Who Gets to Live Here?

 Who Gets to Live Here?

I often look at the glossy graphics used to promote redevelopment projects and wonder if we're all looking at the same city.

The renderings are beautiful. The reality is often the loss of old character homes, mature trees, affordable rental housing, and neighbourhoods that took generations to build. A minimalist box replaces a family home. A tower replaces a streetscape filled with memories.

I was born near Kitsilano and have lived here on and off since 1997. I raised my child here. This isn't just a neighbourhood to me—it's part of my life story.

When I see plans that would dramatically reshape Broadway and Kitsilano, I understand why so many residents pushed back. Whether people supported or opposed specific projects, many felt they weren't being heard. There was a sense that decisions had already been made and public consultation was simply a formality.

The neighbourhood is changing rapidly. Old homes are being demolished. New developments rise in their place. People arrive from across Canada and around the world because Vancouver is one of the most beautiful places on Earth.

The truth is simple: people love it here.

Once they arrive, many don't want to leave.

But that raises an important question: who gets to stay?

As housing prices continue to rise, many long-time residents, artists, seniors, young families, and people working ordinary jobs are finding themselves pushed further away from the communities they helped build. Increasingly, it feels like Vancouver is becoming a city reserved for those with significant wealth.

I don't pretend to have all the answers, but I believe we need to think differently.

What if we embraced small-scale solutions alongside larger developments?

What if tiny houses were allowed on selected streets and underused land, connected to existing neighbourhood services?

What if high schools taught practical building skills and students graduated with experience in construction, sustainability, and community design?

What if every neighbourhood had shared gardens, fruit trees, and spaces where people worked together to grow food?

Previous generations understood the value of local food production. After the world wars, people planted Victory Gardens to strengthen communities and improve food security. My grandmother had a garden that could grow almost anything. Today, her modest home is gone, replaced by a much larger house that covers most of the lot.

That loss feels symbolic of what has happened throughout Vancouver over the past twenty years.

We have gained density, but have we strengthened community?

We have built wealth, but have we created belonging?

As we plan for the future, I hope we remember that a city is more than buildings. It is memory, culture, relationships, and the people who call it home.

The question isn't simply how many housing units we can build.

The question is: who gets to live here?

And what kind of city do we want to leave for the generations that follow?

And what kind of city do we want to leave for the generations that follow

Reflective Questions

1. What makes a neighbourhood feel like home?

2. How can cities balance growth with preserving local character?

3. Who benefits from redevelopment, and who may be displaced?

4. What role should community gardens and local food production play in urban planning?

5. What housing solutions would best serve future generations?

Keywords: Kitsilano, Vancouver housing, Broadway Plan, urban development, neighbourhood character, affordable housing, tiny houses, community gardens, density, gentrification, Vancouver history, city planning, local culture, redevelopment, housing affordability

Hashtags: #Kitsilano #Vancouver #BroadwayPlan #HousingCrisis #AffordableHousing #TinyHomes #UrbanPlanning #CommunityGardens #NeighbourhoodCharacter #VancouverHistory #CityBuilding #HousingJustice #KeepKitsUnique #FutureOfVancouver

No One Is Coming to Save Us

 🌱 “No One Is Coming to Save Us — But We Can Save Each Other” 🌱

📺 Watch: Peak Moment 153 – Jenny Pell: Additive Abundance & Permaculture
🔗 https://youtu.be/cZ7anJHbFhg?si=JRcMQJjIOipDPLlI

In this inspiring episode, Jenny Pell reminds us that sustainability isn’t enough — we need to go beyond it. She calls for an additive way of living: healing the Earth while healing ourselves. We need to reconnect to our "chain of inputs and outputs" — the land, the food, the water, the waste — and truly belong where we live.

Her message is a wake-up call that pairs beautifully with Ron Finley’s powerful movement — Gangsta Gardening. He famously said:

"Growing your own food is like printing your own money."

Both Jenny and Ron are saying the same thing in different voices: We can’t wait for the system to save us.
We have to relearn how to feed ourselves and our neighbours.

🌻 Gardening is revolutionary.
🧠 It’s good for mental health.
👶👵 It’s for all ages.
🌍 It builds community resilience.
💚 It creates joy, pride, purpose — and most of all, abundance.

In a time when so many people feel isolated, anxious, and unsure how to fight back against the overwhelming weight of climate collapse, poverty, and food insecurity — growing food is a radical act of love.

Whether it's a balcony tomato, a community garden, or transforming a lawn into a food forest, the time is now to dig in.

