麻豆传媒映画

Courier reporters are a talkative bunch. Over the past year they talked with hundreds if not thousands of people in the community 鈥� politicians, business owners, activists, athletes, artists, even one fellow who dresses up in a chicken outfit. What follows is a large, but still relatively small, sampling of the more memorable things people said to us.

FUN AND GAMES

Your bike, like all machines, has a consciousness, so I鈥檓 just about the consciousness of my bike and I鈥檓 just observing and acknowledging its consciousness as my partner in getting me around town.

Tor Dekker, on why he attended a bicycle blessing outside Christ Church Cathedral.

It has been traditionally a male activity, although there are ladies involved and they鈥檙e very good. It was very active in the years after the Second World War around which point I think model trains were the high-tech toy of the day.

Model train enthusiast Tom Lundgren.

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Then I went to a roller rink. I saw people roller boogieing. I stood off to the side and just watched and watched. I was so in awe. It was funky, urban hip hop dance. Freestyle. So I learned how to roller skate, picked up this, picked up that. Learned how to do the splits, spin鈥�

Al Lamons, host of the F.U.B.A.R. roller skate jam at Robson Square.

Once you get into the groove, it鈥檚 like flying.

Roller skater Andrea Fraser-Winsby.

Some people get the idea that polyamory is all about group sex and orgies and things like that. Those things can happen, but that is not the everyday reality.

Mel Cassidy, a relationship coach who spoke to the Courier about some of the misconceptions associated with the polyamory lifestyle.

A lot of people I鈥檝e talked to, who are into games, have day jobs that are spent in front of a computer. They鈥檙e in front of the computer all day and they don鈥檛 want to come home and sit in front of a screen. You can have people over, throw a board game down and have some drinks. So board games are really good for the social aspect.

Shannon Lentz, board game enthusiast and founder of the Terminal City Tabletop Convention.

There鈥檚 the old adage that you buy two 鈥� one to keep and one to drink. And then eventually you drink the other one.

鈥淐ousin Eddy,鈥� who stood in line outside a B.C. Liquor for more than a week for BCLS鈥檚 Premium Spirits Release.

We were working by moonlight like bootleggers. It was great.

Anthony Conte, 17, who made a makeshift hockey rink with his friend on frozen Trout Lake in the middle of the night.

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COMMUNITY MINDED

I think that because the library is a piece of the community my greatest joy is being a part of that community. It鈥檚 the community that matters to me most.

Yukiko Tosa, former head librarian at the Britannia branch upon her retirement from 麻豆传媒映画Public Library after 39 years.

It鈥檚 not about money and it鈥檚 not about creating a wonderful piece of art or anything like that. It鈥檚 a random act of kindness. I heard indirectly from people who found them; they have this element of surprise. I love it.

Yarn bomber Katherine Polgrain.

I remember jokingly thinking, 鈥淲hat if this person鈥檚 a serial killer?鈥�

Chris Wong on meeting up with a fellow Instagrammer for the first time.

There was a woman cutting someone鈥檚 hair! On the island!

Margot Long, one of the landscape architects behind Habitat Island.

They are a calming and family-oriented, inclusive people who were just the easiest target for the park board to try and make an example of. Meanwhile, there was easily over 100 hipsters drinking openly 鈥� with several teasingly making fun of the yoga 鈥� and gathering, some in groups larger than eight.

Jennifer Chernecki on the city鈥檚 response to free yoga classes at Dude Chilling Park.

A big part of being in 麻豆传媒映画and Canada is inclusiveness 鈥� including everybody. And if people aren鈥檛 able to be included in the games or what鈥檚 going on because they don鈥檛 speak the language or don鈥檛 know how to do something, we ought to change that.

Duncan Bernardo, a co-founder of the East 麻豆传媒映画Newcomer Camp, which helps refugee children learn English and common sports and playground games.

There are certainly people who don鈥檛 like cannabis, who don鈥檛 like our event and think we are bad folks. But aside from all these hand-wringing editorials, most of the feedback I get directly is positive.

Dana Larsen, co-organizer of the annual 4/20 protest/mass smoke-out event at Sunset Beach.

We have customers that meet other customers and go, 鈥淒on鈥檛 you live near me?鈥� And they sit down and start talking and become friends. That鈥檚 community.

