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Dec 15, 2025 – “Needles, Drugs, Poverty”: A Poster and What It Misses
I recently came across a poster that read “BC NDP stands for needles, drugs and poverty.” At first glance, it looked like a sharp political statement. But the longer I sat with it, the more it felt like something else. Not an argument, not even a critique, but a reduction. Three words were asked to Continue reading
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Dec 10th, 2025 – Reflecting on Human Rights Day: Beyond the Headlines and the Toxic Drug Crisis
On December 10th we mark the anniversary of the signing of the UN Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. Each year BC’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner invites us to pause, reflect, and engage with pressing issues that shape our collective life. Today I had the privilege of attending the Beyond the Headlines speaker Continue reading
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Dec 3rd, 2025 – Standing in Solidarity: Reflections on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Today, December 3rd, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, I had the privilege of joining the Richmond Centre for Disability in their celebration. The atmosphere was filled with warmth as staff, volunteers, and members gathered to honor resilience, community, and the ongoing journey toward inclusion. I was grateful to meet again with Chris, one 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 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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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
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September 4, 2025 – 🏘️ This Morning’s Visit and My Wait: Homelessness Isn’t What You Think It Is
This morning, I visited a homeless man from Hong Kong near Richmond. He was quiet, polite, and neither addicted to drugs nor suffering from mental illness. Like many others, he simply lost stable housing at a difficult point in life. He told me he’s actively looking for work, hoping to get back on his feet. Continue reading
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July 8, 2025 – 🏘️ Richmond’s Housing Puzzle: Five Months Later—Progress or Paralysis?
Back in early 2025, I spoke out publicly to challenge the misinformation surrounding a proposed supportive housing project in Richmond (Misinformation being spread about Richmond housing project, supporter says | CBC.ca). I believed then—and still do—that facts matter, especially when they shape policy and lives. Despite those efforts, the project was cancelled. Five months have Continue reading
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July 8, 2025 – 🗣️ A Thoughtful Afternoon: Engaging with Government on Social Issues
This afternoon, I had the opportunity to visit downtown Vancouver and meet with Alex Chan, the Manager of Communication & Stakeholder Relations in the office of the Premier’s executive branch. I genuinely appreciate Alex—and his boss (whose name escapes me for the moment)—for their willingness to connect with me directly and give space for my Continue reading