COVID 1000 and Beyond: Making Better Homes

  • Lacey Jones—Program Director, QomQem Coastal Connections, Victoria

  • Sarah Murray—Executive Director, North Park Neighbourhood Association, Victoria

  • Rachel Phillips—Executive Director, Peers Victoria Resource Society, Victoria

  • Janine Theobald—Director of Collaborative Engagement, Alliance to End Homelessness in the Capital Region, Victoria

Key
Takeaways

A roundup of the most compelling ideas, themes and quotes from this candid conversation

1. The pandemic exacerbated challenges facing people who live in encampments. 

The panellists agreed that COVID-19 has amplified challenges that homeless community in Victoria, BC are facing. During the pandemic, there was a lack of spaces for people who rely on public spaces to shelter as the City prohibited encampments in public spaces during the day. The cold temperature and frequent rain throughout the winter made the situation even worse for campers as there was not enough spaces and facilities to keep them warm and dry. These increased challenges highlighted the need for more support for those individuals with no permanent housing. 

2. Community organizations stepped up to support homeless community during the pandemic. 

Amid these challenges, community organizations in Victoria stepped up and provided support that these individuals desperately needed during the pandemic. For example, The Alliance to End Homelessness in the Capital Region engaged individuals who were experiencing homelessness to develop a framework and strategy to support and enable them to self manage as temporary measures. Meanwhile, North Park Neighborhood Association distributed food and hygiene supplies and setup warming tents in parking lots to ensure those campers can eat, and stay clean and warm.  

 3. There was an increase in awareness of homelessness among community members and neighbours.

Rachel Phillips, who is the Executive Director of Peers Victoria Resource Society, suggested that as COVID-19 highlighted the challenges around homelessness and encampments, community members and neighbours took initiatives to support people who were experiencing homelessness at a scale that was not seen before the pandemic started. She further argued that the pandemic was a profound moment where people took more interest in the issue of homelessness and encampments.  

 4. Indigenous organizations need to play an active role to support homeless individuals who are Indigenous to reconnect with their culture. 

During the pandemic, many Indigenous individuals who were experiencing homelessness were also losing connection to their culture, ancestors, and to the strengths that they can only find in the culture. According to Lacey Jones, the Program Director at the QomQem Coastal Connections, Indigenous people who live in public spaces, use substances, and affected by colonialism have no access to cultural ceremonies such as drumming and connecting to elders. In response, Lacey Jones and her team organized bi-weekly cultural events in encampments where Indigenous campers could sing local songs, eat Indigenous food, and other cultural practices that are integral to their lives.  

5. Innovation, collaboration, and grassroots approach are positive aspects of COVID-19 that need to be preserved in the future. 

With all its challenges, the pandemic also brought a rare moment and an opportunity for residents, and non-profit organizations to innovate, collaborate, and apply grassroots approach to address various challenges facing individuals who are experiencing homelessness. The panelists agreed that everyone has a responsibility and a role to play to ensure that this momentum must continue beyond the pandemic. It is critical that the positive aspects of the pandemic must translate into a system response and the situation should not return to where it was before. 

Full Panel
Transcript

Note to readers: This video session was transcribed using auto-transcribing software.  Questions or concerns with the transcription can be directed to events@canurb.org with “transcription” in the subject line.

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:27:03
Now, as we’ve called making better homes, which is leaders from the wonderful community of Victoria and we appreciate that they’re going to take him some time to just tell us a little story, that I asked you need to Retell about how you had.

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:27:21
A remarkable experience through Covid and We’re gonna have a truncated bit of time here, because we were a Sandwich, between 2 ministers, coming out of Question, Period, Mr.

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:27:31
Bennett. Just now, Minister Hassan is next so you’re gonna have to talk quickly.

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:27:35
But we, will post into the chat links to this, to what you’re gonna talk to us, about and tell us the story and I’m just going to hand over to you Janine and thanks Gang Sara, and Lacey and Rachel thanks for Joining us, It’s, a really

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:27:47
Important story. And I’m looking forward to you telling it briefly.