Let’s get our hands dirty — and grow something real.
Because abundance is the only way forward.

#GangstaGardening #Permaculture #FoodJustice #MentalHealth #LocalAbundance #CommunityPower #Zipolita #GrowYourOwnFood #NoOneIsComing #PeakMoment #ResilientBC .

The Elevator Stopped Again

 The Elevator Stopped Again

Something strange has been happening. Yesterday, the elevator stopped on the fifth floor—no one had pressed the button. A couple was with me, heading to the fourteenth floor, and the man looked uneasy. He stepped out and took the stairs instead. I just stood there, feeling something shift in the air. “Oh, who just got on? Hello…” I said, half-joking, half-curious.

This morning, it happened again. This time, on the fourth floor. The doors opened, but no one was there. The elevator just sat still until I pushed “Open” and used my fob again to restart it.

And then, just like that, a memory I hadn’t thought of in years rushed back—the police, the sirens, the news.

I have been in this building many times over the past twenty years. But today, for some reason—on the day of the Women’s Memorial March—I remembered Nicole.

Nicole Parisien was a young mother, just like I was at the time. Our children were the same age. She was kind, hardworking, and trying to build a better future. But in 2007, Gordon Campbell’s government had made survival nearly impossible for single mothers. Rent was high, daycare was expensive, and social assistance had been slashed. Women were being pushed into impossible choices.

Nicole was trying to make ends meet when she crossed paths with a man who had been on a three-day binge. He took her life in an act of senseless violence. Her body was found outside this very building. A neighbor saw. The police came. But it was too late.

It was heartbreaking then, and it’s heartbreaking now. But what’s worse is that people forget.

The policies that pushed Nicole into that desperate situation weren’t accidents. They were choices—government decisions that prioritized budget cuts over human lives. And those choices had consequences. Nicole should still be here.

So when the elevator stopped again today for no reason, when the memories hit me so vividly, I had to wonder:

Was it just coincidence? Or was Nicole reminding me—and all of us—not to forget?

How Can This Be Allowed? The Injustice of Wealth Hoarding Amid Homelessness

 How Can This Be Allowed? The Injustice of Wealth Hoarding Amid Homelessness

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita and AI

As British Columbians ring in another year, the annual BC Assessment report highlights a tale of two cities: one of untold luxury and one of profound despair. Leading the list of extravagant excess is the $82.7 million mansion of Lululemon founder Chip Wilson at 3085 Point Grey Rd., nestled along Vancouver’s prestigious waterfront. Meanwhile, not far from this gilded neighborhood, thousands of people are unhoused, struggling to survive amidst skyrocketing rents and an increasingly inaccessible housing market.

This stark contrast isn't just troubling; it's obscene.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

While Chip Wilson’s mansion enjoyed a casual $899,000 increase in value—equivalent to the price of a modest Yaletown condo—many Vancouverites face eviction notices, stagnant wages, and an unrelenting housing crisis. A quick glance at Craigslist shows rents for two-bedroom apartments averaging $3,500 a month. For newcomers, immigrants, and students, the situation is even more dire, with overcrowded housing and exploitative living conditions becoming the norm.

How have we reached a point where one man’s home appreciates by nearly $1 million in a year, while countless others are forced to sleep on the streets? Where is the justice in a system that prioritizes property speculation over people?

Luxury for a Few, Poverty for the Many

Vancouver’s wealth inequality is glaring. While billionaires enjoy oceanfront views, heated pools, and private chefs, those on social assistance live on woefully inadequate stipends, often far below the poverty line. Housing has become a commodity, a plaything for the rich, while shelter—one of humanity's most basic needs—remains out of reach for so many.

Newcomers to Canada, promised a better life, are instead greeted by exploitative landlords and skyrocketing rents. International students, who contribute billions to the economy, are often forced into unsafe living conditions, while the government turns a blind eye.

Homelessness in the Shadow of Excess

The unhoused are not faceless statistics; they are mothers, fathers, youth, and seniors. Many have been displaced by rising rents, job loss, or systemic neglect. They sleep in parks and shelters, or huddle in makeshift encampments, mere blocks away from homes worth more than most will earn in a lifetime.

Meanwhile, wealth hoarders, emboldened by lax taxation and lenient property laws, continue to amass unimaginable riches. It’s time to stop pretending this is an accident. It’s a policy choice—one that places profits over people, real estate over human rights.

