FREEBilingual and interculturalVersion française au verso

Laughter is the best medicine…enough. Also, I don’t like bread to be overcooked. So I took an-other one, and another, franti-cally checking them all until I was stopped by a reproving look. The security guard was staring at me, intrigued and surprised.

He obviously couldn’t decide between searching my bag and calling 911, so I stopped and studied him for a while. Then I went back to my search with renewed fervour because I don’t like to be interrupted in such circumstances.

However, I threw a furtive glance to see if straitjackets were being brought in. No, none. I felt that nothing was standing in my way, as the clearly startled security guard had left. I wouldn’t have paid that much attention to this

by LaEtitia BEnatsou

by   Panayioti yannitsos

www.thelasource.com

Chantelle Krish, the advocacy and public relations manager of YWCA Metro Vancouver, explains that the main issue lies at the top.

“When we look at the number of women in senior leadership positions, we still see a discrep-ancy between women and men in these roles” says Krish. “Part of the reason for this discrepancy are barriers that hold women back from developing their ca-reers. For example, a lack of role models, exclusion from informal networks and not having a spon-sor in upper management can

See “Verbatim” page 12

Vol 12 No 25 | March 6–20, 2012

ife in a new country is nev-er easy. Before coming to

Canada, I really thought that I could live anywhere without making clumsy cultural mis-takes. I was very wrong.

The first time I realized that I was not quite in tune with Canadian culture was when I went grocery shopping in a su-permarket. Recently arrived from France, I rushed to the shelves and first decided to buy some bread. Being French, I certainly didn’t throw it con-temptuously in my basket. No, bread is like the earth – it is to be respected. It should be cho-sen carefully.

So, I picked one up and I looked at it carefully. I checked to see if it was crusty. No, the first one wasn’t crusty

L

ince the early 1900s, March 8 has been set aside as a day

to recognize and celebrate the achievements of women across the globe. Here in Vancouver, the day is a reminder of how far gen-der equality has come, and how far it still needs to go.

“Since I was in my 20s, Interna-tional Women’s Day has meant so much,” says Peggy Thompson, an assistant professor at the Uni-versity of British Columbia and a board member of Women in Film and Television Vancouver. “It means equal pay for equal work. It means gender equality. It means change.”

Near the beginning of the 20th century great unrest and critical debates were occurring amongst women. Women’s oppression and inequality was becoming prominent and women became more vocal and involved in de-manding change.

In 1910, Clara Zetkin, the leader of the “Women’s Office” for the Social Democratic Party in Ger-many, introduced the idea of an International Women’s day.

Despite success in empower-ing women, numerous issues still exist, ranging from the cultural and political to the economic. In today’s society, as media influence continues to grow and, with the advance of technology, the roles of women in the media are in the spotlight. From talk shows to entertain-ment shows and news reporting, the representation of women in these industries continues to be distorted.

Since the 1960s, the notion that “it matters who makes it” has been prominent in the minds of femi-nists across the globe, and espe-cially here in Canada. Websites like the Media Awareness Net-work say television, film, broad-cast, and popular magazines are full of images of women and girls who are predominately white, desperately thin, and covered in cosmetics. The femme fetale, the supermom, the sex kitten, and the nasty corporate climber are all stereotypes, which is a prod-uct of the lack of female presence behind the scenes.

S

See “Women in Media” page 5

Celebrating 101 International Women’s Days

Also in this issue

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Changing the face of the militaryPage 6

Travelling through the Downtown Eastside Page 8

Wearing Muslim pride

Page 9

The diverse staff at the YWCA Metro Vancouver work for the equal treatment and recognition of local and international women.

2 The Source Vol 12 No 25 | March 6–20, 2012

The Conservatives are in a downward spiral over the alleged "robocalling."

know what those calls were all about. The Conservative Party’s senior staff and their leader first and foremost are surely impa-tient to know, first, if the perpe-trators were indeed members of their party and secondly, to what hierarchic level of govern-ment they belonged.

One thing is for sure, we can bet that the Prime Minister knew nothing of it. Party leaders are very rarely briefed on the logis-tics details of their electoral cam-paigns. For example, the leader probably doesn’t know where and when campaign ads are bought. These types of decisions are left to campaign experts.

Nevertheless, the tactics of those responsible for the events are absolutely disgraceful. Even if victory is sought by all con-tenders in an election, the only way to get it is through honor-able means.

The type of behaviour pres-ently exposed does nothing to uplift the political class. And there is no doubt in my mind that not one of those who won in the ridings that apparently have been targeted by the robocalls knew about the tactics or worse, endorsed them.

There have been, of course, in the heated context of the elec-toral campaign, cheap shots aimed at destabilizing the ad-versary. Nothing is new about

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Writers Dina Abdel-haq, Zelia Blanco, Laetitia Benatsou, Eric Chu, Serge Corbeil, Guillaume Debaene, Sandra Fortin, Claire Gendrault, Jan Hilario, Jean-Baptiste Lasaygues, Hélène Lequitte, Derrick O'Keefe, Marjo Pekonen, Tim Reinert, Don Richardson, Panayioti Yannitsos, Phoebe Yu, Robert Zajtmann

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legalities Copyright and/or property rights subsist in all display advertising, editorial and other material appearing in it. The Source shall not be liable for slight changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the value of an advertisement. The Source's liability for other errors or omissions in

sErGE COrBEil

My Turn

he opposition parties are rel-ishing the latest controversy

marring the Conservative Party and, therefore, the Harper gov-ernment.

The debate concerning the electronic calls designed to convey false information to Ca-nadian voters is dominating the media landscape.

Evidently sensing a rich vein to exploit, the opposition has even set aside the controversial bill of online communications. Even though the Prime Minister shows no sign of a man in a tight

Robocalls: a thorough investigation is necessary

T the facade of a man with nothing to reproach himself, he must be at least slightly nervous.

You see, opposition parties, Elections Canada and the RCMP aren’t the only ones who want to

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spot, this affair might haunt his party for a good while. Yet, all is not won for the opposition.

Whatever you may think, this whole affair might not harm the government that much. It will not be a fatal blow unless the trail leads straight to Harper’s doorstep or that of one of his closest adviser.

It seems however evident that although the Prime Minister has maintained, since the beginning,

Stephen Harper.

To date, nothing points to any-one in the Conservative govern-ment giving the go-ahead to such a stratagem. All we know is that the calls were made to deliberately mislead voters and prevent them from exercising their right to vote.

But we have to admit that someone, somewhere, someday decided that it would be a good idea to order a bunch of phone calls designed to spread false information and manipulate the electoral process.

Translation Monique Kroeger

annoying calls to supporters of this or that political party. How-ever this particular stratagem goes a lot further.