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:27:49
But importantly, thanks. Janine

[Janine Theobald] 13:27:52
Alright, I’ll give it my best go, but, before I begin, I

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:27:53
Sure and I’ll come back on and and we’ll see if we can hold the minister back a minute or 2, but go for it. Janine

[Janine Theobald] 13:28:00
Okay, yeah, and I would like to start by acknowledging, that I am joining you today from the Homelands of the Lakangan Peoples known as well, as the song he’s in the Squamel Nations, these Territories have held me and I Appreciate

[Janine Theobald] 13:28:16
All of the opportunities to learn about what that means, and much gratitude to the lipungen peoples.

[Janine Theobald] 13:28:22
This is also the location. Where some of this Most of this work took place so very high level, and very briefly, in the year 2,020.

[Janine Theobald] 13:28:31
One we had been experiencing covid in our community, and as a result of their not being enough spaces for people who rely on public spaces to shelter.

[Janine Theobald] 13:28:42
There was a moratorium on the bylaw, which prohibited camping throughout the day.

[Janine Theobald] 13:28:50
And people were in various encampments through the community, including a location at Central Park, which is where Sarah is the Executive of the North Park Neighborhood, Association.

[Janine Theobald] 13:29:00
It’s located in her community as well, as location, where people from Peers were providing in reach support.

[Janine Theobald] 13:29:07
And Lisa will speak to the Quantum Coastal Supports Indigenous Supports and Cultural Supports that were being brought into the space, so there’s a number of people in the Park North, Park Stepped in and Engaged with Community the Greater Victoria Coalition and

[Janine Theobald] 13:29:23
Homelessness was conducting an engagement with in folks who were living in the Park.

[Janine Theobald] 13:29:28
We had Hired peer researchers, people who were experiencing homelessness, living in the Park as well as people’s lived experience to Conduct engagement, we were having talking Circles we were facilitating activities to in Real time, look at Participatory, action to see how we could support Improving the

[Janine Theobald] 13:29:45
Situation, with the people who were in it, as well as looking at developing frameworks for Self Managed and Supported Encampments as an Interim Measure, where People’s Basic Human Rights, were not being met all of this of Course was being done in the Aforementioned Drug Supply Poisoning Crisis, Housing

[Janine Theobald] 13:30:04
Shortage, and the Ongoing genocide of indigenous persons in our in Canada, through what was not unexpected.

[Janine Theobald] 13:30:11
But there was a flood in the in encampment there, and there was a video that went viral around that experience, the city of Victoria, BC housing and other partners came together, to allocate, a hard Skate, Parking, lot that became a Sanctioned encampment and I Will

[Janine Theobald] 13:30:26
Provide a document that speaks to that Framework, and also has links to documents from North Park and otherwise and and out of that came a space where people were permitted to be a Smaller community there was a warming tent, that was Staffed Funded by some Grants to the North Park and They’ll speak to that

[Janine Theobald] 13:30:46
And Peers and other supports came in, and it was very difficult, but there was also a tremendous amount of beauty.

[Janine Theobald] 13:30:55
And and wonderful experiences that came out of that so that’s a high-level summary, I hope it made a little bit of a sense in the narrative, and i’m looking forward to chatting more about it

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:31:10
Great, fantastic well who wants to go next in terms of providing their perspective in terms, of how you experience, this, I think, part of what we’re promoting here is storytelling as a way of learning, right and and no situation, is the same agreed but you had a particular moment and you were right in

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:31:29
The Media frenzy, and you had a whole bunch of things thrown at you and I’m wondering if each of you wants to comment for just a second, about what your Particular vantage.

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:31:38
Point was who wants to go? Rachel, I’m just gonna pick Rachel want to go next

[Rachel Phillips] 13:31:43
Sure I will one of the things that I found so striking about that time was the way neighbors, and citizens came together, to support people in the Park, the the video Imagery really made that happen but once that did.

