Spent three weeks in Vancouver last summer. I so love Canada’s Coasts, East and West. Walking Vancouver was very educational and at times highly uncomfortable to say the least. We could be shopping, or attending a entertainment performance, leaving the theater, restaurant, or venue, strolling about only to come face to face with hoards of what my late father called bums, sluts, and druggies(sorry for the harshness). Used needles everywhere, and down and out people sleeping on steps, benches, and in alleyways.
Vancouver has become a dropping ground for the homeless, destitute, and addicted. Hastings, a sector in downtown Vancouver is a street and community bursting from its seams with streets filled with tents, corrugated boxes, filled at night with people you would not want to meet. It’s true is it not? Middle-class citizens want to stay away from such people, keep them outside of their communities, and don’t want to see, hear or speak to them right?
The dirty unwashed, diseased and forever walking about in a drugged state.
My wife and I came upon them while strolling about, and my better half wanted to run away from the situation, but not I. You see I have worked with drug addicts for years, spending my evenings communicating, getting to know ladies and men of the night, addicts and homeless too in The Bronx(NY), Washington DC, Toronto, and Philly as a Franciscan TOR. I walked over and put my wife through a half hour of stress, talking to them, finding out where they received assistance and whether were there other places they could go instead of this localized area. They gathered around free injection sites, certain groceries, and restaurants that hand out free food when closing.
Spoke to several local police, all concerned about the number of drug-related deaths they had been seeing since summer came upon them. Expressions like “there is no end to this mess”, and ” the higher-ups know not what they do” showed me the terrible state our police and medical emergency folk were going through. Fatalism is everywhere, with no end in sight. Vaccination sites act like magnets to both users and drug pushers as well. Where you can find addicts, you will find an opportunity for sales and acquiring drugs and paraphernalia too.
The local government simply does not know what to do, meaning well they enact services that seem to be enabling addicts. Drug users then get high, and walk about the local area in a dangerous uncontrolled state. Discarded Syringes are a threat to local children and animals strolling through their parks and community streets.
Toronto is becoming just like Vancouver. The well-meaning but ill-advised politician’s programs and services have and will attract addicts to their region. When the Toronto City Council and Federal Government(they pay for free services) offer free drug runways(injection clinics) they attract those who are already on the down and out, and yet these same medical-security professionals cannot force the addict into a program that would make them clean once again. Bad, but well-meaning programs feed addictions but do not solve the problem.
Statistics Canada has shown that 61 % of homeless do use illicit drugs at least once during the period of homelessness. And with the opioid Fentanyl pandemic, all you need is to use a pill once to Die. When someone takes illicit drugs they are not of proper sound mind, especially if they know these drugs are harmful or even lethal. What do we do with people who will harm themselves? Well, we called the police or officials to take them to the hospital right? So instead of feeding an addict’s hunger for drugs, why not force them to rehab? They cannot hurt themselves or others while they are in some ones care right?
New York City Crimes: 38+ % have some relation to drugs and addiction.
Vancouver City Crimes: 28-36+% drug-related
Toronto City Crimes: They do not provide such information to the public at this time.
I was mugged twice while living in New York City. Each time by an addict. I recognized the tells, gave the twenty dollars I kept in my pocket for just such an incident, and told them to leave. Thankfully they did. Their weapon of choice was a knife. I took control, knowing all they needed was a few dollars to continue their high.
Toronto will certainly become like Vancouver and many urban centers in America soon enough. A hard line is needed here. When you deal with a stupid person, you can expect stupid things to be done. Addicts act in a similar manner, needing to be managed with their health in mind. Addiction is a mental disease, so treat it with determination, forceful passion. Don’t ask the addict, tell them what is going to happen, how they will be medically treated, and accomplish the task. A mentally deranged person loses their freedom for a time until they become well. So to an addict.
Also, forced homelessness is a crime. Bringing people from across the globe to reside in Canada, and not providing them a place to stay makes no sense. The very services needed for those who have left their homes because of abuse, addiction, or unemployment should be expanded. Our local governments squander revenue on programs that do not work, while the needy have no place to go except the streets.
Middle-Class Citizens have the ability to force governments to manage their taxes better, directing these funds to where they should go. The medical sector has made work programs (like injection sites) that waste your funds and put your family at risk as well. Hard decisions need to be made in Vancouver and Toronto. Once the horde has control, it will be very difficult to regain control of your funds and freedom as well.
Steven Kaszab
Bradford, Ontario
skaszab@yahoo.ca
PORT ALBERNI, B.C. – RCMP say the body of a second person has been found inside their vehicle after a road washed away amid pouring rain on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
Police say two vehicles went into the Sarita River when Bamfield Road washed out on Saturday as an atmospheric river hammered southern B.C.
The body of the other driver was found Sunday.