A Call to Action: Time to Reclaim Justice

This is not about jealousy or envy; it’s about justice. How can a society justify such stark inequality when the solutions are clear?

Tax the Ultra-Wealthy: Implement progressive property taxes on multi-million-dollar homes, with funds redirected to affordable housing projects.

Freeze Rents and Build Public Housing: Rent freezes, combined with large-scale public housing initiatives, can provide immediate relief.

Protect the Vulnerable: Guarantee tenants’ rights and ensure access to affordable housing for newcomers, students, and low-income families.

It’s time to stop accepting excuses and demand accountability. When governments fail to act, they fail us all. As the saying goes, “Eat the rich” may not be literal, but it encapsulates the growing frustration of a society tired of seeing wealth celebrated while basic humanity is ignored.

Justice isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. And it’s high time we demand it.

#EatTheRich #EatTheBillionaires

Thanksgiving Dream

AI helped

I had a weird dream..

 EXT. POINT GREY ROAD – DAY

I’m walking down Point Grey Road, the sun glistening on the ocean. The houses, those towering mansions, are lined with balloons and banners swaying in the breeze. A strange sense of celebration fills the air. People wave, smiling at me like I’ve been expected.

CROWD (in unison, joyful) We’ve been waiting for you! Welcome!

I stop, confused, but they surround me, their warmth undeniable. They gesture toward a Tiny House—just like the Tumbleweed model I used to dream of. It sits on a perfect patch of grass, as if it belongs there.

PERSON 1 (gesturing to the house) It’s yours! Just like you imagined it. Little house on wheels. Come, we’ve so much to show you!

They guide me closer, pointing out where everything will be hooked up to the local facilities—water, power, everything. A truck pulls up, overflowing with plants, fruits, vegetables, and treats, everything I could need to start a life here. They hand me a bike, fishing rods, and a toolkit—all of it feels too good to be real.

PERSON 2 (leading me inside the house) This is your home now. For as long as you want.

The inside is perfect. Every detail is as if it had been pulled from my dreams. Tears fill my eyes. Then, a familiar voice calls from behind.

VOICE Hi, Mama!

I turn. It’s my kid.

MY KID Guess what—I got one too! We’re gonna be neighbours!

We collapse into each other’s arms, laughing and crying. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted—peace, security, family. I can’t believe it’s real. But it is.

It really is

---

INT. ROOM – MORNING

I wake up suddenly. Silence. The light filters through the window. But there’s no heat. I’m wrapped in fleeces, buried under layers of blankets.

It was a dream.

The joy fades, replaced by the cold reality of my room. But the sun is shining, and I can hear the quiet outside. I take a deep breath, pulling the blankets tighter, giving thanks for just being alive. Thanksgiving morning.

Because this year…this year, so many I knew didn’t make it.

I close my eyes and whisper my gratitude to the universe. The dream still lingers. Maybe one day it will be more than just a dream.

A Modern Day Christmas Story-The Finale

 "Tina Winterlik: A Modern Day Christmas Story Cont." https://tinawinterlik.blogspot.com/2024/10/a-modern-day-christmas-story-cont.html?m=1

Ok here's how it will end, My AI time is up and I have to wait, but I want to polish it all. Until then, ..

Final Scene: The Tiny House Revolution on the Point Grey Bike Path

After being moved by his encounters with the ghosts and especially Timmy’s story, Chip doesn’t just donate money; he gets directly involved. He leads a groundbreaking initiative to repurpose Vancouver's iconic Point Grey bike path. Instead of just being a route for cyclists, the wide bike path now becomes a symbol of community revitalization and inclusivity.

The plan? Bring in 50 prebuilt tiny houses. These eco-friendly homes are transported by truck and driven directly onto the bike path, perfectly placed with gardens, flower pots, and benches. Each home is outfitted with solar panels and built sustainably. Residents not only receive these tiny homes but also a set of practical tools for a new way of life.

Everyone who gets a home is given:

A bike for green transportation around the city.

A toolkit, empowering them to maintain their home and garden.

A fishing rod, encouraging them to connect with nature and tap into Vancouver’s abundant waters for food and recreation.

The community grows around these homes, and instead of being a space reserved for the wealthy and elite, the Point Grey bike path becomes a diverse, inclusive village. The homes are intentionally close to nature, with a view of the ocean and mountains that was once inaccessible to those like Sarah and Timmy.

