@SharonBurnabyBC Thought you'd be interested in this conversation I had with large market supervisor today. She said due to many renovations in the entire store (true, but I'd bet they've also lost many staff due to C19, not masking and becoming chronically ill and can't work), she said they'd recently hired 75 new staff and it's been her job to orient them to the many various jobs both "in the back with supplies" and in the store. She said she couldn't believe how many times she's had to say the same things over and over again to the new staff (mainly

Story from my life: Yesterday visiting the Vancouver Public library, walking toward a row of books, noticed a young man slumped in a chair with his chin resting right on his chest and in a nook area with a telephone. As a nurse, I wondered if he was perhaps an OD. I am aware this situation has occurred in the library previously as some of those who are homeless sit in the library for many hours. This fella had no belongings with him that I could see and had an unkempt appearance and was very thin. I told staff and security checked him to rouse him.

@SuellaBraverman Are you really so far removed from the actual reality of homelessness that you glibly state it is a 'lifestyle' choice? In my working as a Registered Nurse in Emergency departments in Vancouver, Canada, I met many homeless who were patients and learned first hand how it is 1/2 @SuellaBraverman NEVER a lifestyle choice. So many reasons which are NOT because of drug or alcohol use.
1) Some are young teens running from an abusive home,
2) Some are those failing in school due to undiagnosed ADHD or dyslexia - many older homeless are also illiterate for this reason 2/3

This morning on waking, I thought of the plight of children of war. Just now have composed this poem. It is a reality for so many.
A Child Of War

This place is so dark,
I can’t see anything.
Where is my mama, my papa?
They were here,
Now they aren’t. I’m only ten,
Will someone help me?

Is it night?
Am I dreaming?
Why does my leg hurt?
Where am I sitting?
Why is it so dusty?

I’m only ten,
Will someone help me?

I hear a voice,
Is it mama?
Is it papa?
I’ll call to them,
Maybe they’ll come.

need to be kept for seven years prior to the present year, NO Retirees will have these T4 slips if retired more than 7 years prior and nor will have any pay slips for the year of retirement. How impossible is this request? It is impossible and thus many retirees cannot provide this and therefore will not be receiving the benefit? Talk about a ridiculous request for most retirees. Also, I called the BCNU and was put through to the Benefits Administrator to hear how there are many calls and emails and not to keep calling or emailing. We have only EIGHT

@indehisce @GovCanHealth Good luck with this idea. I spent 10 full weeks in 2021 from July to mid-Sept. trying to find out WHEN J&J vaccine would be again imported to Canada when 300,000 doses had been in June, 2021 but returned to the Baltimore, US, plant due to no adherence to PPE policy by staff 1/2 @indehisce @GovCanHealth there and inspectors closed the plant x a month BUT reopened once policy was being followed. Then J&J was distributed in the millions of doses in the USA and ?to other countries early/mid-July 2021. Did Health Canada bother to re-import? NO. The inquiries I made to all levels 2/3

Today, I ventured in downtown Vancouver to return some books to the Vancouver Public Library. Some of the sights I see.
1) A man looking like he hasn't been eating at all and is so thin, sitting in an alcove along Georgia Street. No way to judge his age but would guess in his 1/2 40's and looked over 60.
2) A man obviously in his own world talking and gesturing while walking down Seymour Street barely able to walk due to his outer pants having slid down to his knees getting honked at as he couldn't cross on the green light. Slowly his underwear was 2/3

An announcement as none yet from the family on Twitter, a very active person on Twitter who had terminal breast cancer, with mets having spread, died last evening. @LibbyMbc (the Mbc = metastatic breast cancer). Send her a prayer or a wish for a peaceful transition & love to 1/2 her daughter, Violet, who Libby shared many photos and videos of the two of them sharing love and time. I prefer to remember Libby with her daughter and hence these photographs of them in May this year. One on Libby's 39th birthday. 2/3

BC News: My question is how is this not a major failure of BC losing so many of all ages and all backgrounds? Not all listed were homeless or in social housing. In fact, it was few.
newsinteractives.cbc.ca/features/2023/… This is not just a public health major failure since the only actions which have been taken are injection sites but I don't believe those other than in the low socio-economic group who use drugs regularly would use them. To search for any detox or rehabilitation facility in our

@RentonpdWA I'm in Vancouver, B.C. and am wondering if any department may be able to assist me in information about a non-criminal death of a long-time friend of mine who lived in Renton many years who had been named Volunteer of the Year in past year. He also was involved in the Renton Car Show each year. Link gives this information which was organized with affiliation with your police department.
patch.com/washington/ren…