[Rachel Phillips] 13:32:01
Happen. I thought the level of I know people. There are. There are some criticism.

[Rachel Phillips] 13:32:06
But how things happen. But I thought the level of collaboration.

[Rachel Phillips] 13:32:10
Just took right off, and it raised the standard of how we think about what should be available for people?

[Rachel Phillips] 13:32:17
There’s 2 ways of looking at it, but I mean.

[Rachel Phillips] 13:32:20
I thought it was incredible. The way people came together to support the people that were moving from the part to the encampment.

[Rachel Phillips] 13:32:28
And It felt like a real moment where citizens were taking more interest in homelessness, and so most of the time I feel like people are just walking by and just you know sort of resigning themselves.

[Rachel Phillips] 13:32:43
To this is the way it has to be. But that was a moment.

[Rachel Phillips] 13:32:45
Where it wasn’t that case and the power that came out of that I think I hope others will speak to it.

[Rachel Phillips] 13:32:51
As well, was really profound, and we needed all the time. It shouldn’t have just been a moment. Yeah.

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:32:55
It’s interesting, you know. Yeah, yeah I’ve had this comment, this thought and it happened earlier, today, too, about empathy.

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:33:03
You know, have we had an experience where our sense of urban empathy has imp has been increased.

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:33:10
Because we’ve seen things that maybe we didn’t see before.

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:33:12
I think there’s been examples where it’s gone.

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:33:14
The other Direction, whatever the opposite of empathy is disdain.

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:33:18
But but I’m just wondering if it did our hearts open a little. Bit.

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:33:21
I don’t know you know that’s the thing. I did you, watch it over time who wants to go next Sarah or Lacey go ahead, Sarah, how about you

[Sarah Murray (She/Her)] 13:33:30
Sure I’m happy to thanks for hosting this

[Sarah Murray (She/Her)] 13:33:33
I appreciate the opportunity to talk about this. yeah, so it you know, it’s really interesting to me, did a great job of summarizing the the situation, and at a time when some neighborhood organizations, were organizing legal battles and setting Up Twitter Profiles our neighborhood Association, took a bit

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:33:34
Fine to have you? Yeah.

[Sarah Murray (She/Her)] 13:33:54
of a different tact. We began organizing distributions of food, and hygiene supplies, and set up a community donation tent and with the folks.

[Sarah Murray (She/Her)] 13:34:04
On this call, began hosting weekly circle meetings in the Park.

[Sarah Murray (She/Her)] 13:34:08
The original location of What was one of Victoria’s, most densely populated Parks, where Sheltering was Taking Place and every week.

[Sarah Murray (She/Her)] 13:34:19
We kept hearing the same things. We heard that folks wanted access to showers, and washrooms, and so we’d spend the time in between those weekly meetings advocating for Existing facilities to be opened and we kept hearing that there was a need for a warming tent even as early

[Sarah Murray (She/Her)] 13:34:37
as the fall and summer people were saying, we need we need somewhere to be warm and dry.

[Sarah Murray (She/Her)] 13:34:42
Here, in on the West coast, we call winter the Rainy season, and it’s it’s impossible to to be well when You’re cold and wet all the time and it wasn’t Until this Group sort of came together, and kept Pushing that We were able to Leverage some Red Cross

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:34:59
Hmm.

[Sarah Murray (She/Her)] 13:34:59
Funding to to have peers, operate a warming tent at the parking lot, where the sort of Self Managed Encampment was run

[Sarah Murray (She/Her)] 13:35:10
But it was it was it was quite remarkable. Seeing the the response from the community.

[Sarah Murray (She/Her)] 13:35:15
It was really difficult. As well, we’re still addressing some of the Follow-up from the Community, and the there were a lot of big Feelings from our community, members.

[Sarah Murray (She/Her)] 13:35:25
Some Folks, were really disappointed, that we were as involved.