---

The Community Awakens

At first, the idea sparks outrage from some of Chip’s wealthy neighbors, but as the tiny houses are brought in and families begin to settle, the skepticism gives way to curiosity. The media covers the initiative extensively, calling it a "Tiny House Revolution" that reflects Vancouver’s new direction—one of sharing, inclusion, and equality.

Chip oversees the entire process, from driving in the homes to helping plant gardens. He interacts with his neighbors in ways he never thought possible. The bike path, once a simple route for exercise, transforms into a thriving eco-community, complete with micro-gardens where residents grow their own food and shared tool stations for DIY projects.

---

Timmy’s Home by the Sea

In the final scene, Timmy and his mom, Sarah, stand in front of their new tiny house. It’s small but filled with light, nestled between garden plots and a bike rack. Timmy beams with excitement as he pedals around on his new bike, stopping by the nearby shoreline to try his hand at fishing. He’s finally able to breathe the fresh ocean air every day, just like he had always dreamed.

The camera shows the once-exclusive Point Grey neighborhood now transformed, with tiny houses lining the path, flowers blooming, and children playing. Residents gather to share food and stories. Timmy plants flowers outside his home, and Chip walks by, watching the neighborhood flourish. A small smile creeps across his face, knowing this is his true legacy.

---

Final Dialogue

Timmy excitedly runs up to Chip, holding up the fish he just caught with his new rod.

Timmy: "Look! I’m going to cook dinner for my mom tonight!"

Chip crouches down, looking at the boy with warmth.

Chip: "That’s amazing, Timmy. You’re really something special."

Timmy: "Do you think this will stay forever?"

Chip (glancing around at the flourishing community, finally content):

"As long as we all work together to take care of it, Timmy. This is just the beginning."

---

Closing Scene:

The camera pans out, showing the Point Grey bike path, once a symbol of exclusivity, now a thriving, self-sustained tiny home community. The ocean sparkles in the distance, and the mountains loom large, watching over this newfound unity.

A text overlay appears on the screen:

“Don’t Ignore the Poor – A future where we share is possible.”

A Modern Day Christmas Story Cont.

 Here we go, AI is helping me🤗😁

Great! Let’s continue with Chip’s journey toward redemption, leading to the moment where he starts the initiative for the tiny houses on the bike path.

--

Scene 5: The Ghost of Christmas Future (Continued)

EXT. POINT GREY ROAD – FUTURE – DAY

Chip and the Ghost of Christmas Future (a dark, silent figure) walk through a desolate version of Vancouver. The once-bustling bike paths are now overgrown with weeds, the houses abandoned or fortified. A cold wind sweeps through the empty streets.

They stop in front of a crumbling tent encampment on the side of the road, where only a few sick and exhausted people remain. Among them, Chip spots Sarah, older, gaunt, and alone. Timmy is gone.

CHIP (horrified):

“Where’s the boy? Where’s Timmy?”

The Ghost silently points to a makeshift memorial nearby—a small cross with Timmy’s name etched into it. Chip’s face falls as the realization hits him.

CHIP (broken):

“No…he was just a kid…”

The Ghost raises its hand, and suddenly, Chip finds himself standing in front of his own grave, neglected and forgotten, in a cold, unmarked cemetery.

Scene 6: Chip’s Awakening and Transformation

INT. MANSION – CHIP’S BEDROOM – MORNING

Chip jolts awake, sweating and panicked. Sunlight streams through the windows, casting a warm glow over his lavish bedroom. He jumps out of bed and rushes to the window, looking out at the bike path below. The world is still alive, vibrant, full of potential.

He falls to his knees, shaken.

CHIP (to himself):

“I have to change… I have to fix this.”

---

Scene 7: Chip Takes Action

EXT. POINT GREY ROAD – DAY

Chip stands at the edge of the bike path, looking out at the ocean. He’s surrounded by a small team of engineers and architects, discussing his plans for the tiny houses.

ENGINEER:

“So, we just drive them in, park them along the bike path, and set up gardens around each one?”

CHIP (nodding):

“Exactly. They’re pre-built, eco-friendly, and each one will come with a bike, a toolkit, and a fishing rod. This is just the beginning.”

ARCHITECT:

“People are going to resist this. You’re talking about putting tiny houses on one of the most expensive streets in the world.”

Chip smiles, remembering the ghosts' visits.

CHIP:

“They won’t resist for long. This isn’t just about housing. It’s about dignity. Everyone deserves a home, even if it’s a small one.”

---

Scene 8: The First Tiny Houses Arrive

EXT. POINT GREY BIKE PATH – DAY

A convoy of trucks drives down Point Grey Road, each carrying pre-built tiny houses. Curious onlookers gather on the sidewalks, some murmuring in confusion, others in admiration.

