September 18, 2023 Dr. Carole Christopher, SPEC Guiding Elder and long standing board member, reflects on a recent Repair Cafe which served the most vulnerable Vancouverites at Union Gospel Mission in the Downtown East Side. Over the past year, SPEC has offered monthly Repair Cafes with invitations to bring your electronics, clothing, and small household […]
By Dr. Carole Christopher Four years ago I stepped down as the president of SPEC* and was given the title, Guiding Elder. I liked it but I wasn’t sure what it meant. Since then, I ask myself frequently, “What would a Guiding Elder do or say about this? “ As I’ve explored and grown in
In June 2023, SPEC Guiding Elder Carole Christopher, along with two SPEC members, had the privilege of meeting with MP Joyce Murray. The focal point of the discussion centered around the SPEC Elders Circle, delve deeper into its purpose and significance. Additionally, the opportunity was seized to align this program within the broader spectrum of SPEC’s initiatives, engaging in fruitful conversations about our other programs.
A Visit with MP Joyce Murray: Celebrating the Power of Elders Read More »
Written By Dr. Carole Christopher, SPEC Guiding Elder and Director I met Patricia (Patty to me) 35 years ago when she was a lawyer with the BC Federation of Labour and I coordinated an ecumenical Centre for Justice & Peace. We bonded around shared faith, a core belief in the common good, and a commitment to
Reflections on a Village Elder: Patricia Lane and the Ethics of Service Read More »
By Dr. Carole Christopher, SPEC President & Elder Image: Kinder Morgan Trans-Mountain Expansion construction. From Burnaby Now. SPEC opposes the local pipeline expansion on the basis of environmental risk. But we also believe that the deeply polarized public discourse around this and similar projects is a major factor stalling efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate
Building Solidarity Across Differences Read More »
Written by Carole Christopher, SPEC President The SPEC Elders Circle is a new initiative within SPEC that’s rooted in the belief that elders and society have much to gain by elders embracing their wisdom role and offering insight and knowledge to younger generations drawn from life experience and accumulated learning. When I was about 55, (I’m now
The SPEC Elders Circle – Reclaiming Elder Wisdom Read More »
SPEC just received a small, but significant grant, to start the Environmental Elders Engagement Initiative, or the SPEC Elders Project, for short. In a recent interview on CBC, David Suzuki, considered one of Canada’s most dedicated defenders of the environment, spoke about his determination to awaken elders to the power of their wisdom role in society. (David
Is Being an Elder an Environmental Matter? Read More »
“Who’s the guy with the afro?” This iconic picture of SPEC’s early days often draws that question. His name is Gary Gallon. For us, his name stands for leadership and passion, and he’s remembered as a lively, intelligent, energetic, and dedicated young man with a huge capacity to motivate and lead. His sense of direction
Profile of Gary Gallon Read More »
By Dr. Carole Christopher, SPEC President Last year, in preparation for our 45th anniversary celebration, I reviewed SPEC’s historical campaigns (1) and successfully connected with nearly 100 SPEC activists from the early days. As I gathered names, one that repeatedly came up was Terry Chantler so I called him to see what I could learn about
Profile on Terry Chantler Read More »
