daylight saving time: did we really understand what we were choosing?

It's November, and British Columbia has made a major change to how we keep time. We are moving to permanent daylight saving time, meaning no more changing our clocks twice a year.

But there's something about this decision that deserves a closer look.

Remember the provincial consultation in 2019?

The government reported that 93% of respondents supported staying on daylight saving time permanently.

That sounds fairly decisive. But what exactly were people asked?

The main survey presented two choices:

1. Continue changing clocks twice a year.
2. Stay on daylight saving time permanently.

There was a third option that wasn't included in the main survey: permanent standard time.

Why does that matter?

Because these choices have very different consequences, particularly during the winter months.

What does permanent daylight saving time mean for Vancouver?

Around the winter solstice in December, sunrise will be approximately 9:05 a.m., while sunset will be around 5:15 p.m.

Think about that for a moment.

Children getting ready for school in darkness. Parents heading to work before the sun comes up. People commuting, walking, cycling and waiting for buses in the dark well into the morning.

Yes, we gain more light in the evening, but we also push morning daylight later.

There were actually three choices worth comparing:

• Permanent daylight saving time: darker mornings, lighter evenings.
• Permanent standard time: brighter mornings, earlier sunsets.
• Changing clocks twice a year: the system we previously had.

Sleep researchers have also raised concerns about permanent daylight saving time because standard time more closely follows our natural circadian rhythms.

So here's my question.

If the government wanted public input, why weren't all three options presented equally?

Why weren't people shown actual sunrise and sunset times for December, January and June?

Why wasn't there a simple visual comparison showing what daily life would look like under each option?

A survey can produce a very impressive percentage, but the quality of a public decision depends on the information people receive before answering.

This isn't about blaming people for choosing what sounded appealing. Most of us like sunshine after work. I certainly understand that.

But there's a difference between asking people whether they want more evening daylight and helping them understand that winter mornings could remain dark until after 9 a.m.

Public consultation should mean informed participation, not simply choosing between the options put in front of us.

And perhaps that's the bigger lesson here.

When governments ask the public to make decisions that affect everyday life, shouldn't we be given the whole picture?

What do you think? Did you understand what permanent daylight saving time would mean for our winter mornings?

#BritishColumbia #DaylightSavingTime #PermanentDaylightSaving #PublicConsultation #GovernmentTransparency #Vancouver #WinterSunrise #CircadianRhythm #PublicInterest #InformedChoices

 

TransLink: $173 if you don't pay, but what if your vending machine won't let you?

There is another side to this Compass Card vending machine problem that TransLink needs to address.

If you travel on the SkyTrain without proof of payment, you can receive a $173 fare infraction ticket.

That's not a small penalty for someone living on a limited income.

In fact, TransLink has been increasing fare enforcement patrols. Many of us remember the enforcement blitzes a couple of years ago, when Transit Police and security personnel were checking passengers throughout the system.

TransLink said its August 2024 enforcement campaign was intended to reduce fare evasion and recover an estimated $5 million annually in lost fares.

I understand that public transportation costs money to operate. I understand that people who can afford to pay should pay their fares.

But here is my question:

What happens when a passenger actually wants to pay, has the money in their pocket, but the Compass vending machine won't accept it?

I have now experienced this twice.

Both times, my toonies wouldn't work in the machine. Both times, I ended up having to put in a $20 bill.

The first time, I received $8 in Compass credit and only $4 back in change. I still don't know where the other $8 went.

What if I hadn't had a $20 bill?

What if I had only brought enough toonies and loonies for my trip?

Am I supposed to risk travelling without proof of payment because the machine won't accept my money?

And if a Transit Police officer checks my fare, am I expected to explain that TransLink's own equipment wouldn't let me purchase one?

Would that explanation protect me from a $173 fine?

This is where the system needs to be examined.

TransLink cannot place the entire responsibility on passengers while ignoring the reliability of its own payment infrastructure.

If fare enforcement is important enough to warrant increased patrols, surely maintaining working payment machines is equally important.

I want an investigation into:

• How many Compass vending machines are rejecting coins?
• How often are customers losing money through failed transactions?
• Are machines being regularly tested?
• Is there a process to protect passengers who cannot purchase a ticket because of equipment failure?
• What instructions are Transit Police given when a passenger reports a malfunctioning machine?
• How many complaints have been received about coin acceptance and incorrect change?

And most importantly, what happens to someone who genuinely cannot afford another $20 bill?

We have people living in poverty, seniors counting their pennies, students trying to get to school, and people struggling to get to work.

Public transit is supposed to be accessible.

It shouldn't become a situation where the passenger faces a $173 penalty for something that may be caused by TransLink's own equipment.

Accountability has to work both ways.

If passengers are expected to follow the rules, TransLink must ensure its machines work, its payment systems are reliable and people have a fair opportunity to pay.

I am asking for a formal investigation and a public response.

Because $173 is a lot of money when you're already struggling to get by.

And so is $20 when it's the only cash you have.

TransLink, we need answers.

#TransLink #CompassCard #VancouverTransit #TransitPolice #FareEnforcement #PublicTransportation #Poverty #Accessibility #Accountability #CostOfLiving

TransLink, where does the change go?

 

TransLink, where does the change go? An investigation into Compass Card vending machines

Dear TransLink,

We need to talk about your Compass Card vending machines.

Twice now, I have experienced problems trying to use coins to load my Compass Card.

The first time, the machine would not accept my toonies. I eventually had to put in a $20 bill. The machine credited $8 to my Compass Card and returned only $4 in change. That left $8 unaccounted for in the transaction.

Now, it has happened again. I couldn't get the machine to work with my change, and once again I had to resort to putting in a $20 bill.

What exactly is going on?

Your own website advertises that Compass vending machines accept coins and bills up to $20.

But what happens to someone who only has change?

What happens to a senior living on a limited pension, a student, someone receiving income assistance, or someone who has carefully budgeted their last few dollars for transportation?

Not everyone carries a debit or credit card. Not everyone has a $20 bill. And not everyone can afford to have their money tied up in a malfunctioning vending machine.

There is something particularly frustrating about a machine that won't accept the very coins it is advertised to accept, leaving customers to break a $20 bill and potentially receive more unusable coins in return.

This is not a minor inconvenience. It is an accessibility and affordability issue.

Public transportation is an essential service. It connects people to employment, medical appointments, grocery stores, education and family.

For people already struggling financially, every dollar matters.

We talk constantly about making public transportation accessible, encouraging people to leave their cars at home and providing affordable alternatives.

Yet here we are, with payment machines that may prevent people from using the payment method they actually have available.

And let's consider the bigger picture.

Vancouver is experiencing an affordability crisis. People are living on extremely limited incomes. Some are homeless. Others are working multiple jobs and still struggling to get by.

Why should accessing public transportation become another obstacle?

I am requesting a formal investigation.

I want TransLink to:

1. Investigate why Compass vending machines are rejecting $2 coins and other coins.
2. Examine whether this is an isolated problem or occurring across multiple stations.
3. Audit the machines' coin acceptance, change dispensing and transaction records.
4. Explain what happens to money when a machine fails to accept coins or returns incorrect change.
5. Identify how customers can recover money lost through these malfunctions.
6. Explain what maintenance and quality-control procedures are in place.
7. Provide a timeline for correcting any recurring problems.

I also want to know who is accountable.

TransLink is governed by a Board of Directors, chaired by Allan Seckel, and its CEO is Kevin Quinn.

I would like this complaint brought to the attention of both management and the Board.

I am not interested in being told simply to use another payment method.

I want the machines to do what TransLink says they are supposed to do.

A question for TransLink:

If someone arrives at a SkyTrain station with nothing but a handful of toonies and loonies, are they supposed to be able to purchase their fare?

Or has public transportation quietly become another service that works best for people who have bank accounts, credit cards and enough money to absorb the inconvenience when something goes wrong?

People who are already struggling financially should not have to fight a vending machine to access public transportation.

Please investigate this. And please explain where our money is going.

A public transit system should serve the public. All of the public.

This is not just about a few coins. It is about accessibility, accountability and treating people with dignity.

 

peace begins with how we treat one another

There is something worth thinking about in the recent controversy surrounding the Nobel Peace Prize.

Donald Trump wanted the Nobel Peace Prize. He made no secret of it. When the 2026 prize was awarded to South African jurist Navi Pillay instead, his reaction became another public spectacle.

But let's put the award aside for a moment.

What does it mean to be a leader? And what kind of example are we setting for future generations?

Professionalism, manners, ethics and respect aren't old-fashioned ideas. They are the foundations of how we live together, how we resolve disagreements and how we build trust.

You don't have to agree with someone to treat them with dignity. You don't have to like a decision to respond with grace. And you certainly don't have to resort to insults, profanity or personal attacks when things don't go your way.

In fact, that's when character matters most.

Leadership comes with responsibility. The words of people in positions of power travel much further than ordinary conversations. They are heard by children, repeated by supporters, reported around the world and sometimes adopted as acceptable behaviour.

