Pubdate: Thu, 15 Jun 2017
Source: Vancouver 24hours (CN BC)
Copyright: 2017 Vancouver 24 hrs.
Contact: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/letters
Website: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3837
Author: Ada Slivinski
Page: 5

DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE TOURS OBJECTIFY THOSE LIVING WITH ADDICTION

Vancouver seems to have two seasons: Rain and tourists. Just as we
make our way out of one, the other hits us full force. Nowhere is the
throng of tourists thicker than Gastown, where they scramble for
selfies with the steam clock.

Trying to get away from those tourists while out for a quick
post-lunch walk, I wandered further into the Downtown Eastside than I
normally do and was surprised to see the camera-wielding crowd didn't
stop there. In front of me were a man and woman - her stopping to snap
photos of people lying on the street and him loudly explaining what he
saw as the reason those addicted to drugs and living in the area
didn't try to help themselves and turn their lives around.

When I recounted the story to friends later that day, I was surprised
to learn about the phenomenon of paid walking tours through the area,
specifically advertising drugs and homelessness as a sort of local
attraction.

The website Tours By Locals advertises a "private tour" of "Canada's
poorest postal code," Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. The two-hour tour
costs $163 USD + GST. "Tour a fascinating but troubled neighbourhood,"
begins the description.

How would you feel if tourists walked through your home or office and
loudly sighed and lamented about how you would certainly never get out
of this mess, and wasn't it sad?

The tour guide of this particular tour, advertised on Tours By Locals
goes by Winston W. and he also offers other tours of places like
Grouse Mountain, Whistler and Granville Island. His profile says he
lives in Burnaby and there are no credentials listed indicating he'd
be able to offer some insight into the problems in the area.

Tour guides shouldn't be making money off this kind of "slum-tourism,"
nor should some of the city's most sick individuals be flaunted as an
attraction. We wouldn't go tour the hospital and talk loudly about how
terrible the people dying of cancer look and snap their pictures.
Tourists tempted by the area, remember: those on the streets can hear
you and what you're saying probably hurts.
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MAP posted-by: Matt