The houses are rolled into place, each with a small garden space, pots with flowers, and tools for the new residents to start fresh. A small group of families and individuals, including Sarah and Timmy, stand nearby, watching in disbelief.

TIMMY (excited):

“Mom! Look! Our own house!”

Sarah smiles, tears welling in her eyes, as Chip approaches them.

SARAH (stunned):

“Is this…is this for us?”

Chip nods, humbled.

CHIP:

“Yes, it’s for you…and for everyone who needs it. You’re not just getting a house—you’re getting a community.”

Timmy rushes over to the tiny house, already imagining what it will be like to live there. He finds

 a bike leaning against it, shiny and new.

TIMMY:

“A bike, too?!”

Chip kneels

To be continued😁

#DontIgnoreThePoor 

A Modern Christmas Story

AI helped!

 Absolutely! Let’s get started. I’ll break it down scene by scene to give it a clear structure. We’ll open with Chip Wilson’s world, cold and wealthy, and contrast that with the warmth of the people on the DTES (Downtown Eastside), particularly Timmy and his mother. Here's Scene 1 to set the tone:

Screenplay Title

“Don’t Ignore the Poor”

Scene 1: Opening - Chip’s Mansion (Point Grey Road, Vancouver)

EXT. POINT GREY MANSION – NIGHT

The camera opens on Chip’s mansion, overlooking the ocean. The lights from the North Shore Mountains twinkle in the distance. Inside, the house is dimly lit but lavish. The windows reflect the emptiness of the home—spacious, beautiful, but sterile. The sound of the wind outside contrasts with the stillness inside.

INT. MANSION – CHIP’S OFFICE

Chip Wilson (mid-60s, athletic build, neatly dressed) sits behind a large desk. In front of him, a news report plays on a flat-screen TV, featuring a headline: “Homeless Crisis in Vancouver Escalates.” He barely looks at it, focused instead on his tablet, swiping through real estate updates, investments, and luxury goods.

Chip puts down the tablet and glances out the window, noticing the bike path below. It’s dark now, but he imagines it bustling with cyclists, a world he is disconnected from.

Suddenly, his phone BUZZES. It’s a message from his PR Manager.

PR MANAGER (text):

“Chip, need a statement about the vandalism on your property. Let’s blame local activists.”

Chip sighs. He types back:

CHIP (text):

“Yeah, just say it’s a group of radicals trying to destroy what I’ve built.”

He puts the phone down, taking a sip of whiskey. Outside, the ocean waves crash quietly, oblivious to the rising storm in the city below.

Scene 2: DTES - Sarah and Timmy’s Ten

EXT. DTES TENT COMMUNITY – NIGHT

We cut to a contrasting scene. The Downtown Eastside (DTES), full of tents and tarps, lit only by the occasional streetlamp and flashlights. SARAH (30s, thin, weary but kind) is inside one of the tents with her son, TIMMY (8 years old, pale, but full of spirit). She holds a flashlight as she reads him a book.

SARAH:

“And the prince said, ‘One day, we’ll all live in a castle by the sea…’”

TIMMY (coughing):

“By the sea…like the one we saw last week?”

Sarah smiles, brushing his hair back gently.

SARAH:

"Yes, just like that. One day, we’ll have our little house by the ocean too. Just wait."

Timmy smiles weakly. Sarah tries to remain hopeful, but the worry lines on her face are deep. Timmy begins to doze off. Sarah looks out at the other tents, at the people around her—all just trying to survive another night

--

Scene 3: Chip’s First Ghostly Visit

INT. MANSION – CHIP’S BEDROOM – LATE NIGHT

Chip is asleep in his lavish king-size bed. Outside, a storm is brewing. The wind howls. He stirs, uncomfortable, tossing and turning.

SUDDENLY, there’s a RUSH of cold air. Chip’s eyes SNAP OPEN. Standing at the foot of his bed is THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST, a young, ethereal woman dressed in old-fashioned clothes, glowing faintly in the dark.

GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST:

“Chip Wilson.”

Chip bolts upright, startled.

CHIP:

“What the—who are you? How did you get in here?”

GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST:

“I am the Ghost of Christmas Past. I’m here to show you the moments that shaped you, that made you…like this.”

CHIP (angrily):

“Like what? What are you talking about?”

The ghost says nothing. She simply motions toward the window. Chip, hesitant but intrigued, gets up and walks over.

