AHA Media

AHA MEDIA shows the types of room that a Poverty Olympic athlete has to live in the Vancouver Downtown (DTES)

The following video is a satirical view of the REAL 2010 OLYMPICS – We’re showing how an homeless athlete in training lives in comparision to the plush accomodations being built now for the regular athletes.

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Making things worse, not building an Olympic legacy

Poverty isn’t new, but things weren’t always this bad. Until 2001, poverty in British Columbia was dropping faster and farther than the national (across-Canada) rate.

So what changed?

Between 2002 and 2005, the BC government cut spending on social programs by nearly one third. That included an end to annual funding for new social housing.

The BC government also made social assistance (welfare) much, much harder to get. It forced people to jump through a maze of bureaucratic hoops, such as making anybody seeking help go through a complicated computer-based application (even advocates had a heck of a time figuring it out). It forced people who could no longer pay rent or buy food to wait three weeks before even letting them apply for help.

During those years, the number of people getting welfare dropped steeply — and the number of homeless people in Greater Vancouver doubled.

The BC Government also cut welfare benefits for single parents and their children, and for older folks. Poverty rates among single parents jumped as a result.

All this happened at the very time when big promises were being made to win the 2010 Olympics bid — promises to build more social housing, reduce homelessness, and make sure poor people weren’t displaced by Olympics-driven development.

Bad decisions have made poverty and homelessness worse. Some small steps have been taken recently to change course, but more must be done.

The Vancouver Poverty Olympics are brought to you by a group of concerned citizens and community groups who want the 2010 Winter Games’ legacy to be one of reducing, not increasing, poverty and homelessness.

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The Second Annual Poverty Olympics will be held on February 8, 2009

1:00-3:00pm at the Japanese Language School, 487 Alexander St, Vancouver, BC.

http://www.povertyolympics.ca

Vodpod videos no longer available.

A rainy Wednesday morning January 7th, 2009 found many DTES citizens celebrating the grand re-opening of the Historic Pennsylvania Hotel!

 Below is a photo of a sign on a post announcing the opening celebration of the Pennslyvania Hotel in the background.

There was a pancake breakfast outside the hotel on Carrall Street, from 10 am on. At 11am, in the hotel basement, there was  formal ceremony, also with food and refreshments.

( AHA MEDIA is  sorry to have missed Mayor Gregor Robertson who attended the celebration! We would have loved to take his picture and ask him how he feels about the hotel re-opening)

 Much thanks to the Staff, Board and Volunteers of the PHS Community Services Society for putting on a great event that truly shows the partnerships and community initiatives  of many societies such as CCAP, VANDU, WAHRS, with the City of Vancouver working towards new affordable housing in the DTES.

 AHA MEDIA was on hand to help capture some the moments of the event.  We agree that everyone in our community should have access to affordable housing with their own kitchen and bathroom.  We are glad that the Pennslyvania Hotel didn’t become another Backpacker or Tourist Hotel.  It has remained in our area for us, DTES citizens!!

Below is a photo of the NEW Pennslyvania Hotel.

 Below happy people celebrate and hug as they wait patiently in the lineups for a Free pancake breakfast made by volunteer and staff from PHS.

Below is a long line up of hungry DTES citizens.

Pancakes and sausages on the grill getting cooked!

 A smiling man with PHS hands out a pancake breakfast

April gratefully accepts a hot breakfast! It’s very appreciated on a cold rainy day.

A well behaved and polite lineup grows longer in anticipation of the pancakes!

Even a little doggy gets a sweet pancake treat!

The following photo showcases beautiful and talented performers dressed up in white.

A model displays her beauty and grace in a Victorian white dress

The vibrant and soulful beats of an amazing show choir! Check out the conductor’s uniform!

A happy couple sways to the beats from the choir

Vancouver councillor Ellen Woodsworth and Vancouver housing activist Am Johal 

Lani Russwurm chats with April Smith and reminds them of a meeting they are all due at!

It was a grand re-opening of Hotel Pennslyvania ! We hope there will be more housing like this in the future for the citizens of Vancouver’s DTES

On Tuesday night January 6th at 7:30Pm, AHA Media went into the Westside to view the Pt.Grey Nominating Meeting of Mel Lehan for the BC NDP

Venturing out of our base in the DTES, we arrived at the Corner of 10th & Trutch  to discover that Mel was a founding member of  St. James Community Square

After receiving a personal and warm welcome from Mel himself, AHA settled in the front row to capture the night’s events.

The evening began with Welcome and Introductions by Mark Battersby, Pt.Grey NDP President

Next came a Musqueam Traditional Welcome and Prayer by Elder Larry Grant

A traditional performance by the Dimitrious Greek Dance School entertained a nearly packed hall

Nominator Darlene Marzari lists her reason for Mel Lehan to be the candidate to defeat Gordon Campbell

Seconder Todd Wong  cheers Mel Lehan on with a musical nomination!

The great Mel Lehan speaks to a full house!

A very attentive audience listens to Mel’s speech

Our special guest speaker David Chudnovsky- Vancouver Kensington NDP MLA speaks on Mel’s behalf

Mel’s supporters sat in majestic St. James Hall listening

After hearing all the great things that Mel will do for our community and our province, AHA MEDIA congratulates him on his nomination!

Mel Lehan is the perfect leader for our community! We will be sure to support Mel on his rise to the top! 🙂

Provincial Elections are May 12th.

The sign belows announces Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen at Lifeskills

Below Hendrik accepts a tray from a volunteer.