[Sarah Murray (She/Her)] 13:35:28
As we were other folks wanted us to be more involved, so navigating the wide spectrum of Opinions from the community was Difficult

[Sarah Murray (She/Her)] 13:35:38
We don’t, we don’t regret being as involved as we were, and we would do it again, in a heartbeat.

[Sarah Murray (She/Her)] 13:35:44
And it was really good learning, opportunity, once the relocation happened to the Parking lot.

[Sarah Murray (She/Her)] 13:35:50
There were volunteers and board members who spent their entire Christmas holiday in the parking lot, setting up the Palettes, and Tents, and drilling the tents, into the into the Parking lot, so that they Wouldn’t Blow Away, in the Wind and it was quite Remarkable to See, the Response from the Community

[Sarah Murray (She/Her)] 13:36:07
And at the same time, very very difficult. For this community is at the same time

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:36:13
You know. It’s interesting we. We put up a a platform called city share people.

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:36:18
Some people will put it into the chat. It’s called city.

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:36:20
Share Canada Ca, and it was to start to identify these Kinds of Grassroots Community Responses people, just getting on with doing It Right and it’s such a I feel like it’s such a a a a challenge to Figure, Out when Do we Need Volunteers, and community groups and individuals to step in

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:36:41
Versus, professionals, people that work in the sector government.

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:36:46
It’s tricky, A. And and somehow, during Covid I feel like nobody, spent very much time saying no, that’s not my job.

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:36:55
Or that’s not my jurisdiction. We just all rolled our sleeves up right.

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:36:59
And now here we are are we gonna settle back into a Hmm, no wait. Now, you know what I mean, and that’s I I I just always wrestle with that go to city share Canada on see, you’ll see, a gazillion. Smart ideas.

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:37:12
That were of things people did. And I don’t want to lose that.

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:37:14
But at the same time, I know we’ve got a normalize it somehow.

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:37:18
Lacy, What’s your perspective on that. I’m sure you deal with that dilemma all the time

[Lacey Jones, QomQem Coastal Connections] 13:37:23
Yeah, I’ll just share a bit of background on Kong, Kong Postal Connections which is compound is a it translates to strong, and most closely, go Salish Dialects, so strong, Coastal Connections, or an Indigenous, Outreach, program, that that grew from

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:37:28
Sure.

[Lacey Jones, QomQem Coastal Connections] 13:37:41
Responding to the pandemic we were first a team of just 2, of Us, and a few others that were part-time indigenous outreach workers, that were Hired on through Peers to Do Encampment Outreach for Indigenous, Folks, just Recognizing that you know, that

[Lacey Jones, QomQem Coastal Connections] 13:37:55
We could provide some culturally safe support for folks and and advocate for housing and and those pieces, but during with with what Jeanine spoke to and Sarah and Rachel Just about that Rap I’m just Thinking back to some of the Pieces I guess Culturally, that we brought you, know to

[Lacey Jones, QomQem Coastal Connections] 13:38:12
That community, that that was kind of founded at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria.

[Lacey Jones, QomQem Coastal Connections] 13:38:19
Yeah, I, think we really, recognize you know, for the first few months that we were out that folks indigenous folks were really missing that connection to culture, and you know, to ancestors and to strength you know that we that we find within you know our culture so we’ve really our team really sort.

[Lacey Jones, QomQem Coastal Connections] 13:38:35
Of focusing on being able to bring around cultural events to encampments, all throughout Victoria and to different supportive Housing Sites, and I.

[Lacey Jones, QomQem Coastal Connections] 13:38:43
Think one of the most powerful and actually one of the first cultural events that we brought was to the Community Gene was talking about that flooded we had brought some drummers we had a local Song, his Family nation, here, on the South, Island cook, Fried, Bread so

[Lacey Jones, QomQem Coastal Connections] 13:39:01
We had fried bread and and drummers, come and we had called on the new Channel Community to bring shawls and have some of the the Lady Dancers bring paddles, and they opened, it up and they put Shells on you know Indigenous, women and

[Lacey Jones, QomQem Coastal Connections] 13:39:17
Other folks that were living in in the parks, and they were able to dance and just engage in you know the Drumming, and the ancestral care, I think that that has existed for thousands of years for our people, to bring some strength in and talking to one of the women, that I had connected with

[Lacey Jones, QomQem Coastal Connections] 13:39:33
I went to back the next day after. I knew I knew that she had danced and she just said she hadn’t slept that well in years.

