your head. I highs and the lows of band life are too can’t tell you how many times I got ahead big and exaggerated to make it your only of myself thinking “this is the worst fucking focus—it’s important to have something song I’ve ever heard” only to have our or someone else that grounds you. Or else band and producer play Operation with you’re putting too much pressure and our music and move around all of its parts importance on something that you, for until we’re all happy. We always joke that the most part, have little control over. the biggest threat in the studio would be if there was a “direct to iTunes” button Laugh. where the producer could just threaten Because being in a band is fun, right? you by exposing your half-written mess of a song to the world. But guess what, Katrina plays keyboard and sings in the that button doesn’t exist. So chill, k? Belle Game. Her band plays the Biltmore Cabaret on June 4th. Tickets available now.

16 MegaphoneMagazine.com 17 Local News Local News Broken “The priority of our strategic plan is how to reach the hard-to-reach families—it’s a very difficult task,” says Tania Rempel, supervisor of the Abbotsford Community Services, noting the stagnant funding and lifelines the challenging of paying full-time staff. “There is the teenage parent who has either been asked to leave the home or New mothers at risk has chosen to leave and going couch surfing. We’ve got kids living on the face darker horizons streets expecting babies. How do we reach in B.C. them? How do we keep connected?” ‘Half of the people we get requests By Stefania Seccia from aren’t being served’ Lisa Lothian works with the Burnaby and New Westminster outreach program Like many new immigrants, Navneet for pre- and post-natal services through Nanda and Manpreet Saran left behind Burnaby Family Life, which has meaningful work and loving home provided social services since 1971. communities in hopes of starting new, better “In terms of service access, our waiting lives for their young families in Canada. list has grown longer and longer and “I was pregnant when I came here,” longer, and now it’s at the point where says Nanda. “We came here for better half of the people we get requests opportunities,” adds her friend Saran. from aren’t being served,” she says. The two were attracted to what Canada Right now, Lothian has about 25 could offer for their children: a safer people waiting for the pre- and post- home, equality, and a better education. natal programs. Last year, about What jobs the families have found in 60 women were turned away. Canada don’t match their professional “It’s really hard to turn down credentials back home. But they weren’t somebody who’s in extreme crisis predicting an easy start. “Here I have to start and pregnant and starving,” she says. from the first point, from zero,” says Saran. “We’re always over-registered.” Once the man behind a successful That’s why Lothian—who is also the restaurant business in India, Saran’s Lower Mainland representative with husband worked a security job upon arriving Navneet Nanda (left) and her daughter Pihu Sharma (four months old in the picture) with Manpreet Saran (right) are the B.C. Association of Pregnancy in Canada before becoming manager at newcomers to Canada from India. Both women, pregnant when they arrived, found support through Abbotsford’s Punjabi- Outreach Programs (BCAPOP)—started Domino’s Pizza in Abbotsford. Two days language pregnancy outreach programs. But stagnant core funding to these services are denying other women in need from an online fundraising campaign a week, he works a second job managing accessing essential resources, counselling, and education. Photo: Stefania Seccia. last fall with a $20,000 goal. logistics in a warehouse to make ends meet. The move garnered much media It’s never easy starting a new life These services represent a beacon of Outreach programs at risk attention, and Lothian said she was pleased from scratch. But Saran and Nanda’s support for vulnerable mothers who feel Across B.C., pregnancy outreach with the support. But when the deadline first months here would have been isolated, don’t know how to navigate the programs intend to serve at-risk pregnant came, only 42 per cent was fundraised, even more difficult had they not system, or have no other supports. women. In many cases, the “at-risk” with $8,490 from 47 contributors. been made aware of the resources But not everyone in their situation— designation means expectant mothers are “It’s really not enough to open up available to pregnant women in B.C. hard as it may be—is fortunate enough young, homeless, running from abuse, or seats for people,” she says. “We’re “If nobody told me there is a special to receive even minimal supports. grappling with addiction. Or, like Saran constantly in this situation where program for pregnant ladies and their Stagnant core funding for pregnancy and Nanda, they’re new immigrants we’re doing the best we can.” kids,” Saran says, “Then I don’t know.” outreach services from regional or refugees whose native language Through services delivered at the local and federal health authorities have isn’t English and who are