Tuesday, August 12, 2025

Vancouver’s City Manager Shake-Up: What It Means

Vancouver’s City Manager Shake-Up: What It Means for the Downtown Eastside and Our Community

Recently, Vancouver’s city manager, Paul Mochrie, left his position after serving from April 2021 to July 2025. While the city described his departure as a “mutual agreement,” what caught many off guard was the city’s refusal to disclose his severance pay — breaking with past transparency traditions. This lack of openness has left taxpayers wondering how much this leadership change cost them.

Mochrie’s tenure was marked by his involvement in some of Vancouver’s toughest challenges, particularly in the Downtown Eastside (DTES). This neighbourhood faces entrenched issues like homelessness, poverty, substance abuse, and safety concerns. Under Mochrie’s leadership, the city pushed forward several housing projects and tried to manage encampments with a balance of care and enforcement.

Yet, despite these efforts, the DTES’s struggles continued, and many residents, advocates, and city officials grew frustrated. Mochrie’s departure came at a time when Mayor Ken Sim seemed eager for a new approach — one many suspect is linked to preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Big international events often spark “clean-up” campaigns, aiming to improve the city’s image by moving visible homeless populations out of sight.

This isn’t new to Vancouver. The 2010 Winter Olympics saw similar tactics that displaced vulnerable communities rather than addressing root causes. The current situation echoes broader patterns seen elsewhere, like in Washington, where aggressive policies prioritize control and image over compassion and meaningful support.

Adding to public frustration is the recent news that Fraser Health’s CEO Lee was fired and received a $607,000 severance package. To put that in perspective, her payout alone could have helped fund sending dozens, if not hundreds, of unhoused people to safe shelter or warmer climates for the winter. Vancouver currently faces a homelessness crisis with over 5,000 unhoused individuals, while at the same time, there are more than 2,000 empty condos in the city — a staggering mismatch that highlights deep systemic failures. It’s hard not to question how many lives could be improved if these massive severance payouts and other public funds were redirected toward real, lasting solutions.

Such “clean-up” efforts raise urgent questions about our city’s priorities. Are we more focused on how the city looks to visitors than on how we care for our neighbours in need? How do we balance public safety and community well-being without sacrificing dignity and respect?

Questions for Reflection:

What responsibility does the city have to be transparent about leadership decisions and severance payments, especially when public funds are involved?
How can Vancouver better support its most vulnerable populations without resorting to displacement or secrecy?
What lessons can we learn from past “clean-up” efforts, like during the 2010 Olympics, to avoid repeating harmful mistakes?
In preparing for global events, how can the city ensure that its actions are grounded in compassion rather than optics?

Ideas and Possible Solutions:

Transparency and Accountability: The city should commit to full disclosure regarding leadership changes and financial decisions to build public trust.
Holistic Support Programs: Invest more in mental health services, addiction support, and affordable housing rather than short-term encampment removals.
Community Engagement: Include voices from the DTES and other marginalized communities in policy decisions affecting their lives.
Long-term Housing Commitments: Accelerate the creation and maintenance of supportive housing with wraparound services.
Public Awareness Campaigns: Educate citizens about the complex issues in the DTES to foster empathy and reduce stigma.

Vancouver’s challenges in the DTES are a test of our city’s values and priorities. Rather than sweeping problems under the rug, we must work toward solutions that respect human dignity and promote real, lasting change. It’s time for all of us to pay attention, speak out, and demand a city that cares for everyone.

Call for Compassionate Action: Redirecting Severance Funds

A Call for Compassionate Action: Redirecting Severance Funds to Support the Unhoused

Dear Dr. Victoria Lee,

I am writing to address the recent revelation that you will receive a severance package of $609,335 following your departure as CEO of Fraser Health. This sum, paid over 18 months, underscores the significant financial rewards afforded to top executives in our public health sector.

While such compensation is standard for high-level positions, it stands in stark contrast to the realities faced by many in our community. The Canadian Taxpayers Federation has expressed concern over this payout, highlighting the disparity between executive compensation and the financial struggles of ordinary British Columbians.

Moreover, the BC Conservative Party has criticized the NDP government for prioritizing substantial severance packages for executives while implementing cuts to frontline healthcare workers. They argue that this approach reflects misplaced priorities in the allocation of public funds.

In light of these concerns, I urge you to consider redirecting a portion of your severance to support those most in need. Specifically, $7,100 could provide one unhoused individual with the means to escape the harsh winter months in British Columbia by relocating to a warmer climate. With your severance amount, this could facilitate the transition of approximately 85 individuals.

Imagine the impact of such an initiative: 85 lives transformed, 85 individuals given the opportunity to rebuild and thrive. This act of generosity could serve as a powerful example of leadership and compassion, setting a precedent for others in positions of influence.

I hope you will consider this proposal and take meaningful steps to give back to the community that has supported you throughout your career.

Sincerely,
Zipolita

ZERO PERMITS, ZERO JUSTICE — West Vancouver's Double Standard

Published: August 2025 · By Tina Winterlik (Zipolita)

The facts

A newly constructed ~1,500 sq ft structure built over a creek in West Vancouver has been ordered demolished after municipal staff found it was constructed with no building permits and no inspections. The District gave the owners 60 days to remove the illegal structure. 0

Property records list the primary owners as: Naib Gerami and Ayesheh Mansouri, with Omid Gerami and Kamran Gerami named as additional owners. (These names are taken from property records and reporting; they are public information.)

There is no justice — and here’s why that matters

This case is more than one illegal build. It’s an example of a system that treats the wealthy and connected differently:

Big, costly builds can be erected without permits and sometimes sit for months or years before enforcement catches up. The owners here didn’t appear in court — yet the structure still took months to be discovered and acted on. 1
Meanwhile, poor people trying to live affordably in tents, tiny houses, or other small dwellings are often criminalized, fined, or forced out — sometimes facing immediate eviction or demolition for minor non-compliance. These are real people with few other options.
The result: the rules feel selectively enforced. That’s not just unfair — it’s unsafe for our communities and our environment.

Why permits and inspections matter (when they’re actually enforced)

Permits and inspections exist to protect occupants, neighbours, and the natural environment:

Ensure structural safety and fire protection.
Protect creeks, setbacks, and sensitive ecosystems from damage.
Keep neighbours informed and prevent dangerous short-cuts by contractors.

But rules only work if they apply equally. When the wealthy build big and dodge rules, while low-income households are shut down for tiny infractions, that’s not regulation — it’s injustice.

What you can do — concrete actions

We need community pressure and civic action, not vigilante justice. Here’s how to help make change legally and effectively:

Share this post and the news articles so more residents know who’s involved and what happened. (See sources below.) 2
Report suspected unpermitted construction to the District of West Vancouver bylaw enforcement. Public tips often start investigations.
Contact your municipal councillor and demand regular public reporting on: enforcement actions, bylaw complaint outcomes, and any business or contractor licensing tied to repeat offenders.
Avoid spending money with businesses tied to these owners until the record is clear — and encourage friends and community groups to do the same.
Push for fair housing rules that allow safe, affordable tiny homes and clarify provincial/regional standards so low-income people aren’t criminalized for trying to keep a roof over their head.

Legal and ethical note

This post sticks to verifiable facts reported by news outlets and property records. It does not allege criminal activity beyond the official finding that the structure was built without permits and inspections. If you have more verified information about business ties or corporate filings for the named owners, we will cite those sources directly.

BC Housing is Broken — And People Are Hurting

BC Housing is Broken — And People Are Hurting

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

BC’s housing crisis is not an abstract “policy challenge.” It’s real, it’s urgent, and it’s destroying lives right now.

The Reality on the Ground

The shelter allowance for people on income assistance is still $500/month. That hasn’t been updated in decades. You can’t rent even the smallest room for that anywhere in BC.
BC Housing has too many hoops — endless paperwork, income tests, and years-long waitlists.
If you work part-time or gig jobs, you’re “too rich” for help but still far from being able to afford rent.
If you go on assistance, you’re harassed to job-hunt in markets where there’s little or no work. In Surrey, for example, many jobs require fluent Punjabi, which shuts others out entirely.
Even people working — walking dogs, cleaning homes, doing gig jobs — are forced to couchsurf, live in unsafe spaces, or face homelessness.

This is not a small gap. It’s a gaping hole in the safety net.

Unequal Access — A Divisive and Avoidable Problem

I want to be clear: this is not about blaming newcomers. Everyone deserves a safe, affordable home.

But I’ve seen with my own eyes that newcomers — refugees, immigrant families, international arrivals — are often placed quickly into co-op housing or other subsidized units. These placements happen through special programs that do not exist for low-income BC residents who have lived and worked here for years.

Meanwhile, locals — including seniors, people with disabilities, and the working poor — are left couchsurfing or waiting for years with no housing solution.

This is a policy failure. BC’s housing crisis should be addressed for everyone in need, equally and urgently. Helping one group faster while leaving another behind only fuels division.

What Needs to Happen Now

Raise the shelter allowance immediately to reflect real rental costs.
Expand housing benefits to all low-income earners, not just those on assistance.
Fix BC Housing’s application system so it results in actual housing, not just paperwork.
Build non-market housing and co-ops at the pace of the crisis — not at the speed of bureaucracy.

A Message to Leaders

Premier David Eby, BC Housing, Mark Carney, Elizabeth May — this is your responsibility.

People are hurting. Ignoring this crisis will have consequences for public health, safety, and trust in government. We are tired of being told to “wait” while the cost of living and homelessness skyrocket.

The time for polite delays is over.

