Everything goes with Dinka!!

I’M BACK…..

As scary as that seems, hahaha it’s not a bad thing. This blog was started as a way to record the history of this property/home to be. It was a Monday posting journal to keep track of the world around me and a story of building a project; that took quite some time!

Tonight an election happened to tell us all it’s just same same but different. A 600 million dollar message — pretty interesting. Was it a colossal waist of time and money? Probably.

All that aside, the last post on this blog was months ago and I thought I might just leave it at that. However, the other day it kind of hit me, this is a great way to continue recording, since Mom is the impetus of this building site/project why not focus on the joys of her? Hence the “Everything goes with Dinka” roll out begins.

Photos of Mom have been posted, during the evolution of the project, but I haven’t really shared her fantastic story. It’s one I’ve enjoyed through my lifetime as I truly love the joy she brings to me and others. Everyday, never mind every week, her genuine comments and straight to the chase reality of life comes through. It’s that personality that everyone connects to — it’s like she’s everyone’s mom or grandma. Any one who is an immigrant to this great country, and now is the time that we’re all too often told we are (no disrespect intended), you will understand my beautiful and fantastic Mama.

Opps just noticed it’s past midnight, which means I’ve missed the Monday date of postin! Well so be it. Maybe it is a good start to distancing from gov’t election results and focusing on things to come.

I look forward to sharing weekly adventures with Mom and sliding in a fantastic story of life as most of us can connect too.

Have a fantastic week. I look forward to sharing.

PEOPLE...no wonder it feels like so much has happened

…because it has. Looking back it’s obvious to see it’s been a while since letting my thoughts flow onto the blog post or as we’d say in the good ol’ days, onto the paper. It’s been a ride, with everyday getting just a little bit closer to park “occupation” coming to an end. The PTSD has not lifted but looking forward is the only direction required right now.

Mother’s day has come and gone and what a fantastic surprise to enjoy the best burgers in the city at Maxines. Mom was a bit disappointed that our usual family gatherings of the past have transformed over the last year and it would just be her and I this year. My sister popped in for a quick gift drop off and then raced back to bask in the splendor of her own Mother’s day celebrations with her children. New friends invited Mom and I to join them and what a great time we had!! If you want to try a fantastic burger get your tail down to Maxines where you’re sure to be thrilled — I was.

The list of activities in May continues and it always floors me how we can be so busy during a Pandemic semi-lock down. Will we ever be able to handle the “fast” pace of life pre-pandemic again? Who knows ehe, and it will all just keep rolling forward and never be the same; “new normal” here we come. On that note I want to share a bit of a flashback through a new publication. This weeks Western Living magazine showcased Project 851 and did a great job of covering the bases. Congratulations to Marianne with her Team and Reece and his for making this house a home to so many of us here on Union St — everyday I see something new and fantastic in the same old same but new.

p.s. if you want to get into the hood just saw a showroom for a new project called the Assembly going up …hmm new neighbours!!

COMMUNITY...it takes a village

Unintentionally, it’s been a few weeks since the last post, but not to worry it’s not because of health issues or life going in a horrible direction. How is it that Monday’s come and go and weeks fly by in the “slowest” time of ever? hahaha

When I look back on the “moments” of the weeks gone by it’s interesting to think of the things, people and places that float to the top. Easter was completely untraditional while enjoying, wait for it and don’t freak out, Thumper for the holidays. All the Italians are going “Bravo, fantastic” while maybe not so much for local vegan neighbours. Nonetheless, Mom and I enjoyed a lovely meal together which was very different from the 15 member family dinners of the past that reduced to 7 and then grew and then dropped until 2 of us were left standing this year; no zoom, no facetime. Life is changing: norm not norm, new norm, no norm, never norm…

Then more restrictions came and variants exploded, all the while I kept calling the gov’t vaccine line to be told “you’re not eligible to book yet”. Hmmmm, I’m an anti-vaxer nor am I follow the sheep and rush to the line, yet somehow all the variant news left me wanting to “do” something to feel more in control of the uncontrollable. So. I made a few more “piece flags” or are the “kites” now? (smile) Like most of us , I just kept riding the wave. I even went a little off the rails when a friend and I actually ran down to the Italian Cultural Centre just to see if we could squeeze in and get a shot, or two. Had we been later in the day, according to “ME”, we might have been successful. However, that very night is when Dr. B.H. announced on the news “hey people don’t be doing that — every shot is accounted for”, I thought yikes was she watching us? hahahah . As it turned out she was watching all the teachers in Surrey, who apparently had the same idea. Only they didn’t go in discreet “two’s”, like me and my friend, they lined up around the block at vaccine sites so I guess
”they” (Dr. B.H. and co.) had to do something. The result was that the Italian Cultural Centre did NOT see us again after that adventure.