[Lacey Jones, QomQem Coastal Connections] 13:39:39
So just recognizing the strength and the power, and just like the H, follow and the good feelings that come from engaging in our Culture, so we recognize the need for to Make Sure that we were Able to build on that and Continuously, bring it to folks that we Work with that you know that are Living

[Lacey Jones, QomQem Coastal Connections] 13:39:56
Outside or using substances and that have been displaced from their communities and cultures, because of colonialism, and and because of you know being pushed out so

[Lacey Jones, QomQem Coastal Connections] 13:40:05
I think that’s a really a big foundation of what we do here at Hong, Kong, Postal Connections.

[Lacey Jones, QomQem Coastal Connections] 13:40:10
Is just reconnecting folks to culture. having a really low barrier access to you know, engaging in in different cultural ceremonies, or drumming and Connecting to Elders, and those things, so and another thing, I think that was really powerful that grew out of response to the

[Lacey Jones, QomQem Coastal Connections] 13:40:26
Pandemic was there’s about 15 of us, indigenous outreach workers, that that work at all different organizations and within greater Victoria, we come together, every 2 weeks just to Connect to hold each other up in this Work, but also to larger Cultural events and

[Lacey Jones, QomQem Coastal Connections] 13:40:43
Seafood feasts that we host for this indigenous street, our indigenous street family, so yeah, we’ve done lots of work around eviction, Prevention for Indigenous folks in the City, just Larger Cultural Reconnection Events, for people, as well, and It’s a pretty

[Lacey Jones, QomQem Coastal Connections] 13:40:59
Powerful little group, where the Iow, but we also call ourselves the it still enough which translates in language to good medicine.

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:41:01
Hmm.

[Lacey Jones, QomQem Coastal Connections] 13:41:07
So just recognizing you know, our role is just to share good medicine with our relatives that are on the streets, and that are struggling and and a big component, I think that differs in the way, we do our work is just really recognizing all the people that we support as our relatives, as our

[Lacey Jones, QomQem Coastal Connections] 13:41:22
Cousins, as our aunties, and and just, you know, carrying forward that love and that care, that is a foundation for close English governance and laws, so

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:41:32
Yeah, I it interesting, the theme, that you’re all sort of touching on collaboration ceremony, can connections.

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:41:41
Somehow I’ll add a see. Another see we had the Right Conditions right something about urgency, or or maybe to a desire to be help to be seen to be contributing I’m on a bunch of Seas here, I’m just Wondering if you know will we ever see those Conditions

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:42:02
Again, can we’re gonna graph, because the ministry is waiting.

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:42:05
But if you think about this going forward, if you had you know 5 words to describe what you’re going to carry with you as you carry on in your work in the next 1,000 days what would those 5 words be that sentence that would stick with you rachel what’s the sentence

[Rachel Phillips] 13:42:20
Just that the crisis of the Pandemic allowed for innovation, like what lace is talking about and so that was the upside of it.

[Rachel Phillips] 13:42:28
The crisis was because we didn’t have a proper public system.

[Rachel Phillips] 13:42:31
Atic emergency response for unhoused people. So we still need to do that going into the future but at the same time we don’t want to stifle that great innovation that came out of the crisis so we want to be mindful of those lessons

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:42:44
Yeah, this is the thing. This is the balance lacy, what about you 5 words a sentence

[Lacey Jones, QomQem Coastal Connections] 13:42:49
Oh, I I think, moving forward, we’ll just continue to to work at collaborating with indigenous and non-indigenous orgs to carry on this good work and and just to bring care in love and holding folks up you know either that are doing the Support work or the are Experiencing

[Lacey Jones, QomQem Coastal Connections] 13:43:05
Being in house or or using substances. So collaboration, in care.

