) FREE - donations acceoted. -M

NEWSLETTER' , December 2,1996

401 Main Street, V6A 217, ; (604) 665-2220 w Welcome to the People's Republic of the

3 1 I $ -,I FS While the NPA tide was sweeping over most of 10 per cent of the adult population of the D.E. Vancouver, the barricades were going up in the found their way to a polling booth - leaving it to Downtown Eastside. the vote-happy burghers of Kerrisdale to rule the Only figuratively, of course. But the streets roost. around Main and Hastings were one of the few For the rest of the Greater Downtown Eastside safe places to be on election day if you wanted to Co-Prosperity Sphere, the results were not as tear up your membership card in the Philip Owen solid, but still had less NPA influence than most fan club. other parts of the city. The heart of the Downtown Eastside beats in The poll west of Carnbie, which takes in most of Poll 9 on the city's voting map. And Poll 9, as the the yuppies of Gastown and Yaletown, was split stats on the centre page show, was solid COPE - more or less 50-50 between NPA and COPE. mayor, council, school board and park board. (Downtown Eastsiders who live in that poll had to As well, the ward system was strongly supported. travel all the way in the rain to the downtown The only downer in the numbers (other than that library to vote - which undoubtedly cut the COPE anybody would even consider voting NPA in this vote.) neighborhood) is the low voter turnout. Less than The Strathcona polls had a strong COPE showing too, but the NPA candidates with Asian surnames topped the list. The only other comparable area to the D.E. out of 150 polls citywide was in the Red Belt along Commercial Drive in Grandview-Woodlands. In fact, if we had a ward system, the D.E. would be in a ward with Strathcona and Grandview- Woodlands. Judging by the results of the election, our representative would NOT be from NPA. (Speaking of wards and Gastown yuppies, Mike McCoy and Lynn Bryson were part of an NPA front group that campaigned against wards. They like things the way they are. That way, their $200,000-plus condos on Powell will keep increasing in value every year.) It's no surprise that the D.E. would support COPE. Just think of fighters like Bruce Eriksen, , , Jim Green and Sue Harris. COPE is far from perfect. It's not doing enough to attract idealistic youth with environmental concerns into the political system; it was weak on the vegas-stfie casino that would have destroyed our neighbourhood; it sometimes looks rigid and old-time lefty. But face it; COPE is the party that has done the most to counter the old Skid Road image and build our neighborhood as a residential community. That's why these rule-or-ruin splinter parties are so destructive. You can see how many votes they drained off COPE, even in the Downtown Eastside. In some other polls, they really split the left vote and let NPA walk in. The union-bashing Green Party got 14,000 votes for their candidates, and the weird left-right Rankin Revenge Party (a.k.a. VOICE) pulled in thousands more. Get a grip people - if we stay split, the right-wing will keep their hold on City Hall. Murray Petralia 3. try colouring in the little long circles. He was so good at it that I let him continue. Then we chose the Green Party candidates. We kept counting "Okay five more here.. .only three more here." Then we chose COPE or independent females with interesting names. It took a long time. The theatre was cold. The questions on the back weren't too. bad but I wasn't expecting as many options. We couldn't help chuckling about it all. Jenny Kwan had accompanied in some seniors. She was hovering around the polling booths. I was We'll Get Screwed Anyway thinking that she must be appalled at our laughing Voting, in the civic elections on November 16th: lack of respect for the electoral system. Then I was a lonely, die-hard waste of time. I figured I turned around and saw that most of the better vote so that I wouldn't feel bad when I unoccupied registerers were looking at us. I said, complained afterwards. I feel bad anyway. The "Oh, no, you're not going to say my vote is invalid reason people around her don't vote is not so because I let a minor mark it?" They laughed and much apathy, as disillusion. one young fellow said "It won't matter anyway." I It was about three o'clock that Saturday thought well that's biased or unbiased depending afternoon when we made our way to the Carnegie on how you look at it. Community Centre. My little boy, Demitri, was So we put the card into a machine that looked curious to knowwhatwting was about. I was like a high-tech garbage can. Then we took a walk hoping there wouldn't be a long line-up. The around the building. I asked people I knew, along building, in general, was quite empty, but the the way, if they had voted. Time and time again I theatre was even emptier. It reminded me of a hall got answers like "What's the point? we'llcget where the show has been canceled. There were screwed anyway." more workers waiting to register people that there The only person who was enthusiastic about the were voters. I had my election card and ID ready election was Irene Schmidt. She was looking but they just asked me my name, ticked it off and forward to the Green Party party that night. At gave me huge card with long lists of names and first, I was happy to hear that she was running for questions on the back. It was like an exam. My the Greens in another election, but then I thought son, who's in grade one, said he was sixteen... they "Oh, no, 1'11 have to vote again." laughed and said, "Sorry, you're still too young." Tony came out of the kitchen and asked "Did Of course, there wasn't anything for kids to do you vote for me?" I said, "yeah, twice." Demitri while waiting so Demitri came with me to the really wanted to go back and tell them we made a partially-partitioned polling cubicle. I remembered mistake because he knew we hadn't seen Tony's when they used to hand white sheets. I looked over name. the paper, then went down the first list. Demitri I was shocked and dismayed at the election wanted to vote for Champ the Chimp or Lulu or results. Not one of the competent people that I had someone like that but I coloured in the circle voted for won. The young registerer was right. My beside Carmella,4Ilevato7sname. I understood that vote made no difference. she was the main opposition for mayor and I like Who, in their right mind, would want to go her name. Otherwise, I knew nothing about her. through that? Then we went down the other columns and picked There must be another way. the names of people we knew. Demitri wanted to Leith Harris One of the least known principles of Machiavelli's philosophy is that he recommended that any evolved, democratic government that is worth its salt, is a government that provides generous funding to the arts. Machiavelli himself lived in Florence under the governance of the Medicis. And the Medicis (the House of Medici) is a name synonymous with artistic patronage. Some social mechanists have figured that welfare is a bribe fiom the rich to keep the less wealthy masses fiom starting and organizing a revolution. (As well as being a bribe to keep them fiom fonning secret societies and the like, against the government.) But artistic funding is even more I NEVER WENT TO SEA Carry Gus broadly encompassing: it pays for projects fiom 1996 artists not on welfare as well. When I was a boy and full of spit, 1 wish we had another Catherine the Great. She I dreamed of going to sea. was an Empress of Russia who spared no expense I wandered the Fraser River docks in sending her envoys of art-shopping emissaries Itching to be free. all over Europe to scoop up as many paintings (money was no object) as they could to fill up the But adolescence came to strike walls of her famous great art gallery - the The courage from my veins, Hermitage. Us artists would love another great And I became land locked 'neath Matron of the Arts!!! Like Catherine! The winsome BC rains. Dean KO A young adult, I made my way PS On the heals of all this. H.G.Wells predicted To places far and wide: in his book the Time Machine (written in 1895) Alberta, Alaska, Whitehorse, The Pas that the Victorian Industrial Revolution would Toronto, the Downtown Eastside. result in an even more profound distinction of the Much older now, I reap the wealth kJppe2and'kowe;'class by the time the 2 1st Of travel's experience. century rolled around. The rich, as a result of I've spent a lifetime striving for overpampering, lost their survivalist skills and A share of common sense. became a docile creature known as the Eloi and But maybe I've outfoxxed myself the poor oppressed working classes, forced to tail For still it stirs in me; all those hours, days and years in the mines and That empty ling'ring void that whatnot, evolved into fearsome creatures know as I never went to sea. the Moorlocks who fed on the Eloi. This isn't so far from the truth today! If you are young and see these words Artistic funding would not only prevent may Beware of squand'ring your prime; Elois frorn becoming Moorlocks but would also Sign on a freighter and go to sea, keep many hiloorlocks at Bay! If only just one time. Bruce Eriksen Place 5.

