Hot Tubbin' For Justice

I think this was my 10th or 11th year volunteering for the Vancouver Writers Fest. It's one of my most favourite things to do in the city - for a week on Granville there are tons of events focused on all things lit (heh). It's the best deal in the city - if you commit 12 hours you are eligible to a free ticket to an event and as long as there is space at events your volunteer pass gets you in for free. I've been doing the volunteer front of house thing for a while, either as an usher or this year all my shifts were as the volunteer front of house manager. The new Artistic Director Leslie Hurtig has really done an amazing job. The diversity of events and the free day (more on that in a bit) really showed how having new blood infused into a long running event can make a difference.  All events on the Saturday were free. FREE. It was awesome to see how full the events were. By making events centred around books and reading it adds value to our community especially in an ...

This year marks the 35th Anniversary of the Solidarity Coalition and Operation Solidarity in BC. In August, my friends Sarah and Dionne and I went on a walking tour with David York and Rod Mickleburgh (created by the BC Labour Heritage Centre) to walk the path the 50,000 workers and allies walked in 1983, to learn their story. Throughout the tour we were treated to historical reenactments along the way - including the firing of civil servants in Prince George and the fight back when all those people took to the streets. I was 2 years old in 1983 so I don't remember this event at all but I do remember growing up and hearing about how shady the So Creds were. As I learn more and more about the event, I am in awe how strategic the organizers were in getting the unions and community group united in the fight back against the government and the plan to shut down the province.  What is this all about? Here's the short version. In 1983, the Socred Government introduced 26 oppres...