LSU U-Pass vote Langara students vote in favour of continuing U-Pass program in LSU referendum. P3 ebruary eck next week is Blac Htory Mont issue for cove offers programs for all, Inclusive hoops BC Wheelchair Basketball wheelchair-bound or not. P8 Matchmaker Platonic and romantic relationships bud over boardgames. langaravoice.ca PRODUCED BY LANGARA JOURNALISM STUDENTS | WWW.LANGARAVOICE.CA Activist calls for change Noor Fadel demands changes in SkyTrain security and education By NIKITHA MARTINS angara student Noor Fadel is rallying support in her ef- forts to create change. ‘The 18 year-old Fadel, a practis- ing Muslim who was thrust into the spotlight after being assaulted by a SkyTrain passenger in Decem- ber, says she wants increased public awareness and safety through tran- sit advertisements, SkyTrain secu- rity and education in schools. “T want to collect people’s stories whether they have experienced rac- ism, discrimination or an assault,” said Fadel, who since her assault, has received hundreds of letters, leading her to start her “Speak Up Together” project. Fadel plans to mail those letters to parliament, along with demands to address discrimination and vio- lence towards marginalized groups. Fatima Ahmed, co-founder of the advocacy group, Voices of Muslim Women, said curriculum changes and more emphasis on promoting diversity are needed. “It is about everybody realiz- ing that minorities are vulnerable and they need to be protected be- cause they enrich this communi- ty,” Ahmed said. “Diversity is our strength and power.” Another of Fadel’s goals is that transit police train officers to pre- pare for hate-instigated crimes. Metro Vancouver Transit Police spokesperson Anne Drennan said there is no specific hate crimes training for TransLink police, how- ever new recruits are introduced to what constitutes a hate crime. “We refer to the BC Hate Crime team when a situation occurs,” Drennan said. “They can give ad- vice on how to act and what specific charges are appropriate.” Fadel said she not only wants to help those from the Islamic com- munity but everyone. “T’ve been fight- battle way longer @ [the attack] hap- to me,” she "Your struggle is my strug- ” gle. _ ing this than it pened said. Fadel. NIKITHA MARTINS PHOTO 0) garish COLUMBIA sy BUANCE SERVICE i FEBRUARY 8, 2018 * VOL. 49 NO. 9 > VANCOUVER, B.C. ile British Columbia Ambulance Services respond to a call in the Downto cuseaiaisTESEith = Se nas : agen wh Easts ide, which has the most overdose-related resources of any area. South Vancouver has the worst ratio of overdose deaths to overdose response calls, prompting action for further education and services. wick vai KA PHOTO Overdoses: Not just DTES South Van has highest rates of overdose deaths per 911 calls By CLOELOGAN ast year, one person died for every nine overdose response calls in South Vancouver, according to the City of Vancouver's 2017 opioid crisis report. This overdose death- Steffler said the people who are dying from drug overdoses in South Vancouver are more likely to be rec- reational drug users who don't take possible fentanyl contamination se- riously. “The biggest thing for that is ac- cess to services and education,” he to-call ratio is said. “We need th f that. We other neighbour- "Tt could be you, or need more help.” ae onparinen me, or your friend, wn Rene pub. the Downtown r rroomm . lic information Eastside _regis- oryou 00 ate officer Jonathan tered one death No one is safe. Gormick said for every 29 calls. that people in Overall, there are more over- dose deaths in the DTES, said Christopher Stef- fler, communications manager for the Together We Can — Addiction Recovery and Education Centre. But because people there tend to use supervised injection sites, use in the presence of others and locals can recognize the signs of overdose, 911 calls are more successful. — JONATHAN GORMICK, VANCOUVER FIRE AND RESCUE PUBLIC INFORMATION South Vancou- ver are also us- ing alone and not telling anyone about their drug use. “They're not telling someone to come and check on them 15 min- utes after they've used,” he said. “It’s a lot like the AIDS epidemic, how everyone stigmatized it at first, but then realized that it can happen to anyone. “It could be you, or me, or your which can be done for free — though the only five locations are all in the DTES. “There are drug testing kits out there,” Akins said. “But we recom- mend our services.” friend, or your roommate. No one is safe.” Vancouver Coastal Health’s com- munications leader Tiffany Akins advised anyone who uses, or is con- sidering using, to test their drugs, Estimated ratio of overdose deaths-to-calls, Vancouver 2017 City overall ratio: 1:22 Regions by local health area, excluding UBC City Centre 1:16 Downtown Eastside 1:29 Westside 1:23 ¢ Data source: Vancouver Police Department, Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services Map of Vancouver showcases the varying ratios of overdose deaths to the to- tal number of overdose emergency response calls in 2017. South Vancouver registered the worst ratio of the six regions. ciTy OF VANCOUVER GRAPHIC