On November 14 at 11:00 a.m., a Ceremony took place immediately north of Four Comers Community Savings at Main and Hastings, to begin the construction of Bruce Eriksen Place. Bruce Eriksen Place is a social housing project of the Main & Hastings Community Development Society. There will be 35 bachelor suites, including three wheelchair -accessible suites, which are for single people and couples. The suites will range fiom 424 square feet to 545 square feet. Estimated move-in date is spring or summer, 1998. After the sod-turning ceremony, a reception was held at Four Corners Community Savings. Don MacPherson, as one his last official acts as perception of part of Vancouver, formerly known Director of the Carnegie Centre, presented the as skid road, to the Downtown Eastside. "The Main & Hastings Community Development people who live\here, they call it the Downtown Society with a painting Bruce Eriksen had done Eastside," Bruce Eriksen said. for the fence surrounding Carnegie during the In 1980, Bruce was elected to City Council as a renovations of the 1970's. Bruce said he would member of COPE, and was reelected for five touch up the painting, which will hang in the lobby more consecutive terms, retiring in 1993. of the new building, with the help of Richard Eriksen is an artist, woodworker, and gardener as Tetrault. well as fighter for justice. He is a caring man who Along with other residents of the Downtown knows fiom the depths of his being what a person, Eastside, Eriksen formed the Downtown Eastside who wasn't born with a silver spoon, is up against Residents' Association (DERA), and he was in this world. It is fitting that a social housing president of that organization from 1973 to 1980. residence in the Downtown Eastside be named During the 1WO's, DERA won many victories, Bruce Eriksen Place. including a bylaw requiring hotels and rooming Sandy Cameron houses to have sprinkler systems. It also fought for the enforcement of Liquor Control Board Regulations, street safety, more social housing, Remarks on the dedication of the protection for tenants, higher welfare rates, decent Carnegie mural for the new Main and jobs, and the Carnegie Community Centre. In Hastings housing project 1983, a civic award from the City of Vancouver declared that DERA had helped change the Hello friends; I am very pleased and honored to be able to donate this mural on behalf of Carnegie Centre. You know, we've kept this mural ever since Carnegie opened in 1980, hoping for a way to be able to display it so that the community could enjoy it and learn fiom it. Bruce Eriksen painted it as part of the fight the whole community did to get Carnegie. The city wanted to turn the building into a parking lot or a gym for the police. Bruce Eriksen was so important in that fight. In fact, I don't see how we could have done it without him - or Jean Swanson - or Libby Davies - or so many others. Bruce represents that fighting spirit. We need this kind of'housing so badly. I can't think of a better pleasure. Why does it get turned around? Why are way to bling the community together than to we made to feel humiliated because we're dedicate this new housing project in Bruce's name. receiving? We're supposed to feel grateful. We're Thank you and good luck. not supposed to be ai~ogant,but why does the And now I'm going to add something personal. I giver get to be arrogant?" declare the Vancouver election closed. And I "That's where the need for charity comes from: declare Bruce Eriksen the mayor of Vancouver. greed." "People that have the wealth are throwing the Mmgaret Prevost crumbs...They don't want to look greedy, so they * donate to charity." Justice, Not Charity "We need billboards like the racism billboards. Here are the words of low income people on (They would say) 'Don't put down people who are having to accept charity in order to survive. poor."' "To a lot of people who give to charity... it is a "We should raise the welfare rates." good thing. It's sharing... but when you don't have "The government isn't distributing the money anything to eat for yourself, let alone donate, then properly. Banks and corporations get huge tax you see things differently.. .it's humiliating and breaks, and the people are begging for a bag of degrading." food." "It (charity) is better than going hungry." "More jobs, less charity." "Society causes charity. A healthy society has "Justice, not charity." (ELP button) less need for it; a sick society more need for it." Quotations from The Waste of A Nation - Poor "Charity is nice, but power is better." people speak out about charity. A report produced , "I thought that giving was supposed to be a by the End Legislated Poverty Coalition (ELP). b

together a railing that went up and down the Life in a lighthouse stairway. My mother and father could not afford When my parents moved form Victoria BC to to buy a house, and were happy to get a the east end of Vancouver. There the family lighthouse. Some of my fiends could not moved in to a tall white lighthouse. There was my understand my parents because we weren't living brother Morgan and four sisters. My dad made in an ordinary house like them. There were four bedroolns on the top floor for the girls. He benefits, like at night you could see the whole of also made two bedrooms on the main floor for my Vancouver, it was like living in space. Some day I brother and my parents' roorn. Dad also made a hope to return to live in one. cooking arca and a living room too.,, He also put Pauline VANCOUVER POLICE DEPARTMENT

GASTOWN NEIGHBOURIIOOD POLICE OFFICE 8L.L p&5. ~erlhledr ~C/LOPX- COMMUNITY FORUM December 3 1996 6:OOp.m.- 8:OOp.m. Purple Onion Cabaret 15 Water Street

The Vancouver Police Department invites you to attend

a Community Forum at the Purple Onion on December

3 1996. ?'he purpose of this meeting is to facilitate a

\. discussion of ~ublicconcerns and ideas between the

IN THE SPIRIT OF THE ZAPATISTAS ~i,ize:ls and the Policc. Please join us to address crime,

disordcr and public safcly in your com~nunity.