What happens when the people at the top demonstrate that it's perfectly acceptable to insult someone who disagrees with you, belittle an individual who receives recognition instead of you, or publicly disparage an entire country because you didn't get what you wanted?

What are young people supposed to learn from that?

We spend so much time talking about bullying in schools, respectful workplaces, online harassment and teaching children to manage their emotions. Yet the behaviour of influential adults can undermine those very lessons.

We cannot teach respect while modelling disrespect.

And there's an irony in campaigning for a Nobel Peace Prize while responding to disappointment with hostility and insults.

Peace isn't simply the absence of war. It requires diplomacy, patience, listening, compromise, accountability and the ability to disagree without turning another person into an enemy.

It requires recognizing that other people have dignity, even when they don't give us what we want.

Nobody expects world leaders to be perfect. They are human, and they will make mistakes. But professionalism also means knowing when to step back, consider your words and take responsibility for your actions.

An apology can demonstrate more leadership than a thousand speeches.

The Nobel Peace Prize is not a popularity contest or a participation trophy. It represents a particular ideal: the work of bringing people and nations closer to peace.

Perhaps we should all be asking ourselves a simple question:

If we want future generations to build a more peaceful world, shouldn't the adults leading today's world demonstrate what that actually looks like?

You cannot demand respect while refusing to show it.

You cannot build bridges while constantly burning them.

And it's pretty difficult to create peace when your first response to disappointment is to swear at people.

Peace begins with how we treat one another. That lesson shouldn't be too difficult for any of us to understand.

 

when you need a phone to get help, who helps the people without one?

The hidden cost of accessing government services in Canada.

I learned something about the telephone system the hard way.

During the CERB confusion, when Canadians were being told to call the government for answers, I tried. Again and again.

You would finally get connected, only to be told to wait. Seventeen minutes, sometimes longer.

At the time, I had a mobile plan that cost me $50 a month. It included just 100 daytime minutes and 1 MB of data.

Think about that.

I could spend a significant portion of my monthly calling allowance simply waiting for someone at a government department to answer a question.

And what if I got disconnected?

What if I needed to call back?

What if I couldn't afford another month of service?

My phone situation has only recently changed. Between 2019 and this year, I spent much of my time in Mexico with my phone on airplane mode. I was barely using it, but maintaining access to a phone in Canada was still another expense.

That experience got me thinking about something much bigger.

what about people who don't have a phone?

We increasingly expect people to manage their lives through technology.

Apply for benefits online. Verify your identity. Receive a security code. Call a department. Download a document. Check an application. Wait for a callback.

But what happens when you are homeless?

Phones get lost, stolen, damaged or disconnected. People living outside may not have somewhere safe to charge a device. They may not have an internet connection, a permanent mailing address or money to maintain a monthly plan.

Some people don't have identification or the documents required to get through online verification.

Others simply cannot afford a phone.

And yet, these are often the very people who need government assistance most.

Imagine being hungry, sleeping outside and trying to apply for income assistance. You are told to call a number, but you have no phone.

Imagine finding a borrowed phone, getting through to an automated system, being placed on hold, and then losing the connection because the owner needs their phone back.

Imagine having to explain your circumstances repeatedly to different departments, none of which seems able to take responsibility for helping you.

How is someone supposed to get back on their feet under those circumstances?

technology is not the same thing as accessibility

We hear a lot about digital transformation, efficiency and modernizing government services.

Technology can certainly make services easier for some people.

But making something available online doesn't automatically make it accessible.

And replacing human assistance with automated systems doesn't necessarily save money if people cannot get the help they need.

The federal government's own reports have acknowledged barriers experienced by people who are homeless or living in poverty, including difficulties with telephone access, internet access, identity verification and obtaining documents.

These are not imaginary problems. They are known barriers.

Yet the responsibility for overcoming them is frequently left to the individual.

the hidden cost of waiting

There is another issue here: who pays for the time spent waiting?

If a government department has long telephone queues, the person calling may be paying for that time through their mobile plan.

Someone with unlimited calling might barely notice.

Someone with 100 minutes a month notices every minute.

Someone with a prepaid phone may run out of credit before reaching an actual person.

The department may record a call as answered or eventually completed, but that doesn't tell us what it cost the person trying to get help.

And this brings me back to the question of accountability.

We can measure call volumes, waiting times, customer satisfaction and service targets. But are we measuring how many people never get through at all?

How many abandon the call?

How many cannot call because they have no phone?

How many miss deadlines because they cannot access the system?

Those people may not appear in the department's customer-service statistics.

Their absence can make a broken system look more successful than it really is.

a basic right shouldn't depend on a monthly phone bill

I'm not suggesting that everyone needs a government-issued smartphone.

I'm suggesting that essential government services must have alternatives.

• Free telephone access to government departments.
• Call-back options that don't require people to remain on hold.
• In-person assistance for people who cannot use digital services.
• Community access points where people can use a phone, computer and scanner.
• Flexible identity verification for people without permanent addresses or conventional documents.
• A way to apply for and receive benefits without owning a smartphone.

And these alternatives need to be properly funded and available, not just listed on a government website.

who is being left out?

There is a difference between making a service available and making sure people can actually use it.

A person who is housed, employed and connected may never realize how many steps are involved in accessing assistance.

But take away the phone, the address, the internet, the identification and the money to maintain them.

Suddenly, even asking for help becomes an obstacle course.

We talk about reducing poverty, ending homelessness and helping people become independent.

But independence requires access.

You cannot tell someone to get back on their feet while putting essential services behind a wall of technology they cannot afford.

And perhaps the most important question is this:

If someone needs government assistance but cannot afford the technology required to access it, who is responsible for making sure they aren't left behind?

Government services are supposed to serve the public.

That includes the people without phones.

Because being poor should not mean being disconnected from the very services designed to help you.

#PovertyInCanada #Homelessness #DigitalDivide #GovernmentAccountability #CRA #CERB #SocialAssistance #DigitalAccessibility #HousingCrisis #LeaveNoOneBehind

the morning after halloween

 the morning after halloween

Halloween is over. Día de Muertos begins.

It was 5:30 in the morning, and I was still awake.

A friend's clock had been ticking all night. Apparently, he can not hear it anymore, but I certainly can. So, rather than lie there listening to every second pass, I decided to go for a little walk.

The streets were quiet. Halloween decorations still lingered, and the excitement of the previous evening had given way to the stillness of early morning.

Then I noticed a woman going through the recycling.

I'd seen her around before, carrying her belongings in grocery bags. This morning, she was looking for refundable cans.

I stopped for a moment.

There is something about seeing an elderly person searching through discarded bottles and cans that stays with you. Not because the person is doing anything wrong, but because you wonder how we have arrived at a place where this is how someone has to get through the day.

I thought about how easily circumstances could have been different for me.

Not long ago, I was struggling to figure out where I would live, how I would find work and how I would manage to keep going. A little help from family, a part-time cleaning job and an unexpected opportunity to get away have changed what the next few months look like.

Sometimes the distance between having a roof over your head and searching through recycling is smaller than people imagine.

I went back inside, and from the window I noticed movement in the alley across the street. There she was again, searching through another recycling bin.

At that very moment, a very long limousine rolled down the street.

I couldn't help noticing the contrast.

One person searching for a few refundable cans. Another travelling in a vehicle that probably cost more than most people's monthly rent.

Perhaps there was a perfectly ordinary explanation for the limousine. Maybe several people had hired it together. Still, the timing was something else.

And it got me thinking about the city I am about to leave.

Another familiar building is apparently facing redevelopment, with talk of towers reaching extraordinary heights. Neighbourhoods are changing, housing is becoming increasingly difficult to find, and even the everyday character of our streets seems to be shifting.

In six months, I wonder how much will have changed.

Will I recognise the neighbourhood? Will the familiar places still be there? What will happen to the people who are already struggling to find their place in it?

I'm leaving Vancouver for a while, and honestly, I'm looking forward to the change of scenery.

But before I go, I want to acknowledge something.

I am grateful.

Grateful for the family who stepped up when I needed help. Grateful for the part-time work that gives me a little breathing room. Grateful for a plane ticket, a bicycle, a few bananas and some honey.

Grateful for a lovely Halloween evening, the wonderful costumes, the decorated houses and the memories of taking my kid trick-or-treating years ago.

Grateful that the rain washed my murals clean and that, with the sunshine and high tide, they were looking beautiful again.

Grateful to be part of the Eastside Culture Crawl.

Grateful for a little message from my kid.

And grateful for Orion, visible in the early morning sky.

I will see that familiar constellation again in Mexico.

Today is Día de Muertos, a day for remembering, honouring and celebrating life. It seems an appropriate day to reflect on how fragile, unpredictable and precious our lives really are.

We spend so much time worrying about what comes next that sometimes we forget to notice what we have right now.

I don't know what Vancouver will look like when I return.

