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April Smith of AHA MEDIA was very proud to be invited to speak about social media for social justice activisim with BCGEU members in North Vancouver
April Smith of AHA MEDIA was very proud to be invited to speak about social media for social justice activisim with BCGEU members at the Holiday Inn in North Vancouver, B.C.
BCGEU – BC Government and Service Employees Union http://www.bcgeu.ca
BCGEU is holding their fall Labour Institute in early November, which is a three-day school with an academic stream and a campaigns stream. This time BCGEU’s campaigns stream is just for young workers (under 30).
April Smith will be speaking on how she got involved in social justice activism, how she uses social media in social justice activism and why it’s valuable, and a bit about the projects she’s worked on or are working on currently.
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Below is a photo of April Smith standing by ” Today Events” where it mentions BCGEU is in the Seymour Room
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Below is a photo of Doug Dykens welcoming the BCGEU members!
In this video is an Introduction to BCGEU Young Workers event at Holiday Inn in North Vancouver with Doug Dykens and Leah Squance, where April Smith of AHA MEDIA is to give a speech on how she uses social media for social justice activism.
This was filmed by April Smith of AHA MEDIA on a Nokia N95 mobile cameraphone. April is passionate and skilled in making Nokia films by exploring mobile media production through the camera lens of a cellphone. For a better quality version of this video, please DM April Smith @AprilFilms on Twitter or Facebook.com/AprilFilms
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Below is a photo of April Smith speaking:
I feel that using social media nowadays is a very fast, effective and inexpensive way to engage your audience, whether it be a targeted one or a more broad spectrum. One can control how your information is given out and how you and your company is represented. You no longer have to wait for the traditional media or PR agents to talk about you.. You can do that yourself in the best possible way… You are your own best cheerleader – It bridges the gaps, democratizes media information and helps bring everyone together in a dynamic interactive way – through a participatory way online.
There is obviously a lot more to be said and learned about this. Here is my best advice:
“The best way to learn is to get actively engaged and I hope that I have inspired you!”————————————————————————————————————————————————–
Below is a photo of April Smith receiving a BCGEU gift bag from Leah Squance after presenting her speech for social media for social justice
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The evening entertainment was by Vancouver TheatreSports League! 🙂
Below is a photo and video of, Vancouver TheatreSports League actors – Brian Anderson, Bill Pozzobon and Ted Cole perform a hilarous skit – “BCGEU Young Workers of tomorrow and Cellphones “at the BCGEU Fall Labor Institute event at Holiday Inn in North Vancouver Saturday November 7, 2009.
Vancouver TheatreSports League –http://www.vtsl.com
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Below is a photo of Peter Davies, Photographer for AHA MEDIA
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AHA MEDIA thanks BCGEU http://www.BCGEU.ca for the inviatation to come and present social media for social justice activism to BCGEU Young Workers. We appreciate the BCGEU gift bag filled with BCGEU items! 🙂
April Smith of AHA MEDIA is very honored to be the guest speaker at BCGEU’s fall Labour Institute on Saturday November 7, 2009

BCGEU is holding their fall Labour Institute in early November, which is a three-day school with an academic stream and a campaigns stream. This time BCGEU’s campaigns stream is just for young workers (under 30).
April Smith will be speaking on how she got involved in social justice activism, how she uses social media in social justice activism and why it’s valuable, and a bit about the projects she’s worked on or are working on currently.
Below is an excerpt from April’s speech:
My future hopes and plans are if I can turn out more empowered, more knowledgeable and informed people who are aware of our social justice activist issues, I would be happy. Working with others, I would love to bring together all communities to work, learn and grow from each other, I feel that would be a wonderful thing. I am hoping that through social media collaborations through the online and offline worlds through coming together for conferences like these and meeting one another, I will be able to inspire others and we can empower each other. As a young single marginalized woman from the Downtown Eastside greatly affected by social justice issues, I hope that with all of us working together, we can build towards a brighter future with new media, social media and technology!
A Walking Tour of Japantown by Geoff Meggs and Lorene Oikawa – Saturday November 7, 10:30am–12pm
History Walk JAPANESE-CANADIANS AND THE LABOUR MOVEMENT