What is singular in the robo-call case is the fact that such technology enables to reach a huge proportion of people, quickly and smoothly. This is why this case causes so much consternation. The use of such technology in order to mislead voters is nothing short of a stab at foiling democracy- hence the necessity of getting to the bot-tom of things.

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The Source 3Vol 12 No 25 | March 6–20, 2012

munity March Against Racism event on March 18 hosted by No One is Il-legal. The march begins at 2 p.m. at the intersection of Commercial and 14th Avenue. By joining the march, you will help raise awareness of ra-cial issues in Vancouver.

Vancouver to celebrate a day aimed at eliminating racism and discriminationby ERiC Chu

his March 21 the question of racism still existing or

not can be asked and, possibly even answered. It is definitely a question worth pondering as the United Nations’ designated that day the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. It is a celebra-tion that urges us to re-examine our societies and redouble our efforts in eradicating racial dis-crimination, an important issue that might have long been for-gotten.

This same day in 1960, a group of brave individuals in Sharp-eville, South Africa peacefully

Tracism. A reform in these areas is undoubtedly necessary. Re-gardless, individual efforts are also invaluable. One can start by being open about racism and readily communicate the related

Alden E. Habacon, director of Intercultural Understanding Strategy Development at UBC, thinks that racism ultimately results from anxiety between people.

Instead of denying the existence of racial discrimination, people ought to be able to talk openly about it and have honest and open debates. Harsha Walia, spokesperson for No One is Illegal

“issues with family, friends and neighbours.

“Instead of denying the exis-tence of racial discrimination,

“Two things that impact rac-ism are the reduction of anxiety between people, and equally im-portant, the increasing of our em-pathy for others. This requires stepping outside of oneself,” says Habacon.

“I think a place of social sus-tainability is a place where peo-ple are less anxious about each other, a place bubbling over with empathy, where people are not just polite, but in fact shovel each other’s driveways.”

Vancouver has, for a long time, held the vision of becoming the greenest city in the world by 2020. Social sustainability is, as claimed by Habacon, equally as important as economic and eco-logical sustainability.

He says everyone has the op-portunity to play a vital role in shaping the city into an even more wonderful place.

As Habacon mentions, we should start by being open and honest about racism, practice

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Harsha Walia, social activist.

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in Apartheid South Africa, 1985.

Alden E. Habacon, director of Intercultural Understanding Strategy Development at UBC.

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interacting with one another and develop our empathy.

Celebrate this year’s International Day for the Elimination of Racial Dis-crimination by attending the Com-

The Source is looking to fill both paid and volunteer positions

available positions:writer/journalist

layout artistphotographer

send your resume to info@thelasource.com

The Source Newspaper / Le journal La Source is a bilingual and multicultural newspaper that investigates major events in all of Vancouver’s communities, using both of Canada’s official languages. Recently, The Source / La Source was awarded the 2011 Cultural Harmony Award, Organization Category, by the City of Vancouver, as recognition for our work building bridges between our communities.

Join The Source

protested against the apartheid “pass laws.” The pass laws were a series of institutions designed to limit mobility on the basis of ra-cial identity and reinforce racial segregation. Police responded by opening fire, killing 69 people on scene. Some say it was a dem-onstration of racism in its most extreme form. That was 52 years ago. The question that remains is if things have changed.

However, Harsha Walia, a so-cial activist and spokesperson for No One is Illegal, reminds us that racism is in fact still a very vital issue.

“Despite the current racially di-versified nature of our city [Van-couver], racial discrimination is still an overwhelmingly impor-tant issue,” says Walia. “We live in a post-racial multicultural society. What that means is that people tend to forget all about racism when it can very well still be embedded in our society on multiple levels.”

According to Statistics Can-ada, the number of reported hate crimes in Vancouver nearly doubled in 2008 from 2007. Walia stresses the importance to con-tinuously remind ourselves that

“racism isn’t a thing of the past.” It becomes evident that as Van-

couverites, we have the responsi-bility to take the initiative in the eradication of racial discrimina-tion.

Walia points out that the law, education and media are all per-tinent contributing factors to

people ought to be able to talk openly about it and have hon-est and open debates. This way, we would progress much faster,” says Walia.

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4 The Source Vol 12 No 25 | March 6–20, 2012

ith flagging poll numbers and rumbling within her

own party, Premier Christy Clark risks losing her job in an election expected to happen in May 2013. And the BC Lib-eral Party faces an existential crisis which could see the as-cendance of a new right-wing party.

The revived Conservative Party of BC, under the leader-ship of former Delta MP John Cummins, is gaining steam and already running over 20% in opinion polls.

The centre-right vote has not been this divided since the 1991 election, when the NDP surged to power over a dis-credited Social Credit Party and the short-lived BC Reform Party. Clark and her Liberals now stare squarely at the fate of the Socreds – defeat and ob-solescence.

Faced with a potentially mortal challenge from her right, Clark has presented her-self as a common sense pitch-woman for unequivocally pro-corporate policies.

Upon winning the Liberal leadership race last year, Clark announced that her number one priority in terms of rela-tions with the federal govern-ment was to restart the Taseko Mines’ proposal for a copper and gold mine near Williams Lake. There are major environ-mental risks with the project, and the local Tsilhqot'in First Nations are resolutely opposed to the project.

The Taseko mine is just one example of how environmen-tal and indigenous rights are being thrown under the bus of the dominant ‘open for busi-ness’ mantra. Clark’s BC Jobs Plan, unveiled in the fall, put a heavy emphasis on ramping up exports and clearing away red tape for oil, gas and min-ing projects. Critics derided Clark’s philosophy as ‘mine, baby, mine’, a reference to Sar-ah Palin’s infamous ‘drill, baby, drill’ line from the campaign trail in 2008.

W

Christy Clark: Mining for Political Survival

across the Pacific with a busi-nessman in Asia. As container-loaded tanker sails west, the yel-low stars over red of the Chinese flag fills the sky.

What the emerging Chinese super-power covets above all is energy – oil and gas – and Clark, like Stephen Harper in Ottawa, is willing and eager to supply them.

cussion about the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline proposal, which seeks to bring tar sands crude across north-ern B.C. to port in Kitimat. The public opposition to Enbridge is so overwhelming that even Clark has avoided publicly ad-vocating for the project.

Christy Clark's smiling pop-

by derrick o'keefe

Issues and Ideas

Whether it’s mined, chopped down, and pumped through pipelines, the focus is on in-creasing exports. The televi-sion ad promoting the BC Jobs Plan features animation of a tanker sailing from B.C. to Asian markets like Japan, India and – most importantly – China. The clip opens with a business woman in B.C. shaking hands

The premier comes across like a first-year marketing student.“

The province has made signifi-cant infrastructure investments to facilitate the export of gas, in-cluding a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Kitimat. Gas

ulism has proven unable to disguise her lack of substance. The premier comes across like a first-year marketing student, cheerily extolling the virtues

has become the key export com-modity for B.C. – our 21st Century version of timber.