Signed,
Tina Winterlik
Zipolita

Monday, August 11, 2025

The Fight Never Ends: Numbers, Colonialism, and Indigenous Land Rights in BC

The Fight Never Ends: Numbers, Colonialism, and Indigenous Land Rights in BC

In August 2025, a landmark court ruling recognized the Aboriginal title of the Cowichan Nation over lands along the Fraser River in Metro Vancouver. This historic decision affirmed what Indigenous peoples have known since time immemorial — that they hold deep, ancestral connections to these lands, rooted in culture, spirituality, and law. For many, it was a moment of justice long overdue.

But even as Indigenous Nations win these battles in court, the fight is far from over. The British Columbia government has announced it will appeal the decision, a move that reveals how entrenched colonial power remains in legal and political systems. This ongoing resistance to Indigenous sovereignty isn’t limited to courtrooms. It extends into demographics and politics — where shifting population numbers and immigration policies can dilute Indigenous voices and complicate land rights in practice.

The Deep Roots of a Long Fight

Indigenous peoples in BC and across Canada have lived on these lands since time immemorial. Their relationship with the land is not transactional or temporary — it is foundational to identity, culture, and survival. Colonization sought to erase this connection through treaties that often ignored Indigenous rights, policies that dispossessed people of their territories, and systems that denied recognition of Indigenous laws and governance.

Yet despite centuries of this colonial assault, Indigenous Nations have persisted and continue to assert their rights. Recent court rulings — like the Cowichan Nation’s title recognition — mark important milestones in the long struggle for justice and recognition.

The Numbers Game: Demographics as a Tool of Power

But victories in courtrooms tell only part of the story. The broader political and social landscape heavily influences whether Indigenous rights are respected and upheld.

British Columbia has experienced significant demographic changes over the past decades, fueled largely by immigration. South Asian communities, among others, have grown substantially in urban areas like Metro Vancouver. Many newcomers are highly skilled professionals, including lawyers and government workers, who influence the legal and political systems.

While immigration enriches BC’s cultural tapestry, it also shifts political power and representation. When the number of Indigenous peoples relative to other groups is small, their collective influence on elections, policy decisions, and legal battles can be diminished.

This tactic of “padding” numbers is not unique to politics. Similar strategies have been alleged in workplaces — for example, Amazon is accused of hiring extra staff to dilute union organizing efforts. In both cases, it’s about controlling influence by changing the makeup of the people involved.

When population numbers become a tool to sideline Indigenous sovereignty and weaken their land claims, it perpetuates a modern form of colonialism — one that hides behind statistics and bureaucracy instead of outright conquest.

Why the Fight Never Ends

Legal victories like the Cowichan Nation’s Aboriginal title ruling are essential. They affirm Indigenous rights and provide a basis for sovereignty and self-determination. But the fight never truly ends because structural barriers remain: governments can and do appeal decisions; economic pressures to develop land persist; political will to respect Indigenous governance fluctuates.

Moreover, the slow pace of justice and ongoing demographic changes mean Indigenous communities must keep resisting on multiple fronts — legal, political, social, and cultural. The fight is relentless, but so is Indigenous resilience.

A Call to Awareness and Action

Understanding how numbers, demographics, and colonial strategies intersect is critical to supporting Indigenous rights. It’s not just about court rulings or treaties; it’s about recognizing how power works in society today.

We must hold governments accountable when they appeal rightful land claims and challenge tactics that undermine Indigenous sovereignty. Solidarity means amplifying Indigenous voices, educating ourselves about these ongoing struggles, and pushing for systemic change that goes beyond symbolic victories.

The fight for Indigenous land rights and justice is far from over — even when the law seems to be on their side. Colonialism adapts, but so do those who resist.

Money, Time, and Vancouver: Why $66/Hour Isn’t the Whole Story

💰 Money, Time, and Vancouver: Why $66/Hour Isn’t the Whole Story

Lately, there’s been a viral claim going around saying that in 2025, we’d need to earn $66 an hour just to have the same buying power our parents, older siblings, and grandparents (especially Baby Boomers) enjoyed in the 1970s.

Sounds shocking, right? But is it true—especially here in Vancouver, BC? The short answer: the number comes from U.S. data, and for Vancouver, it’s even more complicated.

📈 What Inflation Alone Tells Us

If we just look at general price inflation in Canada:

$1 in 1970 = about $7.91 in 2025
(That’s a 690.9% increase in prices, based on Statistics Canada CPI data.)
So, if someone made $10/hour in 1970, the inflation-adjusted equivalent would be about $79/hour today.

But here’s the catch: general inflation doesn’t capture housing—and housing is where Vancouver’s affordability problem really explodes.

🏠 Housing Affordability: Vancouver’s Reality

Let’s go back in time:

In 1971, Vancouver homes cost about $15–$20 per square foot. Adjusted for inflation, that’s roughly $113 today.
In 2025, similar homes are going for $1,200+ per square foot—over 10× higher, even after adjusting for inflation.
Back then, the median home price-to-income ratio was about 2.9—a household could buy a home for roughly three years of income.
Today, that ratio is around 24.4—meaning you’d need more than 24 years’ worth of income to buy a home at today’s prices.

This puts Vancouver in the same league as Hong Kong and Sydney for the title of “least affordable housing markets in the world.”

🔍 So Where Does $66/Hour Come From?

That figure is mainly from U.S.-based viral posts comparing historic housing prices to wages.
When you apply that logic to Vancouver, the reality is even starker—if you wanted the same home-buying power as a middle-class family in the 1970s, you’d probably need an hourly wage well above $66/hour.

💡 The Takeaway

General cost of living: Wages in BC would need to be roughly 8× higher than 1970 to match inflation.
Housing: Vancouver’s affordability has worsened far beyond inflation—by more than 800% in terms of price-to-income ratio.
The $66/hr number grabs attention, but for Vancouver, the real gap between wages and costs is bigger—and housing is the main driver.

Final thought:
When our parents or grandparents bought homes in the 1970s, they often did so on a single income. Today, even with two incomes, many households in Vancouver can’t get close to the housing market without massive debt or outside help. This isn’t just about nostalgia—it’s about recognizing that affordability isn’t a personal failure. The math has changed, and so must the policies.

Vancouver Heat Alert: Stay Safe, Be Kind, and Respect Our Shared Spaces 🔥

🔥 Vancouver Heat Alert: Stay Safe, Be Kind, and Respect Our Shared Spaces 🔥

Vancouver is facing serious heat warnings — and this is not just about feeling uncomfortable. It’s about life and death.

Only a few years ago, during the devastating 2021 heat dome, paramedics were overwhelmed, breaking down as they struggled to save lives. Initial reports estimated 1,600 deaths in BC, later revised to around 600 — still a heartbreaking tragedy that shook our community. Seattle avoided such a disaster by acting early, opening cooling centres, and urging neighbours to watch out for each other.

We need to learn from that and protect everyone here.

🌡 Why This Heat Is Dangerous

Seniors, babies, people with health issues, and unsheltered individuals are at highest risk.
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke symptoms include dizziness, confusion, rapid heartbeat, nausea, and headaches.
High temperatures increase irritability and frustration, making accidents and conflicts more likely.

🌊 Seeking Peace in a City That Feels Too Loud

I get it — my apartment has been boiling. So I went to the ocean for relief. But peace was nowhere to be found.

At KitsFest, the beaches are packed. Then I found a quiet spot — only to have it shattered by a boat blasting Bollywood and rap music so loud it felt like a nightclub.

Babies woke crying. Seniors packed up and left. People trying to rest gave up. Even wildlife fled.

That’s selfishness, plain and simple. The beach belongs to everyone — families, elders, people seeking calm, and animals sensitive to noise.

🚤 What You Need to Know About Noise and The Law

Vancouver’s Noise Control By-law No. 6555 prohibits unreasonable disturbance from amplified sound, including music on boats near shore.
If loud music disrupts you, report it:

VPD Non-Emergency: 604-717-3321
Park Rangers (beaches/parks): 3-1-1
Port of Vancouver (boats): 604-665-9086
Transport Canada (marine safety): 1-888-463-0521

❄ Cooling Centres and How You Can Help

During heat warnings, many Vancouver community centres and libraries open their doors as cooling centres — air-conditioned, welcoming, and free. No ID needed.

Some key locations:

Community Centres: Kitsilano, Mount Pleasant, West Point Grey, Killarney
Libraries: Central, Britannia, Hastings, Kerrisdale, Mount Pleasant
Pools, splash parks, and misting stations also help cool down the city.

See full list & map here

💧 Please Bring Water for Those in Need

Unsheltered people are most vulnerable to dehydration and heat illness. If you’re heading out, please bring extra bottled water or sports drinks to share. It could save a life.

🚲 Staying Safe on Our Streets and Paths

Walkers: watch before stepping into bike lanes.
Cyclists: slow down, especially in crowded or shared spaces.
Scooter riders: respect others and speed limits.
The Granville Island crosswalk is especially dangerous — it needs better monitoring to prevent accidents.

🛑 The Bottom Line

We can’t afford another summer like 2021’s heat dome. Those hundreds of deaths were people we knew — grandparents, friends, neighbours.

Let’s protect each other by staying cool, sharing resources, respecting public spaces, and being patient and kind.

Stay cool. Stay alert. Stay compassionate. Respect the beach. Respect the city. Respect each other.

The Day I Went to the Ocean for Peace — and Found a Floating Nightclub

🌊 The Day I Went to the Ocean for Peace — and Found a Floating Nightclub 🌊

Yesterday was KitsFest.
It was one of those scorching Vancouver days — my apartment was boiling, every fan running, but it still felt like an oven. I thought, I’ll escape to the ocean. I’ll find some peace and quiet.