EXT. CHIP’S CHILDHOOD HOME – NIGHT

Suddenly, the scene transforms. They are no longer in the mansion but outside a small, modest house. Chip gasps. He recognizes it—his childhood home.

Young Chip (10 years old) is standing outside with his mother, who works tirelessly, taking on two jobs to make ends meet. She is smiling, despite the struggle, as she hands him a small, worn-out toy for Christmas.

YOUNG CHIP:

“Thanks, Mom! I’ll take care of it.”

His mother wipes her brow, exhausted but determined to provide. The ghost looks at Chip, waiting for his reaction.

GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST:

“Do you remember how hard she worked to give you a life of comfort? Do you remember when you appreciated even the smallest things?”

Chip is silent, staring at his younger self.

Scene 4: The Ghost of Christmas Present – Sarah and Timmy

INT. MANSION – CHIP’S LIVING ROOM – LATER

Chip is now back in his mansion, pacing. He’s still rattled by the last visit when the GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT (a robust, middle-aged man with a warm but serious demeanor) suddenly appears.

GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT:

“Look around you. This is the present. This is what your city has become.”

He waves his hand, and the room transforms into a scene of the DTES. Chip and the Ghost stand near Sarah and Timmy’s tent.

EXT. DTES TENT – NIGHT

Sarah is sitting beside Timmy, who is coughing again. She’s trying to soothe him, but the cold air is making his condition worse. They huddle under a blanket, while the sound of others coughing and talking nearby fills the air.

CHIP (defensive):

“What am I supposed to do? There’s always going to be poverty. This isn’t my fault.”

GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT:

“You built your empire while ignoring this, while allowing it to worsen. But not everyone has the luxury of turning away.”

Timmy coughs again, and Chip winces slightly, reminded of his younger self. He watches as Sarah strokes Timmy’s hair, doing her best to keep him warm. Despite the hardship, there’s love here. There’s hope.

Scene 5: The Ghost of Christmas Future

EXT. POINT GREY ROAD – FUTURE

The Ghost of Christmas Future shows Chip a cold, bleak Vancouver. The city is divided, with the ultra-rich locked away in gated communities while the rest struggle to survive. There are no more bike paths, just empty roads and towering walls

(End of excerpt)

I’ll continue the next scenes where Chip’s transformation begins, followed by his revolutionary tiny house initiative on the bike path! Does this flow feel good so far?

Stay Tuned 

#DontIgnoreThePoor

New Mural NEEDED at Maritime Museum & More

 Updated May 18 2017  See Update at the bottom

------------------
As someone who has lived in Kitsilano off and on the last 20 years I have seen this mural at the Vancouver Maritime Museum countless time and I mostly ignored it. I never found it interesting...it always bothered me but I didn't do anything.

But now it really bothers me. Look at it. 
The First Nations are on the outside and look at how they are depicted in comparison to the the Military dudes. Pleasee help I might vomit...

There's not a single woman represented. 

This mural was created in 1986, probably for Expo 86 and it HAS GOT TO GO!!

So I have sent an email and I hope I get a response. This was part of it...

Please for Canada150+  and for Reconciliation change it to reflect the truth. We know so much more now. Please...that whole area ..has a history no one acknowledges..and yet we occupy it. I challenge you to do something about it for Reconciliation. I hope you will consider my suggestion. Thanks


Here is a write up on it. 
 http://illustratedvancouver.ca/post/3033110457/maritime-museum-mural-by-frank-lewis
 https://www.facebook.com/vanmaritime/

And then while searching their site I saw this. wth...this is for kids...
 WHAT WAR IS GOOD FOR???

OMG...there go my cookies...woof....ralph...Somebody help me please....
 https://www.vancouvermaritimemuseum.com/education/school-programs

Today I saw they were trying to raise money for this 

https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/the-vancouver-maritime-museum-society/fascinating-soundscapes-for-the-st-roch/

and I suggested on the Facebook page a new mural instead.

 Here is part of the letter I wrote to them, let's see if the respond.

 I was wondering if you are planning on a new mural. I mentioned on Instagram a while back but heard nothing. The mural should represent Indigenous people bigger or as big as the colonialists and should feature women too!. That mural is 1986 and it is a very visual and I think (negative )influence on all who pass.