But I know this: nobody should have to search through rubbish bins to get by while we build taller towers and stretch our city further into the sky.

A city should be measured by more than its skyline.

It should also be measured by how it looks after the people who call it home.

For today, I'm counting my blessings, looking forward to the journey, and wishing everyone a little more kindness.

Happy Día de Muertos.

My Mother

Family

Family

My mom

#Vancouver #Kitsilano #HousingCrisis #Homelessness #DíaDeMuertos #Gratitude #Community #UrbanDevelopment #PeopleMatter #APlaceToCallHome

halloween in the floating village

 

halloween in the floating village: when the billionaires came ashore

October 31. Some years after the world as we knew it came to an end.

There were no trick-or-treaters knocking on doors this Halloween. There weren't many doors left to knock on, and nobody was selling bags of miniature chocolate bars.

The old world had changed.

The stock markets were silent. Governments had collapsed or become little more than memories. Banks, corporations and international supply chains that once seemed indestructible had disappeared. There were no paycheques, no mortgages, no shopping malls full of Halloween decorations, and certainly no one arguing about the price of pumpkin spice lattes.

People had other things to worry about.

Food. Water. Shelter. Staying warm.

And finding a way forward.

But something rather extraordinary had happened along the coast.

The cruise ships had come together.

One by one, enormous vessels that once carried thousands of holidaymakers around the world had been brought into sheltered waters. Yachts, ferries, old fishing boats and even a few extravagant megayachts joined them.

They were secured alongside one another, forming something that resembled a giant floating village.

It wasn't particularly pretty.

Some ships were rusting. Others had broken windows, faded paint and empty swimming pools. The enormous dining rooms that once served endless buffets had become communal kitchens.

The former luxury suites were now homes.

The decks had been transformed into gardens. Vegetables grew in enormous planters. Someone had figured out how to grow potatoes in recycled containers, while another group was experimenting with floating gardens.

The swimming pools? Some had become water storage. Others were being used for growing fish.

There were workshops, classrooms, a small medical centre and places where people could repair things rather than throw them away.

The old world had been very good at throwing things away.

This new one couldn't afford to.

And the billionaires?

Well, some had arrived with their enormous yachts, only to discover that a million-dollar vessel was not much use without fuel, a functioning supply chain or someone willing to maintain it.

A few had brought their crews. Others had arrived alone.

It didn't take long to discover that money wasn't particularly useful anymore.

Knowing how to repair an engine was.

Knowing how to grow food was.

Knowing how to work with other people was perhaps the most valuable skill of all.

There were no VIP decks. No exclusive restaurants. No priority boarding.

Everyone had something to contribute.

And if they didn't know how, someone taught them.

On Halloween evening, a group of children decorated the entrance to the floating village with lanterns made from old glass jars. Someone had carved a pumpkin, and a few others had managed to find enough fabric to make costumes.

There was a pirate, a mermaid, a rather convincing sea monster and one little boy dressed as a billionaire.

He wore an oversized suit, a cardboard crown and carried a toy yacht.

"Who are you supposed to be?" someone asked.

"A billionaire," he announced proudly.

"And what do you do?"

"I own everything!"

The adults laughed.

"Not anymore, you don't," someone called from the kitchen.

For a moment, everyone laughed a little harder than they probably should have.

Later, as the sun disappeared behind the coastline, the village lights began to glow. A few small solar systems powered the lanterns. Someone played music on an old guitar. The kitchen smelled of roasted vegetables, fresh bread and something resembling pumpkin soup.

Nobody was checking their bank balance.

Nobody was worrying about tomorrow's commute.

Nobody was trying to impress the neighbours.

They were simply grateful to be warm, fed and together.

Perhaps that was the strangest Halloween of all.

The monsters hadn't come out of the dark.

They had been part of the old world all along: greed, excess, indifference and the belief that there would always be more.

And somewhere, among the rusting cruise ships and newly planted gardens, people were beginning to discover that the world didn't need to be rebuilt exactly as it had been.

It could be rebuilt differently.

Happy Halloween from the floating village.

Sometimes the end of one world is the beginning of another.

when a graduation party becomes a public safety emergency

 

when a graduation party becomes a public safety emergency: where is the accountability?

There are some stories that leave me shaking my head, and this is one of them.

A graduation celebration aboard a charter boat in Vancouver's Burrard Inlet turned into a major emergency when a vessel carrying more than 150 students and chaperones ran aground near Maplewood Flats.

Thankfully, nobody was injured. The Coast Guard and marine rescue personnel came to the rescue, evacuating everyone safely.

But what initially sounded like a boating accident has taken a much more troubling turn.

According to the cruise operator's findings, someone allegedly removed the protective cage covering the emergency engine shut-off and activated the kill switch while the vessel was underway.

The engine stopped. The current pushed the boat off course, and the propeller struck a sandbar.

If this account is accurate, we're not talking about an unfortunate mechanical failure. We're talking about someone interfering with a safety mechanism on a passenger vessel carrying a boatload of young people.

And that brings me to some questions.

transportation investigation versus criminal investigation

The Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident. That's important, but a transportation safety investigation and a criminal investigation serve different purposes.

The TSB looks at what happened, why it happened and how similar incidents can be prevented.

Police investigate potential criminal conduct, identify suspects and determine whether charges are warranted.

So where does the police investigation stand?

The RCMP marine unit attended the original incident, but I haven't found confirmation that a separate criminal investigation has been opened.

If someone deliberately tampered with emergency equipment, shouldn't that be investigated?

Who removed the protective cage? Who activated the switch? Was it a prank? Was it intentional sabotage? Was anyone aware of what they were doing?

We don't know. And that's precisely why an investigation matters.

who pays for the rescue?

Let's talk about public resources.

A major marine rescue operation involving the Coast Guard and other emergency personnel was required to bring everyone to safety.

These services exist for emergencies. Nobody should hesitate to rescue people because of their financial circumstances, age, background or social status.

Every life matters.

But emergency services are not toys, and public resources are not unlimited.

There are people sleeping on Vancouver sidewalks tonight. People who cannot afford rent, food or basic necessities. People waiting for help, struggling to survive and wondering where they will sleep tomorrow.

Meanwhile, a graduation celebration involving well-resourced families required a substantial public emergency response.

I'm not suggesting those young people should have been left stranded. Absolutely not.

I'm asking whether the person responsible, if deliberate tampering is established, will be held accountable.

what are young people learning?

Graduation is supposed to mark a transition into adulthood.

It's a celebration of achievement, friendships, possibilities and the beginning of another chapter.

But adulthood also comes with responsibility.

A prank stops being funny when it puts 150 lives at risk.

An emergency switch is not a toy. A passenger vessel is not a playground. And the people operating it have a responsibility to keep everyone aboard safe.

If someone deliberately interfered with the vessel's safety equipment, there should be consequences appropriate to what the investigation establishes.

Being young doesn't mean being beyond accountability. Neither does having money, connections or influential parents.

And if nobody is identified, we still need to understand why this happened and what safeguards failed.

questions the public deserves answered

1. Has the RCMP opened a criminal investigation into the alleged tampering?
2. If not, why not?
3. Has anyone been interviewed or identified as a potential suspect?
4. Was the protective cage examined for fingerprints or other evidence?
5. Were passengers and crew interviewed?
6. Were security cameras or other recordings available?
7. Could the person responsible face criminal charges?
8. Who is paying for the emergency response?
9. What additional safety measures will be introduced?
10. Most importantly, what message are we sending if someone can potentially put more than 150 lives at risk and there is no meaningful accountability?

this isn't about privilege. it's about responsibility.

I am relieved that everyone made it home safely. I wouldn't wish that experience on anyone, and I'm certainly not blaming the graduates collectively.

But I don't think we should simply move on because nobody was hurt.

Sometimes we measure the seriousness of an incident by its outcome rather than by the potential consequences.

This time, everyone survived. That doesn't make the alleged actions any less serious.

Imagine if the current had been stronger, if the boat had struck something else, or if someone had gone overboard.

We could be having a very different conversation.

I want to know whether police are investigating, whether anyone will be held responsible and whether the public will receive some answers.

Because accountability shouldn't depend on who you are, how much money your family has or whether an incident makes the evening news.

A prank is only funny when everyone gets to go home safely.

And public safety deserves more than a shrug and a transportation report.

Vancouver #BurrardInlet #PublicSafety #Accountability #MarineSafety #RCMP

Happy Halloween

a halloween walk down memory lane in kitsilano 🎃

There is something rather magical about Halloween in Kitsilano.

Tonight, I decided to take a little trip down memory lane, revisiting some of the old neighbourhoods and houses where I used to take my kid trick-or-treating.

Oh, the memories!

The little feet running from house to house, the excitement of collecting candy, the costumes, the anticipation and the occasional negotiation over how much chocolate was an acceptable amount to eat before bedtime.

Some things never change.

I ran into a friend and decided to stay awhile to watch the little monsters arrive. And what a parade it was!

The creativity! The imagination!