Then there is the boom in so-called natural gas in Northern B.C., much of which is shale gas and involved a potentially dan-gerous process known as hy-draulic fracturing, or “fracking.” The risks of fracking was the sub-ject of a much lauded documen-tary, Gasland. Many jurisdictions in North America and beyond have put a hold on fracking. Que-bec, for instance, has imposed a moratorium until the practice and its impacts can be fully stud-ied. Here in B.C., fracking has only been given minimal scrutiny, in-cluding an ongoing health review.

In addition to B.C., China wants Alberta tar sands oil. For months, the headlines have featured dis-

of B.C.’s raw materials and the shiny panacea of the emerging Asian markets.

Anyone can see that B.C.’s eco-nomic future is tied to China’s growing economic power. But shipping raw material over-seas should not be done at any expense. Real leadership needs to focus on sustainability and green jobs.

What gets lost in all of this renewed emphasis on ship-ping raw materials abroad is a focus on developing local manufacturing and emerging technologies.

B.C. risks reverting to the role of “hewers of wood and drawers of waters,” to borrow a famous phrase from Canadian econom-ic history. In other words, we risk going backwards.

Premier Christy Clark.

John Cummins.

Opening scene of BC Jobs Plan television ad showing tanker sailing to Asia.

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The Source 5Vol 12 No 25 | March 6–20, 2012

all contribute to this imbalance,” she explains.

In a recent study from the Inter-national Federation of Journalists, 28 per cent of Canadian newspa-per journalists and 37 per cent of television journalists are women.

According to Telefilm Canada, women receive more training than men in the Canadian film industry, yet they work on lower budget films and have less access

“Women in Media” from page 1 to public funds than their male counterparts. Women are more frequent moviegoers than men, yet comprise just 15 per cent of all directors, executive producers, writers, cinematographers, and editors.

Thompson says this is evident in key nominations in industry awards like the Genies and the Geminis where the percentage for women nominees is hovering between 17 and 26 per cent. She says studies are showing that ap-proximately 45 to 49 per cent of all film students are women.

“In peer reviewed juries such as the Canada Council and BC Arts Council,” says Thompson, “women receive approximately 52 per cent of funding, the same as the gener-al population ratio. Film and tele-vision in this country are lagging in terms of equality for women.”

In addition to being under-rep-resented in positions of authority, women also seem to be under-utilized in covering the subjects considered most important. For example, in broadcast media,

topics such as politics, economy, and social trends tend to usually be subjects which are covered by men. This exclusion of the female voice creates a skewed perspec-tive, and an incomplete one.

This lack in delivering an equal point of view, says Krish, is more than just about freedom of op-

portunity, but also concerns health and safety.

“The key issue the YWCA is con-cerned about is hyper-sexualiza-tion,” says Krish. “Whether it is in magazines, film, online videos, television programs, or even the news, women are constantly be-ing sexualized. Research shows

that the sexualization of women not only contributes to decreased self-esteem and increased men-tal health issues, but it also has been linked to increased societal tolerance of violence.”

Apart from the direct psycho-logical and physical damage that this sexualization causes, it also has a massive influence on to-day's youth.

The American Psychological Association came out with a re-cent report that shows girls as young as four and five years old are wearing clothing styles such as push-up bras, thongs, mini skirts and other adult type out-fits. This is a direct product of what they are exposed to in the media, and as it stands now, the ones making the decisions are rarely women.

“The Canadian film and televi-sion industry is heavily support-ed through government funding,” says Thompson. “To have such a gender imbalance behind the screen doesn’t adhere to govern-ment policies such as those of Heritage Canada. As an educator I find the situation disturbing.”

As International Women’s Day approaches, these staggering statistics can be discouraging.

The fact of the matter is, al-though these issues continue to resurface year after year, prog-ress is being made. The march to equality for women in media has never been a steady journey, serving up a mix of both strides forward and setbacks. For ex-ample, in the 1920s, more women were directing movies than in the 1950s. One can only look to-wards the future and strive to make it better than the past.

In fact, according to Professor Anna Carastathis, a memeber of the Women’s and Gender Studies department at UBC, gender equal-ity is only the beginning.

Carastathis says that there needs to be more questions asked, and deeper analysis applied to gender as a system of power.

“Gender equality may even be a contradiction in terms, in so far as gender is a structure of inequality. I support pay equity, universal suffrage, equality be-fore the law, and equal protec-tion under the law, but gender equality is by no means my femi-nist utopia.”

Optimism is the key ingredi-ent for success when faced with the trials and tribulations that women encounter today and into the future,

“As a young woman in the en-tertainment industry, I feel very grateful,” says Brittany Klassen, a recent graduate of The Art In-stitute of Vancouver and now an aspiring film producer.

“I look at all the up-and-coming Kathryn Bigelows and Sophia Coppolas of the world, and I see a bright future for women in media and entertainment. As for myself, I have been given a great educa-tion and the skills to harness and become who I want to be. It’s true, things could be better, but all we can do is look ahead,” she says.

Peggy Thompson.

Women comprise approximately 45 to 49 per cent of all film students.

Chantelle Krish.

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6 The Source Vol 12 No 25 | March 6–20, 2012

s an organization with a mandate to represent and

protect national interests, it is understood that the Canadian Forces should reflect the values and composition of society.

In 2006, the Canadian immi-grant population rose to 6.2 mil-lion, accounting for almost 20 per cent of the Canadian population. It is projected that by 2017, the visible minority population will represent approximately one in five Canadians.

But data from the 2008 census shows that the Canadian Forces does not reflect the same level of ethno-cultural diversity. A small proportion of Canadian Forces personnel, only six per cent, were non-Caucasians, compared with 17 per cent of the regular working population.

Grazia Scoppio, an associate professor at the Canadian De-fence Academy and the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ont., agrees that the composition of the Canadian Forces does not yet reflect the gender and ethnic diversity of the Canadian labour force. Rep-resentation rates of non-Cauca-sians in the Canadian Forces are lower than those in the federal government and the general la-bour force.

Based on self-identification figures as of January 2012, there are 2,721 non-Caucasian people serving in the regular force and 2,051 serving in the reserve force. Similarly, there are currently 1,477 Aboriginal people serving in the regular force and 601 in the reserve force.

