Friday, July 25, 2025

Silence, Power & Rape Culture in Hockey: Who Is the NHLPA Really Protecting?

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This post discusses sexual violence, rape, coercion, alcohol-related assault, and institutional protection of abusers. It includes references to personal trauma, survivor experiences, and systemic failures in justice. Please take care while reading.

If you are a survivor or feeling overwhelmed, you are not alone. Support is available:
📞 Canada’s Talk Suicide Line: 1-833-456-4566
📞 VictimLink BC (24/7): 1-800-563-0808
📞 Sexual Assault Support Centre (SASC) UBC: 604-827-5180
🌐 Ending Violence Association of BC: endingviolence.org

🏒 Silence, Power & Rape Culture in Hockey: Who Is the NHLPA Really Protecting?

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

There is a sickness in hockey — and it’s not on the ice.

This week, the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) issued a public statement defending the five hockey players accused of the 2018 gang rape of a young woman, known publicly as E.M., in London, Ontario. The statement didn’t mention her name. It didn’t mention rape. It didn’t mention alcohol. It didn’t mention trauma.

Instead, it mourned the fact that the players “missed more than a full season” of hockey and insisted they should now “have the opportunity to return to work.” According to the NHLPA, the NHL's decision to keep them ineligible to play while reviewing the court’s findings is “inconsistent with the discipline procedures set forth in the CBA.”

That’s how much E.M.'s life is worth to them: less than a season.

🧠 Let's Talk About the Facts

In 2018, a young woman was invited to a Hockey Canada gala. She had at least 8 alcoholic drinks, provided by the players — men who were well aware of her condition. She was so intoxicated that she couldn't walk without support. Later, five members of Team Canada’s World Junior hockey team took her to a hotel room and assaulted her.

She was coerced into recording a video stating she consented. That video became their legal shield.

Even though the criminal case ended in acquittals, the facts of the night — the manipulation, the coordinated assault, the power imbalance — are not erased. They are part of a systemic pattern of rape culture, athlete entitlement, and institutional silence.

Let’s be clear:

This was not consensual sex.
This was not an isolated incident.
This was not justice.

🇨🇦 A Canadian Crisis, An American Mouthpiece

Here’s what burns: this didn’t happen in the U.S. This happened in London, Ontario — a Canadian city, at a Canadian event, by Team Canada players. The victim is Canadian. Hockey is part of our identity, our legacy, and our culture.

So why is the loudest voice defending these players coming from an American executive named Marty Walsh?

Walsh, the current head of the NHLPA, was previously the Mayor of Boston and U.S. Secretary of Labor. He’s not Canadian. He’s not a survivor. He’s not even a neutral party — he was hired to protect the players’ careers, not to seek justice or center morality.

Why is a man from Boston telling Canadian survivors, families, and fans that these men “deserve” to return to the ice?

💔 The Damage Isn’t Just To One Woman

E.M. may have survived the night, but her life has been changed forever. Like so many women, her trauma was captured, debated, dismissed, and now erased by people who still call themselves professionals.

And it goes beyond her.

A relative's wife was raped and sexually assaulted by the Paper Bag Rapist. They didn’t survive it.

I’ve narrowly escaped sexual assault more times than I can count. I was young and trusting. I drank too much at parties. I remembered things much later. I’ve traveled alone through Mexico. I’ve had to act smart, fast, just to stay safe.

Why? Because men thought they had a right to take what they wanted.

I’m 63 now. And I still don’t feel safe in some situations do best to avoid them at all costs.

Imagine how the girls growing up today feel — especially in a world where their phones are full of violent porn, toxic messages, and zero accountability.

This isn’t just about sports. This is about every woman who has ever been blamed, silenced, or destroyed by rape culture — and then had to watch her abuser walk free, and get rich.

🧠 What the NHLPA Is Really Saying

The NHLPA’s statement tells survivors:

You don’t matter.
What happened to you is unfortunate, but not important.
The careers of men who assaulted you are more valuable than your healing.
We’ll protect them. You’re on your own.

It’s the same message we’ve seen in the Catholic Church, in Hollywood, in politics, in tech, and in sport: protect the brand, protect the boys, bury the girl.

✊ We Say No More

To the NHLPA: Shame on you.
To Marty Walsh: Sit down.
To every sponsor, parent, journalist, and fan still making excuses: Stop.

Canada doesn’t need American leadership defending gang rapists. We need a reckoning. We need accountability. We need justice that doesn’t end when the camera stops rolling.

And to the women who are survivors — whether you speak out or hold your truth in silence — you are believed. You are not alone. And we will fight for you.

📢 What You Can Do:

Demand sponsors withdraw support until the NHLPA apologizes and reforms.
Share survivor stories and amplify their voices.
Refuse to watch or support NHL games while these players are protected.
Write to your MP and ask for better protections and laws around coercion, consent, and alcohol.
Name names — pressure works when we keep the spotlight burning.

💬 Final Words

Marty Walsh may not be on Epstein’s list — but he sure acts like he’s protecting the same boys’ club.

We don’t need more statements about missed hockey seasons.

We need accountability, truth, and dignity — and not just for the players.

For the women. For the girls. For all of us.

La véritable menace, ce ne sont pas les droits autochtones — c’est la propagation de la peur

🇬🇧 English (Original):

🌍 English : This article is available in English, French, and Spanish to support global understanding of Indigenous rights and reconciliation effort

🇫🇷 French:🌍 Cet article est disponible en anglais, en français et en espagnol afin de promouvoir une compréhension mondiale des droits autochtones et des efforts de réconciliation.

🇪🇸 Spanish:🌍 Este artículo está disponible en inglés, francés y español para apoyar la comprensión global de los derechos indígenas y los esfuerzos de reconciliación.

Par Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

L’article récent de Caroline Elliott publié dans le National Post, intitulé « La fin du Canada approche et le NPD de la C.-B. mène la charge », n’est pas du journalisme — c’est une propagande idéologique enveloppée dans une rhétorique alarmiste. C’est exactement le genre de discours diviseur qui freine la réconciliation et induit le public en erreur sur la véritable signification des droits autochtones.

