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Dec 2nd, 2025 – Cooking for Connections: A Reflection on Shared Presence
On November 30, 360 Community partnered with Recipe of Life to host Cooking for Connections at St. Alban’s Anglican Church – a gathering that reminded me how food, story, and presence can quietly transform a room. Fourteen participants stood in a semi-circle, red plates in hand, surrounded by home-cooked dishes and heartfelt conversation. Some came… Continue reading
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Nov 29, 2025 – From Encounter to Education: Listening to A’s Story
Recently, I had the privilege of meeting an individual; let me call them A for privacy. A came to Canada from Jamaica many years ago, carrying with them the hopes and resilience that so many newcomers bring when they begin life in a new country. As we spoke, A shared with me some of the… Continue reading
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Nov 27, 2025 – Building Hope: Reflections on the Senior’s Housing Forum
Yesterday, St. Alban’s was privileged to host the Building Hope – Senior’s Housing Forum, organized by the Richmond Poverty Reduction Coalition. The forum brought together community members, advocates, and leaders with one shared purpose: to ensure that seniors in our city are not left without a place to call home. As rector of St. Alban’s,… Continue reading
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Nov 21, 2025 – After the Sleep Out: One Night, Many Lessons
Last night, I joined Covenant House’s Sleep Out: Executive Edition. For one night, I lay outside with only a sleeping bag and layers of clothing between me and the cold. The weather was mercifully chilly, but fortunately, no rain. Still, the ground was hard, the night was long, and the cold crept in despite my… Continue reading
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Nov 20, 2025- What Does a Victory Look Like? A Shared Mandate for Compassionate Civic Solutions
When Surrey City Council recently rejected a proposed supportive housing project, it followed a rally of over a thousand people, primarily homeowners and business owners, who voiced their concerns with clarity and conviction. Some quickly celebrated the decision as a victory. One Richmond resident even posted, “Congratulations to the residents of Surrey for a well-deserved… Continue reading
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November 19, 2025 – A Glimpse of Grace Outside the Drop-In
Yesterday, I walked toward the drop-in center with no agenda but presence. I simply wanted to say hello, to introduce myself to those gathered outside, many of whom live with homelessness and substance use. I didn’t come with answers or solutions. I came with a greeting, a name, and a collar. One young woman looked… Continue reading
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November 13, 2025 – When a Daughter Brings Her Father: A Reflection on Presence, Pain and Possibility
This afternoon, a daughter brought her father to see me. There was no fanfare, just quiet footsteps into the sanctuary, the kind that carry years of weight. Her father has lived through long seasons of homelessness. He continues to navigate the labyrinth of addiction, the ache of family trauma, and the toll of physical suffering.… Continue reading
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Nov 7, 2025 – A Coffee Conversation with Councilor Carol Day: Holding Compassion and Caution Together
Yesterday, I sat across from Richmond City Councilor Carol Day at a local coffee shop, just two people, two cups of coffee, and a shared concern for our community. What unfolded was not a political transaction, but a human exchange. Carol has been accused by some of selling drugs to those struggling with addiction, a… Continue reading
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Nov 7, 2025 – A Cold Night, A Warm Shelter: Reflections from Richmond’s Drop-In Centre
On November 5, I visited a drop-in center in Richmond; it is a place that offers warmth, food, and a measure of dignity to those who often go unseen. The visit left me quietly reflective. Some of the people I spoke with are substance users. Others are simply trying to survive another day. I was… Continue reading
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October 24, 2025 – Beyond Lip Service: A Reflection on the Cowichan Ruling
Acknowledging Land—But Do We Understand It? I’ve spoken the words countless times: “We acknowledge that the land on which we gather is the unceded and traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples, including the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nation.” I’ve also recognized the ancestral claim of the Cowichan Nation to a specific area of land in Richmond,… Continue reading