Earl Morris, baker and owner of Bigsby the Bakehouse in Mackenzie Heights.听

There鈥檚 a stigma about the Downtown Eastside and I feel like a lot of people鈥� dehumanize it. They don鈥檛 give it a chance. The Downtown Eastside has one of the strongest senses of community I鈥檝e experienced and I don鈥檛 think a lot of people understand the love and support that鈥檚 within it. My goal is to show people what is here. These women are working so bloody hard for it.

Racquel Belmonte, coordinator of the Women鈥檚 Summer Fair and Flea Market on the Downtown Eastside.

BUSINESS TIME

They wanted to make some boots but I wanted the size to be right鈥� They measured me and I met everyone and we chose a style.

Comedian Marc Maron on his custom made boots from East Van鈥檚 Love Jules Leather Shoe Company.

This guy lives in Kamloops, and he doesn鈥檛 let them work on his stuff in Kamloops because they do western boots, they don鈥檛 do Guccis. So he gets his brother to bring them down to me because he knows he鈥檚 going to get them back looking great.

Main Street cobbler Les Both.

It was unbelievable. They had the whole street closed off. They were just pounding water down. I鈥檓 still shocked to see how it鈥檚 smoking this morning.

Marcus Stiller, who owns Kerrisdale鈥檚 Fish Caf茅, on witnessing the massive fire in June that destroyed several businesses along 41st Avenue.

It鈥檚 quite flexible work. We have a lot of guys who are students or they鈥檙e travelling, so they鈥檙e kind of dipping in and dipping out. We need to beef up our team here.
Jennifer Didcott, co-director of Butlers in the Buff, which staged a recruitment drive in search of 鈥渁ttractive, buff men鈥� between the ages of 22 and 34.

I don鈥檛 quite understand it, but apparently it鈥檚 doing quite well.

Kingsgate Mall manager Leyda Molnar on the mall鈥檚 Bitcoin machine.

It鈥檚 like trying to open your Facebook app with your Motorola flip phone.

Jessica Luongo, 麻豆传媒映画wine importer on the B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch鈥檚 computer system.

Our dad had a philosophy of every customer that you come face to face with is the most important customer you鈥檒l ever deal with. We were taught to give everything you can possibly give to him or her.

Jerry Wolfman, co-owner of 3 Vets, reflects on his family鈥檚 outdoor equipment business closing after 70 years in business in Vancouver.

POLITICAL ARENA

Like that line from Casablanca, 鈥淲ill I see you tonight?鈥澨鼴ogart answered, 鈥淚 don't plan that far ahead.鈥澨齆ot even sure what to have for dinner. I better take something out of the freezer.

Vision 麻豆传媒映画Coun. Kerry Jang when asked whether he will seek re-election in 2018.

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We鈥檙e putting up walls. It kind of reminds me of the United States of America, when we put up walls around our city and say to people, 鈥淵ou cannot purchase a home here, you cannot move to Vancouver. You can rent, but don鈥檛 come here and purchase a home.鈥� It just kind of reminds me of what鈥檚 going on down south, and that concerns me.

NPA Coun. Melissa De Genova on Mayor Gregor Robertson鈥檚 proposal to have the city develop a policy that gives Metro 麻豆传媒映画residents first crack at buying pre-sale homes.

It was really strong. I don't know if that made a difference between me placing fifth or third or second, but if we're just going through all the factors here, I think that was also one of them. Some folks didn't feel comfortable with a former Colombian refugee running for office.

Vision Vancouver鈥檚 council candidate Diego Cardona on the racism he experienced during the Oct. 14 byelection in which he placed fifth.

You know, to me politics isn鈥檛 a happy job 鈥� like it鈥檚 not a fun job, really. It鈥檚 a fulfilling job though and it鈥檚 really interesting and I love doing it. And to me, life is not about being happy, though 鈥� life is about doing service for others.

Christy Clark at her final news conference in July as leader of the B.C. Liberals.

When the premier-designate calls with a request to serve in that role as chief of staff and he鈥檚 working on issues that are dear to me like making this province more affordable 鈥� and improving the province in so many ways 鈥� it鈥檚 very difficult to say no.

Geoff Meggs on why he resigned as a Vision 麻豆传媒映画councillor to become Premier John Horgan鈥檚 chief of staff.

When Vision was first elected, I was so听excited听about them. They started off with a听good听bang but they've听broken听my heart. Not only did they not end homelessness or street homelessness, they have, in fact, created a whole other kind of homelessness. That's the homelessness of working people and professionals who can no longer stay here.