struggling to temple for Punjabi-speaking women necessitated cuts to programming make their way in their new homes. looking for pre- and post-natal guidance, despite a growing need for services. In addition to food vouchers and Saran and Nanda learned valuable While the cost of living and the counseling, outreach programs provide information. They learned about the population of expectant mothers needing essential services like education, healthcare Canadian economy and about support supports continue to go up, core funding resources, and nutritious lunches. But programs for parents and children alike. hasn’t kept pace. As a result, agencies have the kinds of services depend on what the Despite the considerable challenges had to get by with fewer staff members to organizations providing them can afford. k While demand for preganancy they’ve faced in settling into life in a reach out to at-risk mothers, less valuable Abbotsford Community Services outreach services continues to new country, the two friends are some food vouchers, and longer waiting lists. runs its Best for Babies program, grow in B.C., funding hasn't kept of the lucky few expecting mothers able Program operators across the board say which is the only group to provide pace. Photos: Jackie Dives. to access the pre-and post-natal services the ability to serve their communities English and Punjabi resources. near their homes in Abbotsford. has been drastically severed. As with the pre- and post-natal The services include food vouchers, And as more vulnerable mothers come programs across the province, they counseling, connection to a myriad of forward to seek pregnancy services, the receive a mix of funding from regional resources, and an opportunity to meet other funding isn’t there to support them. health authorities, donations, and the mothers and families in the same situation. Public Health Agency of Canada.

18 Change that Works MegaphoneMagazine.com 19 Local News Writing Workshop The five-year plan : Chapter One

By James Witwicki

I could title this piece “My Five Year Plan,” but this story covers a longer period of time than that, and I never really had a plan. I should begin with the death of my wife, Sandra, in New Westminster in June 2009. After her death I made two hasty decisions: to quit working in construction and to resume using alcohol and drugs. These decisions led me into a rambling spiral by which I made my way to the Downtown Eastside on the eve of the Winter Olympics. I was homeless, grieving, As for Hope in Shadows, while still at mentally ill, and without my wife. the shelter I took a photo which became a After bouncing around at a few different top ­40 photo in the calendar contest. The shelters I crash-landed at a place I felt subsequent awards ceremony, exhibit and was perfect—the First United Church calendar production helped to ground Fortunately, after a visit to St. Paul's emergency shelter at Hastings and Gore. My me during an otherwise chaotic time. Hospital emergency, the good folks at Isolation grows ‘We try to find solutions’ m “There hasn’t been an increase in first memory of First U. was walking into a The calendar project was also my entree Strathcona Mental Health took action. Margaret Morrison is on the BCAPOP’s Nanda and Saran’s husbands continue [pregnancy outreach] funding to be cavernous room which had once been the to [Megaphone executive director] Sean As I write, I have been clean and sober board of directors as the Vancouver Island to work full-time as they stay home with able to respond more immediately to sanctuary, stuffed now with bunk beds. Condon, [former Megaphone editor] for three years. I am wired in to the representative. She is the executive director their children. If they hadn’t heard of the needs presented,” says Margaret Exhausted after a day of aimless Kevin Hollett, [former Megaphone Strathcona Mental Health team. I am of the Westcoast Community Resources the Best for Babies outreach programs Morrison, executive director of the wandering, I snagged an upper writing workshop coordinator] Daniel sitting in a fabulous apartment managed Society. That group, headquartered in through their temple, they would feel more Westcoast Community Resources bunk and flopped backwards into Zomparelli, and the team at Megaphone. by the cream of the crop at PHS. I have Ucluelet, serves the region encompassing detached from the community, they say. Society. Photo: Jackie Dives. a deep and dreamless sleep. My poetry experienced a renaissance. two of my three winning Hope in Shadows Tofino, Ucluelet and five First Nation bands Best for Babies offered a better I awoke more than eight hours later With the 2011 Hope in Shadows calendar photos on my walls. I have become an part of the Nuu-chah-nulth community. understanding of how to raise their more than a little surprised. Here I was in hand, I made a number of forays into active member of the Thursdays Writing “One challenge faced on Vancouver Island children in a new country. The among a group of more than 200 snoring, interesting Gastown shops. On one of these Collective, which Mariner directed me to. is that there are many other programs program also connected