According to statistics from the Department of National De-fence (DND), the total population of civilian employees in Sep-tember 2011 was 28,040. At the time, only a little over six per-cent, or 1,738 civilian DND em-

A

Searching for diversity in the Canadian Forcesby  Jan hiLaRio

It takes time for minority groups and women to reach a critical mass and make their way to the top ranks of any organization.Grazia Scoppio, professor, Canadian Defence Academy and Royal Military College of Canada “

ployees, were non-Caucasian. It is not mandatory for employees to identify as non-Caucasian.

Scoppio notes that the Cana-dian Forces compares well to other militaries in the world in employment equity. In fact, it is one of the few militaries where all combat occupations are open to women.

And while, generally speaking, there is less diversity in higher ranking positions, Scoppio indi-cates that this is similar to other organizations.

“It takes time for minor-ity groups and women to reach a critical mass and make their way to the top ranks of any organiza-tion. This is true not only for the [Canadian Forces], but also for other militaries, other govern-ment departments, private sec-tor organizations, and even uni-versities,” she comments.

Reasons for low representation of non-CaucasiansThe low rates of non-Caucasian and immigrant members may be related to the citizenship require-ment for joining the Canadian Forces. Currently, only Canadian citizens can join the regular forces.

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The discrepancy could also be partially explained by problems in the way non-Caucasians with-in the Canadian Forces are mea-sured, as the self-identification process is voluntary.

However, significant differenc-es in non-Caucasian representa-tion still remain between the Ca-nadian Forces and the working

According to the Canadian Forces website, 6,000 new per-sonnel are brought in each year, with an aim to expand to 100,000 personnel in the regular forces and primary reserve within 15 years.

To meet these recruiting tar-gets, non-Caucasian representa-tion in the Canadian Forces will

specific programs and activities to recruit non-Caucasians and Aboriginals.

Some of the best practices developed by the Forces, as out-lined by Scoppio, include setting policies for dress and dietary ac-commodation to allow members of diverse backgrounds such as Aboriginal, Muslim, and Jewish,

population, even after excluding recent immigrants.

In a report called “Can the Ca-nadian Forces reflect Canadian Society?” published by the Ca-nadian Military Journal, several reasons are cited for the low rep-resentation of non-Caucasians in the Canadian Forces.

One main reason is that, in some cultures, a military posi-tion is not considered as one that requires a high degree of educa-tion. Since education is perceived by many cultures as an essential way of achieving higher profes-sional aspirations and financial success, parental and older gen-erational influences advocate against a career in the military.

In addition, higher education is often seen as the means to over-come discrimination in the work force, and the current lack of non-Caucasians in higher rank-ing positions, within the Cana-dian Forces, is proof of a further deterrence.

Other reasons cited in the re-port include an attachment to family or ethnic identity, which may be compromised by a career in the Canadian military. Inter-estingly, the reason for not join-ing the Canadian Forces can also be based on the negative image of the person’s country or origin or background.

become increasingly important as they are the fastest growing segment of the Canadian popu-lation, particularly in the tra-ditional recruitment target age group of 17 to 24.

Amber Lee Bineau, commu-nications advisor and military personnel command of National Defence, states that the Canadian Forces aims to have “an inclu-sive workforce, representative of Canada's cultural, ethnic and linguistic makeup, as well as its regional diversity.”

Under the Employment Eq-uity and Diversity Program, the Canadian Forces has developed

to preserve their cultural, spiri-tual and religious identities.

They have also established a structure of Employment Equity Advisory Groups, to provide stra-tegic advice on issues regarding different groups, including one for non-Caucasians.

However, Scoppio notes that, while the Canadian Forces shows examples of good practices in the area of diversity, that setting pol-icies and developing programs are not enough.

She says more effort is needed to “ensure the organizational culture is conducive to having a diverse membership.”

Percentage of members that are non-Caucasian(according to 2008 Census)

General population Canadian ForcesGrazia Scoppio.

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The Source 7Vol 12 No 25 | March 6–20, 2012

Conservatives and immigrant voters: an unconventional love story

THE CHAMBER CHOIR &

THE ISELERSTwo Great Choirs

8 pm Friday, March 16, 2012Christ Church Cathedral

690 Burrard Street at West Georgia, Downtown Vancouver

Vancouver Chamber Choir Elmer Iseler Singers

Lydia Adams & Jon Washburn, conductors

This is the latest in a long series of collaborative concerts by Canada's two outstanding professional choirs – the Vancouver Chamber Choir conducted by Jon Washburn and the Elmer Iseler Singers of Toronto conducted by Lydia Adams. Each choir sings separately and they also combine voices for Mendelssohn and Willcocks in what is sure to be a magnificent choral experience!

Tickets to THE CHAMBER CHOIR & THE ISELERS are $24.50 – $28, available at Ticketmaster. Student rush tickets are $10 when doors open one hour before the concert. Visit Ticketmaster.ca to purchase online or phone 1-855-985-ARTS (2787).

Felix Mendelssohn – Sechs SprücheTimothy Corlis – Silent Dawn

Lyte/Monk, arr. Greg Jasperse – Abide With Me

Thomas Dorsey – Precious LordJohn Newton, arr. Ron Smail – Amazing Grace

Peter Togni – Requiem et LuxMoses Hogan, arr. –

Didn't My Lord Deliver DanielR Murray Schafer – A Medieval Bestiary

Electo Silva – Three Cuban SongsAlgimantas Brazinskas - The InnDavid Willcocks - Five Folksongs

The Vancouver Chamber Choir acknowledges the generous assistance of the Canada Council for the Arts, the City of Vancouver, the British Columbia Arts Council, the Province of British Columbia, The Vancouver Sun and London Drugs.

ames Huáng has lived in Cana-da for six years. Since becom-

ing a citizen two years ago, he voted federally for the first time in the last general election. He voted Conservative.

“They share my values,” says Huáng, speaking not far from the Vancouver South Riding Of-fice on Victoria Drive. “They sup-port the family.”

He suggests that the Conserva-tives' tough-on-crime approach, their support for what he feels are traditional family values and their commitment to fiscal responsibility are the reasons why, for Huáng, supporting the Conservatives was a no-brainer.

“The others (NDP and Liberals) are all crooks,” he says.

Huáng’s tale is a typical ex-ample of a larger story that’s been popping up in the media ever since Immigration Minis-ter Jason Kenney took over that portfolio five years ago: new immigrants are starting to vote Conservative. Conventional wis-dom dictates that Kenney’s in-tense courting of the immigrant community paid off in votes in the 2011 federal election, and might have even won Stephen Harper his much sought after majority. When you delve into the numbers, however, it’s not immediately clear whether or not that’s actually true.