So I packed water, sarong, and a book.
The beaches were crowded it's Kitfest— volleyball games, shouting, music from the festival. Fair enough, it’s a celebration. I kept riding until I found a little stretch of shoreline away from the noise. I sat down, took a deep breath, and felt the cool ocean breeze. Finally… peace.

And then it started.
BOOM-BOOM-BOOM.
Bollywood dance music and rap blaring from a boat anchored close to shore — so loud it was like being inside a nightclub. The sound carried over the water and bounced back from the seawall. There was no escaping it.

I looked around:

A baby in a stroller woke up crying.
An elderly couple, holding hands, packed up and left.
People trying to read or nap just gave up.
Even the gulls flew further down the beach.

That’s when it hit me — this wasn’t just annoying. It was selfish.
The beach isn’t a private dance floor. It’s for everyone — families, seniors, wildlife, people who need peace for their mental health.

And here’s the thing:
Vancouver does have laws about this.

Noise Control By-law No. 6555 bans unreasonable disturbance from amplified sound, even music from portable speakers.
Boats close to shore can be reported under Transport Canada’s Small Vessel Regulations and federal disturbance rules.

If this happens to you, here’s who to call:
📞 Vancouver Police Non-Emergency: 604-717-3321 (shore or boat noise)
📢 Park Rangers via 3-1-1: for noise in parks and beaches
⚓ Port of Vancouver Operations Centre: 604-665-9086 (boats in Burrard Inlet / False Creek)
🚤 Transport Canada (Marine Safety): 1-888-463-0521 (boating violations)

My message to boaters and beachgoers is simple:
🎧 Use headphones for your own music.
🔊 Keep speakers inside your group.
🛑 Don’t turn a shared, peaceful place into your personal party zone.

I left after 20 minutes yesterday.
Not because the beach was crowded — but because one person decided their playlist was more important than everyone else’s peace.

Don’t be that person.
Respect the beach. Respect the ocean. Respect each other.

Saturday, August 9, 2025

B.C.’s Growing Debt: What’s Going On and How Can We Fix It?

British Columbia’s debt has grown a lot — almost 50% bigger in just two years, reaching around $134 billion. Even though the government’s budget deficit was smaller than expected this year, the province still has to borrow a ton of money to pay for important things like hospitals, schools, housing, and emergency repairs after floods and wildfires.

At the same time, many people in B.C., especially new arrivals, are struggling with personal debts like car loans that can be very hard to pay back. This combination of government debt, personal debt, and rising costs has created a lot of worry. People are frustrated about services getting worse, prices going up, and protests or boycotts happening in response.

So what can we do? Here are some important steps to help turn things around:

Short-term (1 year):

The government needs to be clear and open about where money is spent and find ways to cut waste.
Support programs should help people struggling with debt avoid falling deeper into trouble.
Protect hospitals, schools, and emergency services from budget cuts.
Make public transit better to reduce the need for costly car loans.

Medium-term (2–5 years):

Build more affordable homes so people aren’t forced to take risky loans just to get a place to live.
Help people manage and reduce their personal debts with education and counseling.
Grow new industries and jobs that pay well to strengthen the economy.
Stop unfair lending practices targeting newcomers or vulnerable groups.
Invest in preparing communities for climate disasters to avoid costly emergency borrowing.

Long-term (10 years):

Develop plans to reduce government debt steadily while keeping public services strong.
Teach financial skills to everyone, especially youth and newcomers, to avoid debt traps.
Lead in clean energy and innovation for good jobs and a healthy environment.
Build strong social support systems for mental health, addiction help, and poverty reduction.
Ensure everyone has fair opportunities to succeed and contribute to the economy.

It’s not an easy fix, but by working together—government, communities, and individuals—we can build a stronger, fairer B.C. that’s prepared for the future.

If you want to learn more or get involved, stay informed and talk with your local leaders about these issues.

Friday, August 8, 2025

Look At Me Now” — A Message from the Silence

One Fall Away: Conclusion

“Look At Me Now” — A Message from the Silence

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

📝 Names and some identifying details have been changed to protect privacy.

We’ve come to the end of this 4-part series. But this story—this truth—is still happening. Every day. Everywhere.

I shared these stories not to shame or shock you, but because I’ve seen what happens after the moment.
After the crash. After the overdose. After the fall.

And I believe, if Janey, George, and Michael could speak clearly now, they’d say this:

🧠 “Look at Me Now...”
A voice for the voiceless

“I was arguing with my husband. Then everything went dark. Now I can't speak. I can't feed myself. My mother is the only one who visits.”
– Janey

“We were going to Disneyland. I was asleep, no seatbelt. The van crashed. Now I have a feeding tube. They overfeed me. My face is sewn together. I flinch when the nurse burns my skin to clean the feeding tube infection.”
– George

“I was brilliant. Top student in BC. Then a car flipped into a ditch. Now I have uncontrollabe seizures. I can’t walk. I wear a catheter. A caregiver has to roll me, change me, clean me, and put on a special condom-style catheter to collect urine—because I can’t even do that myself.”
– Michael

The Unseen Burden

Let’s talk about what people don’t see.

When you’re a caregiver for the brain injured, you’re not just helping someone brush their hair. You’re pulling on gloves. You’re cleaning feeding tubes surrounded by pus. You’re wiping poop. You’re soothing someone through seizures.

Sometimes, you’re fitting a catheter onto a man young man of 19 who can’t even recognize that you’re there. You’re trying to bring a colouring book, hoping for a flicker of joy—and instead, you get called into the office and told, “She can’t do that. Don’t try.”

This is real life. Not TV. Not a movie. These were just fill-in jobs for me—but they never left my memory. I still dream of them. I still wonder what happened.

And I still feel this in my bones: It all happened in one second.

I Moved On… They Couldn’t

After that summer, I returned to school. I graduated. I became a photographer. I worked on a cruise ship. I saw the world. I danced, laughed, created, lived.

And they—Janey, George, Michael—were frozen in time. Trapped in a body that no longer worked. A mind that couldn’t escape. They never got to do any of it.

This is why I speak up. Not to make you sad, but to make you aware.

So that maybe, just maybe, someone will wear a helmet.
Someone will think before riding high or speeding downhill with no protection.
Someone will check on the man passed out at the bus stop.
Someone will stop. Call. Care.

One Final Ask

If you’ve read this far—thank you. Now I ask you:

If you ride: Please wear a helmet.
If you use drugs: Don’t use alone. Carry Narcan. Ask for help.
If you see someone down: Don’t walk by. You could save their brain—or their life.
If you have kids: Teach them. Show them. Protect them.

In Honor of the Silent

This series is for Janey. For George. For Michael. For every voice lost in an instant.

💔 May we never forget them.
💪 May we honour them with action.

Because we are all just one fall away.

Survivors, We Believe You. We Stand With You

Post 5: Survivors, We Believe You. We Stand With You.

By Tina Winterlik // Zipolita

🛑 [CONTENT WARNING]

This post discusses sexual assault, trauma, and survivorship. It offers support and solidarity, but may be difficult to read. Please prioritize your emotional well-being.

To the survivor —
To every survivor —
This post is for you.

You are not alone.
We saw what happened.
We heard what you said.
And we know the truth didn’t vanish just because the courtroom said "not guilty."

We believe you.
We believe your body.
We believe your voice — even when it shakes.

🫂 You Were Brave Every Step of the Way

You stood in front of a nation that didn’t want to listen.
You watched powerful institutions protect abusers.
You were made to explain your pain — again and again —
While your rapists hid behind lawyers, silence, and each other.

And still, you spoke.
That is courage.

🧠 If You’re a Survivor Reading This

And this trial brought up old pain, memories you buried, moments you escaped —
You’re not crazy.
You’re not alone.
And you didn’t deserve it. Not then. Not now. Not ever.

🕸️ You Are Part of a Bigger Web of Truth

You may never get a trial.
You may never say it out loud.
You may never want to tell a soul.

And you’re still valid.
You’re still believed.

You survived something most people couldn’t handle.
And you’re still here.

That is your victory.
That is your strength.

💬 What We Need to Keep Saying

To survivors: You matter. You deserve peace. You are not defined by what they did.
To the public: Believe survivors. Full stop.
To institutions: Reform, or step aside.
To abusers: We see you. We will name you. We will not be silent.
To ourselves: We must build a world where this never happens again.

🌱 Final Words

This series is not the end.
This is a beginning — a space where truth is protected.
Where survivors are lifted, not interrogated.
Where community replaces broken systems.
Where protection comes from each other, not corrupted courts.

To E.M. — and to everyone reading who sees a piece of their pain in her story:

We believe you.
We see you.
We stand with you.
And we will not let them forget.

Thursday, August 7, 2025

Part 4: 4 Minutes Without Oxygen — A Letter to Those Using Fentanyl, Cocaine, or Anything That Can Steal Your Brain

One Fall Away: A Series on Helmets, E-Bikes & Brain Injuries

Part 4: 4 Minutes Without Oxygen — A Letter to Those Using Fentanyl, Cocaine, or Anything That Can Steal Your Brain

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

📝 If you are someone who uses drugs, or love someone who does, please read this. This isn’t judgment. It’s not shame. It’s care. It’s truth. And it might save a life.

It Only Takes 4 Minutes

Four minutes without oxygen—and your brain begins to die.

First your memory. Then your speech. Then the part that keeps you alive.

If You Use Alone…

If you collapse and no one finds you… you may survive, but never walk, talk, or feed yourself again.