Judy Graves, OneCity byelection candidate, on losing faith with Vision Vancouver.

Well-functioning boards must rise above personal and political issues to ensure the work of the board is carried out in a manner that encourages a free exchange of ideas and fosters collaboration that will enable the district to reach its goals and fulfill its legislated mandate.

Roslyn Goldner, a 麻豆传媒映画attorney who wrote a 79-page report about bullying and harassment within the 麻豆传媒映画School District.

I voted for Mr. Robertson the first time he was running 鈥� he was a fresh face, he looked honest and dynamic. He鈥檚 definitely a very good looking guy, I think maybe he should move south to Hollywood and become a movie star and we鈥檒l cheer for him. But I think he鈥檚 started to screw up lately. I think with these crazy bike lane ideas, he went over the edge.

Steffan Ileman, a West End resident who started an online petition to halt the construction of bike lanes near 麻豆传媒映画General Hospital.

I appreciate the fact that you are listening but the time for listening is over the time for doing is now. Our kids can鈥檛 wait for compromise鈥� they are counting on you, we are counting on you. You rose on this issue. You will go down on this issue if you don鈥檛 do something soon.

Susan Harney, Coalition of Child Care Advocates of B.C., a grandmother of four and full-time caregiver to two of her four grandchildren, to NDP minister of state for child care Katrina Chen at a rally for $10-a-day daycare.

We will have to change the way we act, whether it鈥檚 now or later. The time is coming when our world is becoming filled with toxic things that are killing it. While the Earth will go on forever, we may not.

Stuart Mackinnon, Green Party park board commissioner during debate on his proposed balloon ban, which was eventually defeated.

It was obviously meaningful to me for many reasons. I have stared at that beach from the seawall for years. Now I was on it. I was part of the life happening on that beach. That鈥檚 not nothing.

Gabrielle Peters, disability advocate on her first time using 麻豆传媒映画Park Board鈥檚 new beach accessibility mat at English Bay.

People don鈥檛 always vote, but everybody loves a sandwich.

Byron Dauncey, who launched the website to bolster voter turnout ahead of the May 9 provincial election.听

This is about legalization and the best way to do it. It鈥檚 not about saying, 鈥淥h, here鈥檚 a money grab in which we can get all kinds of revenue in, and not have to worry about the consequences.鈥� It鈥檚 either done right, or it鈥檚 done wrong. The revenue issue is part of it, but that should not be the first and foremost consideration.

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth on the provincial government鈥檚 plan to regulate distribution and retail sales of 鈥渘on-medical cannabis.鈥�

Many of us have heard repeatedly from parents, teachers and staff that they value the safe and respectful system that has been created since the departure of the previous board. And we can鈥檛 go back.

Dianne Turner, former official trustee of the 麻豆传媒映画School Board, spoke to the prospect of former trustees returning to the board table.

The BC School Superintendent's Association is concerned with the emotional wellbeing of its members and ensuring senior leadership have a safe and respectful environment in which to work. As expressed in both the WorkSafe BC investigative report and the independent report prepared by Rosyln Goldner of Goldner Law Corporation, that was not deemed to be the case with the 麻豆传媒映画School Board.

Thomas Longridge, president of the B.C. School Superintendents Association, outlined his concern over the prospect of former Vision trustees retuning to the board table despite being fired in October 2016.

鈥楾搁鲍惭笔滨罢滨厂'

I am overwhelmed by the response. This is the most colourful, rainbow, family-happy event I have ever seen. But it鈥檚 all for good reasons, women鈥檚 rights and human rights. And obviously, we鈥檙e not going to be going away anytime soon.

麻豆传媒映画Women鈥檚 March organizer Samantha Monckton.

We are disappointed it turned out this way, but we understand their decision and we hope in the coming years we will have the opportunity to host in the future.

Len Catling, director of communications at UBC, on the cancellation of an exhibition basketball game between elite Ontario and California high schools because organizers feared the U.S.鈥檚 proposed travel ban could snare players crossing the border.

When you鈥檙e suffering 鈥渢rumpitis,鈥� which is what I had, with sleeplessness, nausea and lack of focus, when you are feeling this way, you are not going to be a very effective person in terms of how you are going to be engaged in the world.

Julie Peters, who decided to make her yoga studio a 鈥淭rump-free鈥� zone.