Election numbersThe Conservatives picked up 23 new seats in 2011, giving them majority status. Twenty-two of them were in Ontario, with 19 coming from the Greater To-ronto Area (GTA). Out of the seats gained, several of them were in ridings with substantial immigrant communities. They also gained Vancouver-South, a riding with a 60 per cent immi-

by  tim REinERt

grant population, bringing the Conservatives their first Van-couver win in over two decades. However, it needs to be said that the New Democratic Party also made gains in multicultural com-munities, picking up 67 seats in Quebec alone, with 14 of those being in cosmopolitan Montreal. Though only time will tell if the NDP's near-sweep in the electoral wild card known as Quebec can be repeated, a case can be argued that the NDP under the late Jack Layton made as many inroads into Canada’s immigrant commu-nities as Stephen Harper’s Con-servatives. But it’s the Conserva-tives who have gotten the media attention, both because of their pre-election tactics, and because of the legislation they’ve intro-duced since.

New Conservative strategyCall it “Samosa Politics.” That’s the term that Harjap Grewal uses to explain what is behind the Conservative’s recent success in the multicultural community. Grewal is a spokesperson for No One Is Illegal, a grassroots po-litical action group that supports immigrant and migrant rights.

“They [the Conservatives] go to the immigrant community, they eat samosas, they pay all this lip service, but the policies don’t change,” explains Grewal. “They can march in the Chinese New Year parades, they can say a few words in Mandarin or Cantonese, but they’re only doing it to ap-pease voters. It’s very successful, and it’s very tactical.”

Just how successful the tac-

tic has been can be debated, but some say that the Conservatives have adopted it as a core elec-toral strategy. Since 2007, Kenney has appeared at hundreds of mul-ticultural events across Canada, specifically targeting various ethnic groups sympathetic to the Conservative message.

Immigrants and Conservatives: A perfect fit?To some that targeting makes perfect sense, especially for a party looking to make inroads in communities they weren’t part of before. That’s the view held by Russ Campbell, a prominent conservative writer who lives in Burlington, Ontario. He says that the recent push by the Con-servatives is just part of a larger, broader strategy to get into com-munities that aren’t traditionally considered strongholds of con-servatism.

Campbell also sees the recent cooperation between the Con-servatives and some members of the immigrant community as a good fit, and thinks that religious faith has something to do with it.

“If you’re talking about the recent past, the immigrants tend to be more religious, especially those that come from South East Asia,” Campbell elaborates. “In general, conservative people tend to be more religious.”

This is part one of a two-part ar-ticle. In our next issue, Tim Reinert interviews nDp Immigration Critic Don Davies, and explores specific legislation proposed since the Con-servative majority was won.

J

Advertise in the Source newspaper or on the Source website!

Telephone: (604) 682-5545 Email: info@thelasource.com

Courting the immigrant vote has become a raison-d'être of the Conservatives.

Jason Kenney.

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8 The Source Vol 12 No 25 | March 6–20, 2012

Kids hang out in the atrium of Woodwards.

Letterpress studio at W2 Media Centre. The renovated Save-On-Meats.

a logging skid road leading to the Hastings Sawmill on the wa-terfront, and the Woodward's Department Store which was es-tablished at Hastings and Abbott in 1903. Designated a heritage building in 1996, the Woodwards building was revitalized in recent years to include market and non-market housing, along with com-mercial, retail, and institutional arts space. It also houses the W2 Media Cafe.

With its recent revitalization, the iconic "W," which disappeared from Vancouver's skyline was set back atop the new Woodward's building in 2010. Perhaps it is a symbol of the Downtown East-side's slowly regaining a sense of balance, with one foot in history and the other stepping forward.

Photo Mosiac by Jan Hilario

One of the oldest communities in Vancouver, the Downtown Eastside is the quintessential example of resilience through changing times. Its boundaries have shifted over the years, but the area is now generally ac-cepted to be within the bounds of the Burrard Inlet to the north, Hastings Street to the south, Clark Drive to the east, and Main Street to the west.

Community Portrait

Downtown Eastside

Described as the poorest postal code in Canada, the area is stamped with the face of crime, homelessness and sub-stance abuse, and has been the topic of political debates. Si-multaneously, it wears the face of diversity and pride of a com-munity steeped in history and pivotal to the development of Vancouver.

The Downtown Eastside's development is shaped by mul-tiple industrial, commercial, and residential purposes, and is home to many iconic areas of Vancouver. It includes Gore Street, which was originally

Breakdancers at the W2 Media Cafe opening.

Customers at Save-on-Meats.

Downtown Eastside residents.Holland Block at Water and Cordova.

Visit The Source online for:. Archives of past ar�cles. Our special web edi�on. PDF of our latest issue. More photos

You can also comment on our website, follow us on Twi�er or like us on Facebook.

twi�er: @thelasource facebook: thelasource

www.thelasource.com

The Source 9Vol 12 No 25 | March 6–20, 2012

epresenting and practicing Islam can, sometimes, be dif-

ficult for Muslims immigrating to the West and adapting to a completely different culture and lifestyle, such as Muslim women who have chosen to wear the 'hi-jab' (veil).

Rby  dina aBdEL-haq

Combating misconceptions about Islam and the hijab through dialogue and discussion

My veil is my freedom.Saba Sajid, Muslim student at SFU

Muslim student wears the hijab while reading a book.

to discuss her religion and beliefs with other students. This has fos-tered a greater dialogue, respect, and understanding and it has al-lowed her to become friends with the people she interacts with.

“Dialogue is important, it goes beyond superficial talks,” says Rashid. He believes that Muslim women should be approached and asked in order to understand the reasons behind the choices that they make.

He says lectures like the one the B.C. Muslim Association re-cently held on the issue of the hijab, lead to an intense and en-gaging discussion with many walking away with a lot of gained knowledge on the issue.

In addition, Rashid mentions that UBC had organized an Islam awareness week held by the Mus-lims Student Association, where Muslim women gave very detailed accounts on the issue of the hijab and their modest clothing.

Sajid admits to being mar-ginalized in the work force due to the fact that she wears a veil. Although she admits that most are keen on granting her an in-terview based on her impres-sive CV, once they meet her they are shocked and disappointed at what they see, “I've applied for a position where they've been impressed with my CV until they see my face.”

Rashid admits that given the vast needs of the Muslim com-munity integrating into Western society, it is an “…ongoing chal-

veil are not illiterate, backwards, or forced to stay at home.

“That's what people see when they see my veils,” says Sajid.

On the other hand, she states that her brother, husband, and father have all encouraged her to pursue an education which she has excelled in, allowing her to obtain a scholarship at SFU. She

Although it can be a challenge, the several Islamic organizations in Vancouver and around British Columbia, such as the B.C. Muslim Association, the Woman's Chap-ters, and the Muslim Students Associations at UBC are working towards providing their people with the support system to prac-tice their own religious beliefs while integrating into Canadian society.