Soyons clairs : ce soi-disant « droit de veto » que les Premières Nations obtiendraient sur les terres de la Couronne n’est pas une prise de contrôle hostile. Il s’agit d’un effort longtemps attendu pour reconnaître les peuples autochtones comme des partenaires égaux dans les décisions qui touchent leurs territoires ancestraux — des terres prises sans consentement.

🪶 Ce que Elliott se trompe

Elle affirme que l’engagement de la C.-B. envers le consentement autochtone sape la démocratie. Mais comment une démocratie peut-elle être complète lorsqu’elle repose sur des terres volées ? La Loi sur la Déclaration des Nations Unies sur les droits des peuples autochtones (DRIPA) vise à réparer les torts historiques et à aller vers une gouvernance partagée, pas à effacer les voix non autochtones. C’est une question de justice, pas de domination.

Elle affirme que cela mènera à la « fin du Canada ». En réalité, ce qui effraie les gens comme Elliott, ce n’est pas la fin du pays — mais la fin du contrôle colonial incontesté.

⚖️ Qui a le droit de décider ?

Ce qui est vraiment dangereux, ce n’est pas que les communautés autochtones aient leur mot à dire — c’est que des commentateurs colons tentent de susciter la peur du public en présentant la collaboration comme une perte. C’est ceux qui détiennent le pouvoir qui qualifient l’équité de “chaos”. Les paroles d’Elliott résonnent avec une longue histoire de résistance à l’autonomie autochtone — et cela doit cesser.

Les terres publiques ne servent pas qu’à la récréation ou au profit. Ce sont les terres ancestrales des peuples autochtones. Ils en ont été les gardiens pendant des milliers d’années avant l’arrivée d’un seul navire européen.

📢 Les vraies questions à poser

Au lieu de propager la peur, pourquoi ne parle-t-on pas de :

Comment la conservation dirigée par les Autochtones protège davantage de terres que de nombreux programmes gouvernementaux ?
Comment la véritable réconciliation implique de partager le pouvoir, et pas seulement de faire des reconnaissances symboliques du territoire ?
Pourquoi tant de Canadiens se sentent encore en droit d’occuper des terres qu’ils n’ont ni héritées ni achetées — mais qu’ils occupent grâce à un legs colonial ?

✨ Une nouvelle vision

La réconciliation n’est pas confortable. Elle exige de l’humilité, de l’écoute, et un changement dans la distribution du pouvoir. Mais elle ne signifie pas la fin du Canada. Elle marque le début d’un pays meilleur — fondé sur la vérité, le respect et la responsabilité partagée.

Alors non, Caroline. Le consentement autochtone n’est pas une menace — c’est une promesse tenue.

🇪🇸 Versión en Español

🧿 La verdadera amenaza no son los derechos indígenas — es el discurso del miedo

Por Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

El reciente artículo de Caroline Elliott en el National Post, titulado “Se acerca el fin de Canadá y el NDP de Columbia Británica lidera el cambio”, no es periodismo — es propaganda ideológica disfrazada de retórica alarmista. Es exactamente el tipo de discurso divisivo que bloquea la reconciliación e informa mal al público sobre el verdadero significado de los derechos indígenas.

Seamos claros: el supuesto “veto” que las Primeras Naciones recibirían sobre tierras de la Corona no es una toma de poder hostil. Es un esfuerzo largamente esperado por reconocer a los pueblos indígenas como socios iguales en decisiones que afectan sus territorios ancestrales — tierras tomadas sin consentimiento.

🪶 En lo que se equivoca Elliott

Ella afirma que el compromiso de Columbia Británica con el consentimiento indígena socava la democracia. Pero ¿cómo puede existir una verdadera democracia cuando se basa en tierras robadas? La Ley sobre la Declaración de los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas de la ONU (DRIPA) busca reparar daños históricos y avanzar hacia una gobernanza compartida, no borrar las voces no indígenas. Se trata de justicia, no de dominación.

Ella dice que esto llevará al “fin de Canadá”. En realidad, lo que asusta a personas como Elliott no es el fin del país — sino el fin del control colonial incuestionado.

⚖️ ¿Quién tiene derecho a decidir?

Lo verdaderamente peligroso no es que las comunidades indígenas tengan voz — es que comentaristas colonos traten de sembrar miedo presentando la colaboración como una amenaza. Es el poder disfrazando la equidad como “caos”. Las palabras de Elliott reflejan una larga historia de resistencia a la autonomía indígena — y eso debe terminar.

La tierra pública no es solo para recreación o ganancia. Es el territorio ancestral de los pueblos indígenas. Ellos fueron los guardianes de esta tierra por miles de años antes de la llegada de un solo barco europeo.

📢 Lo que deberíamos estar preguntando

En vez de sembrar miedo, ¿por qué no hablamos de:

Cómo la conservación liderada por pueblos indígenas ha protegido más territorio que muchos programas gubernamentales?
Cómo la verdadera reconciliación requiere compartir el poder, no solo hacer reconocimientos simbólicos?
¿Por qué tantos canadienses aún se sienten con derecho a ocupar tierras que no heredaron ni compraron — pero que ocupan gracias al legado colonial?

✨ Una nueva visión

La reconciliación no es cómoda. Requiere humildad, escuchar y redistribuir poder. Pero no significa el fin de Canadá. Significa el comienzo de uno mejor — fundado en verdad, respeto y responsabilidad compartida.

Así que no, Caroline. El consentimiento indígena no es una amenaza — es una promesa cumplida.

The Real Threat Isn’t Indigenous Rights — It’s Fear-Mongering

🧿 The Real Threat Isn’t Indigenous Rights — It’s Fear-Mongering

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

Caroline Elliott’s recent National Post article, titled “The end of Canada is coming and B.C.’s NDP is leading the charge,” is not journalism — it’s ideological propaganda wrapped in alarmist rhetoric. It’s exactly the kind of divisive narrative that stalls reconciliation and misleads the public about the true meaning of Indigenous rights.

Let’s be clear: the so-called “veto” she claims First Nations are getting over Crown land isn’t some hostile takeover. It’s part of a long-overdue effort to recognize Indigenous Peoples as equal partners in decisions that affect their ancestral territories — lands that were taken without consent in the first place.

🪶 What Elliott Gets Wrong

She claims B.C.'s commitment to Indigenous consent undermines democracy. But how can any democracy be whole when it’s built on stolen land? The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) is about repairing historical harm and moving toward shared governance, not erasing non-Indigenous voices. It's about justice, not domination.