AN OPEN DISCUSSION ABOUT THE IMPACT OF GLOBAL ECONOMIC RESTRUCTURING ON OUR COMMUNITIES, AND ALTERNATIVE POSSIBILITIES WHAT KIND OF DEMOCRACY DO WE WANT? WHAT KIND OF ALTERNATIVES ARE PEOPLE CREATING? PRESENTATIONS, WORKSHOPS, SOCIALEVENING. SATURDAY DECEMBER 7 Britannia hmmunivCentre @l#C#EW*HIC$+~#W##Ip&M#**Q~+#@[email protected]~$~ Registration @ 9:00 am. Cost: Priceless. For More Inlormation Contact Eyes on Mexico: 253-0304 For Free Chlldcare please call 255-8230 by Dec. 4th KIDS CHRISTMAS PARTY

HEY X92L&L

We at Oppenheimer Park are asking again for blankets and coais. -NO boots, pants, shirts, sweaters, underwear, socks, garters, belts, hats, shoes, shorts, ETC. 15 JUST COATS AND BLANKETS. Sunday, Dec. 11:OO 1~30 Anything you have can be given to Steve or - ~arlos,or Steve can pick them up wherever. Carne@e Theatre Thank you for your generosity. 665-2210 Tickets available after Dec. 5 at info desk. f Carncgic membership requjrcd. Correctness, Idealism and Community

point of view is just, true, infallible, in and of itself. The very existence of such concepts, and the staunchness with which they are held, Congratul~onsto Rankin and the VOICE team, precludes discussion, and thus alliance, by to all the hocusy pocusy alternative parties, to maintaining this childish, ridiculous belief that COPE itself, to so-called intellectual, idealistic ideals exist, have importance, can ever be useful in action and debate, really just vituperative name- and of themselves. The obnoxious cries of "I will calling and accusatory invective, failed ideas about not compromise!" and the like, when referring to a the ownership of truth, as if it were a fucking CD whole scheme of existence, are futile, destructive, or something, without which a complete NPA irrational. They become a form of cerebral sweep of municipal government in Vancouver deadness, an arrogance that places the world, the would not have been possible. (The NPA at least rest of the world, at a discount, and artificially doesn't confuse their ideals with some muffin in inflates their own ineffable value. Arrogance, the sky truth, they are quite openly ?e%[, and arrogance raised to the highest degree, so that it victorious.) These important ideals, held ast in supreme, uncompromising grip, which is the only kind of grip to have, according to those who hold such ideals as supreme, since compromise with like individuals, whose ideas might be an iota different, would certainly spell disaster for those who have the true knowledge and the true ideal in looks to themselves like heroism, the arrogance of mind, have made this election a great, a limitless those who will never learn another thing as long as disaster. they live. The spirit of community, which means not Of course, there's almost nothing we can do having every little thing one desires at all times, about anything. Certainly nothing we intend which means learning, learning that one doesn't actually happens, and other things we might have know everythtng, that one doesn't know the best done but did not do might have accomplished thing to do, doesn't know what is to be done in all more, we'll never know, and we'll never know if situations, learning what it means to be fallibly, what we intended was really the best thing we passionately human, has again been strewn aside, could have striven for. and all the steadfastly, if somewhat naively The struggle is made up of little struggles, and idealistic (idealistic in the sense mentioned above) the outcome of those struggles has nothing to do people, people idealistic about themselves, rather with superior analysis, that GOD of the than realistic about themselves and their indoctrinated, self-certain liberals, or with the limitations, are now bewailing the fate of purity of intentions, purity defined as freedom Vancouver, as if it were someone else's fault that from the influence of anyone else or their ideas, a bridges and alliances couldn't be built, because no purity of solitary all-knowing. And compromises, one sees anyone else's just, true, infallible point of or alliances (which word you use depends on how view, which is, of course, impossible, since no willing you are in a given situation to understand I anything as opposed to occupying some look, think and feel so much like me that I don't 9. idealistically god-like misunderstanding) are ever have to listen to them, I know what they think essential, not secondary effects necessary (temporarily) to achieve ground. They are and feel and I will be with them as naturally and essential, especially while the crazed and easily as nature made me capable of being," when, tenifjingly murderous rich feast on the spoils of in fact, community is the opposite, community communities and civilizations everywhere on this occurs everywhere around us and we must always planet, for the strength of any community, unless listen to it and it is never easy. your defmition of community is "all those who Dan Feeney

December 23 Downtown Eastside Women's Centre - 44 East Cordova StTcet Women or Children (up to 12) December 8 Burnaby Gospel Mission 140 Esmond Lifeline Bus Starting at 1.00 Lot between the Voguc and the Rcgal Hotelr- 8:30 - 9:OO December 14 Union Gospel Mission - 616 East Cordova Street - 253-3323 December 24 11:OO am to 6:00 pm Dusk to Dawn Youth Resource 1056 Cornox Street (back entrance off Thurlow & Cornox) December 15 (for youth under 25 years of age) Franciscan Sisters - 385 East Co~dova- 685-9987 Starting at 9:00 pm Starting at 12:OO noon December 24 - 27 December 16 The Dugout - 59 Powell Street - 685-5239 St. hdrew's Westly Church - Quest - Burrard and Nelson own-. D,. 24: 8:30 am to D~~.26: 4~00 am 3:OO (open 72 hours dramin December 17 St. James Church - Quest - 303 East Cordova bv Street December 22 Rccl Appetites Oppenheimer Park (Cordova & Dunlevy) Starting at 1:00 pm Maddeningly going insane again I here I am maddeningly going insane again there you are driving me to the brink, again here I am b wondering all about life again repenting the past hating the present dreading the future In The Dumpster thinking of pills, pills, pills again Dear fellow binners and binnerettes: to resolve a past I must first apologize for my error in spelling my to unravel a present user name in the last issue. It should be to rekindle an interest [email protected]. ca in the future Congrats to our editor Paul Taylor for winning the prestigious Deryck Thomson Award for to reassemble an assembly line comlnunity social planning. Well done Paul. Get of pieces picked apart better soon. by frivolous hands Did you know some clown wants to allow dropped, banged, bumped, bitten, chewed students to be able to sleep in Stanley Park to learn about the outdoors? There are people with no and spat back place to live and aren't allowed to sleep in the onto the beIt of bitterness, again parks and the parks boardewants to do this. Maybe they can sleep under the AIDS memorial. Sounds Anita Stephens like a Hans Christian Anderson plot to me. Speaking of Stanley Park, Mike MacKintosh is the apple to speak about starving the birds out of the park. Why don't sharks eat lawyers? Professional courtesy. Hear about the new country-rap music? It's called TRAPfor short. Speaking of music, I election. All I can say is I was so depressed I took just signed a new year contract with RCA 2 a sleeping pill so I could "COPE" with it. I'm so Recording Company. I get to buy 10 tapes or CDs fed up I'm taking my name off the voters' list. within 2 years. Take care in this cold weather. Best to all. May the United We Can has nothing new to report yet. bins be with you. Although, when I was in there it was very busy. Mr. McBinner Lots of people with their cans and bottles. Mr. McRinner has been slacking off. Too cold for this ps I had to stop riding my bike for a while. The binner. tires were complaining of dizziness. I was going to go into a song and dance about the The 3rd floor display case is not a cafeteria tray. Put a sock in it alreahr!