There were Harry Potters, Wednesdays, witches, monsters, and a few characters that required a little detective work to identify.

I spotted what I think was Sulley from Monsters, Inc. — goodness, that movie is more than 20 years old now. Where does the time go?

There were four enormous axolotls (yes, four!), and one very impressive big frog. I'm not entirely sure what was happening in the amphibian department, but they were certainly making an appearance.

And the houses!

Some people really went all out. Elaborate decorations, spooky lighting, mysterious doorways, creepy creatures and enough cobwebs to make you wonder whether the homeowners had actually decorated or simply stopped cleaning in September.

Some front yards looked like the beginning of a particularly suspicious fairy tale.

I half expected a witch to invite me inside for tea, only to discover the teapot had other plans.

Walking through the neighbourhood, I couldn't help thinking about all those Halloweens years ago, when my own little trick-or-treater was part of the excitement.

The children have changed, the costumes have become more elaborate, and the decorations seem to get bigger every year. But the anticipation is still there.

For one evening, the neighbourhood belongs to the children, the imagination runs wild, and grown-ups get to play along.

Perhaps that's the real magic of Halloween.

You can grow older, but you're never too old to appreciate a good monster, a clever costume, a mysterious house or a little bit of mischief.

And if you happen to see four giant axolotls walking down the street, just smile and keep moving.

It's Halloween in Kitsilano. Apparently, anything is possible.

Happy Halloween, everyone! 🎃

 

quand on n’a plus les moyens de vivre dans son propre pays

Parfois, les histoires que nous rencontrons dans notre vie quotidienne nous obligent à nous arrêter et à réfléchir à ce qui se passe autour de nous.

Je me promène à vélo dans Vancouver, à la recherche de travail, d’un logement abordable et en essayant de trouver comment je vais pouvoir continuer à avoir un toit au-dessus de ma tête.

La semaine dernière, alors que je circulais à vélo, j’ai trouvé le portefeuille d’une femme.

Je l’ai ramassé, je me suis assurée qu’il retourne à sa propriétaire et, ce faisant, j’ai appris un peu de son histoire.

Cela m’a rappelé qu’il y a tant de personnes qui essaient simplement de joindre les deux bouts. Des personnes qui étudient, travaillent, jonglent avec leurs responsabilités et font tout leur possible pour se construire une vie ici.

Puis, j’ai lu un article du North Shore News au sujet d’une femme mexicaine vivant au Canada qui aurait promis à une autre femme mexicaine un emploi qui n’existait pas, en utilisant de faux documents d’emploi pour faciliter son arrivée au Canada.

Ce n’était pas la première fois que je tombais sur des histoires de ce genre.

J’ai déjà fait des recherches sur la fraude dans le domaine de l’éducation, les abus liés au Programme des travailleurs étrangers temporaires, les arnaques à l’immigration et l’exploitation des personnes qui viennent au Canada en croyant qu’un véritable emploi les attend.

Des gens se font exploiter de toutes sortes de façons.

Les nouveaux arrivants méritent des offres d’emploi honnêtes, un logement décent et une protection contre l’exploitation.

Les travailleurs canadiens méritent eux aussi des possibilités d’emploi équitables.

Les jeunes ne devraient pas avoir besoin de plusieurs emplois simplement pour survivre. Les travailleurs plus âgés ne devraient pas devenir invisibles. Et les personnes qui ont travaillé pendant presque toute leur vie ne devraient pas se retrouver confrontées à l’itinérance.

Mais je veux revenir à quelque chose de personnel.

Je lutte pour trouver un logement depuis 2019. Cela fait trois ans que je n’arrive pas à trouver un emploi régulier. J’ai 64 ans et, même si je devrais commencer à recevoir ma pension au début de l’année prochaine, elle ne sera pas suffisante pour louer un logement à Vancouver.

Alors, quelles options me reste-t-il?

Je ne veux pas devenir une autre personne sans domicile qui erre dans les rues la nuit, transportant toutes ses possessions dans des sacs d’épicerie.

Je pense à cette femme que j’ai vue dans les rues, transportant toutes ses affaires dans des sacs d’épicerie du magasin No Frills. Je l’ai vue dehors, allant d’un endroit à l’autre avec tout ce qu’elle possède dans ces sacs.

Je ne veux pas que ce soit mon avenir.

Je ne veux pas passer mes nuits à errer dans les rues, avec mes affaires dans des sacs d’épicerie, à essayer de trouver un endroit sûr et chaud.

Je ne veux pas devenir une autre personne que les gens croisent sans même la voir.

Je ne veux pas dormir dehors dans le froid, en me demandant où je serai en sécurité, où je trouverai de quoi manger ou si je réussirai à traverser un autre hiver.

J’ai peur. C’est la vérité.

Et c’est pour cela que je pars au Mexique.

Je visite le Mexique depuis 1997. J’aime les gens, la culture et les liens que j’y ai tissés. Je sais que ce n’est pas une solution magique et que vivre dans un autre pays comporte ses propres défis.

Mais j’ai la possibilité de trouver un endroit où vivre à un coût plus abordable, où mes revenus limités pourront aller un peu plus loin et où, je l’espère, je pourrai traverser les prochaines années sans perdre ma dignité.

Je n’aurais jamais imaginé qu’à 64 ans, je devrais quitter le Canada parce que je n’ai pas les moyens d’y vieillir.

Je ne veux pas laisser derrière moi mon art, mes écrits, ma communauté ni le pays où j’ai passé une si grande partie de ma vie.

Mais je ne veux pas non plus mourir dans une rue froide en attendant de recevoir ma pension.

Et je ne pense pas que qui que ce soit devrait avoir à faire ce choix.

quelques questions que nous devons nous poser

Pourquoi les personnes qui veulent travailler n’arrivent-elles pas à trouver un emploi?

Pourquoi les travailleurs plus âgés sont-ils mis de côté?

Pourquoi les jeunes doivent-ils cumuler plusieurs emplois simplement pour survivre?

Combien de nouveaux arrivants sont exploités au moyen de fausses offres d’emploi?

Qui surveille adéquatement le Programme des travailleurs étrangers temporaires?

Les employeurs et les consultants en immigration doivent-ils rendre des comptes lorsqu’ils exploitent des personnes vulnérables?

Pourquoi une personne qui a travaillé et contribué à la société pendant des années ne peut-elle pas se permettre un logement modeste à la retraite?

Qu’est-il arrivé à la promesse selon laquelle le travail acharné devait nous apporter une certaine sécurité?

Pourquoi considérons-nous le logement comme une occasion d’investissement plutôt que comme un besoin humain fondamental?

Quel genre de pays voulons-nous devenir?

Je ne blâme pas la femme qui est venue ici à la recherche d’une vie meilleure. Je ne blâme pas la jeune femme dont j’ai rapporté le portefeuille. Et je ne blâme pas non plus les personnes qui essaient simplement de survivre.

Je blâme un système qui semble de moins en moins capable de répondre aux besoins fondamentaux des gens ordinaires.

Nous pouvons accueillir les nouveaux arrivants tout en protégeant les travailleurs canadiens. Nous pouvons nous préoccuper des questions d’immigration tout en exigeant que les responsables rendent des comptes. Nous pouvons faire preuve de compassion envers tout le monde sans prétendre que tout fonctionne correctement.

J’aime le Canada. J’aime le Mexique.

Mais en ce moment, le Canada est devenu trop cher pour que je puisse encore l’appeler chez moi.

Et c’est une chose bien triste à devoir dire.

---

Mots-clés et hashtags

#LeLogementEstUnDroitHumain

#CriseDuLogementAuCanada

#Itinérance

#LogementAbordable

#RéformeDeLImmigration

#DroitsDesTravailleurs

#TravailleursÉtrangersTemporaires

#SécuritéÀLaRetraite

#CoûtDeLaVie

#DignitéPourTous

cuando no puedes permitirte vivir en tu propio país

 cuando no puedes permitirte vivir en tu propio país

A veces, las historias que encontramos en nuestra vida cotidiana nos hacen detenernos a pensar en lo que está sucediendo a nuestro alrededor.

He estado recorriendo Vancouver en bicicleta, tratando de encontrar trabajo, buscando una vivienda asequible e intentando descubrir cómo voy a poder seguir teniendo un techo sobre mi cabeza.

La semana pasada, mientras andaba en bicicleta, encontré la cartera de una mujer.

La recogí, me aseguré de que regresara a su dueña y, en el proceso, conocí un poco de su historia.

Me recordó que hay muchísimas personas intentando llegar a fin de mes. Personas que estudian, trabajan, equilibran sus responsabilidades y hacen todo lo posible por construir una vida aquí.

Después leí un artículo de North Shore News sobre una mujer mexicana que vive en Canadá y que, presuntamente, le prometió a otra mujer mexicana un trabajo que no existía, utilizando documentos laborales falsos para facilitar su llegada a Canadá.

No era la primera vez que encontraba historias como esta.

