Saturday, March 14, 2026

$435,000 Fine for Surrey Farm Raises Big Questions About Canada’s Migrant Worker System

$435,000 Fine for Surrey Farm Raises Big Questions About Canada’s Migrant Worker System

A farm in Surrey has been hit with a massive $435,000 penalty for breaching Canada’s migrant worker laws — one of the largest fines ever issued in the province.

The sanction was issued to Kanwar Walia Farms on February 13, 2026, after federal inspectors found serious problems during an investigation.

According to federal records, the employer:

🚫 Did not show up for a meeting with inspectors
📄 Failed to provide requested documents
🌾 Was not actively engaged in the business foreign workers were hired to work in

The farm had been approved to hire nearly 40 temporary foreign workers between 2020 and 2023 through Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

Let that sink in.

Nearly 40 people brought to Canada for jobs that inspectors later questioned even existed.

Where Was the Oversight?

The Temporary Foreign Worker Program is supposed to ensure that migrant workers are only hired when there are no Canadians available for the job.

Before workers are brought to Canada, employers must receive approval through something called a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

Yet somehow this company received approvals for dozens of workers.

Then inspectors discovered something deeply troubling:

👉 The employer was not actively engaged in the business those workers were hired to do.

So the obvious question becomes:

How did this get approved in the first place?

The Bigger Pattern

Investigations have already shown that British Columbia leads the country in penalties for violations involving migrant workers.

In fact, more than one-third of all federal penalties in Canada have been issued in B.C.

That raises uncomfortable questions about:

⚠️ oversight
⚠️ enforcement
⚠️ exploitation of vulnerable workers

Many migrant workers arrive in Canada believing they are coming for fair wages and opportunity.

But in too many cases they end up in situations where:

they cannot easily leave their employer
their housing may be tied to their job
their immigration status depends on staying quiet

This makes them extremely vulnerable.

A System That Needs Real Transparency

What is perhaps most frustrating about this case is that the federal government is refusing to release more details, citing privacy concerns.

That leaves the public wondering:

Were workers harmed?
Were wages withheld?
Were people brought to Canada for jobs that didn’t exist?

Without transparency, it’s impossible to know the full story.

Why This Matters

This issue isn’t just about one farm.

It’s about whether Canada’s immigration and labour systems are being used responsibly — or exploited.

If companies can:

• get approvals for dozens of workers
• fail to cooperate with inspectors
• refuse to provide documents

then something in the system is clearly broken.

Questions We Should All Be Asking

🤔 How did this farm receive approval to hire so many workers?
🤔 Who verifies that the jobs actually exist?
🤔 Why are details of investigations kept secret?
🤔 How many other farms are doing the same thing?

Transparency protects both migrant workers and Canadian workers.

Without it, abuse can hide in plain sight.

Final Thought

Canada prides itself on fairness and human rights.

But fairness requires accountability.

A $435,000 fine may sound large — but if the system allowed this to happen in the first place, we still have much bigger questions to answer.

NEW SERIES: The Duffy Affair

NEW SERIES: The Duffy Affair — What Did Canadians Learn? 🇨🇦

More than a decade ago, a political scandal dominated headlines across Canada. It involved Senator Mike Duffy, disputed expense claims, a mysterious $90,000 payment, a police investigation, and a dramatic court trial.

But here’s the surprising part: after years of investigation and 31 criminal charges, the judge dismissed them all.

So what actually happened?

And how did a $90,000 expense issue turn into one of the most expensive political scandals in modern Canadian history?

In this three-part series we will explore:

🔎 What the Duffy scandal was really about
⚖️ Why the charges were thrown out in court
💰 And the uncomfortable question many Canadians still ask: how much public money was spent investigating and prosecuting this case?

At a time when many Canadians struggle with housing, rising costs, and poverty, it’s worth reflecting on how governments use public resources.

Sometimes scandals reveal more than individual mistakes.

Sometimes they reveal deeper problems in the system.

Stay tuned for Part 1 tomorrow.

The Rise of Porch Pirates – Part 2

What Changed? When Did Stealing Packages Become Normal? 🤔📦

In Part 1 of this series, we talked about how package theft can happen in seconds 🚚💨 — sometimes before a homeowner even has time to open the door.

But that raises a much bigger question.

Why is this happening so often now?

A few decades ago, package theft existed, but it was relatively rare.

Today it has become so common that we have a name for it:

Porch piracy.

So what changed?

The Explosion of Online Shopping 📦📦📦

One obvious factor is the massive growth of online shopping.

Millions of packages are delivered every day by companies like Amazon, UPS, FedEx, and Canada Post.

Doorsteps have essentially become temporary storage spots for valuable goods.

To a thief driving through a neighborhood, a package sitting outside can look like an easy opportunity.

But increased opportunity alone doesn’t explain everything.

Deliveries Used to Be Different 🚚

Years ago, deliveries were often:

📦 less frequent
💸 more expensive
📬 handled mainly by postal services
📝 sometimes required signatures

People simply didn’t have multiple packages arriving every week.

But something else was different too.

Even when packages sat outside for a while, most people didn’t steal them.

The Question Many People Are Asking 🌎

So the real question might be cultural.

Has something changed in how some people view theft?

Many communities are starting to ask:

• Do some thieves see packages as “fair game”?
• Do they assume companies will simply replace the item?
• Do they think homeowners won’t bother reporting it?
• Do they believe police won’t pursue small theft cases?

When people believe there are no consequences, small crimes can quickly become widespread.

The Role of Social Trust 🤝

Communities rely on something invisible but powerful:

trust.

Trust that:

🏡 neighbors respect each other’s property
📦 deliveries will still be there when you get home
🚪 strangers won’t walk onto your property and take things

When that trust erodes, everyday life starts to feel different.

People install cameras 📷.
They worry about deliveries.
They feel less secure in their own neighborhoods.

Porch piracy may seem like a small crime, but it reflects a larger breakdown of community trust.

The Opportunity Factor 👀

Porch pirates often operate in simple ways.

They may:

🚗 follow delivery trucks
👀 watch neighborhoods where packages are frequently delivered
🏃 grab boxes quickly and leave
📦 sell stolen goods online

Some thefts are impulsive, but others are part of organized small-scale theft rings.

That’s why many people believe stronger deterrents are needed.

A Growing Debate 🗣️

As package theft increases, communities are beginning to debate solutions.

Questions being raised include:

• Should delivery companies design safer delivery systems?
• Should neighborhoods install shared delivery lockers?
• Should police treat repeated package theft more seriously?
• Should online marketplaces do more to prevent resale of stolen goods?

These are questions cities and communities around the world are now discussing.

Reflective Questions 🤔

Why do you think package theft has become so common in recent years?
Has online shopping unintentionally created new opportunities for crime?
What role does community trust play in preventing theft?
Should delivery companies change how packages are delivered?
Should stronger penalties exist for repeat offenders?
If someone who is not a legal resident is caught committing theft, should immigration consequences such as deportation be considered, or should the criminal justice system handle the case first?

Coming Next in This Series 📚

In Part 3, we’ll look at something fascinating:

How people are fighting back against porch pirates.

From security cameras to glitter bomb packages and tracking devices, some homeowners have created surprisingly clever ways to deter thieves.

And some of those stories are both ingenious and hilarious. ✨🎁

A Wrinkle in Time and the Reminder to Stay Human

A Wrinkle in Time, Technology, and Remembering What Makes Us Human 🌌

Sometimes a story stays with you for years.