She argues this will lead to the "end of Canada." In reality, what terrifies people like Elliott is not the end of Canada — but the end of unquestioned colonial control.

⚖️ Who Gets to Decide?

What’s truly dangerous is not Indigenous communities having a say in their own lands — it’s white-settler commentators trying to stir public fear that working together means losing something. It’s those with power framing equity as “chaos.” Elliott’s words echo a long history of resistance to Indigenous autonomy — and it needs to stop.

Public land isn’t just for recreation or profit. It is the homeland of Indigenous peoples. They were stewards of this land for thousands of years before a single European ship arrived.

📢 What We Should Be Asking

Instead of fear-mongering, why aren’t we talking about:

How Indigenous-led conservation has protected more land and biodiversity than many government programs?
How true reconciliation means sharing power, not just symbolic land acknowledgements?
Why so many Canadians still feel entitled to land they didn’t inherit or buy — but occupy because of colonial legacy?

✨ A New Vision

Reconciliation is not comfortable. It demands humility, listening, and a shift in who holds power. But it doesn’t mean the end of Canada. It means the beginning of a better one — one built on truth, respect, and shared responsibility.

So no, Caroline. Indigenous consent isn’t a threat — it’s a promise kept.

Why Justice Fails Young Women — And How Science Proves It

🧠 When Is a Brain “Old Enough” to Consent or Harm?

Why Justice Fails Young Women — And How Science Proves It

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita
#BoycottHockey #EndRapeCulture #JusticeForSurvivors

Most people can’t even remember what they had for dinner last week — but somehow, our justice system expects a young woman to remember, with perfect clarity, the night she was sexually assaulted seven years ago.

Let’s be clear: this isn’t just a legal issue. It’s a human one, and science backs it up.

💔 The 2018 Hockey Assault Case

In June 2018, a young woman (known as E.M.) went out for what should have been a fun evening. Instead, she ended up in a hotel room with five elite junior hockey players, all members of Canada’s beloved 2018 World Junior team.

She was 20. They were 19–21.
She says she was drunk, surrounded, filmed, and pressured to consent on video.

In July 2025, all five players were acquitted.
Why? Because the judge found her story had inconsistencies, and because the players showed a video where she says she consented.

But let’s stop and ask:

🧠 What Do We Know About Brain Development?

Science now confirms:

The human brain isn’t fully developed until age 25–30 — especially the prefrontal cortex, which controls:
- Impulse control
- Risk evaluation
- Emotional regulation
- Long-term planning
- Moral reasoning

That means:

E.M. was not neurologically equipped to handle high-stress trauma, especially under the influence of alcohol and surrounded by power and fear.
The five young men, whose brains were also still developing, were likely heavily influenced by porn culture, group dynamics, and entitlement — but unlike E.M., they had the numbers, protection, and institutional backing.

🎥 That Video Wasn’t Consent

Forcing a drunk, overwhelmed young woman to say she consents — on video — after being surrounded by five men is not evidence of safety.

It’s proof of how far rape culture has evolved.
Now it records itself — and calls it protection.

💊 Alcohol, Porn Culture & Pack Mentality

E.M. testified she had about eight drinks that night. There’s no evidence she took any drugs. But toxic masculinity doesn’t need drugs to thrive — it thrives in locker rooms, on screens, and in silence.

We now live in a world where young men grow up on porn that often shows:

Violence
Group sex
Dehumanization

If that’s the “normal” they consume, then no wonder they think forcing someone to perform on camera is acceptable.

⚖️ Where Is the Logic?

There is none.

The justice system:

Demands impossible clarity from trauma survivors
Ignores the effects of alcohol, fear, shame, and shock
Protects powerful young men at all costs — especially when a beloved sport is involved

This isn’t justice. This is a script.
And we’re sick of watching it play out.

🔥 Call to Action

It's time to ask:

Why do courts still treat 18 as the magical “adult” age — when science says our brains aren’t ready until 25 or even 30?
Why do we treat trauma victims like unreliable narrators — but trust a video taken under duress as evidence of consent?
Why does hockey, a sport loved by millions, keep getting a pass on rape culture?

✋ Enough.

#BoycottHockey until there is accountability.
Share the science — about brain development, trauma, and coercion.
Stand with survivors, not systems built to protect their abusers.

We deserve a justice system that understands memory, maturity, and morality.
Not one that punishes survivors for being human.

🧠💔✊
Written with grief, rage, and clarity,
Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita
zipolita.com | #JusticeForE.M | #EndRapeCulture

Airport Scam-PROTECT YOUR BELONGINGS!

Air Canada returned a woman's missing suitcase—but it wasn't hers anymore. Inside the returned luggage were a knife, toiletries, and a ticket scanner—completely different contents. Linda Royle was told by Air Canada they couldn't compensate her because she couldn't prove the original contents.

This raises serious red flags about:

Security breaches at airports
Possible baggage theft rings or inside jobs
The need for better tracking and accountability from airlines

💻 Why You Should NEVER Check a Bag With Electronics (Like a Laptop):

Risk of theft or tampering, especially in vulnerable airports.
No liability—most airlines won’t cover electronics in checked luggage.
Checked bags are often handled by third-party contractors, increasing the chance of an inside job.
If the flight is “too full”, gate agents may try to pressure you into checking your carry-on. You have the right to decline if it holds valuables.

✈️ What You Can Do:

NEVER check a bag with electronics, medications, valuables, or personal data.
If pressured at the gate, firmly say no and explain you have electronics and sensitive material.
Buy a smaller "under seat" bag that won’t get flagged, especially on crowded flights.
Take photos of your bag’s contents before travel.
Use AirTags or Tile trackers in your bag.
Use a travel lock, but know that TSA can still open them.

😠 If You Suspect Foul Play:

If you think someone switched your bag or tampered with it, report it to the police immediately, and file a formal complaint with:

Air Canada
The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA)
Transport Canada
Your travel insurance provider

Call to Action: Boycott Hockey Now

🛑BOYCOTT HOCKEY NOW🛑

Call to Action: Boycott Hockey Now

The energy this Friday is heavy—because once again, we are watching a system let women down. The hockey players walked free, and the message is deafening: rape culture is not only tolerated, it's protected.