them to other coughing, sneezing, farting humanoids, visits I struck gold at a stunning, second­ I will have four poems in publication located in communities that no longer women in the same situation. yet I had slept like a baby. This was not storey plant store on Cambie Street called by June—one in the 2015 Voices of the have birthing options close by,” she says. In order to keep the services going, a singular experience. I stayed there and the Olla Urban Flower Project. The brilliant Street and three in Thursdays Writing Plus, the programs across the area suffer pregnancy service operators across slept like that for over seven months. young proprietor took an interest in the Collective’s Voice to Voice project book. from the same issues as far as growing B.C. have approached their new, During this time I encountered many calendar, took an interest in my poetry and I have reawakened my Christian population needs versus stagnant funding austere realities differently. The money angels and a few demons. Me, I was (in a limited way) took an interest in me. faith and have joined a local church. to meet them, according to Morrison. raised from the Burnaby Family Life also shifting between the two forms, As my wife had been a devoted plant and More can be said—much more— “There hasn’t been an increase in funding fundraiser, for example, is making depending on how I had altered my flower person, this beautiful shop awakened about the time in between. to be able to respond more immediately some difference, Lisa Lothian says. consciousness and the current status pleasant memories while providing a For now, I imagine myself in 2010 to the needs presented,” she adds. “Hopefully we can continue to find ways of my grief and mental illness. respite from the city below. I visited as a boat adrift with no anchor and “Sometimes health policy doesn’t to find extra funds,” she says, “so we don’t I left First U. at the start of October frequently over the next two years, often few moorings, but because of people immediately address what you see, then have all these people waiting for service.” 2010, moving into an SRO in Gastown, next with new poetry in Megaphone magazine. mentioned here; because of others that that time lags between official response Bernice Way, children and family door to someone I had met at the shelter My poem, “I See Excellence,” which are not mentioned; because of my faith to something. So outreach programs program coordinator with Aldergrove who was, and still is, a good friend. appeared in the 2012 edition of Voices in Jesus (and His faith in me), I now are really creative in ways to address Neighbourhood services, echoes Lothian’s The project manager at the SRO was of the Street, was inspired by Olla’s imagine myself at anchor and at rest. the need they see immediately.” sentiments. She often has up to 30 at-risk a young father and poet working with owner, by Kevin at Megaphone, and Some other major challenges for at- pregnant women on her program’s wait list. the Portland Hotel Society. His name is by Mariner at PHS. As I write this I am James Witwicki has lived in the Downtown risk expectant mothers is the feeling “We have a really hard time seeing Mariner Janes. Mariner became a friend to looking at a big, gorgeous peace lily, Eastside for six years, during which of isolation due to geography. Many anybody go without support,” Way says. “As me (when I wasn't freaking out over trivial which the shop donated to my cause. time he experienced profound grief and expectant mothers are living far from much as there’s a growing population, we issues) and took the first steps towards By mid-2012,­ I had stopped using incredible transformation. He has been families, or they don’t have the means to try to find solutions so that they can have getting help for my mental illness. drugs and alcohol, but also stopped writing for Megaphone since 2011. His access private support services, leaving some—even if it’s just phone support.” Around this time, I began submitting visiting the flower shop, stopped my latest poetry appears in 2015’s Voices of them feeling alone and disenfranchised. poetry to Megaphone magazine. Mariner frenetic wanderings, and stopped the Street and the Voice to Voice project “Island-wide, I think that with the patiently listened to my ramblings and leaving my 12' x 12' room. book from Thursdays Writing Collective exception of some of the programs located encouraged me with my poetry and That year, I shot a photo looking out (ThursdaysWritingCollective.com). He in larger urban centres, we pretty well all with my work with Hope in Shadows. through my partially closed venetian blinds. is helping launch the Thursdays book identify our clientele as being high risk,” I was delighted, much later, to learn The photo won in the contest and appeared in mid-June and is a featured reader at Morrison says. “They struggle with socio- that he had published his own book in the 2013 Voices of the Street, but is a Megaphone's Voices of the Street launch May economic challenges and isolation.” of poetry, The Monument Cycles. reflection of how isolated I had become. 7. Photo of the peace lily: Rufino / flickr.