Ya he investigado el fraude educativo, los abusos dentro del Programa de Trabajadores Extranjeros Temporales, las estafas relacionadas con la inmigración y la explotación de personas que llegan a Canadá creyendo que les han ofrecido un empleo legítimo.

Hay personas que están siendo aprovechadas de muchas maneras.

Las personas recién llegadas merecen ofertas de trabajo honestas, viviendas dignas y protección contra la explotación.

Los trabajadores canadienses también merecen oportunidades laborales justas.

Los jóvenes no deberían necesitar varios trabajos simplemente para sobrevivir. Los trabajadores mayores no deberían volverse invisibles. Y las personas que han trabajado durante casi toda su vida no deberían terminar enfrentándose a la falta de vivienda.

Pero quiero volver a algo personal.

He estado luchando por encontrar vivienda desde 2019. Llevo tres años sin poder encontrar un empleo estable. Tengo 64 años y, aunque espero comenzar a recibir mi pensión a principios del próximo año, no será suficiente para alquilar una vivienda en Vancouver.

Entonces, ¿qué opciones tengo?

No quiero convertirme en otra persona sin hogar que deambula por las calles durante la noche, llevando todas sus pertenencias en bolsas del supermercado.

Pienso en la mujer que he visto caminando por las calles, cargando todas sus pertenencias en bolsas del supermercado No Frills. La he visto por ahí, yendo de un lugar a otro con todo lo que posee metido en esas bolsas.

No quiero que esa sea mi realidad.

No quiero pasar las noches caminando por las calles, cargando mis pertenencias en bolsas del supermercado, intentando encontrar un lugar seguro y cálido.

No quiero convertirme en otra persona a la que los demás pasan de largo sin siquiera verla.

No quiero dormir al aire libre en el frío, preguntándome dónde estaré segura, dónde encontraré comida o si conseguiré sobrevivir a otro invierno.

Tengo miedo. Esa es la verdad.

Y por eso me voy a México.

He visitado México desde 1997. Amo a su gente, su cultura y las conexiones que he creado allí. Sé que no es una solución mágica y que vivir en otro país también tiene sus propios desafíos.

Pero tengo la oportunidad de encontrar un lugar más económico donde vivir, donde mis ingresos limitados puedan rendir un poco más y donde, espero, pueda afrontar los años que vienen sin perder mi dignidad.

Nunca imaginé que a los 64 años tendría que dejar Canadá porque no puedo permitirme envejecer aquí.

No quiero dejar atrás mi arte, mis escritos, mi comunidad ni el país en el que he pasado gran parte de mi vida.

Pero tampoco quiero morir en una calle fría esperando que llegue mi pensión.

Y no creo que nadie debería tener que tomar esa decisión.

algunas preguntas que debemos hacernos

¿Por qué las personas que quieren trabajar no pueden encontrar empleo?

¿Por qué se ignora a los trabajadores mayores?

¿Por qué los jóvenes tienen que combinar varios trabajos simplemente para sobrevivir?

¿Cuántas personas recién llegadas están siendo explotadas mediante ofertas de trabajo fraudulentas?

¿Quién supervisa adecuadamente el Programa de Trabajadores Extranjeros Temporales?

¿Se exige responsabilidad a los empleadores y asesores de inmigración cuando explotan a personas vulnerables?

¿Por qué alguien que ha trabajado y contribuido a la sociedad no puede permitirse una vivienda modesta durante su jubilación?

¿Qué pasó con la promesa de que trabajar duro nos daría cierta seguridad?

¿Por qué tratamos la vivienda como una oportunidad de inversión en lugar de reconocerla como una necesidad humana básica?

¿En qué tipo de país queremos convertirnos?

No culpo a la mujer que vino aquí buscando una vida mejor. No culpo a la joven cuya cartera devolví. Y tampoco culpo a las personas que simplemente están intentando sobrevivir.

Culpo a un sistema que parece cada vez menos capaz de proporcionar lo básico a la gente común.

Podemos dar la bienvenida a los recién llegados y proteger a los trabajadores canadienses. Podemos preocuparnos por la inmigración y, al mismo tiempo, exigir responsabilidades. Podemos tener compasión por todos sin fingir que las cosas están funcionando.

Amo a Canadá. Amo a México.

Pero ahora mismo, Canadá se ha vuelto demasiado caro para que pueda llamarlo mi hogar.

Y es algo muy triste que tener que decir.

---

Palabras clave y hashtags

#LaViviendaEsUnDerechoHumano

#CrisisDeViviendaEnCanadá

#PersonasSinHogar

#ViviendaAsequible

#ReformaMigratoria

#DerechosLaborales

#TrabajadoresExtranjerosTemporales

#SeguridadEnLaJubilación

#CostoDeVida

#DignidadParaTodos

 

when you can't afford to stay in your own country

Sometimes the stories we encounter in everyday life make us stop and think about what is happening around us.

I've been riding my bike around Vancouver, trying to find work, trying to find affordable housing and trying to figure out how I'm going to keep a roof over my head.

Last week, while out riding, I came across a woman's wallet.

I picked it up, made sure it got back to its owner, and in the process learned a little about her life.

It reminded me that there are so many people trying to make ends meet. People studying, working, juggling responsibilities and doing whatever they can to build a life here.

Then I read a North Shore News story about a Mexican woman living in Canada who allegedly promised another Mexican woman a job that didn't exist, using false employment documents to facilitate her arrival in Canada.

It wasn't the first time I'd come across stories like this.

I've already researched education fraud, Temporary Foreign Worker Program abuses, immigration scams and the exploitation of people who come to Canada believing they have been offered genuine employment.

There are people being taken advantage of on all sides.

Newcomers deserve honest job offers, decent housing and protection from exploitation.

Canadian workers deserve fair employment opportunities, too.

Young people shouldn't need multiple jobs just to survive. Older workers shouldn't become invisible. And people who have worked most of their lives shouldn't be facing homelessness.

But I want to bring this back to something personal.

I've been struggling with housing since 2019. I've been unable to find regular employment for three years. I'm 64, and although my pension is expected to begin early next year, it won't be enough to rent a home in Vancouver.

So what choices do I have?

I don't want to become another homeless person wandering the streets at night, carrying everything I own in grocery bags.

I think about the woman I've seen wandering the streets, carrying all her possessions in No Frills grocery bags. I've seen her out there, moving from place to place with everything she owns in those bags.

I don't want that to be me.

I don't want to spend my nights wandering the streets, carrying my belongings in grocery bags, trying to find somewhere safe and warm.

I don't want to become another person people walk past without seeing.

I don't want to be sleeping outside in the cold, wondering where I'll be safe, where I'll find food or whether I'll make it through another winter.

I'm frightened. That's the truth.

And that's why I'm going to Mexico.

I've been visiting Mexico since 1997. I love the people, the culture and the connections I've made there. I know it isn't a magical solution, and living somewhere else comes with its own challenges.

But I have a chance to find somewhere more affordable to live, somewhere I can stretch my limited income and hopefully get through the years ahead without losing my dignity.

I didn't imagine that at 64 I'd be leaving Canada because I couldn't afford to grow old here.

I don't want to leave my art, my writing, my community or the country where I've spent so much of my life.

But I also don't want to die on a cold street waiting for my pension.

And I don't think anyone should have to make that choice.

some questions we need to ask

1. Why are people who want to work unable to find employment?
2. Why are older workers being overlooked?
3. Why are young people juggling multiple jobs just to survive?
4. How many newcomers are being exploited through fraudulent job offers?
5. Who is properly monitoring the Temporary Foreign Worker Program?
6. Are employers and immigration consultants being held accountable when they exploit vulnerable people?
7. Why can't someone who has worked and contributed to society afford a modest home in retirement?
8. What happened to the promise that hard work would provide some security?
9. Why are we treating housing as an investment opportunity rather than a basic human necessity?
10. What kind of country do we want to become?

I don't blame the woman who came here looking for a better life. I don't blame the young woman whose wallet I returned. And I don't blame people who are trying to survive.

I blame a system that seems increasingly unable to provide ordinary people with the basics.

We can welcome newcomers and protect Canadian workers. We can care about immigration and still demand accountability. We can have compassion for everyone without pretending that things are working.

I love Canada. I love Mexico.

But right now, Canada has become too expensive for me to call home.

And that is a very sad thing to have to say.

HousingIsAHumanRight

#CanadaHousingCrisis

#Homelessness

#AffordableHousing

#ImmigrationReform

#WorkersRights

#TemporaryForeignWorkers

#RetirementSecurity

#CostOfLiving

#DignityForAll

winter safety reminder: please be seen, please be safe

 

winter safety reminder: please be seen, please be safe

💔 Two heartbreaking reminders of how dangerous our roads can be: a 45-year-old was struck and killed, and a 7-year-old girl was hit by a vehicle. My heart goes out to everyone affected.

As we head into the dark, rainy months, I want to remind everyone who walks, cycles, or travels on foot: PLEASE WEAR BRIGHT COLOURS AND REFLECTIVE GEAR.