We call on every company, especially those led by women CEOs, and anyone who promotes, buys, or funds hockey to STOP NOW. If you continue, you are condoning rape culture—you are saying this is acceptable.

AI won’t even generate an image to represent this because rape is protected, sanitized, and erased in our culture. But we will not be silent.

If we ever want a society where women, children—humans—are truly loved and respected, the change starts here and now. And sadly, the only language this system understands is money.

Pull the funding. Cut the sponsorships. Drop the merchandise. Cancel the airtime.
Stop dressing little boys in jerseys.
Start teaching them:
❌ No, you cannot go.
✅ Here’s why it’s harmful.
✅ Here’s what love and respect really look like.

What happened was not “a mistake” or “youthful ignorance.” It was dehumanization. There is no justice when five men think it’s acceptable to use a woman this way—and the courts say it's okay.

We are not okay.
And we will not forget.

#BoycottHockey #EndRapeCulture #JusticeForSurvivors #StopTheSilence #PullThePlug

BOYCOTT HOCKEY

When I asked AI to help me create a graphic calling for a boycott of hockey because 5 men raped a woman and walked free, it refused.

Not because it doesn’t believe me.
Not because it thinks they’re innocent.
But because the system is built — even in digital spaces — to avoid “sensitive” topics like rape, abuse, and injustice...
Especially when the abusers are powerful men.

This is how the system protects pedophiles, rapists, and predators.
This is how Trump got away.
This is how Epstein operated for decades.
This is why there’s still no real justice for women.

Every institution — courts, sports, tech, media — has been rigged to silence truth, protect abusers, and gaslight survivors.

But I refuse to be silent.

To the brave woman they hurt: I believe you.
To everyone outraged by this: Let them feel our power.

BOYCOTT HOCKEY.
Until there's justice.
Until there's change.
Until women are safe.

#BoycottHockey #EndRapeCulture #JusticeForSurvivors #BelieveWomen #NoJusticeNoGame #ThisIsWhyWeRage #DoBetterCanada

Thursday, July 24, 2025

Why Are Women Dying in BC??

💔 Why Are Women Dying? Because Too Many Still Have No Way Out

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita
July 24, 2025

In just three weeks, five women in British Columbia were murdered—each by someone they knew, a partner or former partner. The YWCA is calling this what it is: femicide.

This is not new. This is not rare. This is not “unfortunate.”

This is a systemic failure that continues to kill women—and gender-diverse people—because we are not seen as a priority. Our safety, our housing, our ability to leave abusive situations is treated as optional. And too often, it’s only when someone dies that people pay attention.

🚨 There’s No Help If You Want to Leave

People always say: “Why didn’t she leave?” But what if there’s nowhere to go? What if you can’t afford rent? What if every job application is rejected? What if shelters are full? What if the government gives you $1,000/month to survive—but rent is $1,800?

For many of us, the only options are to stay, or die on the street.

I’ve been there. I’ve been in violent, abusive relationships—verbally, emotionally, and financially. And I stayed longer than I wanted because I couldn’t afford to leave. That’s the reality for far too many women.

⚠️ This Is a Crisis — And It Is Preventable

Women are being killed because the system gives them no exit. The YWCA and so many other groups have demanded change:

🏛️ Declare gender-based violence an epidemic
🔎 Review every femicide to learn from it
🏠 Invest in long-term, low-barrier housing for survivors
💼 Create real job support for women on assistance or escaping violence

We don’t want headlines. We want options. We want safety. We want freedom. And we want to live.

💡 If You or Someone You Know Needs Help:

VictimLink BC (Free, 24/7, Multilingual)
📞 Call or text: 1-800-563-0808
📧 Email: 211-VictimLinkBC@uwbc.ca

Talk to someone. You're not alone. Help is out there—but we also need to demand better help, safer systems, and real support.

We can’t fix this alone. But together, we can make sure no one has to suffer in silence again.

With strength, love, and fire,
Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita
🌐 zipolita.com | Facebook | Twitter

When Feeding Bears is More Than Just Reckless –

🐻 When Feeding Bears is More Than Just Reckless – It Could Be Deadly

By Zipolita (Tina Winterlik)
July 24, 2025

I just read an article in the North Shore News about a man convicted of feeding bears near the Capilano River. He left piles of food out in the open—an area frequented by hikers, dog walkers, and children.

And now he’s failed to appear for sentencing.

This is more than just breaking the law. This is endangering the lives of wild animals and humans. When people feed wildlife, they condition them to associate food with humans. That almost always ends with the animal being euthanized.

And I have to ask:
Why was he doing this? What were his real motives?

We know that globally, bears are poached for their paws and internal organs. There is a black market for bear gallbladders, paws, and even meat. How do we know this wasn’t part of something more sinister?

And if this man is not a Canadian citizen—if he is here on a visa or residency— he should be deported. Not just for feeding wildlife, but for failing to show up for sentencing, a basic responsibility in any legal process.

📣 A Call to Action

I'm calling on the following people and agencies to take this seriously:

The Honourable George Heyman, BC Minister of Environment
BC Conservation Officer Service
West Vancouver Police Department
Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
Public Prosecution Service of Canada

We need:

A thorough investigation into this individual’s background and activities.
To know if there are ties to wildlife trafficking.
Stronger penalties for people who bait or habituate wildlife.
Policies that consider deportation for non-citizens who deliberately endanger public safety and protected species.

🐾 Protect the Animals. Protect the People.

Too many bears have already died this year because of humans. These animals aren’t dangerous until we make them that way. If someone lures them in with food, they’re sentencing that bear to death—and putting all of us at risk.

Enough is enough.

Let’s make this case a turning point.

🖋️ Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita
💻 zipolita.com
Facebook | Twitter

Tuesday, July 22, 2025

15 Year Old Boy Was Stabbed and Killed in Downtown Vancouver 💔

15Year Old Boy Was Stabbed and Killed in Downtown Vancouver 💔

What is happening to our city?

Late Saturday night, near Robson Square, a 15-year-old boy from Surrey was brutally stabbed.
He died in hospital early the next morning.

This is devastating.
He was just a child.
Someone’s son, a friend, a classmate.
A young life full of dreams — stolen.