The neighborhood bad-mouth squad has realif Burnaby and Kerrisdale. hit the jackpot this time - a nice fat headline in the Let's hope this mania for Freedom of Courier branding us as Skid Row once again. Information requests doesn't spread too far, ' That's just the kind of image we don't need when because who knows what tangled webs will be we're trying to fight cutbacks and condos on every revealed? fiont. If someone has a beef with someone else, or two This latest article is another attack by trash artists groups are angling for the same pot of government in the Downtown Eastside against the work that cash, let them duke it out in the neighborhood, and other people do in this neighborhood. convince the community they have right on their There was the CKNW radio series a few weeks side. That's the principled way to handle disputes. ago about some alleged turf wars in the D.E. Then ,Appealing to the outside media, or to big dadd? . the Province launched an investigation, using at City Hall or in Victoria, just brings disrepute freelance dirt-seeker Kimberly-Ann Daum. down on everyone. Now it's the Courier's turn. And speaking of the Courier, just what is their And each time, the media scandalmongers are interest in this neighborhood? After all, they don't assisted by people right in the neighborhood. even circulate here. There's not enough income Some of these tattletales are residents pursuing a being earned in the Downtown Eastside, and their personal grievance, and some are people earning advertisers couldn't care less. their pay here who don't need the services they are But if you live in Kerrisdale, Shaughnessy or criticizing, but do covet those government grants Dunbar, you get the paper delivered free to your that other groups are getting. doorstep. And Alison Applebe, who wrote the They find themselves in bed with poverty article that labels our community skid row, wrote entrepreneur Michael McCarthy, who makes his story after story that slagged D.E. groups during living sending desperately poor people out to sell the big casino battle. the newspaper he owns for him on street corners The Courier has never demonstrated any interest (have you checked the weather lately?) Ironically, in righting wrongs or eliminating injustice in the McCarthy, who promotes the right-wing agenda, D.E. But a nice juicy scandal involving lots of regularly bashes some of the very groups he is squabbling in a low-income neighborhood - now now lining up with in the Courier. that just confirms their opinion of the type of More irony: one of the most vocal critics of other people who live here, and justifies calls for cutting groups is the owner of a private, for-profit programs even more. company in the social service field. Helshe is also And when they can get the people of the director of a registered non-profit society neighborhood to do their dxty work for them, so operating in the D.E. in the same field - a society much the better. whose board includes no resident of the D.E., but Jake Tomaitis rights or economic zones into that big game, into Globalization that great promise of pie while all the time dreaming of one more number one more. Lets or how to fool everyone equally raise a glass of oil and plastic by-products and Countdown to A.P.E.C. proudly shout out, "Trust us, we don't lie." 350 days till shopping Some say a lie is nothing more than an insipid diversion meant to delay the truth. Its like a brain with no thought, a computer with no morality, or a human with no right. Ah but what about the good old days when slaves obeyed their masters and did what they were told. Or what about the time that the word "class" meant more than union dues or night school? Oh those damn good old days when service sector employees were not empty phrases for the working poor. Or remember this, how about the good old days when the phrase "working poor" didn't exist. This week Johnny Come Lately Chretien and W.A.C. Glen Let Them East Stale Cake Clark said that human rights violations were standing in the way of economic progress. Both of our daddies agreed that the best way to stop human rights violations in this or any other country was by letting our brother and sister entrepreneurs have as much freedom as possible. Free trade, Nafta, and now the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation. What a bunch of great deals! What a couple of great guys! The word "Cooperation" has become a co-opted We've heard of whitewashes, smoke screens and and active merchandising term. People like our cover-ups. We know when the bullshits flying and friends W.A.C. Glen and Johnny have taught us so the politicians are lying. We've listened quietly as much. We always thought it meant something else. phrases like friendly fire, collateral damage crowd Boy these guys really care about us, they really control and progressive conservative have entered care?? We never knew that political prisoners our language on need to know basis. would owe so much to Stir and give me yor bucks, We know that "World Class City" really means Mic-mad-cow or yes our very own Bombardi. If one giant casino (Monaco style of course) we'd only figured out before that greed and controlling the whole world on a larger than life avarice were something to let everyone strive for. simulated Expo site. We salute you Canada for selling out again. We Ah Globalization, what an incredibly adaptable salute you BC for helping them do it. Hell Harris word; you can use it to justifL poverty, murder, and Klein have nothing on us we have the APEC prostitution, slavery drugs, crime workfare, conference next November. Lets invite the gentrification and the spread of condoms. An world??? industrialized gambling nightmare staking our Sacco-Vanzetti OMEN:

Join us in remembering women who have been murdered. Refuse to be silent about violence against

> Express your feelings about violence by paintingldecorating a t-shirt. (It is free). Daughters of the Wind will be drumming and there will be refreshments. > Wednesday, December 4. .> 12 noon to 3:00 pm > carnegie Centre, 401 Main St., 3rd floor. 665-3013 The t-shirts will then be displayed at Carnegie and at the YWCA--- - > Join the candle light vigil to remember women who have been murdered in Vancouver and in the Montreal Massacre. - > Friday, December 6. > 5:00 pm. - > Meet at the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre, 44 East Cordova St. We will then go to the Vancouver Art Gallery for the candle light vigil. MEMORIAL FOR WOMEN DECEMBER 6,1996

Remembering the women who have died in the Downtown South, Downtown Core and West End

GATHERING PLACE THEATRE 609 HELMCKEN STREET 4:30 TO 6:00 p.m.

After the Memorial Service we will join the Candlelight Vigil at the Art Gallery

For information or confirmation contact Emily Howard at 665-239 1 ELECTION SUMMARY FOR PRECINCT #900 09 ** P 0 L L LNG** BALLOTS CAST: 649 MEMORY CARD COPY #: 0 Candidate vote percentages based on votes cast for that office MEMORY CARD COUNT #: 1