Why I Call Transit Police

Because I’ve seen people passed out on benches—unmoving. And no one stops. But I do. I call Transit Police. Because it could be the difference between life and death—or a lifetime of brain damage.

This Is Not About Shame

I don’t care what you’ve used. I care that you’re still here. That your brain still matters. That your story’s not over—if you protect yourself.

What Can You Do Right Now?

Never use alone
Carry Narcan and learn CPR
Use at supervised sites if possible
If you see someone down—check on them

Please Think About This

Brain injury doesn’t just hurt you. It changes the lives of everyone around you. Don’t gamble with your brain. Don’t leave your story unfinished.

We’re all one fall away.
Let’s not let silence or stigma be what kills us.

Men Must Speak Up or Stay Complicit

🛑 CONTENT WARNING:

This post discusses sexual violence, accountability, and the role of men in challenging rape culture. It contains strong language about complicity and societal responsibility. Please proceed with care.

Post 4: Men Must Speak Up or Stay Complicit

By Tina Winterlik // Zipolita

If you’re a man and you’re not speaking up about this —
You are part of the problem.

Silence is not neutral.
Silence is protection — for abusers.
And if you think this case doesn’t affect you because you weren’t there, think again.

Because next time?
It could be your daughter.
Your niece.
Your sister.
Your partner.
Your friend’s child.
And if you stayed silent now, what will you say then?

👥 This Isn’t “Just a Women’s Issue”

You play hockey with these men.
You party with them.
You follow them on Instagram.
You sit beside them in boardrooms, gyms, dressing rooms, bars, arenas.

You hear the way they talk.
You’ve seen them cross lines.
You’ve laughed it off.
You’ve let it go.
You’ve said, “That’s just the way guys are.”

No more.

🧨 The Culture Is Sick — And You’re the Ones Who Can Change It

If you're a man, and you don’t:

Call out your friends when they talk like predators
Check in when you see a woman looking uncomfortable
Shut it down when someone jokes about “getting her drunk”
Make it clear that abuse = exile from your circle

Then you’re not an ally — you’re a coward.
And you're complicit.

🧱 What Real Masculinity Looks Like Now

It’s accountability. Owning your mistakes and unlearning harmful behaviours.
It’s calling out your boys. Even when it's awkward. Even when it risks your comfort.
It’s standing with survivors. Not just in hashtags — in action.
It’s teaching other men. Especially the younger ones, who are watching everything.

👊 What You Can Do Right Now:

Have the uncomfortable conversation — at practice, at the bar, at work.
Post publicly that you believe E.M.
Donate to or volunteer with orgs that support survivors.
Talk to your sons, brothers, friends. Often. Repeatedly.
Never let a man who’s hurt someone feel protected around you.

🚫 We Don’t Want Your Silence. We Want Your Voice.

Don’t tell us you’re “not like those guys.”
Prove it.

Because saying nothing while women suffer isn’t neutrality —
it’s betrayal.

And every time you stay quiet, the rapists sleep better.

Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Gentrification Took Everything: My Family Built Homes, Now There's Nothing Left

I was born and grew up in Surrey, Hope, Fraser Valley, my mom and kid were born in Vancouver and raised here. My Grandma made Sunday dinners and my dad had a hobby farm.

It’s surreal to see what it’s become.

I’ve always known it was getting bad — all the luxury towers, all the unaffordable homes — but the new Chapman University report hit me like a punch in the gut. It confirmed what so many of us already feel deep inside:

Vancouver isn’t just unaffordable… it’s “impossibly unaffordable.”

It’s now the 4th most unaffordable city in the world, behind only Hong Kong, Sydney, and San Jose. They compare median home prices to median incomes. In Vancouver, the average person would have to save every dollar for over 11 years — no food, no rent, nothing — just to buy a basic home.

My Family Literally Built Homes

My grandparents bought a corner lot at Ross and 51st for around $3000. That wasn’t some investment — it was a piece of land to build their home. Not contractors. They built it themselves.

Later, my dad built a little house with bay windows. I even found it once in the BC Archives. Then we moved to Surrey where he bought land for a hobby farm and built another house. That land? It’s now Hawthorne Park.

He moved us again to Dogwood Valley, outside of Hope. He built a garage, an A-frame for the campground, and brought in a mobile home when the café we were supposed to live in leaked. There were cabins too. He was always creating something for his family to live in. A place to call home.

And Then It Was All Gone

After my dad passed, my grandma sold the house they built to help my mom buy a lot to move that same mobile home. Later, she upgraded to a new double-wide. But in time, things got messed up.

My sister convinced my mom to buy a condo. It came with high taxes and high strata fees — and my mom was living on disability. It was hard on her. Really hard.

Eventually, she had to sell. There was no land. No house. Nothing left to pass down.

Just a little cash — split four ways. And that’s it. A family that once owned land, built homes with their hands, worked the soil, grew food, raised kids — now has nothing to show for it.

This Is What Gentrification Looks Like

It’s not just luxury towers and glass condos. It’s families being erased from their own stories. It’s working-class people pushed out, shut out, and left out.

It happened to my family. And I know it’s happened to thousands of others.

We didn’t lose our homes because we were lazy or irresponsible. We lost them because of a system that put profits over people, and let foreign investors and developers reshape our city into something unrecognizable.

I Want My City Back

Vancouver was once a place where a regular family could build a life — and even a home — with their own hands. Now, it’s a playground for the rich.

This is why I speak up. This is why I write. This is why I won’t stay quiet.

If you’ve lost your family home, your roots, your community — know that you’re not alone. And your story matters.

They turned Vancouver into Hong Kong. But they can’t take our truth.

— Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

Cash Grab -Over $100,000 in fines were issued during the B.C. Day long weekend

Cash Grab or Public Safety? It's Time to Ask Questions About B.C.'s Holiday Weekend Crackdown

Over $100,000 in fines were issued during the B.C. Day long weekend — nearly $30,000 for campfire violations alone, and over 800 traffic tickets handed out. All while thousands were gathering for the Shambhala Music Festival, or enjoying what was supposed to be a peaceful weekend outdoors.

Was this really about public safety, or was it a targeted money grab?

📣 If You Got a Fine — You Have Rights

If you were fined during this long weekend, don’t just pay up and stay silent. You can file a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to find out:

Who ordered the enforcement operation
How many officers or staff were involved
Whether there were enforcement quotas or revenue expectations
Where the money goes

👉 How to file an FOI in B.C.

🚨 This Is Bigger Than One Weekend

I personally was fined $3,400 at the Vancouver Airport when I couldn’t afford a hotel stay during a difficult time. That fine crushed me financially — and it taught me how unforgiving the system is, especially to people already struggling.

Now I’m seeing it happen again — but on a mass scale. Young people being punished at festivals. Campers being fined instead of educated. People trying to enjoy nature being slapped with fees instead of receiving guidance.

❗We Must Ask:

Was this enforcement about fire safety — or about revenue?
Were warnings and fire bans communicated clearly to all communities and festival attendees?
Why target peaceful gatherings while corporations and polluters go unchecked?
Who profited from these fines — and who gave the orders?

💬 Let’s Get to the Bottom of This

If you or someone you know got a fine — speak up. File that FOI. Share your story. Ask your MLA what’s going on. Demand receipts, transparency, and justice.

Because if we don’t stand up now, this will just keep happening — again and again.

#CashGrabBC #ShambhalaFines #BCFireBanFines #FOIRequest #YouthRights #AccountabilityBC #FightTheFines

Prosperity at What Cost

Sold out — that’s how it feels.
Cedar LNG may be Indigenous-majority owned, but we need to ask: at what cost?

Yes, it’s being marketed as the “cleanest and lowest-carbon LNG in the world,” powered by BC electricity. But LNG is still a fossil fuel — one that contributes to climate change, environmental degradation, and long-term harm to the land and water many Indigenous communities rely on.

Calling this ‘clean’ is greenwashing.

This project may create jobs and bring revenue, but it also locks us into another generation of fossil fuel dependency — all while communities across BC struggle with wildfires, drought, and a housing crisis.

True prosperity shouldn't come at the expense of the climate or the health of our future generations.

We can’t afford to keep celebrating fossil fuel projects — even “cleaner” ones — while the planet burns.

Shambhala 2025: Keeping Roads Safe or Cashing In?

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

This year’s post-Shambhala headlines were hard to miss: over 800 tickets issued, 83 drug-impaired drivers caught, 59 license suspensions, and nearly 60 vehicles towed. The numbers are shocking — and maybe that was the point.

Of course, nobody should drive impaired. If one life was saved by these efforts, then that truly matters. No one wants tragedy on BC's winding mountain passes. We’ve all seen or heard of crashes that break hearts forever. But something about this year’s enforcement feels different — excessive even. Like someone was trying to make a point. Or worse, make money.

🚔 A Big Step Up

Compared to previous years, this year’s numbers feel like an ambush. In 2024, there were 19 impaired drivers caught. In 2023, around 57. Now, 83? And over 800 tickets?

That’s not just a spike — that’s a statement. A statement backed by fines, suspensions, and tows. A statement that left many festivalgoers — people who came in peace, with art, joy, and community in their hearts — feeling targeted.

💸 Was It About Safety... or Revenue?

Let’s be honest: ticket fines add up. Based on available data, authorities could have easily pulled in $70,000 or more from just five days of enforcement. And that doesn’t include the long-term insurance hikes, impound fees, and administrative costs drivers now face.

Is it possible to care about road safety and also question whether this turned into a money grab? I think so. It doesn’t have to be one or the other.

