EVENT | Decolonization 101: What it is and why it matters

Streams of Justice May 28, 2014

Colonization is not only a past historical process of domination violently imposed on Indigenous people; it’s a political and economic structure that continues to oppress and control their lives, despite official state apologies and strategies of cultural recognition. Decolonization signals a process of departure from colonial ways, but what does it mean and what might it entail for both Indigenous people and settlers? What obligations does it place upon all of us to change our ways of thinking and living together? This community forum will open up space for probing these crucial issues.

This International Workers’ Day: Support, don’t deport

Editors May 1, 2014

Calling for a moratorium on migrant workers first, and then paying partial lipservice to some permanent immigration system is a de facto call for mass exclusion of people of colour. If we truly believed in equal access for people irrespective of their racialization and impoverishment, we would first ensure full immigration status for all before shutting down the program that gives a toehold to some.

EVENT | Policing the Crisis in Vancouver

Editors April 27, 2014

SFU Institute for the Humanities and The Mainlander

Present:

Policing the Crisis in Vancouver

Tuesday, April 29th – 7:00pm
Please note location change to Wosk Centre for Dialogue – Room 420, Wosk Centre for Dialogue SFU, 580 W. Hastings St.

Voices against Displacement: Eugene McCann’s speech to City Council

Eugene McCann April 26, 2014

As an urban geographer, my research focuses on how certain cities around the world become models of best policy practice. Vancouver can rightly call itself a global model. Many around the world recognize this Council and its predecessors for addressing the challenges of climate change. Indeed, at the 2009 Copenhagen Climate Summit, Mayor Robertson showed national and global leadership by arguing for a better Canadian approach to carbon emissions. He also chairs the FCM’s Big City Mayors Caucus.

Two Weeks in Review: WHALES (also, the continuous destruction of affordable housing)

Claire Vulliamy April 25, 2014

Chelsea Inn under threat

Residents of the Chelsea Inn, a Single Room Occupancy (SRO) in the Downtown Eastside (DTES) staged a demonstration outside of the building to generate awareness that Steven Lippman had been in contact with the owner. Lippman, who is the founder of Living Balance, has gained a reputation for buying up buildings in the DTES and evicting tenants. Lippman publicly denied interest and the owner, Yahya Nickpour, now claims to have stepped away from the decision to sell. However, this potential threat to the hotel is part of a larger trend of renovictions in the neighbourhood, which has resulted in an overall decrease in affordability, as documented by the Carnegie Community Action Project’s annual Hotel report.

Week in Review: $25kLunches, homeless seniors, and a new DERA

Claire Vulliamy April 11, 2014

$25,000 lunch saga continues

This week the provincial legislature debated whether to place limits on campaign contributions and spending in Vancouver civic elections, but it looks like it’s not going to happen this election cycle. In 2011, both Vision Vancouver and the NPA raised over $1million each from the real estate industry. No wonder there’s no action on real affordable housing.

Meanwhile, both of those parties are aggressively courting real estate interests. Last month, realtor Bob Rennie organized a $25,000 lunch for developers to meet with Vision. The NPA has scheduled a gala hoping to get up to $50,000 for dinner, but time will tell whether all the developers have joined Bob Rennie, Peter Wall, and Ian Gillespie in leaving the NPA for Vision.

Voices against Displacement: Karen Ward’s speech to City Council

Editors April 9, 2014

Karen Ward
DTES Local Area Plan, Friday, March 14th

I have represented Gallery Gachet on the LAP Committee. We are an artist-run centre, specifically a centre for artists living with a mental illness. I live with a mental illness. I would not have been able to serve on the LAP as I have save for two things. First, I have stable housing and I no longer struggle to survive each day. I can see beyond my day’s needs. As a result, I’m able to participate in the life of my community as I do today and as I have these past years.