SCHOOL TRUSTEE 30UNCILLOR TOTAL TOTAL Zarmela ALLEVATO 2 62 Jane BOUEY qel LEHAN 233 Phili OWEN 185 Anne ROBERTS Shane SIMPSON 216 JonatRan B BAKER 4 6 Tracev DRISCOLL rim LOUTS 216 Paul F. WA~SON 3 9 Ruth F~ERMAN Blair PETRIE 213 Kelly E. QUINN Yerrilee ROBSON 211 .Marc- - - - EMERY- - 17 Saae ADVICE 9 Noel HERRON~ - Vina KHAJURIA 210 ~aj;MANG 5 Maya RUSSELL Sean R. McEWEN 209 Zipp The Circus CHIMP 5 Kamla R. RAJ Jamie Lee HAMILTON 209 Ronayd F. McDONALD 5 Stuart RUSH Yichael WALKER 207 Gilbert J.W. BAILEY 4 John CHENG ~rancesWASSERLEIN 207 Gaston GINGRAS 4 Bill S.T. WEN Don LEE 178 Randy Oliver O'GRADY 4 Barbara BUCHANAN Daniel LEE 166 Samantha FOXX 3 Sandv McCORMICK Je~ifer CLARKE 160 FUNDING Dhavide Arjunan ARULIAH 3 Ted ~UNT 136 Nancy A. CHIAVARIO 151 TOTAL Yummy GIRL 3 Ken DENIKE 134 Sordon PRICE 143 Kellee Lynn COLE 3 Bill BROWN 134 Lvnne KENNEDY 143 l iss Jennifer E. DUNNAWAY 3 John R. ROBERTSON 128 ~bnBELLAMY 140 BUZZ 2 Mar Salvino KAMBAS 126 Sam SULLIVAN 129 ,------Jason BENJ 2 Pauy ALEXANDER 125 3eorge J. PUIL 122 METHOD OF ELECTING Pete FISHBURGER 2 Richard LEE 122 Alan HERBERT 109 ICOUNCILORS Michael J. FOSTER . 2 Carol WHITE 103 Valerie JEROME 9 8 TOTAL % Golok Zlf BUDAY 2 Stevhen Edward SAMUEL 99 Frederic BASS 97 248 55.73 Lorna Marie POTTER 1 ~llhnWONG Raymond LEUNG 95 197 44.27 ~amesOCTEAU 1 Marie ANDERSON Ann LIV NGSTON 7 5 Sarah WHITTAM 1 Pat VACCA Connie fomL 69 +------Frank The MOOSE 1 ~laravan der MOLEN SteCowEOy&L~1~ hen F.Y. CHONG 66 l~ixedsystem Michel LeBLOND 1 Howard PRICE 58 Lupo The BUTCHER 1 Darin BASEGGIO Shane LARUE 5 8 TOTAL164 BUGGER 1 Matt MC~RATH 58 56.94% Allison Jane McLENN'AN 1 57 124 43.06 John M. McGOLDRICK 1 55 +------Tony MONTANA 1 53 +------ZAIUS 1 TOTAL Brian Lee BUCHANAN 53 ]proportional system Mr. x 1 Donna MORGAN 248 Sarah J. FARRIS 50 Greg WESTERLUND 1 Ellen WOODSWORTH 243 Lorelei HAWKINS 4 9 TOTAL % Kenneth P. THOMAS 1 Dermot J. FOLEY 236 Sharai MUSTATIA 4 9 159 54.08 Barb E. DOLL 1 Yang SHIN 234 Julia Ann MARKS 4 8 135 45.92 Stuart MAXWELL 0 Anita ROMANIUK 233 Anthony J. RYDER 4 6 Jeff D. NIX 0 Richard SAUNDERS 217 Lani RUSSWURM 44 Eddie FERNANDES 0 Ra' T. SIHOTA 209 Jenny SHAW 42 ~wardsystem Nlcholas PODBREY 0 Gabriel YONG 165 Joseph X 4 1 I A. 'Red Hot PEPPER 0 I Laura L. McDIARMID 135 Manuel A. AZEVEW 3 8 TOTAL Roger Stewart REIMER 0 128 Wendy M. TURNER 3 8 Tamas R. REVOCZI 0 David D. CHES- 126 Gordon T. KENNEDY 3 1 Dylan RYMER 0 Stuart PARKER 123 Harkirpal S. SARA 2 8 +------+ ~irgenT. SCH+UB 0 IPatrick WARREN 123 Mike BELL 2 8 +------+ Christina Louise SHAR 0 Duncan R . WILSON 115 Heather Inglis BARON 25 (Other system I The STAINER 0 IAlan P. FETHERSTONHAUGH 111 Arno D. NEUMANN 2 5 Sebastian TEMPLER 0 107 Joan L. ROWNTREE 2 3 TOTAL The Trash TERMINATOR 0 85 Mike LAWRENCE 23 Pete CHEZANKREME 0 7 0 Maureen G. DAWSON 22 John A. TWEED 0 I~arshahK. BAINS 65 Mike McLEAN 16 Steve WANSLEEBEN 0 Stuart CAMPBELL 61 Guy WERA 16 Tho BUSKERVILLE 0 Edwin Man Kin LEUNG 60 Jeffery D. BERWICK 16 Figgg FREUD 0 IMadan JOSH1 59 gator MCCLUSKIE 15 Ryan S. BIGGE 0 Gary G. CRANE 4 5 Robert Martin McCALLUM 12 INGRID 0 Kevm E. McLAUGHLIN 4 1 Howard DAHL 11 L. Ron MOONBEAM 0 Don WEST 3 8 Iqbal SARA 7 Craig L. SAHLIN 32 10 Guests in Hotels Know your rights If you have lived or are living in a Downtown Eastside hotel room, you've probably been told at some time or other that you can't have guests in your room, or else you've been charged a fee. You may have been kicked out of your room with little or no warning. Many of these things are illegal, and you can fight back. The .A&-? c , following info comes from ' '"'', - DEYAS NEEDLE EXCHANGE: DERA: DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE ROUTE IT IS ILLEGAL FOR LANDLORDS (INCLUDING DAILY 5:30pm-1:30am HOTEL OWNERS OR MANAGERS) TO SAY THAT NO GUESTS ARE ALLOWED 530 - 7:oo Driving: Cordova, Franklin, Dundas, Semlin, Commercial, Woodland Park, Clark OR TO CHARGE A FEE FOR 6:40 WISH VISITORS TO ROOMS. You

7:00 Vernon & Hastings can have guests in your room as X 7:15 - 7:30 Hawks & Hastings long as they don't disturb or 7:30 - 8 Driving: East Hastings, Cordova cause trouble for other tenants in 8-9 100 Block East Hastings , the building. Your landlord can 9 - 9:45 Driving: Portland Hotel, alleys, make reasonable visiting hours, Cordova to Clark such as between 9am and 9pm. 10:30-11:30 Driving: Dundas, Joyce, Kingswag, The landlord can also charge Fraser, First Ave, Seymour 11:30-11:45 Granville Street, 1000 block alley reasonable overnight guest fees. 11:45 Boystown Once you have paid your room 12-1:30 Driving: Main at Georgia, Broadway, rental fee, that room becomes Commercial, Clark, Vernon, Dundas, your home to use when you Templeton, Franklin, Hastings, Cordova wish. It is illegal for your NOTE: landlord to keep you out of your 12:30-1:30 Other van at 100 block EJIastings room at any time OR to charge DEYAS NEEDLE EXCHANGE ATTENTION TRADING POLICIES ALL IV DRUG USERS

The main purpose of the Needle Exchange is to help prevent We have been informed by the Vancouver Police that, the spread of aisease - eg. HIV, hepatitis - by making as of October 20th, they will be taking a harder line available sterile needles to IV drug users. We also have condoms, alcohol wipes, lube, informationon AIDS and other on the simple possession of narcotics. In this initiative, medical conditions, and information on drug use. Exchange they will be targeting their efforts and attention to workers also make referrals to other agencies on request. people fixing in public places. The current situation ~11trading is done on a point for point basis. Clients may trade 42 needles per person per week at the fixed site (max has upset community residents, merchants and 14 per day 3 times a week) and up to 5 per van stop. Exceptions tourists. If you are fixing on the street, in the alley, in can be made only for medical reasons. You can get no more than 1 needle at any time if you don't have any to trade. a doorway - anywhere someone from the public could possibly see you - you can expect to draw heat. The We do not issue needles to non users. Clients not registered with the Exchange will be asked to confirm IV drug use by Police will not charge for having rigs or for having showing tracks to the Exchange worker, or to the STD nurses. traces in rigs you are carrying, but if they find you

Clients are expected to do their own trading. No carries. fixing, they will charge you for possession. Exceptions can be made only on medical grounds.

Clients are expected not to sell needles they obtain from BE SMART! FIX IN PRIVATE OR YOU'LL the Exchange. We are not an "income subsidy" program and BLOW YOUR FIX AND BRING HEAT ON re-sale of needles could be a reason for our funding to be challenged. Don't sell Exchange rigs. YOURSELF AND OTHERS.