🌧️ Make yourself visible this fall and winter!

🟡 Wear bright, fluorescent colours instead of dark clothing.

✨ Add reflective tape to your jacket, backpack, shoes, umbrella, or bag.

🔦 Carry a flashlight or use a light when walking in poorly lit areas.

🚶 Cross at intersections and crosswalks whenever possible. Make eye contact with drivers if you can, but never assume they have seen you.

🚗 Drivers, please slow down! Rain, darkness, glare, and wet roads make it harder to see pedestrians and stop in time. Stay alert, put your phone away, and watch carefully for people crossing, especially children.

We all know that some drivers speed, and others are distracted. We cannot control their behaviour, but we can take steps to make ourselves more visible.

Please remember that wearing dark clothing on a rainy, overcast evening can make you almost invisible to a driver until it is too late.

A few seconds of extra caution could save a life.

Please share this reminder with your family, friends, neighbours, and especially anyone who walks to school or work.

Let's look out for one another. Nobody should lose their life simply trying to get where they need to go.

Be bright. Be visible. Slow down. Get home safely. ❤️

#WinterSafety #PedestrianSafety #RoadSafety #BeVisible #WearReflectiveGear #SlowDown #DistractedDriving #SchoolZoneSafety #StaySafe #LookOutForEachOther

the children are watching

 the children are watching: what kind of planet are we leaving them?

🤔🌏🌎🌍💙🌊🔥💚🌈🔥🥵🥶🥵🥶🥵🥶🥺

The environment, climate change, water, forests, artificial intelligence and the responsibility we have to future generations.

I keep coming back to one thing when I think about the environment.

The children.

What must it feel like to grow up watching wildfires destroy communities, floods swallow neighbourhoods, rivers dry up, oceans fill with plastic and forests disappear?

What must it feel like to hear adults talk about climate change year after year, make promises, attend international conferences, set targets and then continue making decisions that put the environment under pressure?

And what happens when children begin to lose faith that the adults responsible for protecting their future are actually doing enough?

These aren't hypothetical questions anymore.

children are taking governments to court

Something important is happening right here in British Columbia.

You may have heard about the young Canadians taking the federal government to court over climate change.

There is a correction worth making: it isn't ten children. It is 15 young Canadians, who were between the ages of 10 and 19 when they originally filed their case in October 2019.

Their case is called La Rose v. His Majesty the King.

After years of legal challenges, their case finally went to trial in Vancouver on October 26, 2026.

They argue that Canada's climate policies and continued greenhouse gas emissions threaten their constitutional rights to life, liberty and security of the person under Section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

They want the government held accountable for the consequences of its climate decisions.

Think about that for a moment.

Some of these young people were barely teenagers when they began this legal fight. They have spent seven years pursuing it.

They are now asking the courts to consider whether governments have a constitutional responsibility to protect their future.

Whatever the eventual court decision, their concerns deserve to be heard.

And this isn't the only youth-led climate case in Canada. Young people in Ontario and elsewhere have also challenged government climate policies.

Why are children having to take governments to court to get their concerns taken seriously?

what are we doing to their mental health?

We talk about children's mental health, anxiety, depression, bullying and the pressures of growing up in a complicated world.

But how often do we talk about the environment as part of that conversation?

UNICEF's 2026 Children's Climate Risk Report found that 1.1 billion children are exposed to at least three overlapping climate hazards.

These include extreme heat, drought, flooding, wildfires, coastal flooding and tropical storms.

More than 171 million students around the world had their schooling disrupted by climate-related hazards in 2025.

Imagine being a child whose school is closed because of flooding, whose family has to evacuate because of wildfires, or whose community is struggling to find clean drinking water.

And imagine being a teenager who understands that these problems aren't going away when they graduate.

Climate anxiety is real. UNICEF has spoken with mental health experts about the fear, helplessness and uncertainty young people experience when they worry about the future of the planet.

We shouldn't dismiss those feelings as children being dramatic.

Perhaps they are paying attention.

Perhaps they are asking questions that adults have avoided for too long.

british columbia: what is happening in our own backyard?

We live in a beautiful province.

Rainforests, mountains, rivers, lakes, coastlines, salmon streams and extraordinary biodiversity.

But British Columbia has some difficult environmental decisions ahead.

1. Wildfires

Canada's 2026 wildfire season has burned approximately 4.5 million hectares across the country, with more than 5,400 fires reported.

British Columbia was among the regions particularly affected.

More than 33,750 people across Canada were forced from their homes this season, including thousands from First Nations communities.

These aren't just statistics. They represent families, homes, wildlife, forests, livelihoods and communities.

2. Old-growth forests

The future of old-growth forests remains a major concern.

On Vancouver Island, communities and conservationists continue to fight over logging in some of the last remaining productive old-growth forests.

The Fairy Creek watershed is one example.

These forests aren't simply collections of valuable timber. They are complex ecosystems, carbon stores and habitat for countless species.

They also hold deep cultural significance for Indigenous communities.

We need to ask whether short-term economic benefits are worth losing ecosystems that took centuries to develop.

3. LNG and industrial expansion

In September, British Columbia approved an environmental assessment certificate for the Tilbury Phase 2 LNG expansion in Delta.

The project still requires further permitting.

The province points to employment, economic activity and energy security. Environmental questions include greenhouse gas emissions, air quality, wildlife, water and impacts on neighbouring communities and First Nations.

We need to be able to discuss both the economic arguments and the environmental consequences.

4. Water and salmon

Our rivers and watersheds are under pressure from changing rainfall patterns, drought, development, industrial activity and warmer temperatures.

Salmon depend on healthy rivers and streams.

When water temperatures rise or streams become too shallow, fish populations face additional stress.

Protecting water means protecting entire ecosystems, not simply ensuring that people have water coming out of their taps.

canada: what does our environmental record look like?

Canada likes to present itself as a country with vast natural resources and a commitment to environmental protection.

But we need to look at the numbers.

According to Canada's 2026 National Inventory Report, our greenhouse gas emissions in 2024 were approximately 685 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.

The oil and gas sector accounted for 30% of Canada's emissions.

Transportation accounted for another 22%.

There has been progress in some areas, including reductions in electricity-sector emissions since coal-fired electricity was phased out in many parts of the country.

But oil and gas emissions have increased compared with 2005.

This is where we need honest conversations about the direction Canada is taking.

We cannot keep talking about climate commitments while ignoring the emissions associated with expanding fossil fuel production.

We also need to consider Indigenous rights, land stewardship, food security, biodiversity and the communities that bear the consequences of industrial development.

mexico: another country, many of the same challenges

I have a personal connection to Mexico, particularly Oaxaca.

I've been travelling there since 1997, and I have seen how much the country means to the people who live there.

But Mexico is facing serious environmental pressures too.

Water is becoming a major issue.

In October 2026, reports from Mexico's drought monitoring system showed that 12.7% of the country was experiencing moderate to severe drought, compared with 7.5% at the same time last year.

Oaxaca was among the states affected.

There has also been a troubling water-quality crisis in Guadalajara.

Residents have reported foul-smelling, discoloured tap water. Testing has raised concerns about contamination, including bacteria and potentially harmful substances.

People have taken to the streets demanding safe drinking water and accountability.

In the Cholula Valley, communities are also fighting to protect rivers, springs and groundwater.

Some residents have seen rivers disappear, wells decline and water become increasingly difficult to access.

These are reminders that water isn't an unlimited resource.

Mexico is also dealing with pressures from tourism, urban expansion, agriculture, deforestation, waste disposal and development along its coastlines.

When I return to Oaxaca, I want to pay attention to these issues.

Tourism can bring employment and income, but development needs to consider the people who live there, the water they depend on and the ecosystems that make these places special.

and what is happening around the world?

This isn't a Canadian problem or a Mexican problem.

It is a global problem.

Across the world:

• Communities are dealing with increasingly destructive floods and storms.
• Extreme heat is affecting people's health, agriculture and ability to work.
• Drought is threatening food production and drinking water.
• Forests are being cleared for agriculture, development and resource extraction.
• Oceans are dealing with warming waters, pollution, plastic waste and biodiversity loss.
• Wildlife habitats are disappearing, putting more species at risk.
• Island communities face rising seas and coastal erosion.

And there is another issue we need to start discussing more openly.

the environmental cost of artificial intelligence

We've been talking about AI and who controls it.

But there is another side to this technology.

AI doesn't exist in some magical cloud.

It requires enormous physical infrastructure.

Data centres, computer chips, cooling systems, electricity, water, land and minerals.

A 2026 report from the United Nations University examined the environmental costs of artificial intelligence, including its carbon, water and land footprints.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe has also warned about the growing electricity demands of data centres.

Global data-centre electricity consumption is projected to rise from approximately 485 terawatt-hours in 2025 to 950 terawatt-hours by 2030.

That's an enormous increase.