🌿 Festival Culture Isn't the Enemy

Shambhala is known for its harm reduction, community care, and volunteer medical staff. It’s not some reckless free-for-all. Many attendees plan their trips carefully, travel in groups, and even stay extra nights to rest before heading home. Others carpool, take shuttles, or arrange sober drivers. That side of the story rarely makes headlines.

⚠️ Power Trips Don't Save Lives

This year felt different. Not just in numbers, but in tone. The zero-tolerance messaging. The social media posts flaunting stats. The way police seemed to relish the numbers, not reflect on them.

When enforcement becomes about flexing authority instead of fostering understanding, we all lose. Education and compassion should lead the way — not intimidation and quotas.

❤️ Let's Stay Grounded

If this effort truly saved lives, that matters. But let’s make sure future efforts are focused on support and safety — not punishment. Let’s keep working to educate about impaired driving without criminalizing an entire community. And let’s hold power accountable when it overreaches.

Drive safe. Party with care. Speak truth with love.

#Shambhala2025 #ImpairedDriving #JusticeOrRevenue #ZipolitaSpeaks

530 DOLLARS for an Ambulance Ride IN BC

🚑 Crime Against Humanity: The Real Cost of a Broken System

$530 DOLLARS for an Ambulance Ride IN BC

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

I hear sirens every day. Ambulances, police, fire trucks — a relentless loop echoing through the streets of Vancouver. I liam couchsurfing in Kitsilano right now, and for some reason, they all come here — parking at the beach, grabbing bagels, and then screaming up the road sirens blaring, flying the wrong way up the street when a call comes in. It’s chaos.

People think it's “normal” now, but it shouldn't be. Behind every siren is a human being in crisis. A heart attack. An overdose. A cry for help.

And in British Columbia? That ambulance ride costs $530 — even in an emergency.

Yes, you read that right.

If someone is having a heart attack or overdosing, they get billed — not the person who called 911, but the patient. Even if they’re on disability. Even if they’re unhoused. Even if they’re alone.

This is what “health care” looks like in a rich country.

💸 50 Detoxes = $335,000+

Recently, someone shared their incredible story on the DTES Forever Facebook page — 50 detox attempts, years lost to addiction, medical crises like pneumonia and endocarditis. They survived. They made it out. They’re nine years clean. It’s a beautiful story of resilience.

But it also reveals something devastating:
Just their detox and hospital care alone cost the system over $335,000.

And if their story took place today, with fentanyl flooding the street supply?
They probably wouldn’t have survived.

💊 Big Pharma Created This

How did we get here? Why are so many people coping with trauma by using substances?

Because doctors overprescribed painkillers.
Because Big Pharma lied about addiction risks and made billions.
Because vulnerable people were never given support — just pills.

Now many of those same people live and die on the streets. And we criminalize them for trying to survive.

🏚️ No Housing. No Hope.

People aren't just “choosing drugs.” They're escaping pain — from abuse, poverty, racism, homelessness, and despair. And what do we give them?

No safe housing
No mental health care
No trauma support
No doctors willing to treat them with dignity
A $530 bill if they collapse

It’s all backwards. We pay thousands for emergency care but refuse to invest in prevention.
We allow housing to sit empty while people sleep in tents.

🧠 The Human Cost

Let’s be clear:
This isn't just about ambulance bills or addiction. It's about a society that has normalized cruelty. It's about a government that punishes the poor and rewards the rich. It's about families shattered, lives lost, and communities ignored.

We need:

Free ambulance rides for ALL emergencies
Safe housing first
Accountability for Big Pharma
Trauma-informed health care
Support, not punishment

💥 This Is a Crime Against Humanity

What we’re witnessing — in our streets, in our hospitals, in our shelters — is a slow-motion disaster. And we cannot stay silent. We cannot accept this as “just the way things are.”

We must demand better. For ourselves. For our neighbours. For the next generation.

Because every life matters.
Because no one should die because they couldn’t afford a ride.
Because hope should be free.

✊ Let’s Talk

Have you been billed for an ambulance?
Has the system failed you or someone you love?
Share your story. Speak out. Don’t let them turn suffering into silence.

🧡
#HousingIsHealthcare #AddictionIsNotACrime #DTES #BCHealthCrisis #EndTheStigma #CrimeAgainstHumanity

Open Letter: A Plea for Accountability on Predatory Lending, Car Debt, and Transit Injustice in Canada

📬 Open Letter: A Plea for Accountability on Predatory Lending, Car Debt, and Transit Injustice in Canada

By Tina Winterlik (Zipolita)

Dear Elizabeth May, and all Members of Parliament who claim to care about affordability, financial justice, climate action, and human dignity:

I’m writing this open letter as a 63-year-old mother, artist, and dog walker who is currently couchsurfing in British Columbia. I worked hard, raised a child as a single mom, and gave up owning a car 24 years ago to reduce my carbon footprint. I walked, biked, and bussed — even endured a 4-hour daily commute from South Surrey to Granville Island — because I believed in doing the right thing.

Now I see how this system rewards the wrong things:

Auto dealerships and banks handing out 20% car loans to newcomers with no credit
Bridge and highway megaprojects funded while people sleep in tents
New homes sitting empty while the working poor are buried in car debt
And a government that keeps claiming to be “green” while subsidizing urban sprawl

I recently published a blog post that tells my story and connects the dots:
📍 “A Timeline of Extraction: The Real Cost of Predatory Lending and Car-Centric Urban Planning”
🔗 https://tinawinterlik.blogspot.com/2025/08/a-timeline-of-extraction-real-cost-of.html

In it, I draw a direct line between:

The auto loan trap ensnaring thousands of newcomers in debt
The lack of reliable transit, forcing people into cars
And the deliberate choice by governments to build bridges, not homes

This is Canada’s version of the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis — only this time, it’s cars instead of condos. And the people affected are the ones trying to make a life in this country.

🙏 I am asking you, Elizabeth May, to:

Raise this issue in the House of Commons — especially the systemic abuse of car loans and infrastructure that destroys communities.
Speak with Mark Carney — the former central banker and current UN climate envoy — and ask him to finally say something about this domestic economic injustice.
Demand answers from the following officials who are either responsible or complicit:

📩 Chrystia Freeland, Finance Minister
📩 Sean Fraser, Housing & Infrastructure
📩 Pablo Rodriguez, Transport
📩 Peter Routledge, OSFI
📩 Judith Robertson, FCAC

I know many people dismiss emails unless they’re from their “constituents.” So I’m putting this in public.
Because the system is rigged — and I’m not the only one saying so.

“There is no bridge wide enough to carry us over the consequences of this crisis if it continues.”
– Tina Winterlik (Zipolita)

Let’s stop pretending we don’t see what’s happening. The banks profit. The politicians deflect.
And the people are left walking — or falling — through the cracks.

📬 Contacts for Tagging & Public Pressure

Name	Title	Tag/Email
Elizabeth May	Green Party Leader	💬 @ElizabethMay · 📩 elizabeth.may@parl.gc.ca
Mark Carney	UN Climate Envoy	💬 @MarkJCarney (X/Twitter)
Chrystia Freeland	Finance Minister	💬 @cafreeland · 📩 chrystia.freeland@parl.gc.ca
Sean Fraser	Minister of Housing	💬 @SeanFraserMP · 📩 sean.fraser@parl.gc.ca
Pablo Rodriguez	Transport Minister	💬 @pablorodriguez · 📩 pablo.rodriguez@parl.gc.ca
Peter Routledge	OSFI	📩 communications@osfi-bsif.gc.ca
Judith Robertson	FCAC	📩 info@fcac-acfc.gc.ca

A Timeline of Extraction: The Real Cost of Predatory Lending and Car-Centric Urban Planning

🚧 A Timeline of Extraction: The Real Cost of Predatory Lending and Car-Centric Urban Planning

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

📍 1996 – The Warning Signs

I nearly lost my job because of traffic. My car was broken. The exhaust was leaking into the cabin. No cell phones. No backup. I turned around and called from a landline. My coworkers didn’t get it—they never had to choose between car fumes and rent.

I had just finished school and owed $22,000. No public transit options. I moved, again and again, trying to stay afloat.

📍 2001–2020 – Choosing the Ethical Path

I gave up my car 24 years ago. I did what society claimed it wanted: I walked, biked, took the bus.

I watched traffic get worse, housing skyrocket, while brand-new homes sat empty. I saw newcomers arrive, forced into debt they could not afford. Not because they were irresponsible — but because there was no alternative.

📍 2023 – A 4-Hour Commute

Two hours in, two hours out. Granville Island to South Surrey. Because that’s what it took to hold onto a job. Until I couldn’t anymore.

📍 2025 – No Job, No Home, No Future?

Now I’m 63. Couchsurfing. Dog walking. This isn’t just my story. It’s becoming the norm in a system that rewards:

Money laundering
Urban sprawl
High-interest predatory car loans
Empty homes as “investments”
Politicians addicted to infrastructure vanity projects like another bridge

🚫 About That Petition for a New Bridge…

There’s a petition to build a third crossing between the North Shore and Vancouver. But let’s be honest:

We don’t need another bridge.

We need affordable housing, transit access, and real solutions—not more concrete for cars that people can’t afford to own.

🔍 Who Is This Addressed To?