Please for Canada150+  and for Reconciliation change it to reflect the truth. We know so much more now. Please...that whole area ..has a history no one acknowledges..and yet we occupy it. I challenge you to do something about it for Reconciliation. I hope you will consider my suggestion. Thanks

I know some people who do murals, create beautiful Coast Salish designs and I have reached out to a few. I did a lot of research on Coast Salish designs as well.

Here are some links you may find helpful
https://www.instagram.com/zipolita/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CPwlUoOF18
https://mylangaratrccarvingjourney.blogspot.ca/2017/01/design-ideas-abundance-sustainable-eco.html

https://mylangaratrccarvingjourney.blogspot.ca/
https://mylangaratrccarvingjourney.blogspot.ca/2017/04/ceremony-passing-panels-responisibility.html

Here's some people I suggest may help...
https://www.instagram.com/thunderbirdlady/

Sharifah is working on a mural and I know she did one for the NEC

https://www.instagram.com/salishman73/

Maynard Johnny Jr creates beautiful Coast Salish Designs

https://www.instagram.com/kim_sirrs_tattoo/

Kim is an excellent artist and she went through the Reconciliation Carving with me.

Audrey Siegl 

http://thelasource.com/en/2015/12/07/audrey-siegl-an-activist-and-a-musician/

Justine Wallace is an excellent artist and she went through the Reconciliation Carving with me.

https://www.facebook.com/featherndesignsforyou/?pnref=lhc

I hope to hear back from everyone, most especially you, very soon.

Sincerely, Tina Winterlik

-------------------------------------------------

Oh and I shared this on there facebook page https://www.facebook.com/vanmaritime/




Related Links
https://mylangaratrccarvingjourney.blogspot.ca/2016/10/chief-robert-joseph-truth.html




Update May 18 2017: So Vancouver Maritime Museum Responded.
Here is what they said.

So I am going to put a proposal together...I imagine anyone can. So if you have  great idea go for it or maybe we can all work together. Let's see what happens.

Halt, Housing & Grilled Cheese $50 Grand Fundraiser TODAY!

I am just so exhausted from Friday I can't make it to either of these. If you can, Please Go!! Show your support. Make videos and I will share them. So proud of everyone working together and speaking up!! And using art to make there voices heard. I am with you in spirit. I was there last year when we got this puppy rolling...with the Sleepover at City Hall and the Empty Condo lottery

https://tinawinterlik.blogspot.ca/2016/06/housing-justice-now-city-hall-sleepover.html
https://tinawinterlik.blogspot.ca/2016/03/vancouver-empty-condo-lottery.html
https://tinawinterlik.blogspot.ca/2016/05/vancouver-city-hall-sleep-over-youre.html
https://tinawinterlik.blogspot.ca/2016/05/ideas-for-sleep-over-at-city-hall.html 





WHAT: #SuperPlate, a $50,000-per-plate fundraising event to help advance the HALT agenda to the incumbent government (see the end).

WHEN: 1:30-3:00 pm on Sunday, April 9, 2017

WHERE: Vancouver Art Gallery (VAG), 750 Hornby St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2H7

The event will be held on open public ground of the VAG, on Robson St. side.

WHO:
Invited attendees (not yet confirmed):
• The Honourable Christina Joan “Christy” CLARK, Premier of British Columbia
• The Honourable Rich COLEMAN, Minister Responsible for Housing and Deputy Premier of British Columbia


CONFIRMED speakers:

Mr. Paul DOROSHENKO, Vancouver lawyer who in March 2017 sued the BC Liberals for spending taxpayer funds on BC Liberal attack ads

Mr. Glen CHERNEN, Financial analyst who recently blew the lid off BC Housing’s $39m loan to a luxury condo pre-sale project marketed by The King of Grilled Cheese.

Mr. Dermod TRAVIS, Executive Director of IntegrityBC who recently helped to expose the issue on political donations to our government.

Ms. Beverly HO, Activist with the Chinatown Concern Group, a citizens group working to counter the destruction of Vancouver’s Chinatown by property developers.

Event Description:
Like a BC super PAC, HALT Vancouver will host an exclusive fundraiser to advance our agenda to the incumbent political party (Today’s BC Liberals). To keep up with the tradition of “cash for access” set out by our political leaders, we have set the price of the VIP ticket for this exclusive event at $50,000 CAD per plate, cash only.

 The honorable guests who paid for the entry will enjoy an exquisite meal of grilled cheese sandwich in a small, velvet rope enclosed, VIP area in the presence of our Honourable Premiere Christy Clark and Minister Responsible for Housing Rich Coleman (we will provide an update when we receive confirmed RSVP from them). During this exquisite meal, the VIP guests who paid the $50,000 will be able to advance any and all of his agenda to the most elite of our provincial political hierarchy.