You might watch it only once or twice, but something about it lingers quietly in your mind. That’s how it felt for me when I watched A Wrinkle in Time, the classic book by Madeleine L’Engle that was later made into films.

Interestingly, the book was published in 1962, the same year I was born. Maybe that’s part of why it always felt a little personal to me.

But it’s not just a fantasy story.

In many ways, it feels like a gentle warning wrapped in imagination.

The Planet Where Everyone Thinks the Same

In the story, the children visit a strange planet where everything looks perfect.

The houses are identical.
The children bounce their balls in perfect rhythm.
No one questions anything.

At first glance it looks peaceful.

But then something unsettling becomes clear:
no one is thinking for themselves anymore.

Everything is controlled by a powerful intelligence called IT, and individuality slowly disappears.

It’s a powerful image, and even today it can make viewers pause and think.

Watching It During the Rise of Technology

I remember watching the older film version years ago when I was upgrading my web skills and learning about app design.

It was one of those programs where we were the first cohort — the first group of students going through the program.

Anyone who has been in a first cohort knows what that can be like.

The curriculum is still being tested.
The teachers are figuring things out.
Assignments sometimes change halfway through.

And sometimes the personalities involved are… well… a little intense.

Let’s just say first cohorts can be a bit strange.

But they are also pioneers.

They help shape what the program will become for the students who follow.

The Funny Coincidence of “IT”

Another interesting coincidence is the word IT itself.

Today when we say IT, we usually mean Information Technology — computers, software, networks, and the digital world that connects us.

But in the story, IT is something very different: a symbol of control where everyone becomes part of the same mind.

Of course, technology itself isn’t the problem.

Technology can do amazing things:

connect people across the world 🌍
help us learn new skills 💻
share knowledge instantly 📚
support creativity and innovation

But stories like this gently remind us of something important.

The Real Strength of Humanity

The hero of the story doesn’t win with perfect logic or perfect technology.

The victory comes from something much simpler and much more human:

love, courage, and the ability to be different.

That message still matters today.

Because no matter how advanced technology becomes, the things that make us human are still powerful:

curiosity
creativity
compassion
imagination
friendship

These qualities cannot be programmed.

They grow through experience, relationships, and the stories we share with one another.

A Gentle Reminder for the Future

As our world becomes more digital and more connected, it’s worth remembering something simple.

Technology should serve humanity, not replace it.

And the greatest strength we have is still the ability to think, question, care about each other, and imagine better futures.

Stories like A Wrinkle in Time don’t just entertain us.

They remind us that even in a complicated world, the most powerful force is still something very human:

the courage to remain ourselves. ✨

The Beautiful Things Only Humans Do 💫

The Beautiful Things Only Humans Do 💫

Sometimes people talk a lot about artificial intelligence and technology. We hear big questions like: Will machines become smarter than us? Will computers replace people? 🤖💻

But in all those conversations, something very important is often forgotten.

The quiet, beautiful things humans do every day. 🌎

One of those things is something very simple:

finishing each other’s sentences.

When Someone Knows You So Well 💬

Have you ever started to say something and your friend suddenly says the rest of the sentence for you?

Or maybe you both say the same word at the same time and then laugh. 😄

That moment means something special.

It means that somewhere along the way you shared enough stories, meals, adventures, and conversations that your minds began to understand each other.

Not perfectly.
Not magically.

But beautifully. ✨

Humans Are Story Builders 📖

Human beings are incredible at something called filling in the gaps.

If someone says:

“Remember that day at the beach…”

Your brain instantly begins building the story.

You remember the sand between your toes, the sound of waves, the wind in your hair, the jokes, the sunshine, maybe even ice cream afterward. 🌊🍦☀️

Just a few words can open an entire memory.

That’s because humans don’t just communicate with words.

We communicate with shared experiences, emotions, memories, and imagination. ❤️

The Invisible Threads Between Us 🧵

Over time, relationships create invisible threads.

Friends learn each other’s humor. 😄
Families learn each other’s habits. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦
Partners learn each other’s thoughts before they are finished.

Sometimes people even say the exact same thing at the same moment and then look at each other in surprise.

Those little moments are not small at all.

They are proof that human connection is real.

Technology Is Amazing — But Humanity Is Beautiful 🌟

Technology can help us learn, explore, and communicate across the world.

But there are still things that belong uniquely to being human:

understanding feelings without words ❤️
laughing at the exact same moment 😂
finishing a sentence someone started 💬
remembering a story that shaped you both 📚

These moments come from something deeper than information.

They come from living life together.

A Small Reminder for Young Readers 🌱

If you are young and reading this, here is something important to remember:

Your ability to connect with people —
to listen, laugh, understand, and share memories —
is one of the most powerful gifts you have.

Never think being human is ordinary.

It is extraordinary. 🌎✨

Because in a world full of machines and screens, only humans can truly know one another’s hearts.

And sometimes…

all it takes is half a sentence
for someone who cares about you
to understand the rest. 💛

🌱 Reflective Questions for Young Readers

1️⃣ Have you ever had a moment where someone finished your sentence or knew what you were about to say? How did it make you feel?

2️⃣ What is one special memory you share with a friend or family member that only the two of you fully understand?

3️⃣ Why do you think humans are good at understanding feelings even when nothing is said out loud?

4️⃣ What is something technology can do well, and what is something only people can do well?

5️⃣ How can you become a better listener and friend to the people around you?

🧠 Classroom or Family Discussion

Teachers, parents, or group leaders can ask students to think about these ideas together:

💬 Conversation starter:
Why do you think humans enjoy telling stories and remembering shared moments?

👫 Pair activity:
Ask students to partner up and share a small memory that made them laugh. Notice how telling the story helps both people feel connected.

🎨 Creative activity:
Have students draw a picture of a moment when they felt truly understood by someone — a friend, sibling, parent, teacher, or grandparent.

🌍 Reflection:
Talk about how technology is useful, but why kindness, listening, and shared experiences are still some of the most powerful things humans have.

Friday, March 13, 2026

The Rise of Porch Pirates – Part 1

Stolen in Seconds: When Your Package Disappears Before You Reach the Door 📦🚚😡

Imagine this.

Your phone buzzes with a delivery notification 📱.
Your package has just been dropped off.

You walk to the front door.

But when you open it…

the package is already gone.

Not hours later.
Not the next day.

Minutes. Sometimes seconds.

A neighbor recently shared that a package was stolen in less than a minute — before she even had time to reach the door after the delivery driver left 🚚💨.

Think about that.

Someone was likely watching the delivery truck 👀.

They waited until the driver left… and then grabbed the package and disappeared.

This kind of theft has become so common that it now has a name:

Porch piracy.

And for many people, it feels like a violation of their home and personal space 🏡.

Why This Crime Feels So Personal 😠

When a large store gets robbed, most of us feel removed from it.

But porch piracy is different.

Someone has:

🚶 Walked onto your property
📦 Taken something addressed to you
🚪 Crossed the boundary of your home

It’s not just about losing an item.

It’s about the feeling that someone invaded your space and took something that clearly wasn’t theirs.

For many people, that creates anger, frustration, and sometimes even fear.

The Speed of Modern Theft ⏱️

Many porch pirates operate with shocking speed.

They may:

👀 Follow delivery trucks through neighborhoods
📱 Watch for delivery notifications on shared tracking apps
🚗 Drive slowly down streets looking for packages
🏃 Grab boxes and disappear within seconds

In some cases, theft happens so quickly that homeowners are still inside the house when it occurs.