🕯️ My heart breaks for his family. I am so sorry for your loss. No one should have to go through this.

This tragedy has shaken me deeply.
Vancouver is my home. It’s supposed to be a place of peace, inclusion, and safety — especially for our youth.
But the violence we’re seeing lately… it’s terrifying. And it’s getting worse.

I can’t help but think of Reena Virk, a teen murdered by other youth years ago.
It took a long time for the truth to come out — because people were too afraid to speak.
Afraid of gang codes. Of retaliation. Of being cast out.

We cannot let fear win.
Not again.

💥 If you were near Robson Square / Hornby Street on Saturday, July 19 between 11:30–11:45 pm — and saw anything — please come forward.

Even if you think it’s small or insignificant.
Even if you’re scared.
Please speak.
📞 Call the Vancouver Police Homicide Unit at 604‑717‑2500

Together, let’s help this family find justice.
Let’s make our streets safe again.
Let’s not lose another child to silence.

#JusticeForOurYouth
#RobsonSquare
#VancouverViolence
#StopYouthViolence
#RememberReenaVirk
#NoMoreSilence
#YouthDeservePeace
#SafeStreetsNow
#RestInPeace
#VancouverCommunity

Monday, July 21, 2025

Justice Denied by Design: When Winning Isn’t Enough

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

You do everything right.
You experience discrimination. You feel unsafe, disrespected, degraded — maybe even traumatized. You file a complaint through the proper human rights channels. You follow their rules. You wait. You hope.

And then — you win.
The Human Rights Tribunal agrees:
Yes, you were discriminated against. Yes, the harm was real. They issue a ruling in your favour. Maybe you’re granted compensation. Maybe a policy change. Maybe just an apology.

But then comes the gut punch:
Nobody makes them follow the order. Not in BC. Not federally. Not anywhere in Canada.

🧱 BC Human Rights System — Justice on Paper

In British Columbia, if you file a complaint through the BC Human Rights Tribunal, and you win — it’s still not over.

If the person, company, or government agency refuses to comply with the ruling, you have to go to the BC Supreme Court to get it enforced. You have to spend more time, more emotional energy, and possibly more money just to make your win real.

No enforcement support.
No public lawyer.
No government follow-up.

🏛️ Federal Human Rights System — Same Story, Bigger Scale

At the federal level, if your issue is with a national employer or agency — like Canada Post, the RCMP, Air Canada, or a telecom giant — you go through the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC). If they agree your case has merit, it gets referred to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal.

And again: if you win, you still might not get justice.

If the respondent ignores the Tribunal’s ruling, you’re forced to go to Federal Court to enforce it.

Another court. More stress. More delay. No help.
Meanwhile, the discrimination continues. The harm deepens. And you’re left to fight alone — again.

💸 Who Really Wins?

Here’s the bitter truth:

The Tribunal employees get paid.
The Commissioners get paid.
The system looks good in reports.

But the victim — the person who went through all the pain and the process — gets paper justice and a mountain of new barriers.

“It’s like winning the lottery — and then being told you have to build the bank yourself to get the money out.”

🧨 The Real Impact

This system:

Fails the poor
Punishes the disabled
Exhausts the already-traumatized
Rewards those with money and lawyers

It’s designed for show, not substance. For reports, not results.

“You were right — but we won’t help you.”

✊ What Needs to Change

If Canada and BC are serious about human rights, they must:

Give Tribunals direct enforcement power
Automatically register decisions with the courts
Provide legal aid or public assistance for enforcement
Penalize organizations that refuse to comply

Because otherwise, all of it — the hearings, the statements, the values on the websites — are just empty performance.

🧠 Reflection Questions

Have you or someone you know been through a human rights process that led nowhere?
Do you think most people can afford to go to court to enforce their rights?
Why do you think enforcement isn’t automatic in a country that claims to value justice?
What could a truly fair system look like for people without money or legal support?

📣 Take Action

Ask our leaders directly:

Premier David Eby: premier@gov.bc.ca
Attorney General of BC: AG.Minister@gov.bc.ca
Federal Minister of Justice: mcu@justice.gc.ca
Your local MLA or MP: Find your MP | Find your MLA

Ask them:

Why aren’t Human Rights Tribunal decisions automatically enforced?
What is being done to support low-income and vulnerable people who win cases?
Will they commit to reforming the system so that winning isn’t just symbolic?

Justice on paper means nothing if you can’t eat.
The system shouldn’t congratulate you while making you fight for survival.

#JusticeForThe99 #HumanRightsReform #StrugglingForDignity #Zipolita #DigitalHorizonZ

Ken Sim Let Vancouver Bleed — Now He Wants FIFA?

What happened after the fireworks was not just a one-off incident. It was the result of months — years — of negligence, cruelty, and shortsighted leadership. We saw a man beaten in the streets in what appeared to be a racially motivated attack. We saw someone stabbed on a bus, basically right outside my window. A serious police incident unfolded at Robson Square. And this all happened in one night.

It’s clear now: Mayor Ken Sim has failed the people of Vancouver.

Under his leadership, our city has become more dangerous, more divided, and more hostile to the most vulnerable. He ran on promises of safety — instead, he bulldozed encampments, treated unhoused people like trash, and did nothing meaningful to address the root issues: poverty, mental health, addiction, and the housing crisis.

We warned this would happen. You can’t sweep people off sidewalks and expect peace. You can’t let hate grow unchecked and expect harmony. And you can’t cut corners on community support and expect anything but disaster.

Our Youth Are Lost — And This Is What We Show Them?

Our young people are angry, confused, and disillusioned. They see a city full of broken promises, unaffordable homes, and leaders who care more about photo ops than real change. What happened during and after the fireworks wasn’t just chaos — it was a cry for help from a city in crisis.

And Now We Want to Host FIFA?

FIFA?! Are we serious? How can we justify spending billions on a corporate spectacle when we can’t even protect our own citizens on a summer night in July? What kind of twisted priorities do we have when luxury tourists matter more than the kids growing up with no hope, no stability, and no future?

This is not leadership. This is failure driven by greed, optics, and denial.

Vancouver Needs to Wake Up

If we continue down this path, we won’t just lose our fireworks — we’ll lose the soul of this city. Vancouver once stood for diversity, kindness, and community. But now, we’re at a crossroads: Stand up and demand better, or let this city die under the weight of corporate deals and empty promises.

