Comments on: Downtown Eastside: Home of secret Games fans http://www.francesbula.com/uncategorized/downtown-eastside-home-of-secret-games-fans/ Vancouver city life and politics Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:47:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: michael geller http://www.francesbula.com/uncategorized/downtown-eastside-home-of-secret-games-fans/comment-page-1/#comment-18380 michael geller Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:50:31 +0000 http://www.francesbula.com/?p=2556#comment-18380 Derek, I too am delighted you shared this. This VANOC initiative should not be kept a secret. Derek, I too am delighted you shared this. This VANOC initiative should not be kept a secret.

]]> By: JCobb http://www.francesbula.com/uncategorized/downtown-eastside-home-of-secret-games-fans/comment-page-1/#comment-18342 JCobb Wed, 24 Feb 2010 04:25:17 +0000 http://www.francesbula.com/?p=2556#comment-18342 Encouraging story. Thanks for sharing. Encouraging story. Thanks for sharing.

]]> By: Derek Weiss http://www.francesbula.com/uncategorized/downtown-eastside-home-of-secret-games-fans/comment-page-1/#comment-18232 Derek Weiss Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:11:55 +0000 http://www.francesbula.com/?p=2556#comment-18232 I work on the Downtown Eastside, and have seen the patriotism and excitement here over the last couple of weeks. Its not as though people aren't critical of the games, but they love their country and many are getting into the spirit of the event, not unlike folks in other neighbourhoods. VANOC supplied the charity I work for (Union Gospel Mission) with about 300 tickets. There's nothing like watching ten year old kids from the neighbourhood get outfitted in red, hardly containing their excitement, and heading off for an Olympic event they never dreamed they'd be able to afford! I think we can learn from this initiative in that it helped people in the neighbourhood feel like they're part of something bigger. Homelessness, addiction, and mental illness, three of the biggest problems down here, can all lead to intense levels of loneliness and feelings of disconnection. Cheering on your country, shoulder to shoulder with every other Canadian, should be something we all experience, especially those who can't afford a TV or tickets. I work on the Downtown Eastside, and have seen the patriotism and excitement here over the last couple of weeks. Its not as though people aren’t critical of the games, but they love their country and many are getting into the spirit of the event, not unlike folks in other neighbourhoods.

VANOC supplied the charity I work for (Union Gospel Mission) with about 300 tickets. There’s nothing like watching ten year old kids from the neighbourhood get outfitted in red, hardly containing their excitement, and heading off for an Olympic event they never dreamed they’d be able to afford!

I think we can learn from this initiative in that it helped people in the neighbourhood feel like they’re part of something bigger. Homelessness, addiction, and mental illness, three of the biggest problems down here, can all lead to intense levels of loneliness and feelings of disconnection. Cheering on your country, shoulder to shoulder with every other Canadian, should be something we all experience, especially those who can’t afford a TV or tickets.

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