The package barely touches the ground before someone takes it.

Why This Crime Is Increasing 📦📦📦

The explosion of online shopping has created a perfect opportunity.

Millions of packages are now delivered every day by companies like Amazon, UPS, FedEx, and Canada Post.

Packages are often left outside homes unattended.

For opportunistic thieves, that can look like free merchandise sitting on a doorstep.

But many people are asking a deeper question.

What Changed in Our Communities? 🤔

Years ago, deliveries were often made by Canada Post, UPS, or FedEx.

Shipping was expensive 💸 and less frequent.

But something else was different too.

Even when packages sat outside for a while, most people simply didn’t take them.

Today, some individuals seem to feel entitled to grab anything they see sitting outside a home.

What changed?

Did online shopping create new temptations?
Has social trust declined?
Are thieves assuming they will never be caught?

These are questions many communities are now asking.

This Is More Than Just a Box 📦

A stolen package might contain:

🎁 a gift
📚 a book
👕 clothing
💊 medication
🧸 a child’s toy

For the person who ordered it, it may have been something important — or something they were looking forward to receiving.

When it disappears, the loss can feel bigger than the item itself.

Reflective Questions 🤔

Have you or someone you know experienced package theft?
Why do you think porch piracy has increased so quickly?
Do thieves believe they won’t be caught?
Should delivery companies play a bigger role in preventing theft?
Should stronger penalties exist for repeat offenders?
If someone who is not a legal resident is caught committing theft, should immigration consequences such as deportation be considered, or should the criminal justice system handle the case first?

Coming Next in This Series 📚

In Part 2, we’ll explore a bigger question many people are asking:

What changed in our culture that made stealing packages seem acceptable to some people?

Because porch piracy isn’t just about online shopping.

It may also be about changing attitudes toward property, community, and responsibility.

Stay tuned…

Thursday, March 12, 2026

The Rise of Porch Pirates

New Blog Series: The Rise of Porch Pirates 📦🚨

Something has changed in our communities… and it’s happening right on our doorsteps.

A neighbor recently shared that a package was stolen in less than a minute 🚚💨 — before she even had time to open the door after the delivery notification arrived.

Think about that.

Someone was watching the delivery truck 👀.
They waited.
And the moment the driver left, they grabbed the package and disappeared.

This isn’t just frustrating — it feels violating 😡🏡.

Many of us remember a time when deliveries from Canada Post, UPS, or FedEx were expensive and relatively rare. Packages sometimes sat on doorsteps, and most people simply left them alone.

Today, with the explosion of deliveries from companies like Amazon, millions of packages are dropped off every day 📦📦📦.

But something deeper seems to have changed too.

Why do some people now feel entitled to take something that clearly belongs to someone else?

Why has this crime become so common?

And what can communities actually do about it?

Over the next few posts, I’ll be exploring:

📦 Part 1: When a Package Disappears in Minutes
🤔 Part 2: What Changed in Our Communities?
🪤 Part 3: Creative Ways People Are Fighting Back (including glitter bomb deterrents!)
🚔 Part 4: Should Delivery Companies and Authorities Do More?

Because this isn’t just about a stolen box.

It’s about respect, trust, and the kind of communities we want to live in.

As anthropologist Margaret Mead once said:

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

Let’s talk about it.

Have you experienced package theft?

A Bold Step Forward: Washington State Passes a Millionaires Tax

A Bold Step Forward: Washington State Passes a Millionaires Tax

✨ A reminder that change is possible when people work together.

Something remarkable just happened in Olympia. Lawmakers in Washington have passed what many are calling a Millionaires Tax — a policy aimed at ensuring the wealthiest residents contribute a little more to support the public good.

For years, Washington was known as one of the few U.S. states with no income tax at all, which meant that lower-income residents often paid a larger share of their income in taxes than the wealthy. This new policy begins to shift that balance.

For those of us who care about fairness, social justice, and building healthier communities, this moment is powerful and inspiring. It shows that ordinary people organizing together can influence policy — even when the odds seem stacked against them.

🌟 10 Reasons This Is Fabulous

1. It Promotes Fairness
When those with the most wealth contribute a bit more, the tax system becomes more balanced.

2. It Supports Public Services
Funding for schools, childcare, healthcare, and community programs can improve.

3. It Reduces Inequality
Policies like this can help close the widening gap between the ultra-rich and everyone else.

4. It Shows Democracy Still Works
People advocating together can move governments to act.

5. It Helps Working Families
Revenue can fund tax credits or programs that support everyday people.

6. It Encourages Long-Term Investment
Communities thrive when public infrastructure and services are properly funded.

7. It Sparks Important Conversations
Policies like this push society to rethink fairness, wealth, and responsibility.

8. It Inspires Other Regions
When one place makes change, others start asking, “Why not here?”

9. It Counters the Narrative That Change Is Impossible
For years people were told progressive tax reform could never happen there — yet it did.

10. It Demonstrates Collective Power
The biggest lesson: people working together can reshape policy.

⚙️ 5 Ways This Change Became Possible

1. Grassroots Advocacy
Community groups and activists kept the issue alive for years.

2. Research and Data
Policy experts showed how unequal the tax system had become.

3. Coalition Building
Labor groups, educators, parents, and social justice advocates worked together.

4. Persistent Political Pressure
Elected officials heard from constituents demanding fairness.

5. A Clear Vision for the Future
Advocates framed the policy around investing in communities, not just taxation.

💬 A Powerful Reminder

Anthropologist Margaret Mead once said:

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”

This moment in Washington is a living example of that truth.

🌱 A Call to Action for Vancouver and British Columbia

In Vancouver and across British Columbia, people care deeply about fairness, housing, healthcare, and dignity.

But real change rarely begins in large institutions.

It begins in neighborhoods.
It begins in conversations.
It begins with people working together.

Small groups in communities — whether in apartments, community centers, libraries, cafés, or online spaces — can start asking important questions:

How do we create fairer systems?
How do we support people struggling to survive?
How do we build policies that reflect compassion and responsibility?

Every movement starts somewhere.

Maybe it begins with a conversation.
Maybe it begins with a blog post.
Maybe it begins with neighbors deciding to work together.

But it always begins with people.

🤔 Reflective Questions

What does a fair tax system look like in your community?
How can ordinary people influence policy in meaningful ways?
What issues in your neighborhood deserve collective action?
How can communities support each other beyond government programs?
What small steps today could lead to meaningful change tomorrow?

✨ The lesson from Washington is simple:

Change doesn’t always start with governments.
Sometimes it starts with a small group of determined people who refuse to give up.

And from there, the ripple spreads. 🌎

How “The Alchemy of Ivy Mae” Began 🌱

How “The Alchemy of Ivy Mae” Began 🌱

Sometimes creative projects begin with a plan.

And sometimes they begin because you simply need somewhere for your mind to go.

Last winter was a difficult one for me. ❄️ December and January were cold, work was hard to find, and there was a lot of stress around housing and everyday survival. The house I was staying in was crowded, people were struggling with their own challenges, and everywhere I went I seemed to see the same thing — people on the edge.

On the bus. 🚌
On the streets.
In conversations.

Homelessness. Addiction. Loss. Families dealing with illness and dementia. A lot of people just trying to get through the day.

Originally The Alchemy of Ivy Mae ✨📖 was supposed to be a year-long writing project where readers could help shape the story.

But something unexpected happened.

Bundled up in a cold room, trying to stay warm 🧣, I started writing.

And I kept writing.