It鈥檚 like wack-a-mole. You can鈥檛 keep up with it. There鈥檚 so much happening on so many fronts. Every single day there鈥檚 so much 鈥� we totally can鈥檛 keep up with it.

David Mivasair, an Our Revolution organizer in Vancouver, on protesting U.S. President Donald Trump鈥檚 decisions.

I'd like to thank the press 鈥� just kidding.

Donald Trump Junior, at the opening of the Trump Hotel in Vancouver.

Each of our scriptures and holy books tells a story of having been refugees and strangers ourselves, having been outcast or persecuted. These sacred texts are there to remind us to see ourselves in the suffering and misfortune of others, because we were once them 鈥� we are all immigrants. To some degree, we have, every one of us, been the other, the widow, the orphan, the stranger. We have been here before and we promised and we have prayed that this would not happen again. Not in 2017. Not in North America.

Rabbi Dan Moskovitz on Trump鈥檚 proposed travel ban.

DEVELOPING STORY听

From my perspective, there seems to be the notion that if it wasn鈥檛 owned by the Chinese, built by the Chinese, occupied by the Chinese, that it would be detrimental to Chinatown. That attitude, in my opinion, should not be tolerated.

Retired architect Ron Yuen on his support for Beedie Living鈥檚 proposal to build a condo at 105 Keefer St. in Chinatown.

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I would just echo that this is not an either or choice... we're not giving up on the homeless by any means, or the lowest income.

Gil Kelley, the city鈥檚 planning director, on the city鈥檚 new 10-year housing strategy.

I was just trying to find a way that I could stay in the city and do the work that I wanted to do without going into massive and impossible debt. At the same time, I really crave a home. I think everyone does 鈥� a secure place that is yours... I needed a stable home.

Tiny home advocate Samantha Gambling.

It's a simple save, it seems to me, and a听reasonable听save. There's a strong sense we need to fight for this one.

Anne Guthrie-Warman on the fight to save the yellow schoolhouse at General Gordon elementary from demolition.

You've got to be听lucky听to even find someone who'll price it. The process is quite fascinating. I mean you get to do one or two of these in a lifetime.听

Heritage expert Don Luxton on how difficult it is to find someone capable of re-roofing a so-called Hobbit house.

I鈥檝e got to say it鈥檚 been a long time coming.

Marian Hartley, a long time Killarney resident at the groundbreaking ceremony of a long-awaited seniors centre.

You never know what you鈥檙e going to find. You might find one of the places on the list or maybe just the property and be like, 鈥淵our condo is now sitting where this house once stood.鈥�

City archivist Heather Gordon on digitizing nearly 7,000 black-and-white 35mm negatives 鈥� taken in 1978 and 1986 as part of two separate heritage surveys.

It slowly dawned on me that it鈥檚 kind of a scam and people living here are stressed out and alienated a lot of the time and the 麻豆传媒映画lifestyle of rollerblading in the afternoon and skiing at lunch and windsurfing in the morning or whatever order you do it in, it鈥檚 just a big condo developer鈥檚 pamphlet.听

Musician and writer Geoff Berner.

That is absolutely devastating. It鈥檚 just jaw dropping. So many people are deeply concerned about losing their homes.

Charles Wilkinson, whose film No Fixed Address examines Vancouver鈥檚 housing and affordability crisis.

Coming out of school, I didn鈥檛 have nearly enough money to rent my own place and have enough to cover the costs of living in Vancouver. That was definitely part of the decision, if you could call it that, it鈥檚 better described as a decision made out of necessity.

Bianca Chan, recent Carleton University graduate on her 鈥渄ecision鈥� to move back in with her parents upon returning to Vancouver.

HISTORY LESSONS

You can never become a better society 鈥� a better place, a better city 鈥� unless you acknowledge what have been your errors, and what have been the wrongs.

Green Party Coun. Adriane Carr on the city鈥檚 decision to formally apologize next April to Chinese people for the legislated discrimination enacted decades ago by previous city councils.

We want to see lots more of this. This is the beginning of a big change to听welcome听back the place names,听welcome听back the language, the h蓹n虛q虛蓹min虛蓹m虛 language, to make sure we recognize the history of this place and the names that evolved with our city and the places around us.

Mayor Gregor Robertson on n蓹虂c虛a蕯mat ct, the name of the new Strathcona library.

