Vision Vancouver park board commissioner Constance Barnes was at city hall Wednesday afternoon for the launch of Black History Month, celebrated each February in cities across North America.
Vision Mayor Gregor Robertson presented a proclamation to Wayde Compton, recognizing his work to preserve the memory of Hogan’s Alley.
The neighbourhood is a culturally significant part of the early history of the city’s black community. Following the proclamation, Canada Post unveiled two new postage stamps celebrating Black History Month 2014, including one dedicated to Hogan’s Alley.
Short films from Black Strathcona, an interactive new media project produced by Creative Cultural Collaborations Society, were also part of the program as were musical performances by Thelma Gibson and Obediya Wonderful Jones-Darrell.
Sochi or bust
I had a chat with Vision Vancouver Coun. Tim Stevenson Monday, the day before he left for Sochi, where he’ll represent the city prior to the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.
Stevenson said he and former Vancouver Winter Games official Maureen Douglas would land in Sochi at about 5 a.m. Feb. 1. During their stay they hope to meet with the International Olympic and Paralympic committees in an effort to ensure a community-led Pride House will be a mandate of every games moving forward.
A Pride House is a temporary, safe space for local and international members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities to gather.
The trip was initiated after Russian president Vladimir Putin signed a bill classifying “homosexual propaganda” as pornography in June 2013.
The new bill criminalizes public discussion of homosexuality, especially with foreigners. Since then, members of the Russian LGBT community have attempted frequent peaceful protests, many which have ended in bloody clashes with police.
Stevenson, the first openly gay person to be ordained in North America, described his mood as mixed on the day of the Courier’s interview.
“I’m excited, curious, hopeful and a little apprehensive,” said Stevenson. “I’m also worried I won’t be able to do any of the things I hope to. But regardless, I already consider the trip a huge success because it has raised awareness of the issue.”
Stevenson has reason to feel apprehensive. There have been two major suicide bombings in the last month near Sochi, which have raised concerns about security during the Olympic Games.
Stevenson wants to meet with members of the Russian Orthodox Church, which played a large part in the creation of Putin’s anti-gay law.
He’s sent letters to members of the American representatives for the Games, including gay former tennis star Billie Jean King, in hopes of meeting. Stevenson and Douglas will write blog posts during their stay at hostcitypridehouse.wordpress.com.
On a personal note, Courier sports editor Megan Stewart is in Sochi on leave reporting for the Olympic News Service and my niece leaves for the Games today (Friday) to help coordinator international media, so I’ll definitely be keeping a keen eye on events taking place in Russia.