20 Change that Works MegaphoneMagazine.com 21 Cover Story

a hidden hobby as a huge part of who From a Victoria roller we are. A few star players have managed derby champ, notes on the to make a living off it, but the majority Rules of the Game: transformative potential of skaters work like everyone else. Roller Derby 101 In a small, social-justice oriented of backwards hip checks place like Victoria, the derby, activist, • A roller derby game, or bout, and other alternative communities, like consists of two 30-minute halves. Story by Quinn MacDonald burlesque and punk, tend to overlap. Those halves are broken down Photos by TJ Chase into segments called “jams” that Activating the inner rebel last a maximum of two minutes. Roller derby started in Victoria in • Each team fields a jammer, who It’s only 10 minutes until the Eves of 2006. The Eves of Destruction derby wears the star and can score points. Destruction A-Team opens their 2015 season league currently has 69 active skaters. There are also four blockers, who against Port Angeles, and the skaters are Eves is made up of two house teams, try to stop the opposing team’s kneeling in a circle holding hands. They’re the Margarita Villains and the Belles jammer while helping their own. not about to recite the Lord’s Prayer and of the Brawl, along with a rookie team, • Blockers must stay within a certain there is no one standing above them giving the Hard Cores. The A-Team consists distance of each other to maintain a well-worn inspirational talk. Instead, of the top 20 skaters in the league. the “pack,” and get penalties for I play on two teams, one as a co-captain, Insisting on body autonomy But if that’s what you’re looking they look straight ahead, or at the person “I think derby attracts strong women that breaking it or blocking the jammer and I coach a third. I’m also on the media, The feminist emphasis on the for, modern derby isn’t for you. to their left, as they explain why they’re don't take life or injustices lying down,” says outside of the engagement zone. league development, and inter-league power of the female body plays an The physical hits are real, though, along grateful to share the track with them today. longtime Eves skater Jacqueline LeMaistre, • A jammer can only begin to score rep committees. I help manage social obvious role in the sport, along with with the athleticism and strength that The list includes physical skills (speed, a.k.a Jack Widow. “It doesn't matter if points, one for each opposing player media accounts and volunteer for bouts the insistence on bodily autonomy. goes into taking and avoiding them. backwards hip checks), mental ability you're outgoing or not. I think in one way they pass, once they complete their and fundraising events. Burnout is a real When I joined girls’ hockey, I was Unlike most sporting options for women (track awareness, zen), and personality or another we all have an inner rebel that initial pass through the pack. risk and many of us wouldn’t be able to not allowed to use the hitting skills I after high school or university, you can be (encouragement, after-party stamina). in our own way screams out for our own • The jammer who gets through keep it up without the offers of help and learned from the boys for fear of injury relatively new to the sport and still take a At the end they loudly cheer, “I pity the rights, and the rights of those around us.” the pack first legally is designated reminders of self-care that have a long (or whatever), and there is still no hitting crack at the many opportunities to improve foo!” before skating out onto the track. It also has a lot to do with the roller derby the “lead jammer,” and can history in feminist and activist traditions. in women’s hockey at any level. and to aim higher with every season. To say that roller derby changed my life mentality of not only accepting others, but call off the jam at any point by As a feminist sport, derby is also In roller derby, however, we throw our Working to make travel teams, going WFTDA would be an understatement. Through it also celebrating differences. Derby gives you touching their hips repeatedly. intersectional. Skaters come from many bodies into one another at full speed. (Women’s Flat Track Derby Association, I got a job, found my roommate, met my an instant support group, which comes in • Penalties last for 30 seconds. different backgrounds of class, race, We congratulate our teammates and the governing body of high-level derby), boyfriend, and fell into many amazing handy when you’re involved in other causes. When there is only one jammer on and gender. Differently abled people are our opponents on particularly deadly moving up in WFTDA, national teams and friendships. I knew I had to try it when I “What I know is that derby folks aren't the track it’s called a “power jam.” encouraged to join the community in hits even as we peel those bodies off the world cup—these are all options. heard it was happening in my hometown weirded out or freaked out by my work, any way they can. And, like feminism, the floor and eagerly anticipate the Inside derby, you’ll find a lot of skaters of Port Alberni five years ago. I grew and I generally trust that people are there are endless interpretations of bruises we will