“My veil is my freedom,” is the message Saba Sajid, a Muslim woman studying at SFU, would like to share with those who question the role and function of the veil.

Her veil has been compared to a Halloween costume, in addition she has been called dergatory names such as 'ninja.' Contrary to popular belief and what the media conveys, she explains that the veil is not a form of oppres-sion by the male figures in her life. In addition, she states that women who choose to wear the

recalls an incident in her previ-ous school in Montreal where a teacher attempted but failed to stop her from taking a communi-cations class simply because she believed the veil would hinder her ability to truthfully repre-sent herself to her classmates.

Aasim Rashid, director of re-ligion and Islamic education at the BC Muslim association has pointed out that a lot of people do not know the significance of the veil. He blames it on a lack of education.

“Some of them have misgivings on what the veil represents,” says Rashid.

However, he believes that Mus-lim women are doing a fine job discussing this issue with those who are not too eager to pass judgement, but are willing to learn and understand.

Sajid admits that wearing the veil brings her unnecessary at-tention wherever she goes, but at university platforms she is able

lenge.” On the issue of hate crimes, Rashid mentions that there could be isolated case every now and then.

“Hate crimes [are] a very seri-ous thing, over the time [they take] place. [They have] seri-ous repercussion[s] in our com-

munity,” says Rashid. On occa-sion mosques and schools get vandalized, however, he states that Vancouverites are open and welcoming and more interested in learning about Islam as “…op-posed to being averse towards the idea and concepts of Islam.”

“

Downtown Eastside residents.

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10 The Source Vol 12 No 25 | March 6–20, 2012

Local festival celebrateswomen filmmakersby  maRJo PEkonEn

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Canadian Celtic Connections

he 7th Annual Women in Film Festival kicks off on In-

ternational Women's Day at Van-city Theatre. More than 50 films will be screened from March 8–11 and all of them are made by women.

Besides screening films, the festival will also offer free net-working events and panel dis-cussions.

egend has it that when St. Patrick returned to Ireland

as a Bishop in 432 AD, he used the shamrock to explain the Trinity of God to the Irish. Lit-tle did he know the tiny green leaf would become an iconic symbol for much more than the explanation of the divine, it would become an emblem every March 17 when people can don green and pretend to be Irish. But year-round there are people in the community who are proponents of keeping the true Celtic traditions alive and available to everyone.

Maura De Freitas is publish-er of the Celtic Connection, a monthly newspaper connect-ing the various Celtic commu-nities across western Canada and the U.S. Pacific Northwest.

She says her deep appre-ciation for Irish heritage came from her father, who was born in Northern Ireland and immi-grated to Canada in the early 1950s. She says he had a great love for everything Irish – literature, art, and music.

With these sentiments firm-ly engrained in her heart, Mau-ra and her mother, Catholine Butler, founded the newspa-per in 1991. Through the Celtic Connection, Maura is ensuring that Irish culture thrives and its traditions and heritage are recognized and preserved.

The Source: Tell us about your background, your publication, and your own Celtic connection.

Maura De Freitas: I learned that during the Dark Ages, Ireland was a light for Europe where art and culture flourished in the abbeys and monasteries. Ireland stood as a beacon of learning dur-ing the sixth to the ninth cen-turies, a time of European anarchy after the fall of the Roman Empire. During that period, Ireland's scholars kept

by  samuEL Ramos

Most festivals reward men's films and don't show women's work.Lulu Keating, movie director“

work. And when it comes to big-ger budgets, there are few wom-en who can attract the financing. We need to change this,” says Keating.

The upcoming festival pro-vides women filmmakers the possibility to create their own connections with their col-leagues.

“The Women in Film Festival is always a fantastic celebration of female filmmakers and their

learning alive and Irish monks founded monasteries all over the Continent.

I was inspired by these sto-ries – and the imagery it evoked – about the artistic masterpieces created by Irish artisans, and the literary richness of Ireland. We were encouraged to read and given the opportunity to learn about the mythology, folklore, and the musi-cal traditions of our forefathers.

Both Catholine and myself are very passionate about the Celtic

“It [the festival] was established in 2006 to give women a venue to screen their work,” says Rosyln Muir, the festival director.

She says statistics show that at major festivals like TIFF and VIFF, less than 25 per cent of directors are women.

Tracy D. Smith, director of the film Everything and Everyone, says it is difficult being a woman filmmaker.

films. It is an incredible oppor-tunity to meet other filmmakers, connect with the audience and feel a sense of community,” says Smith.

The Vancouver Women in Film Festival screens and rewards the women's work and also offers the audience a wide variety of movie experiences.

“This year we had a lot of sub-missions from women who are working in the horror-thriller-suspense genres,” says Muir.

“The films have taken a darker turn, but we still have variety such as drama, comedy and doc-umentary. Also, new this year is the Yukon program, a series of short films about women in the North, including Aboriginal sto-ries.”

“All our films are great, but check out Oh, Sushi a documen-tary about a Japanese-Canadian mother and daughter and their relationship to sushi,” adds Muir.

She also recommends that viewers watch The Hotel Swooni, which is a comedy film from the Netherlands.

For more information, visit www.womeninfilm.ca

“It is so incredibly difficult to be a filmmaker that sometimes you question if you are having challenges because it's simply so hard or if it is also compounded because of sexism,” says Smith.

“It may not even be blatant, cal-culated prejudice against women, but rather something much more subtle like men hiring or recog-nizing other men because they are their buddies rather than giv-ing an opportunity to a stranger who is a woman.”

Lulu Keating, a movie director and the curator of the Wise + Wild

– Showcase of Short Films from the Yukon, says that according to sta-tistics women are not even get-ting 50 per cent of screen time.

“Most festivals reward men's films and don't show women's

sions and bring communities together in celebration.

TS: As the Celtic community doesn't seem to be as strong in Vancouver as in eastern Canada, why is this community impor-tant to Vancouver's identity?

MDF: I suppose one reason that comes to mind initially is how young this province and city really is. In eastern Cana-da there are very deep histori-cal roots going back to the first settlers in this great country. Here in western Canada we are at times truly viewed as one of the last frontiers.

There is so much opportu-nity here and we live in one of the most beautiful parts of the world, so there is much to evolve [as a] community.

Vancouver is a jewel on the Pacific coast and I think the word is out increasingly among the young Irish arrivals who are now flocking to our shores. Their presence is bound to al-ter the cultural landscape.

Having said that, if you look at the history of B.C., the Irish have made enormous contri-butions in the past, including four Irish-born premiers and another of Irish parentage.