Ministers of Transportation, Housing, Immigration, and Finance
Urban Planners and Developers
Bank Executives and Auto Lenders
Municipal Leaders
Citizens who still believe this doesn’t affect them

❓ 5 Reflective Questions for Serious Accountability

What happens when thousands of newcomers are pushed into 7-year car loans at 20% interest just to work in places they can’t afford to live?
→ In 1 year: more debt, more defaults.
→ In 5 years: mass financial instability and no path to homeownership.
What are the long-term urban consequences of building cities for cars, not people?
→ In 2 years: More congestion, more emissions.
→ In 5 years: Public services collapse under stress from poorly connected sprawl.
What does it say about our values when banks approve car loans for the poor but deny basic housing solutions?
→ Now: Profits for lenders.
→ Future: A generation trapped in financial servitude.
How are we repeating the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis—except with cars—and what will collapse first?
→ In 1 year: Rising defaults, debt stacking, car repossessions.
→ In 2–3 years: A crash in auto lending markets, loss of financial trust.
How many lives are we willing to sacrifice to protect a financial system built on pushing products (cars, condos) instead of people’s needs (homes, transit, dignity)?
→ In 5 years: A lost generation. Broken dreams. More people like me.

✊ This Is a Plea and a Warning

We are watching predatory lending, urban neglect, and corporate greed strip away the future for those who played by the rules, believed in work, and raised families with hope.

I am not ashamed of being 63 and dog walking. But I am angry that this is the only option left after I sacrificed, contributed, and stayed ethical when everyone around me profited off shortcuts.

“There is no bridge wide enough to carry us over the consequences of this crisis if it continues.”

– Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

There Is No Justice, So We Must Protect Each Other

🛑 CONTENT WARNING:

This post addresses systemic injustice related to sexual violence, survivor trauma, and failure of legal systems to provide justice. It may be emotionally difficult for some readers.

Post 3: There Is No Justice, So We Must Protect Each Other

By Tina Winterlik // ZipolitaThere was no justice.

A woman was gang raped.
She cried during the assault.
She said, “You know you’re raping me, don’t you?”
She was filmed.
She complied with what they asked — afterward — to survive.
She stood up, told the truth, and testified.

And they still walked free.

⚖️ The Courts Failed — Again

Let’s be honest:
Justice doesn’t live in those courtrooms.
It lives in us — in our decisions, our outrage, our protection of each other.

Because if the law won’t protect us, we must protect ourselves and each other.
And we must stop pretending this system was built to do anything else.

🧱 What Does Protection Look Like in a World Without Justice?

We talk to our kids about real consent, power, fear, and silence.
We teach our sons that being a man means stepping in, speaking up, walking away from harm — even when it’s inconvenient.
We trust our instincts when something feels wrong, and we act.
We look out for our friends at parties, in schools, in locker rooms.
We believe survivors — every time.

Because not believing is what got us here.

🛡️ Community Is All We Have

This isn’t just about E.M.
This is about the thousands — maybe millions — of people who never told anyone.
Who got away, but never truly healed.
Who were believed by no one.

This is about you.
This is about your daughter, sister, cousin, teammate, best friend.
This is about the silence between trauma and truth — and who chooses to break it.

📣 We Must Protect Each Other Because:

The systems won’t.
The courts don’t.
The powerful lie.
The institutions spin.
The headlines fade.

But truth doesn’t go away.
And we are the ones who carry it forward.

🔥 Final Words

They didn’t get convicted.
But they don’t get to be welcomed back.
They don’t get peace.
They don’t get to move on like nothing happened.

We protect each other now.
We say the names.
We speak the truth.
And we keep going.

From 1993 to 2001: How Canada and BC Declared War on the Poor

🏚️ "From 1993 to 2001: How Canada and BC Declared War on the Poor"

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

In my last blog post, I wrote about how in 1993, the federal government made a devastating decision — they cut all funding for new affordable housing in Canada. That post struck a nerve. Because people are waking up. They're connecting the dots. They're realizing this housing crisis wasn’t just bad luck — it was designed.

But the story doesn’t stop in 1993. In 2001, British Columbia was hit with another crushing blow — this time from within.

⚠️ The Campbell Cuts: Austerity Masquerading as Reform

When Gordon Campbell and the BC Liberals took power in 2001, they unleashed one of the most extreme austerity campaigns in Canadian provincial history. It wasn’t just belt-tightening — it was an ideological purge of compassion.

Here’s what happened:

💸 All funding for new provincial social housing was cut.
🧾 Welfare rates were frozen or reduced.
🔨 Eligibility for income assistance became stricter — some people were denied entirely.
⚖️ The BC Human Rights Commission was dismantled.
🧑‍⚖️ Legal aid was gutted.
🏥 Public healthcare workers were laid off en masse.
🧹 Women’s centers, advocacy groups, and support networks were defunded or closed.

The result? More people on the streets. More families in shelters. More seniors sleeping in stairwells. And not by accident — by policy.

🤬 Was BC Being Punished?

Sometimes it feels like BC — particularly its poorest and most marginalized communities — were targeted.

We live on unceded Indigenous territory, land that was never surrendered, never sold, never given away. What better way to break the resistance, to control the land, than by displacing its stewards, criminalizing the poor, and making it impossible for working-class people to stay rooted?

Is it a coincidence that the city throws tents, walkers, ID cards, and medications into dumpsters while luxury condos rise all around?

Is it just “market forces” when Indigenous women, single moms, and Elders are priced out of their own ancestral lands?

Or is this the modern face of colonialism?

💡 This Is About Power, Not Just Poverty

The housing crisis is not just an economic issue. It’s political, colonial, and deeply moral.

What happened in 1993 and 2001 weren’t isolated mistakes. They were deliberate choices, made to serve an ideology of profit over people, property over land, and silence over justice.

And every day since, we’ve watched the consequences:

🪦 People dying on the street.
🚨 Emergency rooms and shelters overrun.
🧠 Mental health collapsing under the weight of trauma.
🔁 A cycle of poverty made permanent by government design.

📜 But We Were Promised Better

Canada is a signatory to the United Nations’ International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights — which includes the right to adequate housing.

In 2019, the Canadian government passed the National Housing Strategy Act, declaring housing a human right.

So why are we still throwing people’s tents in the trash?
Why are cities still banning encampments instead of building homes?

🔥 It’s Time to Speak the Truth Loud and Clear:

Housing is a human right.
Poverty is a policy choice.
The cuts of 1993 and 2001 were acts of social violence.
Gentrification and displacement are modern colonization.
We will not be silent while lives are destroyed in the name of “market forces.”

🛠️ What We Must Demand:

Restore deep federal and provincial funding for non-market housing.
Rebuild the BC Human Rights Commission and legal aid services.
End the criminalization of poverty and protect the belongings and dignity of all.
Support Indigenous-led housing and Land Back movements.
Audit non-profits and developers who profit while people sleep in the rain.
Treat this as the emergency it is — with action, not PR.

✊ This Is Not Hopeless

People across BC and Canada are rising up — in courtrooms, in council chambers, in encampments, in art, in song, in story.

We are not alone.
We are not powerless.
We are witnesses, survivors, and truth-tellers.

If you are angry, good.
If you feel heartbroken, don’t shut it down.
Use it. Share this. Start conversations. Write letters. Demand change.

We owe it to those we’ve lost.
We owe it to those still fighting to survive.
We owe it to our future.

We will not be erased. Not from this land. Not from this story.

—
Tina Winterlik (Zipolita)
📸 Instagram | ✍️ Blog | 🌐 Zipolita.com
#HousingJustice #BCHousingCrisis #1993Cuts #2001Austerity #UncededLand #PovertyIsViolence #HumanRights #LandBack #ZipolitaSpeaks #DigitalHorizonZ

1993: The Year Canada Abandoned Its People"

📢 "1993: The Year Canada Abandoned Its People"

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

Did you know that in 1993, the federal government of Canada made a decision that would change the course of millions of lives — and not for the better?

They cut all funding for new affordable housing.

Let that sink in.

Before 1993, Canada was building about 15,000 to 20,000 social housing units every year. Seniors, single parents, low-income families, people living with disabilities — all had a chance at living with dignity. A roof over your head wasn’t a luxury. It was a right.

Then, with the stroke of a pen, that stopped.

Under Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and Finance Minister Paul Martin, the federal government decided to download housing responsibility to the provinces. They pulled funding. They pulled support. They walked away.

The result? A slow-burning, preventable disaster.

🏚️ More than 235,000 people now experience homelessness every year in Canada.

💔 Thousands have died in tents, on sidewalks, in stairwells.
🧠 Mental health has deteriorated, addictions have worsened, trauma has deepened.
📦 Cities like Vancouver and Toronto have made headlines for throwing people's tents, walkers, IDs, and medications into garbage trucks.

What kind of country does this to its people?

We have seniors who built this country sleeping in shelters, or worse, outside in the cold. We have children growing up in hotels, cars, or unsafe motels, not knowing what home feels like.

It’s not just a "housing crisis."
It’s a national shame.
It’s a policy failure.
It’s a slow, silent war on the poor.

And let’s be brutally honest:
This was a choice.
A political, economic, ideological choice — rooted in austerity, neoliberalism, and corporate greed.

Meanwhile, billionaires get tax cuts. Developers get subsidies. Non-profit execs make six figures managing “poverty” as a business.
But the people who need help? They’re abandoned.

📜 Canada Signed the Right to Housing

Canada is a signatory to the UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which includes the right to adequate housing.

So where is the accountability?

How is it legal to evict someone when there’s nowhere to go?
How is it acceptable to bulldoze encampments when shelters are full or unsafe?
How can we call ourselves a “developed nation” while our most vulnerable live and die in tents?

💥 Is this not a crime against humanity?

If you knowingly create conditions that result in:

mass suffering
displacement
premature death
destruction of dignity

…what else can we call it?

Where is the public inquiry?
Where is the justice?