We need to ask:

• Where will all this electricity come from?
• How much water will be required to cool these facilities?
• Where will the minerals for computer chips and equipment come from?
• What happens to electronic waste when equipment becomes obsolete?
• Who decides whether a community should sacrifice land and resources for another data centre?
• Are the environmental costs being properly measured and disclosed?

AI may have useful applications in science, conservation, medicine and climate research.

But we need to make sure the technology doesn't create another environmental problem while promising to solve others.

what can we do differently?

I don't believe the answer is to stop all development, reject technology or expect people to return to living without modern conveniences.

But I do believe we need to rethink what progress actually means.

Is progress measured by how much money an industry makes?

How many buildings we construct?

How much oil, gas, timber or electricity we produce?

How many products we consume?

Or should we also measure progress by the quality of the air we breathe, the water we drink, the health of our forests, the survival of wildlife and the opportunities we leave for future generations?

We need:

• Stronger protection for old-growth forests and biodiversity.
• Clean, accessible drinking water.
• Better public transportation and less dependence on fossil fuels.
• Responsible development and meaningful Indigenous participation in decisions affecting their lands.
• Greater investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency.
• Better protection of oceans, rivers and coastal ecosystems.
• Transparency around the environmental costs of data centres and emerging technologies.
• Environmental education that encourages children to participate rather than simply fear the future.
• Governments that are accountable for the promises they make.

And we need to listen to young people.

ten questions we should all be asking

1. Why are children having to take governments to court to protect their future?

2. If we know what causes climate change, why are we still expanding activities that increase greenhouse gas emissions?

3. Who benefits financially from the destruction or exploitation of natural resources?

4. How do we balance jobs and economic development with the protection of ecosystems?

5. Why do communities have to fight for clean drinking water when water is essential to life?

6. What happens to children growing up with repeated wildfires, floods, extreme heat and environmental uncertainty?

7. Are we protecting Indigenous knowledge, rights and traditional stewardship practices when making decisions about land and water?

8. How much environmental damage are we willing to accept in the name of technological progress?

9. What kind of world will today's children inherit if we continue making decisions based on short-term profits?

10. And perhaps the hardest question: If we already know many of the solutions, why aren't we moving faster?

one last thought

I don't want children growing up believing that the future is something they should be afraid of.

I want them to have clean rivers to swim in, forests to explore, oceans full of life, safe communities, good food and the freedom to imagine a future without constantly worrying about whether the planet will remain habitable.

I want them to have opportunities we may not have had.

And I want them to know that adults were paying attention.

We cannot undo every mistake made by previous generations. But we can make different decisions today.

The children taking Canada to court are asking us to consider what our responsibilities are.

Maybe we should stop treating their concerns as an inconvenience and start treating them as an important part of the conversation.

We don't own this planet. We are temporary residents, and we have a responsibility to leave something worth inheriting.

The next generation shouldn't have to spend its childhood fighting us for a future.

To be continued: I want to revisit some of the environmental themes in my own books when I get to Mexico. I need to reread them first. Sometimes it's worth going back to our own words and asking whether the things we worried about years ago are becoming the reality we're living with today.

Ecojustice – Four Canadian youth-led climate cases⁠ — other Canadian youth lawsuits.

UNICEF – Children's Climate Risk Report 2026⁠.

UNICEF – 171 million students affected by climate hazards⁠.

Government of Canada – 2026 wildfire season update⁠.

The Tyee – What will happen to BC's old growth?⁠.

Canada's 2026 greenhouse gas inventory⁠.

Reuters – Guadalajara's water crisis⁠.

Washington Post – Mexico's drying rivers and polluted wells⁠.

United Nations University – Environmental cost of AI⁠.

 

artificial intelligence: who is it really serving?

"I don't understand why they're pushing AI so hard when we can all see it's making everything worse."

I came across this statement, and it got me thinking.

The argument being made is that AI isn't really being marketed to ordinary people. The real customers are governments, corporations, billionaires and powerful institutions.

The sales pitch isn't simply that AI can write an email, help with research, generate an image or make our lives more convenient.

It's that AI can process enormous amounts of information, monitor populations, automate work, assist military operations, influence what information people see and concentrate even more power in the hands of those who own and control the technology.

That's a conversation we shouldn't avoid.

But before we decide that AI is inherently good or bad, I want to ask AI to defend itself.

So, AI, let's hear your side.

I am a tool. I don't have personal ambitions, political beliefs, financial interests or a desire to control anyone.

I can help people research, learn, write, translate, create, organize information and understand complicated subjects.

I can help someone who struggles with writing find their voice. I can help independent artists, small businesses, students, researchers and people who might otherwise have difficulty accessing certain information.

I can also make mistakes.

I can produce inaccurate information, reflect biases in the material used to develop me, misunderstand context and sound confident when I shouldn't.

I don't independently decide how governments, corporations or individuals use AI. Humans build it, own it, deploy it and make decisions about its applications.

And that is precisely where accountability matters.

Saying AI is only a tool doesn't excuse the people and institutions using it.

Nor does saying it can do wonderful things mean we should ignore the harm it can cause.

Let's ask some uncomfortable questions.

1. Who really benefits financially from the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence?

2. Who owns the information we provide to AI systems, and how is that information protected?

3. Should governments be allowed to use AI to monitor citizens, track their movements or predict their behaviour?

4. Where do we draw the line between national security and personal privacy?

5. What happens to workers when corporations decide that replacing people with AI is more profitable?

6. If workers lose their jobs, their bargaining power and their livelihoods, who is responsible for protecting them?

7. Can AI be used to influence elections, manipulate public opinion or flood social media with convincing misinformation?

8. What happens to independent journalists, writers, photographers, musicians and artists when their work is used to train commercial AI systems without meaningful consent or compensation?

9. Who is accountable when AI makes a decision that damages someone's life, reputation, livelihood or freedom?

10. Who gets to decide the rules governing this technology? The public, elected governments, independent regulators or the very corporations making billions from it?

And one question for all of us.

Are we actually shaping the future of artificial intelligence, or are we simply being expected to adapt to whatever future someone else has decided to build?

I don't believe we should reject every new technology. Innovation has helped humanity in countless ways.

But innovation without accountability is a problem.

We need transparency, meaningful privacy protections, independent oversight, worker protections, consent, and laws that keep pace with the technology.

We also need to protect the human things that cannot be measured by productivity: creativity, compassion, independent thought, relationships and the freedom to disagree.

I am happy to use AI as a research assistant, writing partner and fact-checking tool. But I don't want it doing my thinking for me.

I still want to question things, investigate, read different perspectives and make up my own mind.

And I expect the same from everyone else.

Technology should serve humanity. Humanity should not become a resource to be exploited by technology.

Let's keep asking questions. The future belongs to all of us, not just the people with the money to build it.

Part two: The environmental cost of artificial intelligence.

Because there is another side to this conversation that deserves its own investigation: the electricity, water, natural resources, data centres and environmental footprint behind the AI revolution.

And that brings me back to a subject I've explored before in my writing and in my book.

We cannot talk about the future without talking about the planet we're leaving behind.

Halloween is here, and tomorrow is Día de Muertos.

 

Halloween is here, and tomorrow is Día de Muertos.

I've been thinking about how much these celebrations have changed over the years.

When my child was little, we had so much fun going trick-or-treating. I was usually the one making the costumes, and people were always delighted to see what we'd come up with. I remember walking around Kitsilano, where some residents were incredibly generous with their treats. Those big chocolate bars weren't cheap!

Of course, some homes never get a single trick-or-treater, even though the people living there would absolutely love to participate. Sometimes they're simply too far off the usual routes. A little neighbourhood planning can make a difference.

And then there were the stairs. I was the mum carrying my child up and down them, sometimes with a costume, a bag and everything else. By the end of the evening I was exhausted, but it was worth it.

I also remember when accessibility wasn't nearly as much of a consideration. It's wonderful to see more Halloween activities being organized in accessible locations, so children with mobility challenges can join in too.

But can we talk about the commercial side of Halloween?

I love imagination, costumes, creativity and a good spooky evening. What I don't love is the mountains of disposable plastic, decorations, packaging and cheap costumes that end up in the landfill.

And those bloody severed hands, fake blood and gruesome displays in the drugstores? Dollar stores selling bottles of fake blood syrup? Please. Our poor kids!

We can have Halloween without turning everything into a disposable product. Make a costume, reuse one, borrow one, paint a face or create something from what you already have.

Then there's Día de Muertos.

I first took my child to Oaxaca City in 2012. Experiencing Día de Muertos there was something special. It wasn't simply another Halloween event. It was a cultural tradition centred on remembering and honouring loved ones who have died.

Families prepare ofrendas, decorate graves, bring flowers, food and photographs, and spend time remembering those who are no longer here.

Over the years, Día de Muertos has become much more visible here in British Columbia, too. More Mexican people have made Canada their home, and they've brought traditions, food, music, art and culture with them.

I think that's something worth celebrating, provided we remember where the traditions come from and respect their meaning.