proudly display. who played other sports when they were up playing hockey, but didn’t pursue it not judgemental,” says Kim Toombs, or what derby and derby culture mean. The There are rules, of course—many, younger, which no longer offer them after high school. And I missed having Toombstone, a new skater who works at revival, we’ve literally done everything governance structures within leagues many rules. Like other sports, you can’t any competitive options. You’ll also find a competitive physical sport in my life. AIDS Vancouver Island and has a long ourselves. A league of our size requires are mostly horizontal and always fluid. trip, elbow, or kick another skater. loads of people who have never played I had seen Whip It and worried about history in social justice, organizing, a lot of organization, so just showing up Support for each other is intrinsically There are illegal hitting zones and other a team sport in their life. And it’s so having to skate on a bank track (most and harm reduction. “People [in the to skate isn’t really an option. We have a tied to accountability to the league. specifics. Incredulous people, mainly exciting to watch these skaters grow and roller derby is flat track), but other than derby community] seem to be wiser board and write policies, while committees I would be lying if I said there wasn’t any men, often ask, “Do you guys punch develop their voices and confidence. that I really didn’t know what to expect. and more experienced in actual life.” find venues, book skating times, coach drama, but we try to work things out and each other? Do you still fight?” with Of course, not everyone in roller Media coverage makes much of the and develop training regimes, arrange communicate to the best of our abilities barely contained glee in their eyes. derby belongs to an alternative group, “double lives” of derby players (based on Do-it-yourself tenancity games with other teams, do merchandise in a conscious way I haven’t experienced Those kinds of questions suggest is an activist, or identifies as feminist. our widespread use of alter-ego derby The DIY aspect of feminist culture is a and media—everything that makes the in many other contexts. We recognize that a widespread problem: our society But the overall culture means that names), but for most of us, it’s not so much fundamental part of roller derby. Since its league run is done by volunteers. we are all volunteers building this sport. loves to pit women against each other. everyone will be accepted—as long

22 Change that Works MegaphoneMagazine.com 23 24 25 Cover Story Arts Feature

into her first season that she loved derby because it made her feel strong and powerful,” says Milne, “which, for a 13-year old who hated gym class, was no small feat.” Everyone has a Mikayla is entering her fourth season, and as Astrid (also not a gym-class fan) enters her second, Milne sees her benefitting in the same way. For Milne, derby also gave her a right to culture community apart from family and work. “As a single parent for over 12 years, I've had my own struggles with trauma, Super Cool Tuesdays poverty, and social isolation,” says Milne. connects inner-city After nursing school, she found work residents with art that fulfills her passion for social justice as the Hepatitis C program coordinator and Story and photos by Emi Sasagawa nurse clinician at the Cool Aid Community Health Centre. But she hadn't found a social It’s 5:30 p.m. on a cloudy Tuesday support network until she started playing afternoon. A small crowd waits in line roller derby with the Eves. She finds the outside a glass storefront at the corner as they bring the same attitude. The next generation community’s varied experiences enriching of East Hastings and Carrall Streets. Intolerance, racism, sexism, I coach the junior team, the Rotten and powerful. “For many of us, it is a soft Inside, three women race back and forth, transphobia—these things are not accepted. Apples. While I often joke that the most place to land.” setting up tables, moving chairs around And instead of shutting people out, the rewarding part is watching some of and scattering a range of art materials community has the expertise and lived them develop and refine their feminist ‘We are making this sport’ throughout the room. The people outside experience necessary to break down viewpoints on Facebook, seeing them work In the last few years, a lot of people are residents of Vancouver’s Downtown popular misconceptions about what it together on the track and those moments have stopped using derby names, stopped Eastside and they are here to engage in art. means to be a female-identified athlete. where everything finally clicks are more wearing fishnets and face paint, and have This is Super Cool Tuesdays—a drop- rewarding than my own victories. taken off-skates training to a new level. in speaker series that brings together Politicizing gender Just as there are all types in adult derby, A lot of this has to do with a large artists and members of the DTES “Roller derby has no rival,” says Saragorn, the same is true with junior skaters, who group of women seriously finding their community to talk about what art is and or Gorn, who started her derby career are not only allowed to be themselves, but