📣 What needs to happen now:

Reinstate federal funding for deeply affordable, non-market housing — co-ops, supportive housing, and public builds.
Stop the criminalization of homelessness.
Enforce the right to housing through real, binding legislation.
Audit non-profit housing agencies — transparency and accountability are essential.
Support community-led solutions, Indigenous housing, and Land Back initiatives.
Treat this like the emergency it is. Because it is.

✨ What You Can Do:

✅ Share this post.
✅ Talk to your MLA, MP, and city council.
✅ Support grassroots groups — not just polished NGOs.
✅ Stand in solidarity with those fighting for housing justice.
✅ Demand housing that’s for people, not profit.

I am writing this not just as an advocate, artist, or citizen — but as someone who has witnessed and lived through the cruelty of a system designed to ignore suffering.

If you’ve ever walked by a tent city and felt heartbroken…
If you’ve ever worried about losing your own home…
If you’ve ever wondered how we got here — now you know.

It started in 1993.
But it doesn’t have to end in despair.
We can demand better. We must.

Because housing is not a privilege.
It’s a human right.

—
Tina Winterlik (Zipolita)
📸 Instagram | 🖋️ Blog |
#RightToHousing #Canada1993 #StopTheCuts #HousingIsAHumanRight #ZipolitaSpeaks #DigitalHorizonZ

Part 3: What If It Was You?

One Fall Away: A Series on Helmets, E-Bikes & Brain Injuries

Part 3: What If It Was You?

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

📝 Names and some identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of those involved.

Now Ask Yourself...

Who would care for you if you couldn’t walk or talk?
Who would wipe your mouth or change your diaper? Put a catheter on you?
Who would keep coming when others gave up?
Who would pay?

Most people don’t think about it—until it’s too late.

I've Seen the Aftermath

A mother spoon-feeding her grown daughter.
A boy flinching at a nurse’s touch.
A gifted teen, stuck in a body that no longer obeys.

And What About Your Children?

I’ve seen toddlers riding unprotected. If they fall—if you fall—you might lose them forever. Could you live with that?

We Need to Stop Gambling With Lives

Brain injuries don’t always heal. Many are permanent. And someone will be left to carry the weight—for years, maybe decades.

What You Can Do

Wear a helmet. Always.
Insist your kids wear one.
Speak up. Educate. Set the example.

You are one fall away.
But you can prevent it.

👉 In Part 4: We speak directly to those struggling with addiction and overdose—because they too are just four minutes away from irreversible brain damage.

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

Remembering the 1996 Fraser Valley Blizzard

🚨 Remembering the 1996 Fraser Valley Blizzard — A Warning for Future Infrastructure Plans

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

In my previous post about the $10 billion regional train proposal, I shared concerns about how dangerous and unpredictable our B.C. weather can be — especially when plans ignore the very real risks of climate change.

To truly understand why flashy mega-projects like regional trains may not be the safest investment right now, we need to look back at one of the worst weather events in recent B.C. history: the Blizzard of 1996.

❄️ The Blizzard of 1996 — “The Storm of the Century”

On December 29th, 1996, a massive blizzard hit the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley. Snowfall reached record-breaking levels — up to 80 cm in just 24 hours. Snowdrifts as high as three metres buried roads, cars, and homes.

Highways shut down. Airports closed. Public transit failed. More than 250 drivers were trapped on the highways, many stranded for up to 17 hours in freezing temperatures before help could arrive.

🏡 A Community That Stepped Up

But what happened next is something B.C. residents will never forget.

In the Fraser Valley, a young couple — Glen and Cheryl Tolsma — opened their home to anyone who needed shelter. They were told 50 people were coming. By the end of the night, they were hosting 89 stranded drivers — feeding them, comforting them, and keeping them warm while snow continued to fall.

Across the region, churches and farms turned into emergency shelters. Neighbours took in strangers. Volunteers checked on elders. It was one of those rare moments when humanity rose above crisis — not because of government action, but because ordinary people showed compassion.

🚂 Now Think About a Train in That Scenario

Imagine if instead of stranded cars, we had a high-speed regional train stuck in a canyon. No detour. No place to go. Hundreds of passengers trapped in freezing temperatures. Power out. Emergency crews unable to access the area because the highway is buried in snow or blocked by a landslide.

This isn’t just possible. It’s probable. We’ve seen what nature can do. And with climate change, it’s only getting more unpredictable and intense.

🛑 Why We Need Climate-Smart Planning — Not Just Flashy Promises

The Blizzard of 1996 reminds us of a simple truth: infrastructure must match reality.

Before spending billions on regional rail across mountain ranges and floodplains, we need to:

Invest in local, resilient transit that works in snow and storm conditions
Fund emergency shelters and community readiness programs
Ensure evacuation plans exist for every major transit route
Respect the power of nature — and plan like it could happen again

Because it will.

💬 Final Thought

The Blizzard of ’96 wasn’t just a weather event — it was a wake-up call. One we should still be listening to.

If we don’t build for climate resilience, we’re not building for people. We’re building for disaster.

👉Read my previous post on why the $10B regional train plan doesn’t make sense in a climate emergency

You Know You’re Raping Me, Don’t You?

🛑 CONTENT WARNING:

This post contains detailed discussion of sexual assault and the emotional trauma of survivors. It includes direct quotes related to the assault that may be distressing. Reader discretion is advised.

Post 2: “You Know You’re Raping Me, Don’t You?”

By Tina Winterlik // Zipolita

Those words should have stopped everything.

“You know you’re raping me, don’t you?”

That’s what E.M. testified she said—in the moment—crying out in fear and confusion during the assault.
Not afterward. Not as reflection. During.

Instead of pausing, checking in, or stepping away—they kept going.
And when the evidence was brought to court, they were still acquitted.

🧠 That Was Never Consent — It Was a Cry for Help

Anyone who’s ever felt powerless in a room knows this: saying that isn’t resignation.
It’s an attempt to wake someone. To reach one remnant of humanity.
It’s not permission—it’s an alarm.

If hearing that didn’t make them stop, nothing ever would.

⚖️ And Yet the Court Said “Not Guilty”

She testified she was raped.
She spoke those words while it was happening.
She gave testimony in court, raw and painful.
The judge still ruled her testimony “not credible” or “unreliable.”

Even that plea — clear, terrifying, vulnerable — was ignored.
That is not justice.

😡 What Message Is This Sending?

To men:

You can film a frightened woman, ignore her pleas, and still walk free.

To women:

You can speak up. You can fight. You can cry out.
And society might still say you made it up.

🔥 We Must Refuse Acceptance

If that sentence doesn’t move people—if that plea in real time doesn’t result in conviction—then something is deeply rotten.

Right here, right now, we draw a line:

We will never normalize this behaviour.
We will never forgive silence in the face of violence.
We will protect those who cannot protect themselves

Part 2: No Helmet, No Excuse — The Real Cost of a Head Injury

One Fall Away: A Series on Helmets, E-Bikes & Brain Injuries

Part 2: No Helmet, No Excuse — The Real Cost of a Head Injury

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

📝 Names and some identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of those involved.

They zoom past me all the time.

Electric bikes. Scooters. No helmets. No lights. No common sense.

Sometimes there’s a kid riding on the back, barely holding on. No protection. No clue what could happen.

The Myth of Invincibility

People think it won’t happen to them. But physics doesn’t care. A fall at 25 km/h can end your life or ruin it forever.

The Rise in E-Bike & Scooter Accidents

Some models go over 40 km/h
Riders often skip helmets
Many don’t know or ignore the law
Injuries and hospital visits are increasing every year

What Happens After a Brain Injury?

Everything changes. Your independence, your identity, your future. You may not even remember who you are. You may become someone a stranger has to feed, wash, lift—and eventually forget.

Helmets Save Lives

Wearing a helmet can reduce serious head injury by up to 70%. Don’t say it’s uncomfortable. Say it saved your life.

We All Have a Role to Play

Governments must:

Enforce helmet laws
Educate newcomers and tourists
Track injury data

You must:

Wear a helmet every time
Talk to your kids
Speak up when you see unsafe behaviour

👉 In Part 3: We ask the question no one wants to face: What if it was you?

Monday, August 4, 2025

Dear Me, at 20-something…

💌 Dear Me, at 20-something…

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

You don’t know this yet, but you’re going to leave.
Not just the town. Not just the guy.
You’re going to leave the whole world you thought you had to survive in — and build something else entirely.

Right now, you're scared.
You think love means suffering. You think staying quiet keeps you safe. You think you’re weak for wanting more.
But let me tell you something — you’re none of those things.

You’re just early.

The people around you — the ones drinking themselves numb, clinging to religion, smoke, violence, rage — they’re stuck.
You’re not. That feeling in your chest? That ache that whispers "There has to be more"?
That’s your compass.

You're going to learn to walk away.

It won’t be clean.
You’ll cry, you’ll question yourself, you’ll pack in silence while pretending everything’s okay.
You’ll rehearse your break-up speech, trying to be “gentle,” even with people who were never gentle with you.
But one day, when he throws your bag around like a threat, when he’s too drunk to see your fear —
you’ll feel the switch flip.
You’ll know: If I stay, I die.

And so… you go.

What’s ahead?

Freedom.
Not the kind they sell in commercials — but the real kind.
The kind where you wake up and no one’s yelling.
Where you paint murals under sun.
Where you raise your child with fierce, imperfect love.
Where you cry when you need to — and laugh when you want to.

It won’t be easy.
You’ll couch surf.
You’ll worry about money.
You’ll get rejected, misunderstood, underestimated.
But through it all, you’ll create.