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:43:10
Collaboration, and care, we’re we’re on the seas.

[Lacey Jones, QomQem Coastal Connections] 13:43:13
Okay.

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:43:15
Okay. Janine last words to you. Sarah. Did I already get.

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:43:18
You know I’ve still got to get Sarah’s 5 words from Sarah, 5 words from Janine

[Janine Theobald] 13:43:22
Echo what my colleagues have said taking the grassroots approach that was done by necessity and looking, how do we translate that into a system response we need to continue to fund the amazing Work That’s, happened do not defund that because we’ll Be back at square.

[Janine Theobald] 13:43:39
One and just it is our job, no one is to blame, but everybody is responsible.

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:43:45
I thought you can say no one is to blame in everyone’s to blame.

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:43:48
It’s we we had a session at Midday where Bruce, Kat said no one’s in charge, and Everybody’s in Charge 5 words, a sentence, from you Sarah

[Sarah Murray (She/Her)] 13:43:56
I think back to a 1,000 days ago today, and it was the day of the point in time, count in Victoria that counted 1,500, and 23, unhoused individuals in Victoria, the next point in time, count is coming up in March, and I’m worried to learn the number about

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:44:01
Yeah

[Sarah Murray (She/Her)] 13:44:11
that when there’s been a lot of wonderful moments of community rising up in resilience over the past 1,000 days.

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:44:18
Hmm.

[Sarah Murray (She/Her)] 13:44:19
But the there’s a lot that isn’t better.

[Sarah Murray (She/Her)] 13:44:21
Rates own Starlight alone, owns, 15% of the mental market in Victoria, a one bedroom goes for $2,100. And there are 5 apartments available for rent and victory Right now, under $1,700,, so

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:44:23
Yeah

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:44:25
Yeah

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:44:33
Hi, listen your timing your timing is perfect, because in the waiting right now, as minister has sent, so we’re up to talk right to him.

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:44:40
So thank you, Jean Sarah Rachel Lacy, thanks for this thanks for sharing, this this moment in time, this story will post all that we can I appreciate you taking time to just Retail and Remind people, what we can learn and what we need to go, for the next 1,000 days, so thanks, folks.

[Sarah Murray (She/Her)] 13:44:40
Okay.

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:44:54
I’m gonna send you off and I’m gonna ask minister has send to put his camera on we’ve appreciate that he’s sneaking in to talk to us.

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:45:00
Before he goes. Oh, Hi! Hi Rachel’s daughter, or Rachel Sutton, I’m not sure what child that is Hi, the minister, will join us, I hope and we will hear specifically from the Minister, at his particular Spec Perspective on the last 1,000 days, of Housing in the next

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:45:18
1,000 days, and that we will get a chance to have above you from him, and then, after that we will go to a session on data and I’d see that Karen wiseman’s been on with us all morning, and she’ll be Commenting as well, I Anticipate

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:45:33
About the Housing piece. okay, the minister’s not here.

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:45:38
Okay, we’re gonna go to data. Next sorry thought the minister was Alright well, I’m still, we’re still Sending Janine and Sarah and Rachel and Lacy off and I’m gonna ask Carolyn and Team to come back on the data folks, and We’ll go right, to that Session about

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:45:50
Making better decisions. So thanks again, gal is really great to see you, and as we always say at city talk, the conversation isn’t ending, it’s just the beginning, so there’s Zara, my colleague, who is on the Board.

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:46:02
Of Ci hide sorry I know you’re coming into us from the University. Yes.

[Zahra Ebrahim (she/they)] 13:46:05
Chat Toronto, Metalton University

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:46:08
We’ll tell you. We’ve we’ve had an interesting time here.