Other things that have happened lately include; “space invaders”; art galas and park reclamation. “Whaaaaaaa?” I hear you say! Yup, let’s start with “space invaders”, which is my name for “dance party”. A few of us from CAWM (the Connecting Threads group), were sitting around at the UNION having a Covid coffee chatting when I said “I miss dancing”. Well, hallalujah, praise the lord it just took off from there. Every Wednesday and Saturday at 2pm we occupy under-utilized spaces, like the labyrinth in the Linear Park, and DANCE!! We take turns making a playlist and go for it. Feel free to join our dance party or do your own. It’s a goodtime, even Mom joins in! Some friends think I’m crazy but that just makes it even better.

Now let’s share the Art Gala. I decided to partake in my first “virtual” art gala fundraising event through the Audain Gallery in Whistler. I like that Gallery and appreciate the art and love that they focus on local artist as in BC. The Gallery and works are truly a class act. You’ll see by the boxes sent out, they don’t do anything half measure, and are a model for other Organizations raising money for good things. Even Artdog Koko got into the act.

… and Mom

After a break from the day to day drudge no control COVID life and just dealing with the new world order we get local in the hood. The Strathcona Park update, this community has been waiting for this a LONG time — plus an over 10 month no park access occupation. It’s partly laughable as there have been many an excuse of COVID — because of COVID, you know it’s COVID, nothing can be done easily because of COVID… blah blah blah.

If anything BECAUSE IT’S COVID people should have been moved to inside shelter AGES ago AND this community SHOULD have had green space to use AGES ago. What other neighbourhood has had this happen to them during COVID? We’ve now been left with a traumatized neighbourhood, afraid to go into their own park. This should NEVER have happened. There are many things about the encampment that have made me feel how “WRONG” it is. It’s not an either or situation but rather a plane old “WRONG” situation and there is no one who is going to convince me it’s OKAY to leave people living in tents for 10 months through the crappy weather etc… even if they’re criminals or people with mental health issues of institutionalization levels. It’s like Lord of the Flies crazy.

Now onto the ultimate “WRONG”, in my opinion, and that was the death of Carl. Carl was the young indigenous man who went to the park to camp after having a fight with his girlfriend, thinking it would be safe. He was young and thought it would be fine. His father Henry, lives in our neighbourhood, unlike so many in the park who claim to be. Many of us know him form his drawings he shows and sells occasionally to those of us living here.

When it first came out the Carl was beaten and left for 12 hours in the park many of us hadn’t made the connection to Henry as many only knew Henry. The press, of course, mentioned the situation and when many of the Park Occupants (encampment people) were asked about it or Mrs. Singh they denied any connection to the attackers; ya well we all know how that turned out for the killers of Mrs. Singh — it was Chrissy Bretts right hand man the “mayor of Oppenhiemer” that had the Canada wide warrant out for his arrest. Like Mrs Singh, the level of tragedy for Carl is beyond words. The fact that a “true” member of this community lost his son, because of permitted park use for an encampment, breaks my heart.

We continue to light candles for Carl and his family.

Stay safe (getting my Vaccination soon; just booked)

PROGRESS...moments in time

It’s nice to know public announcements are taking place stating that the target date of de-encampment will take place by the end of April (finally). We have been told for 10 months now to be patient, to pressure this one or pressure that one and now we’re told the stars are aligning and everyone is working together. Hard not to be a bit cynical when you see your neighbours stressed and not believing what they’re told. It’s also not very reassuring when things happen like what was presented on Global news. Friday: not just any park fire right? It’s crazy when you read about things happening right in your hood and you missed all the action. A moment in time when you were elsewhere.

There will also be a moment in time when park occupation is a thing of the past. Many many many of us look forward to that day. As we wait for that day the piece flags continue to go up on the fence and the names of Community members become the new message. Honouring those trying to make a difference, those who have lived here for many years, those who are truly a part of the hood.

Today, while mending the fence due to the crazy winds this weekend that played havoc wtih the flags, I experienced another moment. Koko often accompanies me to the fence and patiently waits, or barks at other dogs should one come along, when a lovely thing happened. A guy came walking down the sidewalk on our side (not the park side ) of the fence and stopped to take things in. He might have been homeless but I really don’t know. He looked at me and said “thank you for taking care of the kites” and touched his heart.

This was a moment that made my day.