Warming Centres Open Tonight starting at 9 p.m. PT

Vancouver
The four warming centres will again be open Saturday night, 
starting at 9 p.m. PT:


Britannia Community Centre / Venables (The Hall) — 1661 Napier St. / 1739 Venables St.
Creekside Community Centre — 1 Athletes Way.
West End Community Centre — 870 Denman St.
Kitsilano Community Centre — 2690 Larch St.

Warming centres are open tonight at 9pm for those in need. ,@WestEndCC, The Hall at Venables, and Carnegie CC. #BCStorm pic.twitter.com/fY6VBkzfiR

— City of Vancouver (@CityofVancouver) January 11, 2017

Photography by Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita © 2016

Sending out love and light, hoping everyone stays warm tonight. 
 

Photography by Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita © 2015- Quote- Margaret Mead

Will, Kate, Justin & Sophie- Kitsilano Coast Guard Visit

I can not believe I got these photos. Feel really blessed. I got there around 1:15 and they were only 7 minutes late so that's fantastic considering how long others waited.

It was really wonderful and to think they were right here.

I had the perfect opportunity to photograph Kate getting out of the car but I blew it. The video has  little delay and I missed it. Luckily I got a chance later.

Photos/Art © 2016 Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

Photos/Art © 2016 Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

Photos/Art © 2016 Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

Photos/Art © 2016 Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

Photos/Art © 2016 Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

Photos/Art © 2016 Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

Photos/Art © 2016 Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

Photos/Art © 2016 Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

Photos/Art © 2016 Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

Photos/Art © 2016 Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

Photos/Art © 2016 Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

Photos/Art © 2016 Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

Photos/Art © 2016 Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

41st Pacific Rim Kite Festival -Vanier Park-Vancouver BC

Pacific Rim Kite Festival is this weekend. GO!! IT'S AMAZING!!

Teddy Bear Drop

Related Links

Pacific Rim Kite Festival 2012
https://tinawinterlik.blogspot.ca/2012/06/pacific-rim-kite-festival-vanier-park.html 

Pacific Rim Kite Festival 2013
https://tinawinterlik.blogspot.ca/2013/06/kitsilano-kite-festival-video.html

Pacific Rim Kite Festival 2015
https://tinawinterlik.blogspot.ca/2015/06/pacific-rim-kite-festival-vanier-park.html

Cherry Blossom Blizzard in Kitsilano 2016

It's that time of year again...Cherry Blossom Blizzard!!



It's a beautiful but sad time as all the cherry blossoms fall. They cover the ground with a pretty pink blanket of blossoms. It's really glorious!

Photos/Art © 2016 Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

Photos/Art © 2016 Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

Photos/Art © 2016 Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

Photos/Art © 2016 Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

Photos/Art © 2016 Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

Photos/Art © 2016 Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

Photos/Art © 2016 Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

Hummingbird, Cherry Blossoms, Red Winged Blackbirds & More

I got the most amazing hummingbird photos today! It wouldn't happened if I didn't have my most amazing kid. She heard and saw it first and told me. And if I didn't have my most amazing Canon PowerShot Camera(that I won last year) I would never have got these shots.

Photography by Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita © 2016

Photography by Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita © 2016

Photography by Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita © 2016

Photography by Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita © 2016

 This is why it's amazing.

Hummingbird is where red arrow is pointing

Photography by Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita © 2016

Photography by Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita © 2016

Photography by Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita © 2016

Photography by Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita © 2016

Photography by Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita © 2016

Photography by Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita © 2016

See all the photos and come along for a lovely little walk with me!

Cherry Blossoms & Sunsets in Kitsilano

And potpourri!

Cherry Blossoms, Sunsets & Potpourri, just a few photos I took today!

Hope you all had a Happy Easter and Happy Spring!

Vancouver is very beautiful this time of year.

Next few weeks the pink cherry blossoms will bloom, that's my favourite time of year!

Photography by Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita © 2016

Photography by Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita © 2016

Photography by Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita © 2016

Photography by Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita © 2016

Photography by Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita © 2016

Photography by Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita © 2016

Photography by Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita © 2016

Photography by Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita © 2016

Photography by Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita © 2016

Photography by Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita © 2016

Photography by Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita © 2016

Photography by Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita © 2016

Photography by Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita © 2016

Photography by Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita © 2016

Photography by Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita © 2016

Photography by Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita © 2016