Clients are expected to return used needles to the Exchange. An accidental needle stick from a rig that is thrown away or The Police are also more likely to let you keep your left lying around can transmit hepatitis or HIV. It's up to *all of us to keep our community safe. Return your rigs! rigs if they're not worried about being poked. Keep all your rigs capped. If the Police pat you down, warn them you have rigs and show them or tell them where the rigs are. If you're straight with them, they're ,----. more likely to be straight with you.

,I

F . ydu and extra fee for going- to your- room. It is illegal for your landlord to make you pay an extra fee for your room key. It is illegal for your landlord to throw you out of your room or to change the locks unless disruption can bother other tenants. Landlords can he has obtained permission from the Residential; also come down on you if you're using your room Tenancy Branch of the government. ONLY A as a shooting gallery. It's really just common BAILIFF CAN EVICT YOU. NOT EVEN THE sense. If you're fairly quiet, don't leave rigs lying POLICE CAN LEGALLY FORCE YOU TO around and respect other tenants living around LEAVE. you, your landlord will have to respect your rights. It's also important that you don't abuse the rights If you need help or further information, get in of the landlord. Many hotels don't want you touch with DERA. Their off~ceis at 1-425 Carrall bringing your dates home. The noise and St. Their phone number is 6682-093 1. FOUR CORNERS COMMUNITY SAVINGS IS NOW SERVING THE PUBLIC

FINANCIAL SERVICES AVAILABLE INCLUDE: BANK ACCOUNTS, CHEQUE CASHING TERM DEPOSITS, and MONEY ORDERS NO CHARGE ACCOUNTS FOR : CLIENTS ON LOW INCOME,*** UNDER AGE 19, OR OVER 55 IF YOU HAVE NO ID: YOU MAY BE ABLE TO CASH GAIN CHEQUES OR OPEN AN ACCOUNT HOWEVER WE NEED 2 DAYS TO OPEN AN ACCOUNT OR CHEQUE CASHING FILE WITHOUT*** ID. MINIMUM ID REQUIRED IS TWO VALID CARDS, ONE OF WHICH MUST HAVE A PICTURE IF YOU DON'T HAVE THIS. PLEASE SEE US EARLY VALID PICTURE ID INCLUDES BC DRIJ'ERS LICENSE, CANADIAN PASSPORT, BC ID, AND STATUS CARDS. IF YOU HAVE OTHER ID. PLEASE CHECK IT WITH US BEFOREHAND

TO AVOID DELAYS, PLEASE OPEN YOUR ACCOUNT BEFORE CHEQUE ISSUE DAY

THANK YOU

- -- - "me celebrate our 27th y:ar of beautiful tropical displays with a "FREE" visit to Vancouver's only lropical paradise, the Bloedel Floral Conservatory, located atop beautiful Queen Elizabeth ?ark.

Admission is FREE on FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6TH from 10:OO a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Come enjoy a tropical Christmas with beauliful floral displays featuring poinsettias and other seasonal plants set amidst Vancouver's own garden paradise "under the dome". Santa Claus will visit on this day, and the Northridge Elementary School Choir will fill the Conservatcry with Christmas cheer from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Csrne and celebrale the Conservatory's anniversary celebration, and delight in a show of festive displays, blooming plants, and the sights and sounds of the jungle1 Great Christmas gift items and flowering plants for sale in our Gift Shop.

Call 257-8570 for more information. 2 master rollers and a matching sky of stars the smell of growing no smell of fear all is well the moon is there all runs life like salmpn rush water we will be succumb and succeed that is all and stars shoot on Naomi Macdonald