More coming.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
The B.C. Greens say Sonia Furstenau will be staying on as party leader, despite losing her seat in the legislature in Saturday’s provincial election.
The party says in a statement that its two newly elected MLAs, Jeremy Valeriote and Rob Botterell, support Furstenau’s leadership as they “navigate the prospect of having the balance of power in the legislature.”
Neither the NDP led by Premier David Eby nor the B.C. Conservatives led by John Rustad secured a majority in the election, with two recounts set to take place from Oct. 26 to 28.
Eby says in a news conference that while the election outcome is uncertain, it’s “very likely” that the NDP would need the support of others to pass legislation.
He says he reached out to Furstenau on election night to congratulate her on the Greens’ showing.
But he says the Green party has told the NDP they are “not ready yet” for a conversation about a minority government deal.
The Conservatives went from taking less than two per cent of the vote in 2020 to being elected or leading in 45 ridings, two short of a majority and only one behind the NDP.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Toronto FC captain Jonathan Osorio is making a difference, 4,175 kilometres away from home.
The 32-year-old Canadian international midfielder, whose parents hail from Colombia, has been working with the Canadian Colombian Children’s Organization, a charity whose goal is to help disadvantaged youth in the South American country.
Osorio has worked behind the scenes, with no fanfare.
Until now, with his benevolence resulting in becoming Toronto FC’s nominee for the Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award, which honours an MLS player “who showed outstanding dedication to charitable efforts and serving the community” during the 2024 season.”
Other nominees include Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter and CF Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois.
The winner will be announced in late November.
The Canadian Colombian Children’s Organization (CCCO) is run entirely by volunteers like Monica Figueredo and Claudia Soler. Founded in 1991, it received charitable status in 2005.
The charity currently has four projects on the go: two in Medellin and one each in Armenia and Barranquilla.
They include a school, a home for young girls whose parents are addicted to drugs, after-school and weekend programs for children in a disadvantaged neighbourhood, and nutrition and education help for underprivileged youth.
The organization heard about Osorio and was put in contact with him via an intermediary, which led to a lunch meeting. Osorio did his due diligence and soon got back to the charity with his decision.
“It was something that I wanted to be a part of right away,” said Osorio, whose lone regret is that he didn’t get involved sooner.
“I’m fortunate now that to help more now that I could have back then,” he added. “The timing actually worked out for everybody. For the last three years I have donated to their cause and we’ve built a couple of (football) fields in different cities over there in the schools.”
His father visited one of the sites in Armenia close to his hometown.
“He said it was amazing, the kids, how grateful they are to be able to play on any pitch, really,” said Osorio. “But to be playing on a new pitch, they’re just so grateful and so humble.
“It really makes it worth it being part of this organization.”
The collaboration has also made Osorio take stock.
“We’re very fortunate here in Canada, I think, for the most part. Kids get to go to school and have a roof over their head and things like that. In Colombia, it’s not really the same case. My father and his family grew up in tough conditions, so giving back is like giving back to my father.”
Osorio’s help has been a godsend to the charity.
“We were so surprised with how willing he was,” said Soler.
The TFC skipper has helped pay for a football field in Armenia as well as an ambitious sports complex under construction in Barranquilla.
“It’s been great for them,” Figueredo said of the pitch in Armenia. “Because when they go to school, now they have a proper place to train.”
Osorio has also sent videos encouraging the kids to stay active — as well as shipping soccer balls and signed jerseys their way.
“They know more about Jonathan than the other players in Colombia,” Figueredo said. “That’s the funny part. Even though he’s far away, they’ve connected with him.”
“They feel that they have a future, that they can do more,” she added. “Seeing that was really, really great.”
The kids also followed Osorio through the 2022 World Cup and this summer’s Copa America.
Back home, Osorio has also attended the charity’s annual golf tournament, helping raise funds.
A Toronto native, he has long donated four tickets for every TFC home game to the Hospital for Sick Children.
Vancouver’s Berhalter was nominated for his involvement in the Whitecaps’ partnership with B.C. Children’s Hospital while Montreal’s Sirois was chosen for his work with the Montreal Impact Foundation.
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Follow @NeilMDavidson on X platform, formerly known as Twitter
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2024.
A look at Susan Holt, Liberal premier-designate of New Brunswick
Sentencing hearing continues for University of Waterloo gender studies class stabber
Here is the latest on the New Brunswick election
New Brunswick Liberals win majority, Susan Holt first woman to lead province
Inequality has broad impacts on the health of Montreal children, report finds
Premier-designate of New Brunswick, Susan Holt, is first woman to lead the province
Two dead, one missing in B.C. after mudslide, road washout triggered by heavy rain
Toronto FC captain Jonathan Osorio making a difference off the pitch as well as on it