Once you learn that something is derogatory, you can't unlearn that. Language is symbolic and we attach a great deal of cultural significance to naming. There's rituals around naming and naming is important. So, it's symbolic but it's important.

麻豆传媒映画Park Board commissioner Catherine Evans听on the proposal to change Siwash Rock鈥檚 name.

He was not a shouter. He was incredibly humane. He did not demonize his opponents. It was the gravity and the content of what he said that made him powerful. It wasn鈥檛 the volume of his voice. That kind of civility and听grace听and听generosity听was what made him revered and respected 鈥� even by those who听disagreed听with him. He was a gentleman in that sense of the word.

UBC professor Henry Wu on the death of Chinatown architect Joe Wai.

So I went to see him. He threatened me with a gun, but I said, 鈥淚'm here and I'm not going away.鈥�

92-year-old Pritam Kaur Hayre, who was instrumental in fighting for farm workers鈥� rights in the Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland in the 1970s and 鈥�80s.

I once read poetry to a man as he was passing. It was poetry he wrote himself so it was very special.

Paddi McGrath, an arts and crafts instructor at who works with Second World War veterans.

It seems like he envisioned British Columbia as a place of tolerance for black and First Nations people but then the settlers came in and they had totally different ideas.

Sam Sullivan, describing James Douglas, the mixed-race chief factor of the Hudson Bay Company鈥檚 territory in the mid-1800s.

It was her humanity 鈥� the thought that we can do better than this鈥�. She looked at the slums and thought, 鈥淭his shouldn鈥檛 be.鈥�

Irene Howard on Helena Gutteridge, Vancouver鈥檚 first female councillor.

In the long ago, there [were] two herons that were fishing here and it was so bountiful that they decided to stay here so they transformed into humans and ended up staying in this place where we are right now. So I really want to pay testament to that history that it's your history as well.

Squamish First Nation Coun. Chris Lewis at the unveiling of the new salt marsh at New Brighton Park 鈥� a $3.5-million project, which was a partnership between 麻豆传媒映画Park Board and 麻豆传媒映画Fraser Port Authority, in consultation with Musqueam, Squamish and Tseil-Waututh First Nations.

CRISIS OF HEALTH

It's tough to watch as more and more people around you die. After a while we said, let's get a tent and some Narcan. Now we're seeing hundreds of people a day, 25 at a time.

Sarah Blyth, founder of the Overdose Prevention Society based in the Downtown Eastside in response to the fentanyl crisis.

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Ryan wrote of how he wanted the strong bond back with his family, to be back at work as an electrician, to listen to music, read books, play sports and have a relationship again. Addiction took all those things away Ryan wanted in life.

John Hedican on reading a letter his 26-year-old son wrote before dying in April of a drug overdose.

We are taking responsibility for our own recovery, we are striving to overcome our weaknesses, as opposed to the traditional steps where you鈥檙e asking God to remove your defects of character. I鈥檓 not asking God to do anything. I鈥檓 taking it upon myself to try to correct my defects of character.
Hilary J., chair and treasurer of Vancouver鈥檚 Sober Agnostics recovery group.

[The overdoses] are from people expressedly asking for fentanyl. They aren鈥檛 just saying, 鈥淕ive me some heroin.鈥� They are people screaming for fentanyl.

鈥淜测濒别,鈥� a fentanyl dealer who spoke to comedian and podcaster Mark Hughes about the opioid epidemic.

This is a big problem and I think we all need to do our part鈥� I think we鈥檙e well past the point where we can have part-time rangers looking after what has become a very serious safety issue in our parks.

John Coupar, NPA park board commissioner discussing his motion to increase park ranger patrols to 24 hours a day in response to safety concerns including the number of discarded needles found in some parks.

You've heard it before 鈥� you need to put on your own air mask first on an airplane and the same idea goes for caregiving. We see many caregivers who don't realize they're headed for burnout.

Barbara McLean, executive director of Family Caregivers of British Columbia.

ANIMAL INSTINCTS

It鈥檚 kind of like three-day-old Jello 鈥� a bit firm but gelatinous.

Kathleen Stormont, Stanley Park Ecology Society, describing the discovery of 鈥淭he blob of Lost Lagoon.鈥�

It鈥檚 become sort of a social media site or a therapy site.

Jim O鈥橪eary, developer of Crowtrax, an interactive, user-generated map that听tracks the location and severity of crow attacks in Vancouver.