What began as a small idea turned into a whole world — a post-electric future where young people are rebuilding society after the Great Solar Collapse ☀️⚡. The story follows Jas, a non-binary teen discovering fragments of the old world and trying to understand how things went wrong.

In a strange way, writing it became a kind of mental health project 🧠💛 for me. Instead of focusing on the chaos around me, I focused on imagining a future where communities learn from the past and try to do things differently.

I ended up writing most of the series in about three intense weeks.

Then I scheduled the posts out slowly — at first Monday through Friday, and later with gaps — so the story could unfold over time.

The idea was that readers might help guide the story.

But I have to admit something.

I got a little greedy with the story. 😁

I kept writing.

The series is now scheduled to run until May 5, and it’s been fascinating to watch the story appear gradually online.

If you’re curious about this little experiment in storytelling, you can start here:

🌿The Alchemy of Ivy Mae

https://thealchemyofivymae.blogspot.com/2026/03/the-net-in-sky.html?m=1

Sometimes creativity grows in the hardest seasons. 🌧️➡️🌱

And sometimes the storie we write to survive a winter end up becoming something bigger than we expected.

— Tina Winterlik (Zipolita) 📷✍️

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Mary Polášek Vinterlik, 1878–1949

Grandma Mary Vinterlik

(Mary Polášek Vinterlik, 1878–1949)

When I think about Grandma Mary, I don’t start with a date.

I picture a young woman standing in a village in what was then the Austro-Hungarian Empire, hearing Czech spoken all around her — the language of home, church, and family. She would have known exactly who she was there. Everyone did. Families went back generations. The land was familiar. The graves were familiar.

And then she left.

That decision alone tells you something about her.

To leave Europe in the early 1900s wasn’t a vacation. It was final. It meant stepping away from parents, siblings, language, landscape — everything that made you feel steady.

And she didn’t come alone. She came with children. Imagine that courage. 🌍

Then came the Canadian prairie.

Not the Europe she knew. No clustered villages. No stone churches that had stood for centuries. Just the open land of Saskatchewan — enormous, flat, and relentless. Wind that never seemed to stop. Winters that could take livestock and spirit in the same season.

She built a life there.

A wooden house. Five rooms. A stove that had to be fed constantly. Laundry done by hand. Water hauled. Bread baked. 🍞
Babies born. So many children. Each one another mouth to feed, another body to keep warm.

She spoke Bohemian at home.

That detail feels small on paper, but it isn’t. It means she refused to let that part of herself disappear. Her children grew up hearing the language of her childhood in the kitchen — in comfort, in discipline, in prayer.

Language is love.
She gave them that.

She had very little formal schooling — just months recorded in a census — yet she raised literate children. She bridged the old world and the new quietly, without ceremony or applause.

And she endured.

She lived through World War I while her sons were of age.
She lived through the Great Depression.
She saw her children grow, scatter, struggle, and survive.

Later in life she moved west to British Columbia.

Picture her older now. Hands rough from decades of prairie work. Boarding a train again. Watching the landscape change from flat golden fields to mountains and ocean.

Her son built her a house.

After all those years of keeping everyone warm, fed, clothed, and held together — she had a home built for her. 🏡

There’s something deeply tender about that.

Mary Vinterlik died in 1949 in Victoria and is buried at Royal Oak Burial Park.

But what stays with me isn’t the cemetery.

It’s this:

She crossed an ocean.
She raised a prairie family from almost nothing.
She kept her language alive.
She endured history without fanfare.

Sometimes when I look back at these stories, I realize how much courage is hidden inside ordinary lives. Grandma Mary crossed an ocean and built a life on the prairie. Later generations moved again, west to the coast. Somewhere along that long path came my namesake, Christina Winterlik, and eventually me — still trying to piece together the story. Researching our family now feels a little like following footprints across time. Each record, each photograph, each remembered story brings me a little closer to the people who quietly made our lives possible. 🌾

And somewhere in all of that, she became part of the reason I am here.

João Ignacio d’Almada

From the Azores to Vancouver Island: The Life of My Great-Great-Grandfather João Ignacio d’Almada 🌊

Researching family history can feel like opening a window into another world. One of the most remarkable stories in my family belongs to my great-great-grandfather João Ignacio d’Almada, who later became known in Canada as John Enos.

João was born on February 3, 1834, in the parish of São Pedro, part of the Azores. Life on these small volcanic islands was closely tied to the sea, and like many young Azorean men of the time, João went to sea while still very young. By the age of fourteen he was already working on ships. ⚓

By 1852 he had reached Boston, likely working aboard a whaling ship, which was a common path for Azorean sailors seeking opportunity abroad.

Like many others chasing dreams of fortune, João soon headed west toward the gold fields during the era of the California Gold Rush. When news of new discoveries spread farther north, he continued his journey to British Columbia during the Fraser River Gold Rush.

Life during the gold rush was dangerous and unpredictable. At one point João nearly drowned near Fort Yale when the raft he was traveling on overturned in the powerful Fraser River. It was a reminder of how risky these journeys could be. 🌊

Eventually he made his way to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, where he worked as a seaman transporting coal to the naval base at Esquimalt. He also worked squaring timber for the Hudson’s Bay Company and is remembered as helping build one of Nanaimo’s early bridges.

In the early 1860s he settled in Nanoose Bay, becoming one of the earliest European settlers in the area. There he cleared land, farmed, raised cattle and pigs, planted an orchard, and even built a small fishing sloop. 🌱

Frontier life was incredibly hard. Everything had to be built by hand. Land had to be cleared, animals cared for, and food grown. Storms, injuries, and isolation were part of daily life.

During these years João married Theresa Elisia Enos, a woman connected to the Songhees Nation. Their son Joseph Enos was born in 1867 and grew up learning the demanding work of farming and coastal life.

One can imagine a typical day beginning before sunrise. João checking livestock and fences while the fog still hung over the fields, young Joseph helping where he could, and Theresa bringing her own deep knowledge of the land and waters of the region to their household. Life would have revolved around survival, family, and the changing seasons. 🌲

But pioneer life also brought hardship. In 1870, João was badly injured when one of his bulls gored him, leaving him dependent on the help of friends and neighbours while he recovered.

Later, after the death of his wife Theresa, João became a widower. Years afterward he returned to the Azores, hoping to marry a childhood sweetheart. According to accounts of his life, she refused to leave the islands, and João eventually returned to Vancouver Island.

In his later years he moved to Victoria, where he arranged to live at St. Joseph’s Hospital, cared for by the Sisters of St. Ann. Even into his eighties he remained active. People remembered him riding a bicycle around the city and entertaining others by playing guitar and singing. 🎶

João Ignacio d’Almada died on April 9, 1921, at the age of 87.

Today, his name still lives on in the landscape of Vancouver Island through Enos Lake and Enos Creek.

Much of what we know about his life has been documented by historian Manuel Azevedo, whose research on Azorean pioneers in British Columbia helped preserve these stories.

For me, discovering João’s life has been a powerful reminder that our family history stretches across oceans — from a small island in the Atlantic to the rugged coast of Vancouver Island. 🌎

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Joseph Enos 1867–1918)

Joseph Enos

(1867–1918)

Joseph Enos was born 21 February 1867 in Nanoose Bay, on the east coast of Vancouver Island.

He was born into a world that was still changing rapidly.

His father, John Enos, was a sailor from the Azores, a Portuguese island chain in the Atlantic. His mother, Eliza, was Songhees, part of the Coast Salish people whose territory surrounded Victoria.