The question isn’t “Can we host FIFA?” It’s: Can we survive another year like this?

#VancouverInCrisis #KenSimFailedUs #NoToFIFA2026 #SafeStreetsNow #EndHate #FightForVancouver #NotJustFireworks #WhereIsTheLogic #StopTheGreed

BC’s War on the Poor

How BC’s War on the Poor Began: Gordon Campbell’s Legacy of Harm

Published by Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

Many people don’t realize that what we’re living through today—the deep poverty, housing crisis, stigma against the poor—began more than 20 years ago. It wasn’t an accident. It was engineered, and it started with Gordon Campbell and the BC Liberals in the early 2000s.

🚨 The Cuts That Changed Everything

When Gordon Campbell became premier in 2001, his government unleashed a wave of brutal cuts that reshaped BC’s entire social safety net. These were not tweaks—they were structural dismantlings of programs meant to protect the most vulnerable.

✅ Slashed welfare rates
✅ Cancelled support programs for single parents, youth, and disabled people
✅ Introduced harsh “employability” tests and time limits
✅ Closed mental health institutions with no real alternatives
✅ Cut eligibility rules for income assistance by half
✅ Eliminated the BC Human Rights Commission in 2002
✅ Framed it all as a push to make everyone richer

This left countless people with no safety net—and it planted the seeds of today’s homelessness, addiction crises, and systemic inequality.

💥 The Stigma Strategy

The most insidious part? It wasn’t just about cuts. It was about creating a culture of blame and shame toward anyone who needed help.

Welfare offices posted signs warning about “fraud.” News stories focused on “cheats.” The messaging was clear: if you were poor, it was your fault. If you needed help, you were the problem.

It was the beginning of a cruel ideology that echoes what we see today from Elon Musk, Trump, and others: Destroy public supports. Glorify wealth. Demonize the poor.

🛑 Killing the Human Rights Commission

In 2002, the Campbell government shut down the BC Human Rights Commission. This meant:

No systemic investigations of racism, ableism, or poverty-related discrimination
No proactive education or policy guidance
Only individual complaints could be filed—putting the burden on the victim

This was a devastating blow to equity and justice in BC. And it remained that way until 2020, when the Commission was finally reinstated after nearly two decades.

🧠 A Legacy of Harm

Today’s poverty and homelessness crisis didn’t come from nowhere. It came from policy. It came from deliberate decisions to cut, punish, and privatize.

That legacy still affects us now. We see it every time someone is denied disability, forced into unsafe housing, or humiliated at the welfare office.

“When Gordon Campbell gutted the system, he didn’t just balance a budget—he broke the safety net. And we’ve been falling ever since.” – Zipolita (Tina Winterlik)

📚 Sources & Further Reading

📣 Stay tuned

This is part of a larger series exploring the roots of poverty and why social programs today still fail so many people. Follow along as we expose the truth, tell real stories, and call for real change.

#BCPoverty #GordonCampbellCuts #SocialJustice #Zipolita #HumanRightsNow #DignityForAll #BringBackTheCommission

To Serve Us Up?

🌌 "To Serve Us Up?" — Aliens, Interstellar Rocks & the Hunger for Hope

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

Have you ever looked up at the night sky and just whispered:

"I wish aliens would hurry up and help us."

I have.

Between the endless wars, the greed, the cruelty toward the most vulnerable, and the poisoning of the planet—we reach this point of desperation where we start hoping that something—someone—out there might swoop in and save us.

Lately, strange space objects have started appearing.
‘Oumuamua. 2I/Borisov. Now, 3I/ATLAS.
Avi Loeb, a Harvard astronomer, even asks:

"What if these aren't just rocks? What if one is a probe, or tech, or... something else?"

They move oddly. Reflect light like nothing we've seen. Some scientists roll their eyes. Others lean in with curiosity.

And many of us?

We dare to hope.

Maybe it's alien tech.
Maybe they’re watching.
Maybe they’ve seen enough.
Maybe they’ll help us fix what we’ve broken.

But then—I remember that old Twilight Zone episode:
"To Serve Man."

Aliens came with gifts.
They ended hunger. Brought peace.
They gave us a book titled To Serve Man.

It wasn’t until too late that someone translated it and found out…

It was a cookbook.

And that hits different now.

Because no one is coming. Not aliens. Not angels.
Not billionaires in rockets.
Not governments obsessed with growth over goodness.

We have to save ourselves.

And maybe—just maybe—that’s the most advanced intelligence of all:

Organizing together.
Creating real community.
Growing gardens instead of greed.
Using our voices like signals, sent out across the noise.

Maybe we’re the “aliens” we’ve been waiting for.
Maybe we’re the tech, the light, the hope—if we choose to be.

And if the next interstellar rock is a probe?

Let’s hope we’ve evolved enough to greet it as equals… not as prey.

Blog post written by Zipolita — Artist, Truth-Seeker, Sky-Watcher.

How One Woman’s Pain Helped Elect Trump

💔 How One Woman’s Pain Helped Elect Trump — And What The Rest of Us Missed

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

Not everyone has seen the documentaries The Great Hack or The Social Dilemma — and that’s a problem.

Because inside those stories lies a chilling truth: one woman, Brittany Kaiser, helped flip the U.S. election in 2016, not because she believed in Trump, but because she was desperate.

🏚️ From Family Foreclosure to Data Weaponry

Kaiser worked for Cambridge Analytica, the shady data firm funded by billionaire Robert Mercer. They harvested Facebook data from millions of users without consent and used it to create weaponized political ads tailored to people’s psychological profiles.

In The Great Hack (Netflix), Kaiser reveals she had been an idealistic liberal, but after her family lost their home during the 2008 financial crash, she found herself broke and on food stamps. Struggling to survive, she joined a company she didn’t morally align with.

“When you’re on food stamps, when you’re about to be homeless, you’re willing to work for anyone.”

That "anyone" was a company helping Donald Trump win the presidency.

🤖 Social Media: The Real Puppet Master

The Social Dilemma (also on Netflix) takes it further, showing how algorithms manipulate our behavior, feeding people rage, fear, and misinformation to keep them scrolling—and voting a certain way.

