Making a Statement

On the last day of AUPE's convention, one of our members went to the Shaw Conference Centre to try and show delegates that there is a story here that they aren't being shown.

For a bit of background, Ken is one of our founding members.  He was among those who fought to have Artspace and SAIL created, so that people like him could live independent lives.  Thanks to him, all of us at Artspace enjoy affordable housing while being part of a dynamic community.  He has a lifetime of achievements, is a world traveler and athlete, and a real hero.  You can learn more about him on his website, backwheeler.ca

This is his statement about how things went on Saturday.

I went down to the AUPE convention with the two sign to try to get the Delagets to read them as they left the conference and maybe be      curious enough to go to my website to get educated about what is really happening here SO I FIRST SAT ON THE PUBLIC SIDEWALK JUST TO  THE LEFT OF THE FRONT ENTRANCE TO THE SHAW CONFERENCE FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES THEN THE DELA GETS STARTED COMING OUT I NOTICE MOST OF THEM WERE WALKING TOWARDS THE MacDONALD AND WESTEN  HOTELS, SO I WENT TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SHAW AND SAT FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTE OF COURSE THE AUPE STAFF WERE VIDEO TAPING ME ALL  THE TIME I EVEN WENT UP TO THEM SO THEY COULD VIDEO THE SIGNS WHICH THEY DIDN'T LIKE  THEM I WENT FOR A WALK DOWN TOO THE MACDONALD TRYING TO GET THE DELA GETS A CHANCE TO READ THE TWO SIGNS, BUT THE STAFF CAME WITH ME KEEPING THE DELEGATES AWAY FROM ME AS FAR AS POSSIBLE EVEN REDIRECTING THEM TO AVOID SEEING THE SIGNS I THEN SAT AND LET THEM PASS  THE STAFF NEVER SAID ANYTHING TO ME AND I SAID NOTHING TO THEM.

I HAD FUN!

KEN

Here is Ken, with the signs the SAIL staff tried to prevent other convention goers from seeing.

You can read Ken's bio here.

Here is another statement from Ken recorded back in July.

Happy Thanksgiving!

While I believe we should be thankful everyday, Thanksgiving Day is a reminder to all of us that it is important to be thankful no matter what our circumstances. So, as I reflect on this day, I decided to share some of it with you.

Living here at Artspace has definitely been a challenge the last five months.  However, I am so thankful to live in such a wonderful community.  With such a variety of people of various ages, ethnicities, and abilities, it's like living in our own miniature version of the world.  And for the most part, we get along pretty well.

I'm thankful to live near the river valley.  Every season brings its own beauty and the scenery is ever-changing.

I'm thankful for the SAIL Homecare Program.  It allows for some with disabilities to live here independently in the Co-op. For some others, they provide just that little bit of help to make daily living easier.

I'm thankful for the Replacemenat Staff.  Without their dedication, some of the Members who rely on the assistance they provide would not be able to live here during the labour dispute.  I'm also thankful for their tenacity and determination.  It takes much more courage, character and self-respect to cross the picket line than to stand on the picket line.

I'm thankful for the SAIL Board which does a valiant job of running the homecare program--and all on a voluntary basis.

I'm also thankful for the Artspace Board--also volunteer run--which works just as hard running the Co-op business.

I'm thankful for this blog.  It provides an avenue by which I can voice my concerns and opinions about what's going on in my neighbourhood.

And, of course, I'm thankful for my family, friends and my relationship to God through Jesus Christ, my Saviour!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Thanksgiving

This weekend is generally a time when people spend a bit of time being thankful or grateful for something. I sure wish that happened year round - for me and for others.

So, today I would like to share some of the things I am grateful for.

I am thankful for:

** an affordable place to call home

** the kindness of neighbours

** home and family

** memories of loved ones

** energy to persevere

** the motivation to finish projects and tasks

** dreams of things to do and places yet to go

** the health I do have and all the things that don’t need fixing

** all the gifts of nature in each season

** true friends and wise teachers

** For all the blessings of this life and for our hope of a better life to come.

And the ability, at any time, to remember to be thankful and grateful throughout the entire year.

So now, your turn. What are you thankful for?

Video of the Day: remember what it's about

Since the politicians that AUPE bring out haven't taken the time to get both sides of the story while taking part in photo opps, here's a message that deserves repeating.

Thoughts from a Member

The following was written by an Artspace Member as she watched the picketers outside her home.

I'm listening to the caterwauling of the AUPE gangsters as they completely block the stairway leading to my grandchildren's home with their rude, substantial backsides. They are all over the grass and walks and stairways and front stoops of the townhouses across the street from our highrise. I hate it that my lifelong, unequivocal support of unions has been turned around by this episode, but so it has. I also hate it that, if even one politician shows up to support them, there will go my support for that party, which, at this point, has one of its only provincial representatives from this riding. These union-paid picketers are like cockroaches.