It's over

So I've mentioned my split personality regarding the Olympics.

On one hand, How cool is this?

















or this?

















or even this?

















The Peanut was so in to the whole thing that it was hard to be anti-Olympics, not to mention the excitement of being in the crowded city streets as the closing ceremonies were going on ...

On the other hand we have an event that cost us 6,000,000,000 and a homeless problem that could be fixed with 3.5,000,000,000. The Red Tent campaign is about exercising the right to housing, as dictated by the Adams decision, during a time when billions of dollars are being spent on the Olympics and Olympic security. The goal of the campaign to raise the visibility of homelessness through the international media that will be attending the 2010 Olympic Games, exposing the Federal Government of Canada’s deep lack of inaction and urging them to do fund a National Housing Strategy. On Saturday we were lucky enough to walk by the Live City Venue just as the Red Tent Olympic Wrap Up; during this peaceful protest Red Tent wrapped the Canada Pavilion at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. You can see video here.


During the game there were people still living on the streets and people lining up for hot meals and room at shelters.

I'd like to say that I jumped on the Go Canada! bandwagon with a full heart; but knowing the facts, seeing the tents; the men and women lining up for a hot meal served out of the back of a van parked in the alley at the corner of Main and Hastings, stayed in the back of my mind even as I cheered on the athletes, stood in line to see pavilions, victory celebrations and mascots.

The big show is done and the Paralympics are just around the corner. Once it's all over the Media are saying that as a country we will have a new found sense of pride. Unfortunately we'll still have poverty issues; which kind of negates some of that new found pride.