The scary part? These systems are still running today. The billionaires behind these platforms know exactly what they’re doing. They profit while democracy burns.

⚠️ Why We Must Watch These Films

They expose how
They show how tech giants manipulate truth and use us as data points
They remind us that the real threat isn’t just who’s elected—but how

Brittany Kaiser wasn’t evil. She was exploited by the same system that broke millions of people in 2008. Her story is tragic, but also a warning.

💡 Watch these films. Share them. Talk about them.

The Great Hack – Netflix (2019)
The Social Dilemma – Netflix (2020)

If we want justice for the 99%, we need to understand how easily truth gets bought and sold.

📢 Have you seen these documentaries? What did you think?
Drop a comment or share this post to help others wake up too.

#JusticeForThe99 #TheGreatHack #TheSocialDilemma #DataRights #WakeUpWorld

When the Billionaires Fell:

🏛️ When the Billionaires Fell: What History Teaches Us About Taking Down the Powerful

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

History has a long memory—and it’s seen the fall of empires, monarchies, robber barons, and elite dynasties.

So when people ask, “How can we ever bring down today’s billionaires?” — the answer is: we already have. Again and again.

But it doesn’t happen by waiting. It happens through crisis, courage, and collective action.

🇫🇷 The French Revolution (1789)

“Let them eat cake” didn't go over well.

The people were starving while the nobles lived in palaces. Bread was too expensive. Taxes crushed the poor but spared the rich. The people rose up and took the Bastille, and with it, the symbol of elite power.

🔥 Lesson: When suffering reaches a boiling point, and the people are united, even kings can fall.

🏭 The Industrial Labor Movements (1800s–1930s)

Factory bosses and robber barons made fortunes off workers’ backs—until the workers fought back.

Children worked 12-hour days. People died in unsafe buildings. Then came strikes, unions, protests—and brave journalism exposing it all.

🔥 Lesson: Organized labor and truth-telling can shake the foundations of corporate greed.

☭ The Russian Revolution (1917)

The Tsar and aristocracy fell because the people had nothing left to lose.

Workers and soldiers united. The message was simple: Peace, Land, Bread. The empire fell, and the people seized power—though what followed had its own dark chapters.

🔥 Lesson: If you ignore the cries of the people long enough, they’ll rise whether you’re ready or not.

📉 The Great Depression & New Deal (1929–1939)

Wall Street crashed the world economy. Billionaires panicked. People organized.

The rich lost their golden glow, and the U.S. created social programs, taxes on the wealthy, and job plans that built real infrastructure. It wasn’t perfect—but it proved billionaires can be taxed and the public can win.

🔥 Lesson: Economic crashes open windows for systemic change—if we act.

✊🏽 Civil Rights & Anti-Colonial Movements (1940s–70s)

From Gandhi to Martin Luther King to African independence, the oppressed became unstoppable.

Through nonviolence, mass marches, boycotts, and brave storytelling, whole systems of exploitation came crashing down.

🔥 Lesson: Dignity, vision, and mass resistance are stronger than greed.

🏦 Occupy Wall Street & Today’s Backlash Against Billionaires (2011–Now)

“We are the 99%” wasn’t just a slogan—it was a warning.

After the 2008 crash, billionaires were bailed out while families lost everything. The seeds of resistance were planted. Now? More people than ever question extreme wealth. Tech CEOs are being called out. Billionaires are no longer heroes—they're villains.

🔥 Lesson: The world is waking up. But we need to keep organizing, resisting, and reimagining what’s possible.

💥 What Always Brings Them Down:

Crippling inequality and suffering
Widespread awareness and anger
Organized people (not just outraged individuals)
Courageous storytelling and truth-telling
A clear vision for a better future

We’ve done it before. We can do it again. But only if we support each other, speak out, and stop believing billionaires are untouchable.

Their palaces are built on silence. Let’s get loud.

🔗 Follow me @Zipolita
💬 What do you think? Drop a comment below or share this with someone who’s ready to build a better world.

#JusticeForThe99 #WeAreTheChange #HistoryRepeats #BillionairesMustFall #PeoplePower

Sunday, July 20, 2025

Losing Grandma’s Log: A Personal and Community Loss at Trafalgar Beach

Losing Grandma’s Log: A Personal and Community Loss at Trafalgar Beach

When I first began painting murals near Kitsilano Beach, I never expected to feel such a deep connection to a log. But it wasn't just any log. It was Grandma’s Log—a silent witness to generations of Vancouverites who grew up, swam, played, and lived by the sea. A monument in its own right.

A few weeks ago, I watched in dismay as city workers began cutting it up. I was heartbroken. I had no idea of its full story until I read a moving comment shared on The Vancouver Sun article about the removal.

RL Read recounted a family history that touched my heart: how their grandmother first came to the beach in 1929, and how “Grandma’s log” washed up in 1963, becoming both a fixture and a symbol. Children learned to swim in its shadow. Teenagers sat and talked on its bark. Even through its warnings—“don’t get caught underneath!”—it remained a beloved relic.

To learn that geologists had once fought to preserve the geology of the area, and that proposals were floated to remove the log as early as 2011, adds yet another layer. But none of that makes it easier to watch it go now.

This isn’t just about a log. It’s about memory. History. Place. The stories that give meaning to where we live and who we are. My murals were a tribute to the nature, culture, and beauty of this place. But they were also unintentionally in conversation with Grandma’s log—as if I was continuing the story she had helped write.

We need to ask ourselves what kind of city we are becoming. In our rush to modernize, are we steamrolling the very things that root us here?

To the Read family—and all who have memories tied to that piece of driftwood—I share your sorrow. I felt it too.

Let’s remember her well. 🌊💔

Vancouver Has Changed — and Not for the Better

🚨 Vancouver Has Changed — and Not for the Better

A Wake-Up Call After the Celebration of Light Bus Stabbing

By Tina Winterlik | July 21, 2025

Last night, something terrible happened in my neighbourhood.

A 28-year-old man was arrested after stabbing someone on a Vancouver bus in Kitsilano. This horrifying incident took place after the Celebration of Light fireworks, when thousands of people were trying to get home. I saw it firsthand — long lines, crowds waiting endlessly at bus stops, confusion in the streets, and very little organization. And now, someone has almost lost their life.