Joseph grew up between cultures — Indigenous, Portuguese, and British colonial society — during the early years of British Columbia.

By 1881, when he was fourteen, census records show him living with his parents near Nanaimo and Nanoose Bay. His occupation was already listed as farmer, which was typical for young men growing up in rural communities at the time.

Life was hard, practical, and closely tied to the land. The forests were still thick across Vancouver Island, and families cleared land, raised animals, and hunted when necessary.

As a young man, Joseph could read and write, something that allowed him to keep a diary during his teenage years. Those diary entries give rare glimpses into everyday life in rural British Columbia in the late 1800s — days spent digging ditches, hunting, checking cattle, and working alongside neighbours.

They show a life shaped by work, weather, and survival.

In 1891, Joseph married Mary Ann Poirier in Nanaimo. Together they built a family and raised several children, including Mary Catherine Enos, James Charles Enos, and John Joseph Enos.

Like many men of his generation, Joseph’s life followed the rhythms of land and labour. At different times he farmed and sought opportunities farther away. One record from 1909 shows him applying for a homestead near Elkwater, reflecting the era when many Canadians moved westward in search of land.

Eventually Joseph returned to Vancouver Island.

He died on 27 October 1918 in Victoria at the age of 51 and was buried at Ross Bay Cemetery.

His life spanned a remarkable period in British Columbia’s history — from the early colonial years following the gold rush to the modernizing world of the early twentieth century.

Through his Songhees mother and Azorean father, Joseph carried a heritage that crossed oceans and cultures. Through his children and grandchildren, that story continued.

What his life might have looked like

Early mornings tending animals.
Long days clearing land and working soil.
Hunting in forests that were still largely untouched.
Neighbours spread miles apart but connected through shared labour.

And somewhere in the quiet moments, a young man writing in a diary about ordinary days that would one day become extraordinary family history.

Saturday, March 7, 2026

When Expanding Police Training Isn’t the Same as Expanding Wisdom

When Expanding Police Training Isn’t the Same as Expanding Wisdom

Recently, the province of British Columbia approved new satellite police training academies in Vancouver and Victoria, overseen by the Justice Institute of British Columbia. The intention is to increase the number of officers being trained each year to address staffing shortages across police departments.

On the surface, this might sound like a practical solution. Communities want safety. Cities want adequate staffing. Governments want faster training pipelines.

But many citizens have very real concerns — and those concerns deserve serious discussion.

Because the issue isn’t simply how many officers we produce.

The real question is: what kind of officers are we producing, and are they prepared for the world they are entering?

Six Months of Training for Society’s Hardest Problems

In British Columbia, basic police academy training lasts roughly six months. Afterward, recruits complete field training under senior officers before working independently.

Compare that with other professions expected to care for people during crises:

Nurses train for approximately four years.
Teachers often complete four to six years of education.
Doctors train for seven to ten years or more.

Yet police officers are often the first responders to society’s most complicated human crises.

They are called to:

mental health emergencies
domestic disputes
addiction and overdose situations
homelessness outreach
family breakdowns
trauma and violence
public disorder
community conflict

These situations require far more than tactical training.

They require emotional intelligence, psychological understanding, life experience, and wisdom.

No classroom can teach wisdom in six months.

The Problem With “Learning From the Old Guard”

After the academy, new recruits typically learn by shadowing experienced officers.

In theory, this mentorship model should help young officers learn practical skills.

But in reality, it can sometimes reinforce the very problems communities are worried about.

If previous generations of policing included:

outdated attitudes toward mental health
bias toward certain communities
aggressive enforcement styles
adversarial relationships with citizens

Then those attitudes can be quietly passed down.

Training becomes less about modern knowledge and more about absorbing the culture of the department.

And culture, once entrenched, is very difficult to change.

Many recruits enter policing wanting to help people. But when the dominant culture emphasizes authority, hierarchy, and “us versus them” thinking, idealism can erode quickly.

A Military Structure in a Civilian Society

Police forces often operate with a strict command hierarchy similar to the military.

Orders flow downward.

Questioning superiors can be discouraged.

For new recruits, this structure can make it extremely difficult to challenge problematic behavior or outdated thinking.

If a young officer sees something wrong, the pressure to conform can be enormous.

Career advancement, peer acceptance, and workplace safety may all depend on staying silent.

This environment can unintentionally protect bad habits rather than reform them.

Policing Has Become the Catch-All for Social Failures

Over the last several decades, many social services have been reduced or stretched thin.

Mental health services are overwhelmed.

Affordable housing is scarce.

Addiction treatment is limited.

Community supports have weakened.

When people fall through these cracks, who is called?

The police.

Officers are now expected to respond to problems that historically would have been handled by:

mental health professionals
social workers
community mediators
addiction specialists

Police are often placed in situations where they are the least appropriate tool for the problem, yet they are the only available response.

This creates stress for everyone involved.

Citizens feel misunderstood.

Officers feel overwhelmed.

And tragedies can occur when complex human crises are approached as enforcement problems rather than care situations.

Trust Cannot Be Built Through Force

Public trust in policing depends on more than patrol cars and enforcement.

It depends on whether communities believe officers understand them.

People want officers who have:

empathy
cultural awareness
patience
life experience
strong ethical judgment

Communities also want accountability when mistakes occur.

When misconduct scandals appear — whether involving excessive force, harassment, or discrimination — public trust erodes quickly.

And rebuilding that trust takes far longer than six months.

Expanding Training Capacity Isn’t the Same as Improving Training Quality

Creating new academies may increase the number of officers graduating each year.

But quantity is not the same as quality.

A better conversation might include questions like:

Should police training be longer?
Should more time be devoted to psychology and conflict resolution?
Should officers train alongside social workers and health professionals?
Should departments recruit candidates with broader life experience?
Should crisis response teams include non-police specialists?

These questions are not anti-police.

They are pro-community.

Because everyone benefits when first responders are well prepared for the realities they face.

Communities Deserve Thoughtful Solutions

Safety is important.

But safety comes from thoughtful systems, not rushed ones.

Citizens, officers, and vulnerable people alike all deserve a system that prioritizes:

wisdom over speed
understanding over force
prevention over reaction

Training more officers may be necessary.

But training better officers — with deeper education, broader perspectives, and stronger support systems — may be even more important.

The real goal should not simply be filling uniforms.

The goal should be building a society where the people entrusted with authority truly understand the communities they serve.

Because when the system works well, everyone benefits.

And when it fails, everyone pays the price.

Thursday, March 5, 2026

When Technology Moves Faster Than Ethics

When Technology Moves Faster Than Ethics

A Call to Businesses, Universities, Teachers, and Communities

By Tina Winterlik (Zipolita)

We are living through a moment where technology is moving faster than our ethics, faster than our laws, and faster than our public awareness.

Devices like the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, developed by Meta and EssilorLuxottica, allow people to record video almost invisibly. What looks like a simple pair of sunglasses can capture photos, video, and livestream what someone sees.

Most people nearby may have no idea they are being recorded.

Recent reporting has also revealed that some footage used to train artificial intelligence systems is reviewed by workers overseas, including in places like Kenya.

That means private moments captured by a wearable camera could potentially be seen by strangers thousands of kilometers away.

This raises serious questions about privacy, consent, and power.

⚠️ But the biggest concern may be this:
Technology is spreading faster than our ability to understand it or regulate it.

A Message to Business Owners 🏪

If you own a café, a store, or any public-facing business, you may soon face situations where customers or staff are wearing recording devices.