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No words are said between us but [the friendship] has been a huge amount of therapy that got me through a hard time鈥�. I really don鈥檛 know where I鈥檇 be if it wasn鈥檛 for Canuck.

Shawn Bergman, on his friendship with Canuck the Crow.

Crows are smart, so I鈥檓 hoping he will not be as trusting as he is now. He really assumes everybody is his best friend and, of course, that鈥檚 not the case.听

Veterinarian Dr. Anne McDonald after treating Canuck the Crow who was hit on the head with a soccer flagpole.

One is called Grey and the other is called Goose. And together they鈥檙e Grey Goose鈥� because we like to go after work and have a shot of Grey Goose.

3 Vets owner Keith Wolfman on the Canadian geese that frequent his parking lot every spring.

I just can鈥檛 resist. Sometimes I want to call it the 鈥淭itty cam.鈥�

Jennifer Chernecki, who regular films a pair of bushtits on her balcony on Facebook Live.

ARTISTIC ENDEAVOURS

People are not happy. Show-goers are definitely not happy, but I think it鈥檚 more devastating for a lot of bands. The smaller bands, where are they going to go play next?

David Mawhinney, former manager of the Media Club, speaking about the long-standing venue鈥檚 demise in June.

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One day I passed by zombies having lunch on one floor, a post-apocalyptic fog on the next floor and then, when I walked up to another floor, there was Liam Neeson sitting there.

Syd Lazarre of the Syfy series Ghost Wars, on what it鈥檚 like to work in the old Canada Post sorting station.

I鈥檝e been in prison with rapists, I鈥檝e been in prison with killers, I鈥檝e been in prison with child molesters. I鈥檓 not saying I approve of any of those things and if I heard the graphic details it would gross me out. But I can understand for the most part how people get into situations.

Mark Hughes, a 麻豆传媒映画comic who launched a podcast in November that profiles people living on the fringes of society.

It鈥檚 a relay style, pass-the-baton. There鈥檚 not a lot of opportunity to be a soloist, it鈥檚 more about he sounds mixing together. That鈥檚 the magic of this project. We鈥檝e never done this format before. We just came up with the idea and it snowballed. It had a life of its own, I guess. I never thought we鈥檇 have enough people to play for 12 hours and be a part of something this long.

Game of Drones organizer Constantine Katsiris who put together a 12-hour live musical performance.

It鈥檚 an honest style of music. It鈥檚 not a cool style of music to like but the people who listen to it and play it do it because they love it. The support is always going to be there, but not so much because we鈥檙e outcasts. The fans are proud of it and they can take ownership of it.

Dave Haley, drummer of Tasmanian-based band Psycroptic, on the enduring appeal of death metal.

I had just come back from a really intense experience. I had just come back from Israel, not only Israel but serving in the army, and I just kind of felt like I didn鈥檛 know how to talk about it and I almost felt like the whole experience was receding into a kind of dream.

Miriam Libicki, graphic novelist and 麻豆传媒映画Public Library鈥檚 2017 writer in residence, on the life experience that prompted her to start drawing her first comic jobnik!

It鈥檚 a true story with 12 twats and a harp. I love that we can take the word the 鈥渢wat鈥� and own it, to take all these bad words or taboos and just say, 鈥淗ey, we鈥檙e going to dance, take a big twat and roll it out on stage.鈥�

Ra茂na von Waldenburg, the playwright behind 12 Minute Madness, which explores themes of repressed childhood memories and sexual abuse.

We have equalled the playing field. You can do a fundraiser on the other side of the bridge or on the west side of 麻豆传媒映画and you鈥檒l raise big money. On the East Side, our biggest night used to be maybe $2,500. We鈥檝e helped change that.

Jim Crescenzo, a film teacher at Templeton secondary who has helped raise millions of dollars for East 麻豆传媒映画initiatives over his 30-year teaching career.

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Some people need structure, so they spend their days practicing skills. I鈥檒l just noodle along all day looking for a gift to identify itself as something I can build on. Once I find those three notes, I鈥檓 off and running.

Don Alder, a renowned 麻豆传媒映画guitar player, spoke to the Courier in advance of the 麻豆传媒映画International Guitar Festival in June.

I know this is a big thing with protests in the States. Every time someone gets offended they want the president to be fired and all this kind of stuff. I personally am not a fan of this safe space rhetoric and trigger warnings.