TS: What single piece of advice would you give to your com-munity in helping it stay strong and true to its roots?

MDF: One piece of advice I was given as a very young child – never forget your history. Em-brace your past, make peace with your past, [and] never for-get who you are or from where you are descended....otherwise you are [in] danger of getting lost and repeating the same mistakes of the past. Having said this, we must live and hon-our the present, as that is how we are in a position to give something to the future.

This is a condensed version of the original interview.

Connection and it was this dedi-cation which helped the paper not only to survive but to grow and evolve. We have built a great deal of trust with a diverse com-munity where there was initially a great deal of suspicion. We have worked to help unify the Irish, Scots, Welsh, and English com-munities in western Canada.

TS: What other Celtic or Irish tra-ditions are lesser known, but im-portant around March 17?

MDF: While the celebrations associated with this feast have become internationally recog-nized and have been a wonder-ful opportunity to highlight the warmth and fun-loving spirit of the Irish, it has also sadly created many misconceptions about Irish people in general.

I was not surprised to read recently that according to a new survey, over half of Americans are unaware that St. Patrick was the patron saint of Ireland. They were stumped when asked what the festivities were all about.

Having said that, March 17 has become synonymous with all things Irish and that has brought great opportunity to heal divi-

Maura De Freitas.

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The Source 11Vol 12 No 25 | March 6–20, 2012

VANCOUVER CHAMBER CHOIR ON TOUR!

VANCOUVER CHAMBER CHOIR TOURS NEW BRUNSWICK,

MAINE, NOVA SCOTIA MARCH 2012

Fredericton | Saint JohnBangor | Portland

Antigonish | Wolfville | Lunenburg | Halifax

In March 2012 the internationally acclaimed Vancouver Chamber Choir will visit New Brunswick, Maine and Nova Scotia on their tour A CHORAL PANORAMA. In 41 years the Vancouver Chamber Choir has undertaken over 80 tours, from Moscow to Beijing, from Whitehorse to Guanajuato!

Featuring Canadian and international composers, the tour programme has the season's greatest variety of music for a cappella fans, providing a panorama of choral styles, moods and flavours. Tickets are available in advance and at the door for all performances. Please contact local presenters for details. The Vancouver Chamber Choir will perform:

March 1 – Fredericton, NB, The Playhouse presented by The Fredericton Playhouse

March 2 – Saint John, NB, Imperial Theatre presented by Imperial Theatre

March 3 – Bangor, Maine, St. John's Episcopal Church presented by Collins Center for the Arts

March 4 – Portland, Maine, Merrill Hall presented by Portland Ovations

March 6 – Antigonish, NS, St. Ninian's Cathedral presented by Antigonish Performing Arts Series

March 7 – Wolfville, NS, Festival Theatre presented by Acadia Performing Arts Series

March 9 – Lunenburg, NS, St. John's Anglican Church presented by St. Cecilia Concert Series

March 10 – Halifax, NS, St. Patrick's Church presented by St. Cecilia Concert Series

RepertoireThomas Weelkes – As Vesta was from

Latmos hill descendingThomas Weelkes – When David heard

Andrea Gabrieli – MagnificatJohann Sebastian Bach – Komm, Jesu, komm

John Tavener – The LambR. Murray Schafer – A Medieval Bestiary

Robert Ingari – Deux chansons de Paul VerlaineJon Washburn – Dona nobis pacemElecto Silva – Three Cuban SongsDavid Willcocks – Five Folksongs

About the Vancouver Chamber ChoirIn addition to touring, the Vancouver Chamber Choir presents a full concert season, broadcasts and recordings, and offers highly acclaimed educational programs including the National Conductors' Symposium for advanced choral conductors, Focus! for college and university music students, Interplay workshops for choral composers, OnSite for elementary and secondary schools, the biennial Young Composers' Competition, and residencies such as the Banff Choral Workshop at The Banff Centre in the Rockies.

International Women’s Day is happening this March, and as such, events centred around the theme of women abound, like Women in Trousers, ANU 10: the Mother and Crimson Cabaret. Other notable events include Workshop: Reconstruction after Japan’s Triple Disaster, Coastal First Nations Dance Festival, and more.

* * *Wade Davis on the Sacred HeadwatersTuesday, March 6, 7 p.m.–9 p.m.SFU Woodwards149 W. Hastings St., Vancouvermelyssa.rubino@gmail.comwww.forestethics_wadedavis-eorg.eventbrite.ca/?ebtv=C

Canadian anthropologist and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Wade Davis will celebrate the launch of his new book. Davis will speak about a valley located in Northern BC, called Sacred Headwaters by the First Nations. The discus-sion will touch on the country’s cultural heritage, its beauty, the threats to it and the response of native groups and other inhabit-ants of the community. Tickets: $12 adults, $10 students, $15 at the door. The book will be available at the event for purchase as well.

* * *A Room in the City: Photographs by Gabor GasztonyiTuesday, March 6, 7 p.m.New Westminster Public Library511 Royal Ave., New Westminster604-527-4660www.nwpl.ca

New Westminster photographer Gabor Gasztonyi will present and discuss the photographs he has taken of residents of the Down-town Eastside, which has been compiled into a book, A Room in the City. Open to the public, but pre-registration required.

* * *Change in Early ChinaWednesday, March 7, 12 p.m.–1 p.m.Langara CollegeRm. C509, 100 W. 49th Ave., Vancouver604-323-5981www.langara.bc.ca

Three Langara instructors will speak about their findings on a research project about early Chi-na from the point of view of three disciplines: archaeology, history and religion. They will report some of their findings on Bronze-age traditions, pottery figures, mortuary practices and some un-studied Sanskrit inscriptions in China. Open to the public.

* * *Women in Trousers: What a Difference a Pair of Pants Made!Thursday, March 8, 7 p.m.–8:30 p.m.SFU Harbour CentreRm. 2200, 515 W. Hastings St., Vancouver778-782-5000www.herstorycafe.ca

An illustrated talk by Alexandra Henriques, an educator and ac-tivist. Henriques explores the history of women and trousers through the ages – from freedom of mobility, to survival strategies,

March 6–20, 2012

by phoebe yu

* * *Crimson CabaretSaturday, March 10, 6 p.m. Centennial Theatre2300 Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver604-984-6009www.northshorewomen.ca

An evening of dance, music and theatre. Featuring multicultural performers like M’Girl – Aborigi-nal Women’s Ensemble, Dusty Flowerpot Cabaret, Vancouver Academy of Dance's Chinese Dance Troupe, and more. Silent auction starts at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. All proceeds go to North Shore Women’s Cen-tre. Tickets $31 in advance, $35 at the door. Students and children $16. Group tickets available.