It didn’t have to be this way.

❗ A Preventable Tragedy

The stabbing happened on a TransLink bus, during the chaotic aftermath of a major public event. The fireworks drew massive crowds, and yet there were nowhere near enough buses to get people home quickly and safely. I watched from an apartment and saw it unravel:

Young men fooling around in alleys
Crowds growing impatient and uncomfortable
Police overwhelmed, busy directing traffic instead of protecting vulnerable people

This is not the Vancouver I grew up in.

🕰️ We Used to Do Better

After the 2011 Stanley Cup riots, the city took crowd control seriously. They brought in helicopters. They cleared streets fast. We learned painful lessons then. But now, it’s like we've forgotten them.

Why weren’t there 10–15 long articulated buses pre-positioned on Cornwall Avenue or nearby to quickly move people out after the fireworks?
Why does TransLink think it’s acceptable to leave thousands of people waiting for an hour or more, in the dark, with no washrooms, no shelter, no staff, and no answers?

🏙️ Vancouver: A City Losing Its Soul

This incident didn’t happen in isolation. It’s part of a disturbing pattern:

More violence and chaos in public spaces
Underfunded transit and social services
A growing sense of neglect, especially in lower-income and high-traffic areas

Our city feels colder, more hostile, and less caring than it once did. And while politicians and transit officials talk about “efficiency” and “sustainability,” basic safety and dignity are being ignored.

🚍 TransLink, City of Vancouver — We Deserve Better

Events like the Celebration of Light should be joyful. Families, kids, and visitors all come to the beach for wonder and beauty — not to risk being caught in a dangerous, unstable situation on the way home.

We need:

Proper transit logistics for large events
Emergency response coordination between TransLink and VPD
Clear communication with the public
Accountability when things go wrong

✊ I'm Angry, and You Should Be Too

This isn’t about blaming one person. It’s about a broken system that’s failing its people.
Someone was stabbed on a public bus last night because we allowed chaos to fester where there should have been care.

This must be a turning point.

If you agree, share this post. Write your own. Email City Hall. Tag @TransLink and @CityofVancouver. Demand answers. Demand change. Because safety isn’t optional — it’s a basic right.

#Vancouver #Kitsilano #TransLinkFail #PublicSafety #CelebrationOfLight #Fireworks2025 #CivicAccountability #ZipolitaWrites #TinaWinterlik #WeDeserveBetter

Saturday, July 19, 2025

Fireworks Crowds Deserve Better Transit After Celebration of Light

🚍 Fireworks Crowds Deserve Better Transit After Celebration of Light

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

Every summer, thousands flock to Kitsilano and English Bay for the Celebration of Light fireworks. It’s beautiful, magical—and then a total nightmare when it's time to go home.

From my apartment, I watched it all unfold. Masses of people streaming out, trapped in traffic, waiting and waiting... with barely a bus in sight.

We can do better. And we should.

🎆 The Problem

After the fireworks end, streets like Cornwall, Yew, and Burrard become overwhelmed with:

Pedestrians walking in the dark
Drivers stuck in gridlock
Buses unable to get through
Families, children, elders walking miles because no transit shows up

This happens every year. So why hasn't it been fixed?

🚌 A Simple Solution

TransLink already owns articulated buses that carry 100–110 people each.
Why not line up 10 of them just off Cornwall—say at Yew—and move 1,000 people out quickly?

All it takes is: ✅ Pre-staging buses before the show
✅ Temporary traffic control—dedicated bus lanes for 30–60 minutes
✅ Clear announcements on where to board (even signs!)
✅ A few staff or Transit Police to manage lines

It’s not rocket science. It’s common sense—and it would make a huge difference.

📅 There Are Still 2 More Chances

TransLink and the City of Vancouver have two more fireworks nights to redeem themselves:

Wednesday, July 24
Saturday, July 27

Let’s hope they step up. And if not, we’ll keep pushing for real solutions.

Thousands of people love coming to the fireworks. They should love leaving too.

❤️ From the Heart of Kits

I’m Zipolita, an artist and local resident watching it all unfold. I believe in creativity, community, and common sense. Let’s make transit work for the people who need it most.

If you agree, share this and tag @TransLink. Maybe together, we can spark some change.

#Kitsilano #Vancouver #TransLink #Fireworks2025 #CelebrationOfLight #BetterTransit #ZipolitaSeesAll

The System Was Never As Strong As It Pretended

The Truth Revealed: The System Was Never As Strong As It Pretended

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

Many people are asking the same haunting question right now: How is it possible that someone like Donald Trump—convicted of 34 felonies, accused of inciting violence, spreading hate, and undermining democracy—is still walking free? Why hasn’t the system stopped him?

The answer is painful, but it’s also liberating:

The U.S. government was never as strong, fair, or just as it pretended to be.

For generations, we were told that democracy would protect us. That no one was above the law. That the checks and balances worked. But the truth is, it only seemed that way because no one powerful enough had tried to break it from the inside—until now.

Illusions of Strength

The system relied on illusions:

That leaders would act in good faith
That laws would be applied equally
That the courts were independent and unbiased
That justice was slow but inevitable

But Trump shattered those illusions. He showed that with enough money, media manipulation, and political allies, you can delay justice indefinitely. You can lie constantly, incite hate, and still run for president again—even as a convicted felon.

He Didn’t Break the System — He Revealed It

Trump didn’t invent corruption, inequality, or white supremacy. He just took off the mask. He proved that the system can be bent, ignored, or even rewritten if you have power and no shame. And he proved that many in government—especially in Congress—would rather protect themselves than protect the people.

The system was built on sand. And now the tide is coming in.

A Moment of Reckoning

This isn’t just about Trump. It’s about all of us. It’s about realizing that we cannot rely on institutions to save us. We must speak, organize, and act ourselves. We must defend truth, protect the vulnerable, and call out injustice even when it’s uncomfortable—especially when it’s uncomfortable.

The Big Lie Is This:

“The system is strong enough to fix itself.”

No. It’s not. Not unless we force it to change.

So if you’re angry, confused, or grieving what democracy used to pretend to be — know this: You’re not alone. And you’re not powerless.

Expose the lies. Share the truth. Build something better.

#TruthMatters #JusticeForAll #ZipolitaSpeaks