Do you have a policy?

Do your employees know what to do if someone is secretly filming customers?

Businesses may need to start thinking about privacy signage, clear policies, and staff training.

A Message to Professors and Universities 🎓

Universities helped create many of these technologies.

Now they must help society understand them.

AI ethics, digital privacy, and surveillance technology should not be niche topics hidden in computer science departments. They should be part of:

journalism courses
law programs
sociology classes
education training programs

Students must graduate understanding the world they are entering.

A Message to Teachers and Schools 📚

High school students are already living in a world of cameras, social media, and artificial intelligence.

But many are not being taught the risks.

Students should learn about:

consent when filming others
digital footprints
online exploitation
AI training and hidden human labor
ethical use of technology

Teaching these topics early helps young people become responsible digital citizens.

A Message to Communities and Seniors 👵👴

Many elderly people have no idea that wearable cameras even exist.

That makes them especially vulnerable to exploitation.

Community centres could play an important role by hosting free workshops about digital safety, helping people understand:

how wearable cameras work
how AI uses images and video
how to protect privacy in public spaces

Communities that learn together are communities that stay safer.

Possible Scenarios We Should Be Preparing For ⚠️

Scenario 1

Someone wearing smart glasses records people inside a small business without permission.
The footage ends up online, where viewers make cruel comments about customers.

How should the business respond?
Should laws protect the people who were filmed?

Scenario 2

A student secretly records classmates in a school hallway and uploads clips to social media.

The video spreads quickly and humiliates someone.

What responsibility does the school have?
What consequences should exist?

Scenario 3

A wearable camera accidentally captures sensitive information — a credit card number, a private conversation, or a medical discussion.

Who is responsible if that information spreads?

The person wearing the device?
The platform hosting the video?
The company that created the technology?

What Communities Could Do Right Now 🏘️

Waiting for governments alone may not be enough.

Communities can start acting today.

Ideas include:

• Digital literacy workshops at libraries and community centres
• Public discussions about AI and privacy
• School programs about ethical technology use
• Clear business policies about recording in private spaces
• Advocacy for stronger privacy laws

When people understand technology, they are less likely to be exploited by it.

Ten Reflective Questions Journalists Should Be Asking 🎤

1️⃣ Should wearable cameras require visible recording indicators so people know they are being filmed?

2️⃣ What legal protections exist for someone who is secretly recorded and posted online without consent?

3️⃣ Are technology companies moving too fast compared to the laws meant to protect the public?

4️⃣ Who is responsible when AI training data contains private or sensitive footage?

5️⃣ Are low-wage workers reviewing private footage being adequately protected and compensated?

6️⃣ Should businesses and schools have the right to ban wearable recording devices?

7️⃣ What rights do citizens have when their image is captured unintentionally in AI training data?

8️⃣ How prepared are police and courts to deal with crimes involving wearable cameras?

9️⃣ Are governments investing enough in digital literacy for the public?

🔟 What ethical responsibility do tech companies have before releasing powerful new surveillance tools?

The Bigger Question

Technology is not slowing down.

The real question is whether our ethics, laws, and education systems can catch up in time.

If we want a future where technology empowers people instead of exploiting them, we need to act now — together.

Business owners.
Teachers.
Journalists.
Students.
Community leaders.

Everyone has a role to play.

Because in a world where cameras can be hidden in plain sight, awareness may be our most powerful protection. ✨

*Last Thoughts*

A camera used to be something you could see.

Now it may be hidden in a pair of sunglasses.

In a world where anyone might be recording, the most important question becomes simple:

Who is protecting the people being watched?👀🙄😬🥺💩👽🤬🤢⏳️⌛️🛑

Bone Games, Bingo, and Casinos: Thinking About Gambling Through an Indigenous Lens

Bone Games, Bingo, and Casinos: Thinking About Gambling Through an Indigenous Lens

Recently I saw an announcement for the Suquamish Renewal Coastal Jam & Powwow that will take place partly at the Clearwater Casino Resort.

That made me pause.

Like many people exploring Indigenous traditions and ancestry, I sometimes find myself feeling conflicted about gambling. I dislike casinos and the modern gambling industry, yet I also know that games of chance have existed in Indigenous cultures for centuries.

In fact, family stories say that my great-great-great grandmother, Mary Ann Maranda dit Le Frise, was very skilled at the Bone Game.

That makes the conversation more personal.

Traditional Games Were Not the Same as Casinos

The Bone Game is an ancient Indigenous guessing game played across many regions of North America. It involves two teams, hidden bones or sticks, drumming, singing, and intense observation. Skilled players learn to read body language and anticipate their opponents.

Yes, sometimes people wagered items during the game. But historically these wagers were often things like blankets, food, tools, or horses. The game was also social and ceremonial. It brought communities together through music, laughter, and competition.

It was very different from modern gambling systems built around profit.

Colonization Changed the Story

Ironically, colonial governments often tried to suppress Indigenous cultural practices. Ceremonies such as the Potlatch were banned for decades under the Indian Act.

Traditional games were sometimes discouraged or outlawed as well.

At the same time, other forms of gambling gradually became normalized in colonial society. Churches and community organizations introduced games like bingo as social events and fundraisers. Many children encountered bingo in schools, youth clubs, and church halls.

Later, governments themselves began operating lotteries through organizations like the British Columbia Lottery Corporation.

So the message became confusing: traditional games were restricted, yet state-run gambling was promoted.

Why Some Tribes Operate Casinos Today

For many Indigenous nations, casinos eventually became one of the few economic tools available for generating revenue and supporting their communities.

Casinos can fund:

healthcare services
housing programs
education and scholarships
language and cultural revitalization.

For some nations, these businesses provide a degree of economic independence after centuries of economic restrictions.

Still, not everyone feels comfortable with gambling culture, even within Indigenous communities.

A Personal Reflection

My ancestor being known as a strong Bone Game player reminds me that Indigenous cultures were never static or simplistic. Communities played games, competed, laughed, and gathered together.

But it also reminds me that there is a difference between traditional social games and modern commercial gambling industries.

It is possible to respect the cultural traditions while still questioning the systems that exist today.

Exploring family history sometimes raises complicated questions. But those questions are important. They help us understand how traditions evolved and how colonial systems reshaped them.

And sometimes they remind us that our ancestors were far more complex and interesting than history books ever recorded.

When Grandparents Are Shut Out: A Question for British Columbia’s Child Welfare System

When Grandparents Are Shut Out: A Question for British Columbia’s Child Welfare System

By Tina Winterlik (Zipolita)

Across British Columbia, many families are quietly struggling with something that rarely makes headlines: grandparents trying to stay connected with their grandchildren after a child enters the care system or is placed with another guardian.

Recently, I saw a message from a grandmother living in Surrey, BC. Her grandchild is in care or placed with other grandparents. She says she has been blocked from visits and cannot even get a letter of support from her own First Nation. Her lawyer is struggling to make progress.

If her account is accurate, this situation raises serious questions about how the child welfare system is operating and whether the laws designed to protect Indigenous families are actually being followed.

This is not just about one family. It is about a system that is affecting thousands of children.

Indigenous Children and the Law

Canada passed a federal law meant to prevent the continued separation of Indigenous children from their families and cultures.

That law is An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families (Bill C-92).

It states that when Indigenous children are involved in child welfare decisions, priority should be given to:

Family members
Extended family such as grandparents
Members of the child’s Nation
Cultural continuity and connection

This law was created partly in response to the historic harms of residential schools and the Sixties Scoop, when Indigenous children were removed from their families and communities.