* * *IgnoranceUntil March 10The Cultch Theatre1895 Venables St., Vancouver604-683-0497www.thecultch.com

Part of the Talking Stick Festi-val, a celebration of Aboriginal performance and art. Ignorance is a puppet documentary about prehistoric humanity. The Old Trouts will explain where we went wrong and how to find our way again. See website for show times. Tickets from $14-$38.

* * *Joan Brander’s Pysanky WorkshopMarch 12–21Baba’s Beeswax Studio3591 Springfield Dr., Richmond604-275-8169www.babasbeeswax.com

Celebrate Easter the Ukrainian

way by learning how to make pysanky, or Ukrainian Easter eggs. The workshops are taught by author Joan Brander, who also has widespread experience teaching the art of pysanky-mak-ing. See website for details. Tick-ets $25.

* * *Workshop: Reconstruction After Japan’s Triple DisasterMarch 14–16UBC C.K. Choi BuildingRm. 120, 1855 W. Mall, Vancouver604-822-4688www.iar.ubc.ca

This three-day workshop ex-plores the lessons learned and the tasks still to be done a year after Japan’s earthquake, tsuna-mi and nuclear disaster. Speak-ers will include representatives from UBC’s Centre for Japanese Research, Kyoto University’s

to fashion and political state-ments. Free admission, but drop in only. Spaces limited.

* * *Coastal First Nations Dance FestivalMarch 8–March 11UBC Museum of Anthropology6393 N.W. Marine Dr., Vancouver604-684-2787www.damelahamid.ca

The Dancers of Damelahamid are a professional Aboriginal dance company from the northwest coast of BC. The dance groups from BC, the Yukon, Alaska and Washington State who represent the Northwest Indigenous peo-ples of North America will show-case their rich cultural traditions in songs, stories and dances. See website for schedule. Tickets: $25 adults, $20 students/seniors/MOA members.

Disaster Prevention Research Institute, BC’s own emergency management officials, and more. See website for schedule. Free and open to the public. RSVP re-quired.

* * *ANU 10: The MotherThursday, March 15, 8 p.m.Roundhouse Performance Centre181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver604-805-2252www.mothertonguemedia.com/anu.htm

ANU is an annual gathering of es-tablished and emerging, contem-porary, traditional and multicul-tural artists from the disciplines of dance, music, visual arts and the spoken word. Each artist can only perform when the spotlight shines on them, and otherwise must be still. Tickets: $15 adults, $12 students / seniors.

* * *Syria, A journey for FreedomSaturday, March 17Exhibition: 3:30 p.m.–6 p.m.Main program: starting 6 p.m.Vancouver Public Library,Combined Alma and Peter room345 Robson St, Vancouverfreesyrian.vancouver@gmail.com

The Syria Free Society, BC chap-ter, in partnership with Amnesty international and the Lebanese, Libyan and Egyptian communi-ties in BC, mark the first anni-versary of the Syrian Revolution. From 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., visit Children Drawing Freedom, an exhibition of art by Syrian chil-dren and artists reflecting on the crisis in Syria. Speakers, dis-cussion, musical performances, and refreshments will follow at 6:00 p.m.

The Dancers of Damelahamid.

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12 The Source Vol 12 No 25 | March 6–20, 2012

The demolition of the Farmer Building (foreground of pic-ture) at the corner of Robson and Granville has uncovered the past while making way for the future. Exposed on the Power Block Building beside it is a rare painted movie sign ad-vertising the 1922 Harold Lloyd comedy Grandma’s Boy. We can see a finger in a red circle pointing to the movie’s loca-tion across the street where the original Capitol Theatre was located from 1921 until the mid-1970s. This 90 year old sign, only recently uncovered, was hidden away after the Farmer Building was constructed in 1922, the same year as the film. It will have another brief ex-posure until the Power Block Building is completely demol-ished except for its facade.

As we can read on the build-ing’s heritage plaque, the Pow-er Block was originally con-structed as a saloon in 1888 for Captain William Power, “the mayor” of North Vancouver’s Moodyville (the oldest settle-ment on Burrard Inlet). It was first expanded and renovated in 1911. In 1929, the same ar-chitects of Vancouver City Hall, Townley & Matheson, added the rare art deco facade which features colourful terra cotta with Egyptian overtones.

Next to the Power Block is the home of the Source Newspa-per, the art deco/art moderne

Medical Arts Building (1922–23) by Maurice Helyer. He also built the historic Dominion Trust Building (1908-10) located on Vic-tory Square with his father J.S. Helyer. The Medical Arts Building

Street Photography by Denis Bouvier

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“Verbatim" from page 1

features one of the few remain-ing brass and copper paneled el-evators in Canada. It also has the area’s first geothermal heating system with 72 wells under the parking lot next door that funnel

water into the system. For now, the home of the Source

Newspaper is safe but it will be sad to see the loss of another historic building like the Power Block, except for its wonderful

façade. Both the Power Block and Farmer Building will be re-placed by a 5-storey retail and office building.

Don Richardson

Laughter is, indeed, the best medicine for Laetitia.

Unfortunately, ‘it’ didn’t pass. All eyes were still on me. They seemed to shout: “Shoot her! Shoot her!” Amazed by the turn of events, I imagined a defence:

“Your Honour, ladies and gentle-men from the jury, I ask you to kindly forgive my crime – for apparently this is the matter at hand – and in my defence, I want to present you with miti-gating circumstances that I hope you will consider. You see, I come from a country far away, and more specifically from a wild place commonly known as ‘Ile-de-France’ by the natives. People there fight nearly to the death every day to get a seat on the RER B (suburban train). Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I erred. The fault is grave, but I would like to assure you that it wasn’t done intentionally. Conse-quently, I cry for mercy and beg you not to quarter me.”

Eventually, red with shame and obviously short of argu-ments, I got off the Skytrain at the next station, like a fugitive trying to hide from the rest of the world.

Translation Natalie Tarkowska

minor incident if a second one hadn’t appeared. Now I was nervous. In fact, I almost landed in jail. Thank goodness we live in the 21st century, otherwise I think I would have endured quartering and hanging.

I was on Granville Street heading towards the platform to take the Skytrain, when sud-denly, I heard the train coming. There it was, already stopped. I ran and managed to reach the platform even as I heard the warning signal that the doors were about to close. Instinc-tively, I blocked the doors and rashly entered the train. I acted on impulse. I didn’t even think about it.

In France everybody does it, and nobody is shocked by it anymore. I had barely recov-ered my wits, and then looking up, horror: I was faced with dozens of reproving stares, as if I had committed the most aw-ful act of infamy. I told myself that it would pass. I decided to just stand there with a vacant look, because of course in these situations there is never a seat available.