Unusually at 11 pm tonight, I had a Seattle TV station on and the first THREE reports are about shootings of:
Yesterday one a pregnant woman sitting in her car, husband in car too and at near South Centre Mall. No interaction with the shooter and no relationship. She was killed with multiple shots. Murderer was arrested. A second was of two high school girls shot by a teen boy or boys last year - boys have just now been arrested. Third. I believe was a younger man. Guess with the lack of gun control, the public use of them is rampant and excessive to

Story from my life: In my condo where I've lived for over 25 years, the community laundry room has had a clock. About 3 years ago, it stopped keeping accurate time. Battery operated. I've requested through our management company for the Strata Council to buy a new one. I've taken it down to see if that would make someone on Council realize it's needing replacement since everyone has to do their laundry there. What did someone do about 4 weeks ago? Put a new battery in it and stuck it back on the wall. It's like having toddlers in adult bodies living here.

@CrystalEvanoff Made my 3rd call to LifeLabs for the request for a call back and once again explained why to a very nice customer service rep. who agree with me about you know what. Said my last call was recorded and sent a new request through marked 'urgent.' In all spent over 2.5 hrs. with the 3 calls. Surprised to have a call from a supervisor of LifeLabs and we had a long chat where I again explained everything which occurred. She seemed genuinely annoyed and shocked at the attitude by the staff person. We then both agreed the

@ElizabethRBess Today had to go to Kerrisdale near 41st & Arbutus. After I left, (around 4 pm) bought some grapes, 1 banana & a Milk To Go and at the Point Grey High School grassy ground found a stone picnic table (must be at least 60 years old) and had about an hour there watching some students running on the track and kicking footballs into a goal about 100 meters away. Then at 41st Avenue began walking down the old rail line now the Arbutus Greenway. Walked all the way to Broadway (9th) where Broadway for blocks is cordoned off from the street

@LifeLabs Have to comment about a visit I had to one of your lab offices prior to an appointment for just screening lab work for no illness at all. Aware as a former Critical Care RN x 34 years many of your clients may be very vulnerable to any infections including Covid which in British Columbia is still at a severe level. I walk in wearing my N99 mask and see no signage for masking. About 7 people sitting and 2 waiting in line ahead of me and none are masked. I look at the reception desk with the useless plexiglass in front of the desk (since Covid is

@WestVanDistrict Aware the Mayor & Council have now voted to have only pay parking at many parks like Lighthouse park in your district and it may eventually include Ambleside Park too. I also am aware the meters will only be for those with smart phones. This is discriminatory? I thought parks were created for EVERYONE to enjoy and not just those with an expensive phone given in this day of high costs, many families cannot afford one or even seniors who may live in your district. I find this offensive also since I would think some in Metro Vancouver

@MattPearceArt It's a very inviting barn/house and makes me want to see inside! @MattPearceArt This reminds me of a unique artist meeting I had years ago with a Seattle based artist, Alden Mason when he was in his 90's. I saw some of his art in the Seattle Art Museum which I've visited when there for a few days. One of his abstract paintings made me want to be in it. 1/2

@EmilyCarrU I've been a student at the campus when it was on Granville Island x 11 years in Continuing Studies. During that time, I became aware while walking around in Vancouver, there is one statue of Emily Carr beside Granville Street at 7th Avenue: my photo added here: There is also a plinth of a Emily Carr near the south end of the Burrard Street Bridge in a small grassy area west of the street. It made me wonder why with now the new campus, there is no statue honouring her, other than using her name for this University now of Art & Design.

A rather irritating fact about batteries is that a white substance can build up on them whether in use or not. Today found a portable digital travel alarm clock needed the batter changed. Initially, couldn't even open the slot due to this very hard white buildup at the end of the battery. Google search gave a solution of what to do. Lemon juice apparently is effective. Fortunately, always have such in my fridge to dissolve the corrosion with cautions to protect eyes and hands.
nytimes.com/wirecutter/gui…

@RonaldNHughes We all know how messed up the flu/Covid booster immunization has been. Here is my example. Note: I had my flu vaccine in November at a health unit as I always do & by appointment with them. Today I had my second email to book an appointment for a flu vaccine and a Covid booster indicating how I would be only having an mRNA booster available. Yet I have had 2 J&J boosters this year in Jan. and June (the VCH RN who called me in early June couldn't count to 6 since I told her I needed it in 6 months from the end of January. I've since called

Someone else on Twitter posted this and I am re-posting it hoping for more response. This is what happened in a school: "I was just speaking to a friend of mine who has an 11 y.o. child with pretty bad asthma. Her kid is constantly bullied for wearing a mask at school, & yesterday was held down, had their mask pulled down, & was deliberately coughed on repeatedly. The poor kid is inconsolable." So far:
The mom called the local @RCMP: Was told kids will be kids. No action by them.
The mom called the principal: Was told nothing will be done to