You’ll write books.
You’ll tell the truth.
You’ll survive a world that tried to chew you up — and then you’ll speak for others who haven’t yet found their voice.

You won’t forget.

The berry fields.
The egg packing job.
The bike ride past prison fences.
The kids who called you names.
The scary boyfriend and his even scarier friend with the knife.
You’ll carry all of it — not as shame, but as firewood.

You’ll burn it into stories.
Into strength.
Into art.

And your child?

They’ll have their own battles.
They’ll walk away young, trying to outrun your shadow.
But one day, they’ll realize:
You didn’t just survive.
You fought for them, even when they couldn’t see it.

And maybe, just maybe, they’ll come back with their own stories — and you’ll listen with love.

So here’s what I want you to know:

You are not crazy.
You are not broken.
You are not wrong for wanting more.

You are light, hiding in a storm.
You are truth, surrounded by noise.
You are already strong — you just haven’t been free long enough to feel it.

Hold on.
One day, you’ll sign your name not with fear —
but with pride:
Tina Winterlik. Zipolita. Artist. Survivor. Writer of her own life.

And if anyone reading this feels like I once did — scared, small, stuck — just know: you’re not alone.
Your life isn’t over. It’s just beginning. 💛

Before We Build Billion-Dollar Trains

🚨 Before We Build Billion-Dollar Trains, Let's Talk About B.C. Weather

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

Every time I hear about a new $10 BILLION regional train system for B.C., I shake my head. Not because I don’t love public transit — I do. But because none of these planners ever seem to talk about the reality we live in: THE WEATHER.

❄️ B.C. is Beautiful — and Brutal

We have some of the wildest, scariest, most unpredictable weather in Canada. Let’s remember a few things:

Just a few years back, people were stuck in their cars for 12 hours trying to get home in a snowstorm.
Years ago out in the Fraser Valley, a storm shut down the highway — hundreds of stranded drivers were rescued by strangers who took them into their homes for the night.
Last year, a house in North Vancouver was swept away in a rainstorm. Two people died.
When the Coquihalla connector washed out, it wasn’t just a traffic jam — it cut off communities, caused food shortages, and cost millions in damage.
During the heat dome of 2021, over 600 people died, mostly seniors and low-income folks — and we still don’t have proper emergency protocols.
Our buses literally can’t drive in the snow. I’ve seen 8 buses backed up on Broadway because they couldn’t climb the tiniest hill.

🚂 Now Imagine a Regional Train in That Chaos

Trapped in a train during:

A wildfire with nowhere to go.
A landslide or track washout with no detour.
A blizzard while emergency services are already overwhelmed.

Who’s evacuating hundreds of people from a mountain pass or canyon?
Where are the backup shelters, water, heat, oxygen masks, communication systems?

Spoiler: They’re not in the $10 billion budget.

💭 Do We Really Want a Shiny Train Before We Fix the Basics?

We have:

Buses that can’t run in snow
Sidewalks that aren’t cleared
People freezing or baking to death in their homes
Underfunded emergency shelters
Crumbling roads and delayed transit

But they want to build a 350-km train across mountain ranges?

It doesn’t make sense. Not now. Not without addressing climate resilience first.

🛑 Let’s Build Smart, Not Flashy

This isn’t about being anti-transit. It’s about being realistic.

We need:

Climate-resilient local transit
Community emergency plans
Better buses that actually run in snow
Cooling and warming centers
Affordable housing near existing transit hubs

Before they push another shiny mega-project, maybe they should ride a Broadway bus during a snowstorm.
Or sleep on a couch after the heat dome.
Or hike through a washed-out trail in the rain.

Because weather is no longer predictable.

And we deserve plans built on reality — not fantasy.

Part 1: What Brain Injury Really Looks Like

One Fall Away: A Series on Helmets, E-Bikes & Brain Injuries

Part 1: What Brain Injury Really Looks Like

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

📝 Names and some identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of those involved.

When people zip by me on e-bikes or scooters, helmetless, carefree, with toddlers perched behind them like accessories—my stomach tightens.

Because I know what happens after the crash.

Not in theory. In real life.
In the quiet, sterile rooms.
In the long days of wiping drool, massaging limbs, combing out neglected hair, feeding porridge to once a genius 🥺.
In the heartbreaking 💔silence of people who used to laugh, talk, dream—and now can’t even feed themselves.

The Summer That Changed Everything

It was 1994. I was finishing my diploma in photography, and that summer I worked for a company called Classic Care, taking care of people with brain injuries. These weren’t just clients. These were once vibrant human beings with full lives, families, futures.

And then… an accident. A wrong turn. A missing seatbelt. A moment.

“Janey” – Frontal Lobe Damage

She couldn’t speak. She couldn’t make eye contact. She couldn’t feed herself. My job was to brush her hair, clean her clothes, paint her nails—give her dignity.

Her husband drove them into traffic during an argument. He survived. She didn’t—not really.

Their kids didn’t visit. He didn’t either. Only her mother came, feeding her daughter spoon by spoon, holding onto the tiniest thread of hope.

“George” – Traumatic Injury from RV Crash

His family was on their way to Disneyland. He was sleeping in the back of an RV without a seatbelt. It crashed.

Nonverbal. Scarred. Tube-fed. He flinched when nurses cleaned infection from his feeding tube. Sometimes, he would grab his wheelchair with all his strength, like trying to scream.

“Michael” – A Brilliant Mind Lost

Top student in BC. A genius. Then came the Whistler grad trip. His friend flipped the car into a ditch. Michael was underwater for 20 minutes. Only the cold saved his life.

He survived, but couldn’t walk, had constant seizures, and tried to say things that made no sense. The light in his eyes was gone.

What People Don’t See

The exhaustion of caregivers
The silence of abandoned patients
The emotional toll that never leaves
The cost—financial, physical, emotional

Why I’m Telling You This

Because I’ve seen what brain injury really looks like. And I see helmetless people every day like it’s a joke.

These injuries were preventable. Let’s prevent the next one.

👉 In Part 2: We’ll talk about how brain injuries are rising—and the real cost.

👉 In Part 3: We’ll ask: What if it was YOU?

Tuesday, August 12, 2025

Vancouver’s City Manager Shake-Up: What It Means for the Downtown Eastside and Our Community

Questions for Reflection:

Ideas and Possible Solutions:

A Call for Compassionate Action: Redirecting Severance Funds to Support the Unhoused

The facts

There is no justice — and here’s why that matters

Why permits and inspections matter (when they’re actually enforced)

What you can do — concrete actions

Legal and ethical note

The Reality on the Ground

Unequal Access — A Divisive and Avoidable Problem

What Needs to Happen Now

A Message to Leaders

Monday, August 11, 2025

The Deep Roots of a Long Fight

The Numbers Game: Demographics as a Tool of Power

Why the Fight Never Ends

A Call to Awareness and Action

📈 What Inflation Alone Tells Us

🏠 Housing Affordability: Vancouver’s Reality

🔍 So Where Does $66/Hour Come From?

💡 The Takeaway

🔥 Vancouver Heat Alert: Stay Safe, Be Kind, and Respect Our Shared Spaces 🔥

🌡 Why This Heat Is Dangerous

🌊 Seeking Peace in a City That Feels Too Loud

🚤 What You Need to Know About Noise and The Law

❄ Cooling Centres and How You Can Help

💧 Please Bring Water for Those in Need

🚲 Staying Safe on Our Streets and Paths

🛑 The Bottom Line

Saturday, August 9, 2025

B.C.’s Growing Debt: What’s Going On and How Can We Fix It?

So what can we do? Here are some important steps to help turn things around:

Short-term (1 year):

Medium-term (2–5 years):

Long-term (10 years):

Friday, August 8, 2025

One Fall Away: Conclusion

“Look At Me Now” — A Message from the Silence

🧠 “Look at Me Now...” A voice for the voiceless

The Unseen Burden

I Moved On… They Couldn’t

One Final Ask

In Honor of the Silent

🛑 [CONTENT WARNING]

🫂 You Were Brave Every Step of the Way

🧠 If You’re a Survivor Reading This

🕸️ You Are Part of a Bigger Web of Truth

💬 What We Need to Keep Saying

🌱 Final Words

Thursday, August 7, 2025

One Fall Away: A Series on Helmets, E-Bikes & Brain Injuries

Part 4: 4 Minutes Without Oxygen — A Letter to Those Using Fentanyl, Cocaine, or Anything That Can Steal Your Brain

It Only Takes 4 Minutes

If You Use Alone…

Why I Call Transit Police

This Is Not About Shame

What Can You Do Right Now?

Please Think About This

👥 This Isn’t “Just a Women’s Issue”

🧨 The Culture Is Sick — And You’re the Ones Who Can Change It

🧱 What Real Masculinity Looks Like Now

👊 What You Can Do Right Now:

🚫 We Don’t Want Your Silence. We Want Your Voice.

Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Gentrification Took Everything: My Family Built Homes, Now There's Nothing Left

My Family Literally Built Homes

And Then It Was All Gone

This Is What Gentrification Looks Like

I Want My City Back

Cash Grab or Public Safety? It's Time to Ask Questions About B.C.'s Holiday Weekend Crackdown

📣 If You Got a Fine — You Have Rights

🚨 This Is Bigger Than One Weekend

❗We Must Ask:

💬 Let’s Get to the Bottom of This

Shambhala 2025: Keeping Roads Safe or Cashing In?

🚔 A Big Step Up

💸 Was It About Safety... or Revenue?

🌿 Festival Culture Isn't the Enemy

🧠 “Look at Me Now...”
A voice for the voiceless