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Spencie’s View

Why has Vancouver’s ‘progressive’ Mayor been so quiet about the BC teachers’ strike?

Instead of going to back-to-school this month, BC students and parents are getting a lesson in class struggle. They are the collateral damage of Premier Christy Clark’s BC Liberal government and their ideological vendetta against BC teachers and their union. This past week, the BCTF showed itself remarkably willing to compromise, while the BC government…

Transformational encounter

Two worlds are meeting here: one from BC and one from Brazil.

Encouraging healthy cross-cultural communication between newcomer groups | Photo by Vancouver Film School

Ethnic isolation in a multicultural framework

Growing up in Vancouver entails navigating the complexities of the city’s familiar, highly-touted paradigm of multiculturalism. Over the years, I have witnessed many manifestations of this policy in everyday life, ranging from the brilliant to the problematic. At its best, multiculturalism can foster an appreciation for diversity and encourage inter-cultural dialogue. I have enjoyed various…

The Peoples Social Forum puts Indigenous struggles front and centre

This past weekend in Ottawa, thousands of activists from all across Canada participated in the Peoples Social Forum. With little more than a year until the next federal election, much of the talk around the Social Forum was about defeating Stephen Harper’s government. But this historic gathering of progressive political forces was about much more…

On the wrong side of the tracks

Here’s one of the beautiful community gardens along the Arbutus rail corridor. Many have sheds, green houses, water lines and sitting areas. Owned by Canadian Pacific since 1886, this valuable property consists of a 66-foot wide right of way, 11 kilometres in length, from the Fraser River nearly to False Creek. Currently there is a…

Embarrassed by your foreign accent?

Foreign is the adjective which best describes the ambiguous feeling that came over me after the first rush of adrenaline faded.

Spencie’s View

With Trudeau riding high, it’s time for soul searching on Canada’s left

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? – Mark 8:36. I remember seeing this line from the Bible painted on the side of a grain elevator on the prairies.

The circle comes round

Welcome to Cowichan Bay located just outside Duncan, BC on Vancouver Island.

Finding myself in Vancouver

The journey was a promising one. It looked like the ideal way to go for a recent graduate from a South American university: moving to Canada to continue my studies.