athletic niche. But I hear a lot of talk how it’s made. SFU Woodward’s Vancity three years ago in Kingston, Ontario. “I encouraged to be whoever they want. And about ways to make the sport more Office of Community Engagement works can’t think of any other sport where age, they can even try out new identities. “legitimate,” and I find that troubling. in partnership with the Drug Users body type, background, ability, and sexual We have cos play enthusiasts who’ve Coming from hockey, which takes Resource Centre to run the program. preference or sexual identity have no developed full character personas itself far too seriously, the fun of roller The art-focused talks inspire participants bearing on your participation and how you on the track, and others who have derby was an amazing breath of fresh to connect with each other and, in the will be treated on or off the track. Joining changed their derby names multiple air. Some people think that we have process, touch upon a range of social derby felt like coming home to a place I’d times to reflect their growing minds. to get rid of what makes the sport fun and political concerns. People share never been before, only dreamed of.” We encourage them to accept their bodies and different for people to “take us stories about what it’s like to be an From talking to making Derby is a positive space where you’ll and use their size to their advantage. The seriously,” but this is a false dichotomy. immigrant in a new country and the It’s 5:45 p.m. and the crowd is getting m Steve paints a canvas often see boundaries challenged, pushed, body-positive mindset leads to some pretty Fans and skaters love the camp and experience of dropping out of college. bigger. A woman dressed in a grey touque in the Interurban gallery. and broken down, especially around fantastic outfits, or “boutfits.” The roller spectacle of the sport and it gets people “It’s basically a de-schooled conversation and a black coat talks excitedly about what gender identity and performance. derby track is perhaps one place in a young in the door where they can fully see and that is based on honest questions the she is going to make today. She peeks inside Gorn identifes as gender neutral. girl’s life where slut shaming of any form is appreciate the skill and sportsmanship. participants have about art,” says Andrea and spots a drawing she made hanging on a They played a major role in developing not only forbidden, but it just doesn’t occur. The Eves know how blessed we are to Creamer, who organizes the event. clothesline. It’s the face of a tiger, coloured a progressive gender policy for their old Likewise with sexuality and gender have so many fans in Victoria, and we Creamer was a visual arts student at SFU in blue and orange with a cutout mouth, so league and implementing one for the Eves. identity, the team is gender-inclusive, won’t keep them by trying to compete when she first became involved with the she can stick her tongue out, she explains. In the beginning, participants were Equality movements in other sports and if a skater shows up with a different with hockey. We are making this sport, project. Since then, she’s brought in nearly In February, Super Cool Tuesdays hesitant to jump into the fray. “There were often place a team member’s sexuality name and preferred pronoun, it’s a non- and we can make it however we want. 40 local and visiting artists to share their launched a new series where participants folks sitting down with an abundance or gender identity in the backseat to issue for both skaters and coaches. The alt-culture traditions that experiences at Super Cool Tuesdays. made art instead of just talking about of materials but they didn’t know what their performance. A common trope in Our junior team is small compared to spawned modern derby were all about Robyn Livingstone is one of the longest- it. “This is huge,” says Livingstone. to do,” Creamer explains. “There were professional sports is that sexuality or some others, but the skaters are dedicated breaking down binaries and shaking standing Super Cool Tuesdays participants. “We are actually doing art, as artists. all these options and all this freedom, gender identity doesn’t matter if the player and we even have a few mother-daughter up the establishment, so it would be a He attended the first gathering nearly It’s totally wild and exciting.” but they couldn’t enter that freedom can still help the team win. Derby culture combos in the league. Rozalyn Milne, aka shame if it now fell into those traps. four years ago, and hasn’t missed one Over six weeks, Tin Can Studio—a mobile because it’s not their reality.” works a different way. The sport is seen as InterFeaR’N, recently passed fresh meat (a To have a group of 69 primarily event since. “It’s always exciting to project space housed in a vintage 18-foot But as the series progressed, participants secondary to the human behind it. So in training program for new skaters) and is the female-identified individuals who talk about art,” says Livingstone. “[The Streamline trailer—partnered with Super started to feel more comfortable— derby, there’s more emphasis placed on league’s current treasurer. Her daughters actively love and support one another program] has made me feel more involved