In theory, these protections mean grandparents should be considered essential relationships in a child’s life.

British Columbia’s Child Welfare System

In BC, the primary agency responsible for child protection is the Ministry of Children and Family Development.

Their actions are governed by the Child, Family and Community Service Act.

That law says that the child’s best interests must be considered and that family connections should be maintained whenever possible.

But many families report that the system does not always function this way.

Sometimes children are placed with one side of the family and the other side becomes completely cut off unless they go through expensive and stressful court processes.

Grandparents may need to apply for a contact order through the courts under the Family Law Act.

For many seniors or low-income families, that is a difficult and slow process.

Oversight and Accountability

When families believe a child in care is losing important family or cultural connections, there is an oversight office that can investigate.

That office is the Representative for Children and Youth.

This independent office reviews whether government agencies are protecting the rights and wellbeing of children.

Legal help may also be available through Legal Aid BC, which provides support for some family law matters.

However, many families say navigating these systems is extremely confusing and slow.

The Bigger Context

Anyone who has spent time in the Lower Mainland recently knows that British Columbia is facing multiple overlapping crises:

housing shortages
homelessness
addiction and mental health challenges
rising poverty

Areas such as the Downtown Eastside have become symbols of these struggles.

Encampments have repeatedly appeared and been cleared along places like East Hastings Street.

When communities experience this level of stress, families often end up interacting with the child welfare system more frequently.

And when families fracture, children can lose connections that may be vital to their identity and wellbeing.

Why Grandparents Matter

In many cultures, including Indigenous cultures, grandparents are not just relatives.

They are teachers, language keepers, and emotional anchors.

For children who may already be experiencing instability, maintaining relationships with grandparents can provide:

continuity
cultural knowledge
emotional safety
family history and identity

Removing those connections without clear explanation can cause deep harm.

Questions That Deserve Answers

Cases like the one described raise important questions for leaders and institutions in British Columbia:

Are the protections in Bill C-92 being consistently followed?
Are Indigenous children truly maintaining family and cultural connections?
Why are grandparents sometimes unable to obtain even basic visitation?
Are families receiving clear explanations when access is denied?

Transparency and accountability are essential.

Who Has the Power to Act

These questions deserve attention from decision-makers including:

David Eby, Premier of British Columbia
Mitzi Dean, Minister responsible for the Ministry of Children and Family Development
the Representative for Children and Youth
Indigenous governments and Nations across Canada

These leaders have the authority to review policies and ensure that the law is being respected.

A Call for Compassion and Transparency

This article is not about assigning blame in one individual case.

Child welfare decisions are complex and must always prioritize the safety of children.

But families deserve clear answers.

And children deserve every chance to remain connected to the people who love them.

When grandparents are left outside the system without explanation, something is not working the way it should.

British Columbia can do better.

For the sake of the children.

Tuesday, March 3, 2026

Job Offer or Trap? A Warning to Women — And a Question for Government

⚠️ Job Offer or Trap? A Warning to Women — And a Question for Government

Police in West Vancouver recently warned women about a suspected kidnapping attempt connected to a job offer in Surrey.

Let that sink in.

A job offer — something meant to provide dignity, stability, and income — allegedly used as a setup for harm.

For parents of daughters looking for work, this is terrifying.
For women already navigating ageism, rejection, and housing insecurity, it is infuriating.

And we need to be honest: when economic systems become unstable, predators look for openings.

🚨 This Is Not Just One Incident

When a case is discovered, we hear about it.

But how many attempts go unreported?
How many women walk away shaken but silent?
How many near-misses never become headlines?

Public warnings are important. But prevention must go deeper.

🛡️ Practical Safety Steps for Job Seekers

Until systems improve, women need practical protection strategies:

1. Verify the employer.
Search for a legitimate website, business registration, and physical address. Call a publicly listed number.

2. First meetings should be in public professional spaces.
Never a private residence. Never an isolated warehouse. Never a hotel room.

3. Tell someone where you’re going.
Share location. Set a check-in time.

4. Watch for red flags.

“Cash only”
High pay, no experience required
Pressure to come immediately
Vague job description
Refusal to provide written details

5. Trust discomfort.
If something feels off, leave. You owe no one politeness at the cost of safety.

💔 The Bigger Issue: Economic Pressure Creates Risk

We cannot ignore the environment this is happening in:

Housing costs are crushing. 🏠
Stable jobs are harder to secure.
Older women face quiet age discrimination.
Gig work offers little protection.
Online platforms are flooded with scams.

When women are desperate for income to pay rent, risk thresholds shift.

That is not weakness. That is survival pressure.

And predators know it.

🏛️ A Question for Government

Public safety is not just policing after harm occurs.

It is preventing the conditions that make exploitation possible.

So we need to ask:

Why are housing and employment insecurity treated separately from public safety?
What protections exist for job seekers responding to online postings?
How are governments regulating job platforms where scams flourish?
What are municipalities doing to ensure safe hiring spaces?
Why are women navigating economic vulnerability without stronger systemic safeguards?

If housing were secure…
If stable employment were accessible…
If age discrimination were meaningfully addressed…

Would women feel forced to respond to risky opportunities?

Safety begins long before a crime.

🌎 This Is Everyone’s Problem

This is not about one city.
This is not about one police warning.

When society becomes economically unstable, exploitation increases.

Parents worry.
Women second-guess every opportunity.
Communities lose trust.

And yes — the fear spreads.

❓ Reflective Questions

Have economic pressures ever made me consider something that felt unsafe?
How can we create verified, safer hiring systems?
Should job platforms be legally required to screen postings more rigorously?
How does housing instability increase vulnerability?
What would a truly protective system for women job seekers look like?
Why are we reacting to individual crimes instead of redesigning the conditions that enable them?

We need more than warnings.

We need:

Affordable housing. 🏠
Transparent employment systems.
Stronger oversight of job platforms.
Clear public safety coordination.
Economic policies that reduce desperation.

Because when a job offer becomes a potential threat, something in the system is not working.

And women should not have to risk their safety just to survive.

Sunday, March 1, 2026

Eliza (Songhees Woman, Mother of Joseph Enos)

Eliza (Songhees Woman, Mother of Joseph Enos)

Eliza was born around 1832.

Before Victoria was a city.
Before streets had English names.
Before ships lined the harbour.

She was Songhees — T’sou-ke? No. Tsongees — the people of the inner harbour of what is now Victoria.

When she was a child, the land was not “settlement.” It was village. Canoes. Reef nets. Smokehouses. Cedar. Reef-fishing, camas digging, reef-net knowledge passed down through women.

Her world changed fast.

In 1843, Hudson's Bay Company built Fort Victoria. She would have been about eleven. Imagine watching strangers arrive and stay. Watching fences go up. Watching the shoreline shift from canoes to ships.

Then the gold rush.

Then 1862.

The smallpox ship.

When the disease arrived in Victoria aboard the Brother Jonathan and others, Indigenous people were forced out of town. Entire encampments were pushed away while infected settlers were treated. The epidemic devastated Coast Salish communities.

Eliza would have been about thirty.

How did she survive?

Some Fraser River communities were vaccinated by missionaries. Some weren’t. Some families fled to islands. Some carried immunity from earlier exposure. Survival was not random — but it wasn’t guaranteed either.

The fact that she lived means something.
It means someone cared for her.
It means she endured fever, fear, or loss.

Five years later, in 1867, she had a son: Joseph.