Seniors' Corner up with seniors and they learn fiom each other. On November 14 the Carnegie Seniors went on a They were talking about how to have healthier wonderful trip to Harrison Hot Springs. Our fist communities. I said that we should be more stop was at Mission where quite a few of us concerned about the homeless as they are part of headed for the nearest thrift store. I bought a our community and many are in extremely poor beautiful unicorn ornament. health due to bronchitis and pneumonia. This Our next stop was at the Chehalis Fish Hatchery. places an extra burden on our hospitals. We went exploring to see as many fish as possible. They served us a nice lasagna supper and I was There were many people lined up on the river taken for an extensive tour of the new extended bank enjoying fly fishing Two dogs were also care unit. The patients have spacious rooms with having fun in the great outdoors. locked glass cases outside each room where they On the way to Harrison we saw a blue heron, may store their valuable possessions, such as many eagles and trumpeter swans. This was a family photos etc. Also, many of the patients wonderfill chance to enjoy nature at its best. A become confused and are able to recognize their delicious lunch was served as soon as we arrived rooms this way. at Harrison. It was most interesting to meet so many new Quite a number of us went in the Hot Springs people fiom various organizations and I even Pool while others went for hike or pretended they managed to obtain support in helping the homeless were tourists at the lavish Hot Springs Hotel. during this exceptionally early winter. Some of our seniors had never been to Harrison before, so this particular outing was a special treat Irene Schmidt for them. PS I hope the residents in this neighbourhood A special thanks to the Seniors' Lottery Fund for aren't too depressed over the civic election. Some donating the bus for the Carnegie Seniors. It was students were working on a science project for greatly appreciated. television andthe~~nterviewedme on the street. On November 7 Mike Rennie and I went to the The question was, "Do you believe there are aliens Villa Caritel for an Intergenerational workshop. It on other planets?" My answer was, "I do know was most interesting as they match school children there are a lot of aliens at City Hall." people say things long enough they have Exclusive interview with Kindlers credibility in my books. Some say they only want Sunrise to divide their community. These people can't say A few weeks ago I was given the privilege of a what they really think, they have to hide behind secret interview with Kindlers Sunrise. She said self-righteousness and innuendoes. It's not fair to she would pick me up in fiont of the main post expect people to be honest and up fiont. But as office and then drive me to a secret location for the interview. The secret location turned out to be a drive through Dairy Queen. She ordered a double cheese burger with extra beef. I had a black coffee. We parked and I began my interview. My name is Greg Caro. Gregl Kindlers is it true that you have just finished a massive research project on Nanny Green? Kindlerd Yes I have and I can tell you that things are not what they seem at Blackhome. Greg! What do you mean? Kindlad Nanny has been seen throwing chocolate bar wrappers onto the ski slopes. Greg! But Kindlers, isn't that rather silly? Are you a silly person? Kindlersl No I'm not, I'm a very serious person, with important things to say. Greg! Like what? sure as gossip is real I can assure you that it's Kindlers? Oh you can't see it, but I can, I know important gossip and everyone knows that that is what she's really up to. I know what she's trying the most reliable kind. to do to people. Do you think for a moment she Greg/ Oh I see, will anybody be willing to print would dare do that if she didn't own that mountain this potentially libelous material? or be very close to powerful people who do? Do Kindlerd Oh yes, one paper is willing to help fan you ever wonder why she doesn't do that at the flames of a prairie fire, so to speak. Whistler or anywhere else? Greg/ Is it true that someone said The people on Greg! Well no, I didn't think of that Kindlers, that mountain have made poor decisions and that': what do you base that on? Do you have any proof why they are there. And to give them more money of any kind? would be a huge mistake, when I fact the province Kindlerd Oh people have told me things, you could give the money to the poorest areas instea& better believe it, you'd be surprised, let me tell Kindlerd Well I can't say who said what, I'm out you. People have seen things. of the loop now. But one thing's for sure. My Greg! Are these people willing to confirm your friends and I will expose the wrapper every chancc story? we get!!! They don't think I'm silly. Kindlerd Of course not, they can't go public, don't be so naive. They live there and work there. With that I ended my interview. This is Greg They need all the money they can get. These Macro saying that poor bashing is still in vogue people may not have morals or spines, but they for the egocentric who never help anyone but have been saying these things for a long time. If always justifL their actions by claiming to be the most honest people. 7 I THE GIFT There are several kinds of hypnotic madness in the world but there is only one so cruel and so debilitating that it dares only to raise its ugly head once a year. Yes this moral and social crippler is here again. Its disguise is one of the most diabolical in modern history. 1t hides behind fat jolly men-in red suits and materialism. It lurks through advertising and sentimental films. It all started a few hundred years ago on Long Island. Pilgrims from lands afar began to notice the winds of rebellion blowing in Baiting Hollow, a small rail junction not far from Long Island Sound. The leader of the rebels was an Irish every orifice in his being. He bled so much that all immigrant with a red beard who was often his clothing turned a bright red. Only the soot that employed as a brakeman. clung to his leather belt remained untouched. Fearing the worst the pilgrims convened an When the police arrived on the scene they emergency meeting in South Hampton. After 40 misreported the incident and the old man became days and forty nights the pilgrims decided to co- known as the Clause from Santa Mews. As time opt any movement that might create disunity passed he became known simply as the Santa amongst those who believed in the necessity of Claus. Edwardian Supermarkets. Every year now in December we see the They decided unanimously to do everything in confusion and madness that reigns supreme in their power to present the rebellion as just another shopping malls and gastown. In most western form of madness without foundation. industrialized countries the true meaning of Santa Furthermore, they decided to celebrate the very Claus has been perverted by the descendants of materialism that the rebels opposed by showing greedy pilgrim families around the world. Unlike the faces of happy children receiving leather goods Halloween, the modern pilgrims are unmasked and and clogs from grocery stores. . allowed to be anyone they want as long as they Needless to say the rebels were dumbfounded. continue to appear happy, sentimental and very They dissipated and began to sell as many of their self righteous. values as possible. They wanted to be like the pilgrims and own their own push carts. From the journals of Charlotte Ford Kennedy, As their leader grew older his'beard began to turn published by Kingfisher Press, Connecticut, USA white and his body grew plump. Every year he tried desperately to convince anyone that there was another way, that materialism was not the only Drinker's Lament choice. But alas all his words fell upon deaf ears. During the last days of my drinking, I was all my One morning, December the 25th to be exact, the self My family did not want me, nor fiends who old man had been knocking on the doors in wouldn't have anythmg to do with me. As I sat Pilgrim Clause Mews. A young char woman by alone in a tavern drinking and thinking, they can't the name of Sanatoria unwittingly threw a bucket do this to me. I'll show them then. They can't do of ashes onto the old man's head. that to me. I'll show them. He stumbled and fell backwards onto the At the end, I was not only alone, I was scared. cobblestone streets. Blood began to oozed fioin James Roadknight for bud So there you have it For those who drink from the crystal bowl your 15 minutes in history for those who hear the apartment floors creak your 15 minutes in time. for those who understand redemption Your voice filled with willful memories but must consume instead. rubber anchors in coagulating mud. For those For those who go to secret meetings A bunch of Lonesome Monsters on South to discuss the insights of death Granville For those who eat sandwiches just across the street from the darkened Sun all cut into wonda bread squares a couple of miles from main and hastings We are filled with thin excuses a few years away and anxious conversations from human desecration the reading begins. There was Paul and Marge "Excuse me," he said, "I have a point to make, very stubborn and very immediate "Excuse me" There was Bob "Pass the nachos please, with his up against the wall attitude I can hardly hear myself speak." thinking about birds "This beatnik stage is cute and the different forms of flight even if it is only six inches There was Sandy and Jean off the ground." what a fierce, and gentle scene "Bring me another sophisticated lady So much support, and a pint of draft for my So much concern Christmas cheer. ." "I don't know what he's reading but it's definitely true its so, its so grateiid deadish." "Are there any more nachos left?" "Are there any more lovers that will take me home?" "What time does this bar close?" "Can we have a game of pool?" One small step for man One giant leap for mankind.

Leigh Donahue mirror. ..what a shock.. I saw a ghost a of death ...my thoughts were coming to an end. I went into treatment and learned to talk about my It's time for me to say good-bye and leave this feelings and get in touch with the person who I world ...Thank God I am not going to feel the pain thought had left me during my trouble times. It anymore. Then it clicked I got myself here and it's wasn't true ...it was me who forgot to ask my up to me to clean up the wreckage. higher power into my life again. I did try to commit suicide... was not successful. So For years I thought my Higher Power had left and here I sit telling my story. God didn't. I was once asked who do you think There are people who are out there who can help picked up that phone when you tried to commit you as they have helped me. All I had to do was suicide. Well you get the drift. ask for help ... oh no me ask for help ha. I did and The point I am trying to make is that there is there were people coming out of the wood works HELP just a phone call away or in reaching ready to help. distance. It doesn't stop there "cleaning house" is a big job. See you back on the RED ROAD, the recovery I learned that I first had to start with road I can't promise you a bed of rose..,I can only mysel f...Honesty was not in my books as I was say that your life is what you make of it... YOU told though it start from self and then the inner HAVE A CHOICE VOLUNTEER CCIRISTMAS