Cool Tuesdays to bring art making to volunteering ideas, asking questions about supporting skaters to be the best versions Mikayla (Tum’blurr), 15, and Astrid is still quite revolutionary, especially in the art world. I like to go to gallery the DTES. Artists Caroline Ballhorn and process, and requesting materials. What of themselves—on and off the track. (Disastridous) 13, skate with the Apples. when you place that love inside of what openings, talk to people and blend in.” Jenny Lee Craig, co-creators of the studio, really helped this shift in attitude, says Derby isn’t perfect, however. “There As a single parent, Milne tries to share looks like the aggressive and violent The event takes place at the Interurban led workshops for members of the DTES Ballhorn, was to not impose a theme. are still people who can’t or won’t play her values on gender, sexuality, race, and sport typical of a patriarchal society. Gallery, only two blocks away from the SFU community. Together, they explored a “We didn’t want to make people for legitimate reasons,” says Gorn. social justice with her children, so the This love makes us all more powerful, Woodward’s Building. Super Cool Tuesdays variety of materials, processes and play. work along any lines. We wanted to get “There are many transgender skaters inclusive culture of derby was an obvious and our communities stronger. This spring, could be held at SFU, Creamer notes, but “The first week that we came in with participants to make what they wanted who are not viewed as ‘woman enough’ fit as her daughters reached adolescence. we will be back in the circle, ready to talk the institution is still a barrier for many the trailer, we parked it in the middle of to make, on their own terms,” she says. by WFTDA.” The WFTDA policy, which She wanted to offset negative media each other up before another great game. of the participants. Located across the the gallery and we talked about the work relies on hormone levels from a healthcare images by showing them how women street from Pigeon Park, where Vancouver’s we’ve done in the past,” says Ballhorn. provider, has been contentious. Some and athletes come in all different downtown ends and the DTES begins, “The next week we asked the participants leagues who participate at that level choose shapes and sizes and hair colours. the Interurban acts as a bridge between what they were excited to see happening, to ignore it in favour of their own rule. “My oldest said to me a few months the community and the institution. what art they wanted to make.”

26 Change that Works MegaphoneMagazine.com 27 Arts Feature May Arts Calendar

“It was like my second childhood” It’s now 6 p.m. The doors of the What’s on Interurban Gallery have just opened. A group of 10 people walk in and choose where they want to sit. Scattered across the gallery are stations for embroidery, Andy Dixon: Canadiana // Opens Thursday, painting, drawing and silk-screening. May 14, 6-9pm (show runs to June 13) // Initial Earl Greyeyes doesn’t sit anywhere. Gallery (2339 Granville Street) // Vancouver Instead, he walks up to Ballhorn. He has something he wants to tell her. “I think Andy’s Dixon’s art is everywhere in Vancouver. you finally got through to the people,” he The prolific musician, video artist, visual artist, says. Greyeyes has been coming to Super and designer is a longstanding architect of the Cool Tuesdays for two years, but it wasn’t city’s independent cultural communities. Those until recently that he “really felt it.” who remember‘90s punk legends d.b.s., the “Last week when I was painting, it music of The Red Light Sting, Secret Mommy, was like my second childhood. I felt and the work of Ache Records know Dixon’s subversive punk irreverence. His work has so good,” he recalls. “I went home appeared at Fuse at the Vancouver Art Gallery, smiling. I put the painting up on on Juno-award nominated album cover artwork, my wall. It made me so happy.” and on Four Winds’ craft beer bottles. Dixon’s Ballhorn says this edition of the new artwork will be featured in a solo exhibition series has been an opportunity for some at Initial Gallery, where he samples and remixes participants to experience art again. “There high- and low-brow Canadian iconography to are people who have come in who used to interrogate the stratification of Canadian art do art before,” he says. “This is a chance historical analysis. The show features paintings to reconnect with their creativity.” like “Group of Seven,” pictured here. Across the gallery from Greyeyes, Livingstone examines the print he’s made once again—nine horizontal lines “Last week when I was painting, in turquoise running across a square- shaped piece of cloth. “Art is part of it was like my second childhood. life,” says Livingstone. “You do art every day, even if you don’t realize it.” I felt so good.” Joel Plaskett and the Emergency // Thursday, Tracks // Sunday to Tuesday, May 10-12 Ryan Adams // Tuesday, May 26 // Royal The six-week edition of the series May 7, 7pm // Alix Goolden Performance Hall // Various locations: Stanley Park, the Theatre (805 Broughton Street), doors 7pm, culminated in a gallery exhibition in early (907 Pandora Avenue) // Advance tickets Ukrainian Hall, Roundhouse Community show 8pm // Tickets $42.50 - $59.50 // Victoria April. A variety of works were on display, Earl Greyeyes, Super Cool Tuesdays participant $26.50 // Victoria Arts and Recreation Centre // Vancouver from a painting of an eagle to a giant The alt-country heartbreaker from Jacksonville, toaster oven. Livingstone’s print hung from The maritime musical jack-of-all trades (blues! Tracks is an annual symposium for Indigenous North Carolina is no stranger to whiskey- a clothesline, exactly where he’d left it. Folk! Rock! R & B! Country!) joins us on the and settler/immigrant artists, thinkers and drenched melancholy and infinite sadness. west coast with longtime collaborators the educators. Now celebrating its seventh year, The full-time songwriter, sometime-author’s Emergency and for a performance at one the conference brings together people doing portfolio features a collection of poems aptly of Victoria’s most glorious venues. The Alix creative, community-engaged work through titled Infinity Blues and a book of poems and Goolden Performance Hall, formerly a church performance, screenings, and plenary short stories called Hello Sunshine. These days, sanctuary, is named in honour of one of the discussion. The aim: explore what it means he’s touring in support of his latest self-titled Victoria Conservatory of Music’s founders. The to create meaningful, inclusive art and build studio album, released just three months vaulted ceilings, iron railings, and stained glass connection across social divides in the shadow before he publicly announced his divorce from “We all have the right to experience art” windows make for a gorgeous place to take in of colonialism. Tracks starts in Vancouver on hollywood celebrity Mandy Moore. You can By providing a safe, open space where a concert. Nova Scotian singer-songwriter Mo Sunday, May 10 and concludes in Enderby, already predict where this is going. participants can experience, question, and Kenney opens. B.C. from May 13-15. Registration and info: examine art works and practices, Creamer hopes TracksSymposium.com. Poetry is Dead’s 5th Anniversary Show // that Super Cool Tuesdays is making art more Arrival: a Special Public Lecture // Friday, Thursday, May 28, 8pm // The Cultch accessible to the DTES community. “Sometimes May 8 // Djavad Mowafaghian World Art Peter Brotzmann // Tuesday, May 19 // (1895 Venables Street) // Tickets $22 (adults); art can feel like a non-invitation,” she explains. Centre, SFU Woodard’s (149 West Hastings The Copper Owl (1900 Douglas Street) // $19 (students) // Vancouver “But everyone has a right to culture. We all have Street) 7-9pm // Free // Vancouver Tickets $15 (available online via Eventbrite) the right to attend, see and experience art.” // Victoria Five years ago Daniel Zomparelli, author of In the last few years, she’s noticed a positive In a special public lecture co-presented by Davie Street Translations and the founder change. Participants have started interacting SFU’s Writer-in-Residence program and SFU’s The Fifty Fifty Arts Collective and CFUV (UVic’s of Megaphone’s creative writing workshop with art outside of Super Cool Tuesdays. “They Vancity Office of Community engagement, campus radio station) co-present a special solo program, set out to do the impossible: a) start a attend openings and events at SFU. Now they renowned local authors Madeleine Thien (Dogs show by Peter Brotzmann, one of the most poetry magazine at a time when digital matter know you don’t have to have a degree in art at the Perimeter, Certainty, Simple Recipes) important, uncompromising fixtures in free jazz seemed to matter the most; and b) re-imagine what poetry could mean to a younger, critically- to appreciate or to talk about it,” she adds. and Rawi Hage (Carnival, Cockroach, De Niro’s since the 1960s. Known as the father of pre- engaged community of writers and readers. Ballhorn and Craig hope participants like Game) interrogate a recurrent theme in both electric heavy metal, Brotzmann’s profilic work as a visual artist is shown in galleries worldwide He accomplished both. And now Poetry is Greyeyes and Livingstone will continue of their work: the evolving, expanding, nature and on the covers of his albums. “[He] still Dead celebrates its fifth anniversary with the to make art long after the series ends. of arrival, captured marvelously in the words possesses the sandblasting tone that made his launch of its new issue on youth culture. The “Creativity can be a way for people to deal of Italo Calvino: “But how have I managed to early LPs and performances the stuff of legend,” night features readings and performances by with some of the bigger societal pressures,” arrive, when I have not yet left?” Thien and Hage Pitchfork magazine once said. It's like they know. contributors to the current and previous issues, says Ballhorn. “It can allow people to reflect examine arrival through essay, film, and fiction, articulating the malleable, shifting borders including local comedians. Guest editor and on those pressures in a healthy way.” between the forms. Arsenal Pulp Press-er Cynara Geisler hosts with Zomparelli. Tickets include a one-year subsciption to the magazine. m Earl (left) and Ally (right) proudly display a print on fabric.

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