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:46:12
Talking about the Lessons, from Covid the last 1,000 days to the next 1,000 days, and so We’re going to skip the minister is to be arriving any minute.

[Mary W Rowe, she/her, CUI/IUC] 13:46:20
Now so the next session was to be with him, but he’s not here quite yet.

Full Audience
Chatroom Transcript

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From Canadian Urban Institute: You can find transcripts and recordings of today’s and all our webinars at https://canurb.org/citytalk

13:27:23 From Alex Tabascio (CUI) To Everyone:
Lacey Jones — Program Director, QomQem Coastal Connections, Victoria Lacey Jones is from the Snuneymuxw Nation on her mother’s side and has ancestry to Wales and Germany on her father’s side. Lacey has completed both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Victoria. She has been in the helping/support worker field for nearly seven years and has been working outreach for several years. She feels honored and blessed to have met so many beautiful relatives and people over the years.
13:27:35 From Alex Tabascio (CUI) To Everyone:
Sarah Murray — Executive Director, North Park Neighbourhood Association, Victoria Sarah Murray is the executive director of the North Park Neighbourhood Association – a nonprofit organization that provides services, events, and programs to the North Park community to encourage social inclusion, community development, and advocate for equity-based municipal policy and decision-making. Her background in art history (MA Queen’s University) informs community-based projects, such as mural collaborations, placemaking activations (Vancouver Street Plaza), and event planning.
13:27:46 From Alex Tabascio (CUI) To Everyone:
Rachel Phillips is a health sociologist with a passion for the non-profit sector, evidence-based service delivery, and health and social equity. For over a decade, Rachel has been involved in community-based research addressing social determinants of health among people in the sex industry; women who use substances during pregnancy and early parenting; social welfare policy; and occupational health among health and social service providers working with marginalized populations. Rachel has worked in child and family services, residential services for persons with disabilities, and non-profit governance. Rachel is passionate about Peers Victoria and the unique role it plays in the region in raising public awareness and providing support to people who are (or have been) in the sex industry.
13:27:59 From Alex Tabascio (CUI) To Everyone:
Janine Theobald is the Director of Collaborative Engagement for the Alliance to End Homelessness in the Capital Region, and a Board Director with the Victoria Multifaith Society. Her lived experience, restorative justice training, and background in Mental Health & Addictions and System Transformation with the regional health authority have crystalized her belief that a person-centered approach is foundational to enduring change. This approach includes ensuring those impacted by decisions are part of the decision-making process and have pathways to leadership roles. As a Zen practitioner, she understands the power of deep listening, relationship-building and believes we are all intrinsically connected.
13:31:13 From Janine Theobald To Everyone:
https://victoriahomelessness.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/940_Caledonia_Encampment_Framework_GVCEH_2022.FINAL_.pdf
13:40:27 From Zahireen Tarefdar (CUI) To Everyone:
https://qomqem.com/
13:41:26 From Carolyn Whitzman To Everyone:
This is very inspiring!
13:42:24 From Nick Hanson (CUI) To Everyone:
CityShare — a real-time, crowdsourced platform that houses resources, tools and stories on how city builders and residents are responding to COVID-19.
Check it out: https://citysharecanada.ca
13:42:40 From Lorena Zárate To Everyone:
cultural reconnection, yes! we need it so much!
13:43:31 From Gay Stephenson To All Panelists:
Thank you all for sharing this experience. Very thoughtful and inspiring to learn about.
13:44:31 From Gay Stephenson To Everyone:
Thank you all for sharing this experience in such a thoughtful way.
13:44:54 From Nick Hanson (CUI) To Everyone:
Thanks to this session’s panellists:
• Lacey Jones—Program Director, QomQem Coastal Connections, Victoria
• Sarah Murray—Executive Director, North Park Neighbourhood Association, Victoria
• Rachel Phillips—Executive Director, Peers Victoria Resource Society, Victoria
• Janine Theobald—Director of Collaborative Engagement, Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness, Victoria