NPA (NO PEOPLE ALLOWED) PARTY In the end we lost every hope of being Saturday, Dec. 14th represented ,@ City Hall. But now we can really 1 to4pm use our voices. Carnegie theatre I haven't been up to City for a while, since the councilors yelled and told us we were crazy ...this Featuring Joanne Hamen was about the March for Jesus. Lori and I took a & Peggy Wilson verbal eating by a few of the councilors (no names (hot lunch served) mentioned) Just because Philip and his group swept the j board ...No they will have to listen to the OPEN DANCE Communities. Saturday, Dec. 1 4th I certainly don't want the NPA telling our people that we need cardboard boxes to live in ....It's all 7-10pm about Housing Affordable and the biggest one of Band: TBA all is Safety. Find out when the City is having there planning meeting. Let them know that we are still alive and Voting Day want there support towards Housing and Safety. On the morning of the 16th of November, I left SAFETY 652 OUR HOMES my apt. and proceeded to the third floor to see Amy, Volunteer coordinator for Carnegie. She PLEASE DO NOT BE VICTIMIZE BY... was not there as she felloff her bike the night 1. We have had a great number of people being before and had to have stitches sewn in her leg an broken into their hotel rooms. Most of them would be off on sick leave. I left and headed for don't like to report the incident as the first the Vancouver library where I was to vote for the question they get asked is "are you drinking or next mayor of Vancouver city. As I came through were you drinking." the electric door for scooters and mobile chairs, I 2. No one should have be humiliated and or - saw and old friend of mine handing out free violated once again. samples of tea in paper cups. The name I'd 3. If you are having problem's security wise.. .one - forgotten. She and I chatted for a few minutes. I you can call Dave Dickson @ 687-1772 and if asked here where the polling station was. Mary he is not there talk to Debbie Mearns. told her partner she would be right back and she 4, Every 2nd Tuesday of the Month we Have a proceeded to walk with me to the rear doors and police liaison meeting ...next one will be held pointed the way. I thanked her very kindly, then @ the 12 East Hastings (N.S.O.) If we work together we can make a big went in to cast my ballot. difference.. .giving up is not a choice! James Roadknight es from the Learning- Centre Vide ha Videha has been a volunteer and part-time tutor Wooden Faces at Carnegie Learning Centre for many years, The knotholes in the grainy wood of my coffee where he has taught Sign Language to several staff table have always bothered me. I sit before the members, students and tutors. dark stained table and play solitaire on it by the Videha was born in Montreal where, as a child, hour. I have to kill time somehow between the he attended a school for the deaf. In spite of his things I have to do or want to do. I have very little learning problem he understands and money to do very much and all I seem to enjoy communicates in French, English and Sign doing is playing that card game. Language. The way the knotholes are situated in the grain Both Videha's parents are deaf, but he has a give the appearances of faces. Three faces. One sister who is a hearing person. She is married and grouping of knotholes is on the le& near the radio. lives in Quebec with her husband and three It seems to move, to make expressions when I children who all have normal hearing. have the radio on too loud. The second grouping is Videha is very artistic and does a lot of art work in the middle of the table, and just stares, it has a for the Learning Centre and Carnegie Gallery. He mark above the eyes which give it a mad says that although his father has no leanings in this tt appearance. The third and nastiest grouping is next direction, his mother had a decided artistic bent. to my table. I live in a bachelor room and all my She made beautiful quilts and embroidered linens, furniture is crowded together. etc. Because he was rather friendless and lonely The other day a visitor came. I didn't like him. as a pre-school child, his mother taught him a lot and He was telling me I have to have my carpet of things long before he became a schoolboy. r cleaned. Its the rule, when you rent a place you Videha lived in many countries before he landed 1e have to keep up the carpet, and make sure the in Vancouver. His latest stopping place was gh burners on the stove and the oven is always Brazil, where he taught deaf people for one year. ,I c clean i, too. My place is very clean, except for the When I asked him if he wanted to continue living carpet which will cost a lot to get clean. The in Vancouver rather than in Quebec, he said, "We frowning face on the coffee table seemed to frown live now and we know nothing of tomorrow." He I even more. I got mad but just said I would do the says, "Carnegie is where I live." job as soon as I got my check. Videha is a great asset to the Learning Centre e The man. said he would come back next month. people and we all hope he will stay here for a ld If he does I kill him. My frowning face seemed to long, long time. n agree that I should. Come to the Learning Centre and meet Videha!

Dora Saunders Joan Doree (volunteer tutor) A job to do and everybody a job to do Harvest wheat by hand save fuel poetrq bq Elim beth Thorpe Freshly made gluten and peanut butter sandwiches #c * When I think back on the past Snow is coming Santa is here Scenes fiom my childhood mist through my mind Warm your parents Loving is clear What she I be a famous painter? Don't play with bombs Love is here to stay A writer? A housecleaner? Santa is coming in his sleigh When I got to teenagerhood I didn't want to be Remember your parents In prayer each night awthw Fame came to me like a bolt fiom the cloud Thank the lord for that brilliant white light Am I too pretty? Am I too proud? Remember your brothers and sisters too Play with God Romanticize all I want there's a hole in my He was a Jew stomach % x + I want I rode a bicycle in my dreams +- 3tc- % I rode a bicycle in my nightmares I saw an old poor man collecting newspapers on 11 1 wore a dress I'd be in drag Come on can't you see it? I'm a man. his bicycle I rode a bicycle (my mother's) to work Don't come on to someone in drag - its illegal Unless you're made for it I rode a bicycle up and down hills 1rode a bicycle that's light shone as I worked Drag comes in good time -t I wore drag when I was in grade three One day I had nothing* to* bo all year One day I admitted to myself again that I was queer One day I felt ashamed and stopped looking at those pictures One day I discovered someone else's roots One day I discovered my mother had suffered One day I wanted to die One day I argued with myself and got a job One day I complained about the mob F- x X My child is pretty and bright She could be a pixie -- She could be a sprite Yes, I know I'm crazy. Sometimes it's evil crazy My child does all that she can and she's only six Sometimes it's good &zy. Sometimes my My child loves me although I couldn't keep her different personalities # are in shards. Either way this insanity is hard. I + * Injustice is often done injustice is overdone get upset at the slightest provocation. I get out of injustice is rampant if justice were done now arguments what would happen? Dream. Justice is made of in utter devastation. dreams. E D~~NTOWNST0 CLINIC - 219 Main; Monday - Friday, 10a.m. - 6p.m. EASTSIDE NEEDLE EXCHANGE - 221 Main; 9a.m. - 8p.m. everyday YOUTH Needle Exchange Van - on the street every night, 6p.m. - ACTIVITIES 2p.m. (except Mondays, 6p.m. - midnight)

\VII~/ B/ - $20 Lortle 'r. -$20 THE NEWSLElTER IS A PUBLICATION OF THE Lillian 11. -$25 Me1 L.-$17 CARNEGIE COMMlJNlTY CENTRE ASSOCIATION Sonya S. -$I00 Sara I). -$20 Arlicles represent the views of individual Kettle F.S.-$16 cnens 420 conlrlbutors and not of the Association. Ilazel M. $10 Susan S. -$3U Joy ?'.-$lo DEYAS -$I00 Submissiori Deadline Bca P.-$30 Brigid R. -$30 1:rances -$SO Amy E. -$20 for the next issue: Charley -$25 Ilene F. -$SO December 12,1996 Libby D. -$40 Kay P.-$15 Guy M. - $20 Anonymous $67 Tom L).-$17 Sam R.-$35 NEED HELP? The Downtown Eastside Residents' Association can help you with: * any welfare problem "information on legal rights *disputes with landlords *unsafe living conditions *income tax *UIC problems *finding housing 'opening a bank account Come into the Dera office at 425 Carrall St. or phone us at 682-0931. DERP. HAS BEEN SERVING THE DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE FOR 23 YEARS. Ladies and gentlemen, presenting Hastings Park!

This is one of the plans being considered All the plans will be on display Monday, for the east side's big new green space, Hastings Dec. 2 to Saturday, Dec. 7 at Hastings Park, to be developed where the PNE has been Community Centre, 3096 East Hastings. located for the last hundred years. Drop on by and put in your two cents.