His baptism record at St. Andrew’s Cathedral shows something striking. His father listed as “Joseph – native of St. Mary’s, Azores.” His mother: Eliza, Songhees.

That means her life bridged three worlds:

Songhees
Portuguese Azorean
British colonial Victoria

That’s extraordinary.

Imagine her home. Likely near the harbour before the forced relocation of the Songhees reserve across the water. A place where Lusophone Catholicism met Coast Salish traditions. Where cedar baskets and rosaries existed in the same room.

Her son would later write in English. Keep diaries. Work land. Hunt cougar. Deal with Indian Agents. Navigate colonial systems.

Who taught him English?

Maybe mission school.
Maybe the Cathedral.
Maybe hearing it every day in town.
Maybe Eliza insisted he learn it to survive.

We don’t know.

But we know this: when she died in 1882 in Nanaimo District, he was fourteen.

Fourteen is still a boy.

He had already begun a diary. Then he stopped for two years.

That pause says more than any record.

Her death wasn’t just a line in a register. It was a rupture.

She died at fifty. Not elderly. Not frail. Just… gone.

And her son had to step into manhood without her.

What might a day in Eliza’s life have looked like?

Morning smoke from cooking fires.
Camas bulbs roasting.
Children moving between languages.
Church bells from St. Andrew’s.
Fishing gear drying.
Watching the shoreline change year by year.

Holding both grief and adaptation in the same body.

Questions to sit with

Did she choose baptism, or was it required?
What did she think of the Cathedral bells?
Did she teach her son traditional knowledge alongside catechism?
What did she lose in 1862?
Did she ever imagine her descendants would still be asking about her?

She is not just “Tsongees (Eliza)” in a register.

She was a woman who survived epidemic, colonization, cultural upheaval, and raised a son who walked between worlds.

And because she did, I am here.

Saturday, February 28, 2026

Request for Leadership on a 6-Month Emergency Housing Plan

Sample Letter,

Please Copy, Paste and send your letters and concerns 😟

To: elizabeth.may@parl.gc.ca

CC: Elizabeth.May.C1@parl.gc.ca

Dear Ms. May,

I am writing with deep respect and admiration.

I have watched your work in the House of Commons for years. Your preparation, your integrity, and your willingness to speak truth — even when inconvenient — have consistently stood out. I have long supported and voted Green because of that leadership.

This is why I am writing to you now.

Across British Columbia — Vancouver, Surrey, Abbotsford, Hope — thousands of people remain unhoused. Women are being turned away from shelters. Residents are sleeping outside in a province as wealthy as ours.

I have personally been turned away from shelter twice.

Governments continue to announce 10-year strategies. Units promised for 2030. Plans for 2035.

But homelessness is not a 10-year issue. It is a 6-month emergency.

I have sent an open letter to federal MPs, provincial MLAs, and municipal governments requesting one simple action:

A joint, public, recorded forum including all three levels of government to answer one question:

What is the 6-month plan to house the people currently experiencing homelessness?

Not projections. Not future builds. Six months.

Housing responsibility is divided across federal funding (through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation), provincial housing programs and health services, and municipal zoning and land use. When they operate separately, people fall through the cracks.

You have consistently demonstrated the courage to raise uncomfortable truths in Parliament. I am asking if you would consider calling publicly for coordinated emergency housing action — not as a partisan issue, but as a human one.

This is a moment where leadership matters.

I believe this is where all parties must move beyond long-term promises and demand immediate coordination.

Thank you for your years of service and your example of principled leadership.

Respectfully,

Tina Winterlik

Open Letter: Joint Public Forum Request — 6-Month Housing Plan

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📍 ELECTED OFFICIAL CONTACT LIST

(Vancouver, Surrey, Abbotsford, Hope – BC)

🇨🇦 FEDERAL MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT

Vancouver

Hedy Fry – Vancouver Centre
📧 hedy.fry@parl.gc.ca

Don Davies – Vancouver Kingsway
📧 don.davies@parl.gc.ca

Joyce Murray – Vancouver Quadra
📧 joyce.murray@parl.gc.ca

Harjit Sajjan – Vancouver South
📧 harjit.sajjan@parl.gc.ca

Surrey

Sukh Dhaliwal – Surrey–Newton
📧 sukh.dhaliwal@parl.gc.ca

Randeep Sarai – Surrey Centre
📧 randeep.sarai@parl.gc.ca

Abbotsford

Ed Fast – Abbotsford
📧 ed.fast@parl.gc.ca

Hope (Fraser Canyon area)

Hope falls under:

Mark Strahl – Chilliwack–Hope
📧 mark.strahl@parl.gc.ca

🏛 PROVINCIAL MLAs (British Columbia)

Vancouver

David Eby – Vancouver-Point Grey (Premier)
📧 david.eby.mla@leg.bc.ca

Mable Elmore – Vancouver-Kensington
📧 mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca

Surrey

Garry Begg – Surrey-Guildford
📧 garry.begg.mla@leg.bc.ca

Abbotsford

Bruce Banman – Abbotsford South
📧 bruce.banman.mla@leg.bc.ca

Hope

Hope is in:

Kelli Paddon – Chilliwack-Kent
📧 kelli.paddon.mla@leg.bc.ca

🏙 MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS

Vancouver

Mayor & Council
📧 mayorandcouncil@vancouver.ca

Surrey

Mayor & Council
📧 city@surrey.ca

Abbotsford

Mayor & Council
📧 mayorandcouncil@abbotsford.ca

Hope

Mayor & Council
📧 district@hope.ca

📧 SAMPLE LETTER (Copy & Paste)

Subject: Open Letter: Joint Public Forum Request — 6-Month Housing Plan

Dear Federal MP, Provincial MLA, Mayor and Council,

I am writing to formally request that all three levels of government meet together in one public, recorded forum to answer a single urgent question:

What is the 6-month plan to house the thousands of people currently experiencing homelessness in our region?

Not a 10-year strategy.
Not projected units for 2035.
Six months.

Homelessness is happening now. Women are being turned away from shelters. People are being denied safe spaces to sleep. Many residents have personally experienced being turned away.

Housing responsibility is divided across three levels of government:

Federal — funding and financing through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Provincial — BC Housing, health services, social supports
Municipal — zoning, permits, and land use

When these levels do not coordinate in real time, people fall through the cracks.

During floods, fires, and pandemics, governments act quickly. Funds are released. Buildings are secured. Timelines are immediate.

Homelessness is a public health and human emergency. It deserves the same urgency.

Therefore, I am requesting:

A joint public forum including all three levels of government.
A recorded session accessible to the public.
A clear written 6-month action plan outlining:
- Immediate unit acquisition (hotels, vacant buildings, modular housing)
- Funding already available
- A timeline with measurable milestones

If people can be counted, they can be housed.

Please confirm whether you will participate in such a forum and provide proposed dates within the next 30 days.

Respectfully,
[Your Name]
[Your Postal Code]

📢 BLOG CALL-TO-ACTION (You Can Post This)

I have sent my letter.

Now I am asking others to send theirs.

The more residents who send this request, the harder it becomes to ignore.

We are not asking for 10-year promises.
We are not asking for future projections.

We are asking one question:

What is the 6-month plan?

Copy the letter above.
Add your name and postal code.
Send it to your federal MP, your provincial MLA, and your mayor and council.

CC them all so they see each other copied.

Coordination should not take 10 years.

If 5,000 people can be counted, they can be housed.

The more who send, the stronger the demand.