A Walking Tour of Japantown by Geoff Meggs and Lorene Oikawa
Saturday November 7, 10:30am–12pm
Meet at Vancouver Japanese Language School, 487 Alexander
The Powell Street district around Oppenheimer Park is drenched in the history of the labour movement and the Japanese-Canadian community. Geoff Meggs, Vancouver City Councillor, brings a journalist’s view and curiosity to the walk, while Lorene Oikawa, Vice President of BCGEU, shares her enthusiasm for the stories of the labour movement and Japanese-Canadian history. This walk explores the diminishing reminders of this historic district and the people that brought these streets to life. $10 for non-residents, pay what you can for local residents
http://www.heartofthecityfestival.com/festival-09/november-7/
Alvin Clayton of AHA MEDIA from the Nisgaa Nation in Northern BC, speaks of his Aboriginal Art inspired by loving memory of his Father
Alvin Clayton of AHA MEDIA from the Nisgaa Nation in Northern BC, speaks of his Aboriginal Art inspired by loving memory of his Father who was involved in community services for a very long time.
Below are photos and video of Alvin and his hand drawn Aboriginal artwork prints to be used for fundraising for Harm Reduction in Vancouver Downtown Eastside

This was filmed by April Smith of AHA MEDIA on a Nokia N95 mobile cameraphone. April is passionate and skilled in making Nokia films by exploring mobile media production through the camera lens of a cellphone. For a better quality version of this video, please DM April Smith @AprilFilms on Twitter or Facebook.com/AprilFilms


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Below are photos and video of Alvin Clayton who dedicates his art to be used as the WAHRS ( Western Aboriginal Harm Reduction Society) banner at LifeSkills Centre in loving memory of his father who was very involved in community service in his Nisgaa home nation up North in B.C.

This was filmed by April Smith of AHA MEDIA on a Nokia N95 mobile cameraphone. April is passionate and skilled in making Nokia films by exploring mobile media production through the camera lens of a cellphone. For a better quality version of this video, please DM April Smith @AprilFilms on Twitter or Facebook.com/AprilFilms

AHA MEDIA attends part of the Sites of Empowerment Tour by CCAP in Vancouver Downtown Eastside on Saturday Oct 31, 2009
AHA MEDIA attends part of the “Sites of Empowerment Tour” by CCAP in Vancouver Downtown Eastside on Saturday Oct 31, 2009
Walking Tour
SITES OF EMPOWERMENT
with CCAP
Saturday October 31, 11:30am1pm
Meet at steps of Carnegie Community Centre, 401 Main
This tour with researcher Wendy Pedersen and volunteers of the Carnegie Community Action Project (CCAP) will start at the front steps of the Carnegie Centre and visit some of the best loved places in the area according to the stories of low-income DTES residents.
Contemplate how these key sites give us clues as to how to build a vision for a safe, healthy and affordable low-income neighbourhood and how this future is threatened by gentrification.
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Below is an aerial photo of the tour of about 50 people which included Vancouver City Councillor George Chow while they stopped at the corner of Hastings and Carrall Street in the Vancouver Downtown Eastside

CCAP is building consensus within the low-income community for a vision of the Downtown Eastside that hopefully the city will adopt. Visioning reports and information on gentrification can be found on their blog:http://www.ccapvancouver.wordpress.com. All proceeds to CCAP. $10 for non-residents, pay what you can for local residents
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Below is a close up of an aerial photo of the tour of about 50 people which included Vancouver City Councillor George Chow while they stopped at the corner of Hastings and Carrall Street in the Vancouver Downtown Eastside

Part of the Heart of the City Festival in the Vancouver Downtown Eastside
http://www.heartofthecityfestival.com/festival-09/october-31/
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In the next photos and video, Hendrik Beune, Director of AHA MEDIA and Wendy Pedersen of CCAP speak at Sites of Empowerment tour in Vancouver Downtown Eastside on Saturday, Oct 31, 2009


This was filmed by April Smith of AHA MEDIA on a Nokia N95 mobile cameraphone. April is passionate and skilled in making Nokia films by exploring mobile media production through the camera lens of a cellphone. For a better quality version of this video, please DM April Smith @AprilFilms on Twitter or Facebook.com/AprilFilms
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In this video, Wendy Pedersen of CCAP and Ann Livingston of VANDU speak at Sites of Empowerment tour in Vancouver Downtown Eastside on Saturday, Oct 31, 2009

This was filmed by April Smith of AHA MEDIA on a Nokia N95 mobile cameraphone. April is passionate and skilled in making Nokia films by exploring mobile media production through the camera lens of a cellphone. For a better quality version of this video, please DM April Smith @AprilFilms on Twitter or Facebook.com/AprilFilms
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In this video, Ann Livingston and Dave Diewert speak at Sites of Empowerment tour in Vancouver Downtown Eastside on Saturday, Oct 31, 2009

This was filmed by April Smith of AHA MEDIA on a Nokia N95 mobile cameraphone. April is passionate and skilled in making Nokia films by exploring mobile media production through the camera lens of a cellphone. For a better quality version of this video, please DM April Smith @AprilFilms on Twitter or Facebook.com/AprilFilms