Michael Filimowicz, program director for SFU鈥檚 Philosophers' Caf茅 program, musing on how far political correctness should go in the realm of comedy.

I鈥檝e gotten hugs more than a few times from total strangers and I鈥檝e seen people high fiving security at the end of the night 鈥� that tells me they鈥檝e just had an experience. They鈥檝e left any troubles they had and given themselves up to the experience of live music and transcended themselves to another place.

Mo Tarmohamed, owner of the Rickshaw Theatre, reflecting on his six years of running the show at the live music venue.

I think that a band that makes people laugh, listen and learn is a band that people come back to see over and over again.

Bob Gruen, one of rock鈥檚 most prolific photographers, describing what separates good bands from great ones.

I don鈥檛 know how the bands afford to rehearse and live in this city anymore.

Jim Buckshon, owner of Renegade Productions, upon hearing about the closure of another rehearsal space in Vancouver.

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WORDS TO REMEMBER

Always tell the truth because if you lie you have to keep telling one after another to keep it going. That's why I've always told the truth.

May Irving, while celebrating her 105th birthday at the South Granville Seniors Centre.

I鈥檝e had a ball. And I鈥檝e laughed every day.

Rick Cluff, former Early Edition host who retired Dec. 22 after 41 years with the CBC.

Do what you can while you鈥檙e still standing.

Lorna Gibbs, a community and seniors activist on winning the provincial Medal of Good Citizenship awarded in March 2017.

Yes, you get on the B.C. Cancer Agency鈥檚 conveyor belt and go into the system, but I also wanted to make it听my听project. I didn鈥檛 want to just be a passenger.

Catherine Grand-Scrutton, on the support she received at Inspire Health after her cancer diagnosis.

This year alone, I鈥檝e gone on my first cruise, appeared on national television, really raised my speaking game, done standup, received an improv scholarship from 麻豆传媒映画TheatreSports, met former U.S. vice-president Joe Biden 鈥� and photographed Oprah Winfrey! And the year鈥檚 not over yet.

Cathy Browne, a legally blind photographer on turning 60 and creating a bucket list that included a try at standup comedy.

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I find myself walking around sometimes and catching myself and thinking, 鈥淚 feel so normal right now 鈥� like life was before,鈥� which is like really cool to feel.

Cyclist Mike Severloh on his recovery from a crash with a car in which he suffered a severe brain injury.

And listen. Listen to the people, listen to your victims and listen to the people you may have to arrest.

Mark Tasaka, the 麻豆传媒映画Police Department鈥檚 officer of the year, on his advice to rookies.

Life presses against us and our power will be tested, our dreams will be tested. Courage allows us to pass the test. The very best we can do in life is push through every difficulty, no matter how painful.

Lorne Segal, chair of the Courage to Come Back awards, on what the recipients have taught him.

You need patience but at the end of the day this is the best country in the world. You can get justice.

Hakam Bullar, an Indo-Canadian veterinarian who successfully fought systematic discrimination.

For those of us who find ourselves stuck in a dark place like a homeless tent, there are places we can go to find the light, to find the energy we need, the lifeforce to make changes for ourselves so we can become part of the community again and not stand on the outside looking in.鈥�

Claude Ranville, whose photo of a tent in Oppenheimer Park is in the 2018 Hope in Shadows calendar.

It鈥檚 almost just a feeling, every group brings their own feeling. And, for us, we don鈥檛 have groups here performing 鈥� we have groups that are sharing. Sharing their cultures, sharing who they are and where they come from. That鈥檚 what we were taught as young ones, you know. To be proud of who you are.

Sheldon Martin, president of the Nisga鈥檃 Ts鈥檃miks 麻豆传媒映画Society, which organized the 15th Hoobiyee festival.

Doing this in 麻豆传媒映画was an opportunity for us to be visible, as gay men, as two-spirit men and as indigenous peoples, as young people. It鈥檚 important for us to have visibility.

Anthony Johnson after marrying his husband at kilometre 32 of the 麻豆传媒映画marathon.

Even kids love superheroes. The saints are the superheroes of the church. People need models. We need inspiration.

Catherine Kelly, retreat director for the Roman Catholic college.

If you smile at someone on the street, you release the same chemical, oxytocin, as running six miles. It鈥檚 also known as the cuddle chemical. Smiling changes the nature of the conversation, and how people are treated on the street.

Former city planner Sandy James.