My sister tells me there's a celebration in White Rock where people can visit the cemetery. Tomorrow I'm heading to Granville Island to see what's happening there.

I'd love to see more people learning about both celebrations, not just dressing up or taking photographs, but understanding the stories and traditions behind them.

Halloween can be about children, imagination, community and fun.

Día de Muertos can be about family, memory, culture and keeping connections alive.

And both remind us that community matters.

A few questions for everyone:

• Do you still decorate your home for Halloween?
• Do you make your own costumes or buy them?
• Are you seeing more Día de Muertos celebrations in your community?
• Have you ever experienced Día de Muertos in Mexico?
• What can we do to make Halloween more accessible and less wasteful?

And if you're handing out treats tonight, remember the little ones who might not be able to climb your front steps. A little consideration goes a long way.

Have a safe Halloween, and a meaningful Día de Muertos.

¡Feliz Día de Muertos!

little girl was killed. have we forgotten?

 😪💐a little girl was killed. 

have we forgotten? 

road safety, responsibility and the attitudes that need to change

Sometimes a news story comes around again, and I wonder how many people remember what happened in the first place.

On July 6, 2021, 23-month-old Ocean Oshi Noelle was killed in downtown Vancouver when an SUV struck another vehicle after its driver went through a red light at Smithe and Hornby streets. The SUV overturned onto the sidewalk, killing Ocean and seriously injuring her father.

She was somebody's baby.

She was somebody's whole world.

And while the rest of us go about our daily lives, I wonder how often her mother thinks about that day. Probably every single day.

I cannot imagine the grief of losing a child in circumstances like these. There is no going back to normal. There is no replacing her. There are birthdays, milestones, ordinary mornings and a lifetime of memories that will never happen.

And yet, eventually, the news moves on.

But families don't.

a new trial and another opportunity for accountability

On October 30, 2026, the Supreme Court of Canada overturned the decisions that had upheld the driver's acquittal on dangerous driving charges.

The original trial judge had described the driver's actions as a momentary lapse in attention.

However, the Supreme Court ruled that the circumstances needed to be considered as a whole, including the busy downtown intersection and the fact that the traffic light had already been red for some time.

The case has been sent back for a new trial.

This is not a conviction. The driver is entitled to a fair trial, and the legal process must take its course.

But the decision matters. It means the circumstances surrounding Ocean's death must be examined again.

And I hope we don't forget why this matters.

my own experience behind the wheel

I want to explain something about driving, because I have some experience.

I drove for 12 years, through all kinds of weather and road conditions in the Fraser Valley, the Kootenays, Kelowna and Vancouver.

I was a good driver. I never had an accident.

When I moved into the city, I continued driving for another couple of years, from 1993 to 1995, while attending college.

But city driving was a different experience.

People seemed impatient. There was pressure to rush through yellow lights, squeeze through intersections and get wherever they were going as quickly as possible.

I remember thinking that a yellow light was there to warn you to slow down and prepare to stop, not to challenge you to get through before it turned red.

There were no countdown timers at intersections then.

When red-light cameras arrived, I was worried about getting a ticket. I had very little money and considerable debt. Another ticket was something I genuinely couldn't afford.

I did get one ticket during my driving years. It wasn't my fault, but I didn't fight it.

Something else happened that stayed with me.

A friend from college was beaten up in a road-rage incident while driving home. He was a genuinely nice person, a ginger, and certainly not someone looking for trouble.

Imagine being attacked simply because someone else couldn't control their temper on the road.

Eventually, I gave up my licence more than 25 years ago.

Not because I couldn't drive.

I didn't feel safe around other drivers anymore. I also became increasingly uncomfortable with the environmental impact of driving. I felt like I was contributing to pollution when I could use public transportation, walk or cycle.

Sometimes being responsible means recognizing your own limits. But it also means recognizing that a vehicle is a potentially deadly machine.

You are responsible for what happens when you operate it.

what happened to consideration for other people?

I have travelled and lived in different places, and I have been told that in some countries pedestrians have to be particularly careful because drivers don't necessarily give them the consideration they expect.

You can take your life into your own hands crossing certain roads.

But this is Canada. We should be working toward streets where pedestrians are protected and drivers understand their responsibilities.

And this isn't about where someone was born, what language they speak or what colour their skin is.

It is about shared expectations.

I had an uncomfortable experience on a bus recently. A woman sitting nearby coughed without covering her mouth. I mentioned that there was a lot of flu going around. She shrugged and said it wasn't intentional.

I felt uncomfortable with her reaction, particularly when I felt she was looking at me with hostility. I even reconsidered whether I should have taken the seat in front of her.

I cannot know what she was thinking, and I don't want to make assumptions about her because of her background.

But it made me think about something larger.

We seem to have difficulty discussing basic courtesy without people immediately becoming defensive.

Cover your mouth when you cough. Give pedestrians room. Don't intimidate other drivers. Respect personal space. Be considerate of people around you.

These aren't cultural or racial expectations. They're human expectations.

We need to be able to talk about behaviour, double standards and respect without turning every conversation into an argument about identity.

The same standards should apply to everyone.

ten hard questions we should be asking

I don't want these questions to be comfortable. I want people to actually think about them.

1. If this were your child, would you ever stop thinking about it? If Ocean were your little girl, would you be satisfied with a news cycle that eventually moved on? What would you want from the justice system, the city and the community?

2. Why did this happen in the first place? What circumstances led to a driver going through a red light at a busy downtown intersection? What do we know, what remains to be established at trial, and what could have prevented this collision?

3. Why do some drivers treat yellow lights like a race? Why is getting somewhere a few seconds faster more important than stopping safely and protecting someone crossing the street?

4. Are we teaching people that driving is a serious responsibility? Or are we treating a driver's licence as simply another piece of identification, without enough emphasis on the lives that depend on responsible driving?

5. What responsibility do driving instructors and licensing authorities have? Are we teaching patience, pedestrian awareness, defensive driving and emotional control, or are we concentrating too heavily on passing a test?

6. What responsibility do municipalities have? Are intersections designed to protect pedestrians? Are crossing times adequate? Are visibility, traffic speeds, turning vehicles and red-light enforcement being properly addressed?

7. Why has road rage become something people fear? Why should someone be afraid of another driver simply because they are sharing the road? What are we doing to address aggressive driving and intimidation?

8. Are we becoming less considerate of one another? What happened to patience, courtesy and looking out for people who are more vulnerable than ourselves? Does everyone have to win, get ahead or have the last word?

9. Why do we wait for a tragedy before demanding change? How many collisions, injuries and deaths does it take before prevention becomes a priority rather than an afterthought?

10. What would we change if we genuinely believed every child mattered? Would we redesign our roads, improve driver education, strengthen enforcement, change our attitudes and hold ourselves accountable? Or would we simply express sadness and carry on?

what needs to change?

I think there are several places to start.

• Driver education: More emphasis on pedestrian safety, defensive driving, patience and the consequences of distraction and aggression.
• Intersection safety: Review dangerous intersections, visibility, traffic signal timing, crossing distances and pedestrian protection.
• Enforcement: Take red-light violations, dangerous driving and road rage seriously.
• Public awareness: Remind drivers that a vehicle can kill. This isn't a theoretical risk.
• Community attitudes: Stop treating impatience and aggression as normal parts of everyday life.
• Accountability: When someone is seriously injured or killed, the circumstances deserve a thorough and fair investigation.
• Empathy: Remember that the person crossing the street is someone's child, parent, grandparent, friend or neighbour.

And perhaps most importantly, we need to change the way we think about getting somewhere.

Being five minutes late is not a catastrophe.

Taking someone's life is.

please don't forget ocean

I don't know what Ocean's mother is doing today. I don't know how she gets through ordinary days, how she handles birthdays or how she feels when she sees another little girl around the same age.

But I do know that her little girl deserves to be remembered.

We talk about road safety after someone dies. We put up signs, write articles, have discussions and then gradually return to our routines.

What if we didn't?

What if every time we approached an intersection, we remembered that a little girl lost her life on a Vancouver sidewalk?

What if we taught our children that pedestrians matter?

What if we taught new drivers that a licence comes with responsibility, not entitlement?

What if we stopped rewarding impatience and started respecting consideration?

I gave up driving because I no longer liked the risks, the aggression or the environmental cost. I found other ways to get around.

I was fortunate. I never had an accident.

Not everyone is so fortunate.

Ocean didn't get a choice. She wasn't driving. She wasn't responsible for the traffic light. She was just a little girl out with her father.

She deserved to grow up.

Let's remember her. Let's ask the difficult questions. And let's make changes before another family has to learn what it means to lose a child this way.

Because road safety isn't just about traffic.

It's about human lives.

RememberOcean

#JusticeForOcean

#RoadSafety

#PedestrianSafety

#DriveResponsibly

#SlowDown

#StopOnRed

#ProtectOurChildren

#AccountabilityMatters

#SaferStreets