This year, in Vancouver and throughout much of the world, there has been a vigorous drive to build momentum and create movement towards positive change. From coverage of local groups promoting the integration of diversity, to reflection on larger political issues, throughout the year the Source Newspaper provided readers with a front row view of change in our community. Let’s take a look back.
In the first issue of 2012, writer Anita Kovacs highlighted a local campaign called Our City of Colours, which aims to help the integration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and queer (LGBTQ) individuals in many of Vancouver’s ethnic communities. Through the media, attention has been brought to what is often a veiled subject in some ethnic groups. As Kovacs reported, the importance of this issue is rooted in the need to be progressive in addressing the needs of changing demographics within Vancouver’s LGBTQ community.
Spring began with Vancouverites standing up and taking action. As writer Eric Chu reported, locals came together to march for a day of action to end racism and discrimination. They joined their peers in various places around the world to show solidarity with the United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, helping to create a movement. Also, local recognition of International Women’s Day, covered by writer Panayioti Yannitsos, showcased the importance of gender equality and the momentum that keeps this topic relevant.
And just when we all thought that the Occupy Vancouver protests had been banished, columnist Derrick O’Keefe spent a night in Zuccotti Park in New York with hundreds of others, six months after the original Occupy’s inception. He reminded us that despite lacking the physical presence of protestors, the issues at the heart of the local movement such as inequality, poverty and the need for political change are still significant.
The impending summer months energized our writing team to explore some less-discussed topics. The stereotyping and media portrayal of certain cultures with respect to violence was covered by writer Phoebe Yu. She was able to use a combination of expert opinion, Canadian data on immigration as well as local experience in her coverage, and touched on the concept of cultural racism.
Writer Brendan Munro brought Shadeism to light in his article discussing skin colour variation within cultures. By including references to the film Shade-ism by Canadian filmmaker Nayani Thiyagarajah and discussing the fairness cream industry, Munro revealed that this topic still permeates cultural norms.
“Thiyagarajah’s film contends that a subtler and more insidious form of discrimination known as shadeism or colourism exists,” wrote Munro.
Summertime brought the beat of many established festivals that Vancouverites looked forward to, and the Source Newspaper proved to be an information hub for many events. Vancouver also celebrated some new additions, one of many being the first annual Vancouver International Busker Festival. As writer Elton Hubner described, previous busking festivals in other Canadian cities were well received, building interest for one here. Locals were able to come together to celebrate the all-inclusive performances of buskers and support their continued presence in the city.
It was all about hunkering down when school began and settling into work routines again as we approached fall. The changing tides of the school system in Vancouver, motivated by a drive to incorporate the unique needs of Aboriginal people, manifested in the establishment of the first Aboriginal school in B.C.
As Riyah Lakhani wrote, a shortage of Aboriginal teachers, coupled with low enrolment in English 12 First Peoples (an English 12 course equivalent) has contributed to difficulties for this group in the conventional education system. The elementary school opened this past September in Vancouver.
Writer Bessie Chow covered the rising costs of funerals, a less recognized yet important issue for many people in the lower mainland. As Chow wrote, groups for whom the funeral service is important may face financial difficulties. While cremation is less expensive, it is forbidden in some belief systems. According to the Cremation Association of North America’s statistics in Chow’s article, Vancouver’s cremation rate is the highest among all North American cities, the top reason being to save money.
Always a hot topic of debate, a different perspective on the B.C. housing market was offered in writer Natalie Mundy’s article discussing the issue of double discrimination. Mundy described the unique challenges that disabled individuals face in Vancouver by detailing an individual’s personal struggle with housing in Vancouver. Mundy contextualized this personal story by providing insight into relevant organizations, such as Spinal Cord Injury BC, the BC Coalition of People with Disabilities and the School of Disability Studies at Ryerson University.
As 2012 comes to a close, we are left with the opportunity to build on the momentum of change into the coming year. We have been witness to stories that have demonstrated significant growth as much as we have learned about topics that need more attention.
Throughout the variety of reporting that the Source Newspaper has provided, it is evident that the only real constant has been change. While not all change is positive, the result can certainly be progress. With that in mind, the Source Newspaper will continue to provide our readership with stories that matter.
We invite all of our valued readers to get involved and follow us on Twitter, Facebook or to visit us on the web at www.thelasource.com for up to date information or to conduct your own year in review by visiting our archives.
