…:::jamieleigh:::…

happy monday!

this weekend was very busy for me, starting with a quick trip to seattle to see alice in chains play at the paramount theatre. followed by a day walking around the beautiful city, browsing pike place, and taking in the works at seattle art museum (thanks for the student discount!!).

saturday evening i had the honour of attending the vancouver media coop’s fundraiser at the hd lab- wow!! i was humbled to be in the presence fo so many amazing artists and activists who are not only very talented but also passionate about people, justice, and the earth. right on!!

sunday was also action-packed: it started with the poverty olympics which i have to say was the highlight of my weekend! it was so amazing to see the intense community and creative spirit in the DTES. community members staged a theatrical event aimed at shaming the feds, province, civic governments as well as big business. what a success!! my favourite parts were the hockey game (pigeon park vs. vanoc predators)  and “wrestling for our community” (mr. con dough takes on four of the cutest little kids who represent the community). Also, the poverty olympics anthem is rad:

Oh Canada
Our home on Native land.
A billion for security,
Instead of building homes.
Olympic spending has gone sky high
While thousands sleep outside.

From far and wide
Oh Canada
Invite the world to see
A quarter million souls,
Poor and freezing cold.
Oh Canada, where is e-qual-i-ty?
Oh Canada, we are ashamed of thee.

after leaving that event to have coffee with a couple friends, one of them pointed out a fresh piece of graffiti beneath our feet: a power-washed stencil aimed at sex-tourists. what an awesome idea!! although i don’t really agree with all of the points of this campaign, i do appreciate these messages on the sidewalks of vancouver!

after that, i did a little more research for my ethnographic film and i’d have to say that this weekend was a success!!

looking forward to the week ahead….