- Word by Angela Cowan Photography by Lia Crowe

Krista Loughton was in her late teens when she first witnessed the extreme level of poverty which would shape her entire experience with the world.

香蕉视频直播淢y dad worked in international development and I was in Zimbabwe to visit him,香蕉视频直播� she says. 香蕉视频直播淚 had never witnessed poverty like that. It really affected me. The idea that 80 per cent of the country was sleeping on dirt floors was something I couldn香蕉视频直播檛 get my head around.香蕉视频直播�

She came back to Canada with a fierce determination to help, but the experience also opened her eyes to the hardships in her own community. Already passionate about filmmaking, Krista began to see a way to combine it with her drive to make a difference.

香蕉视频直播淚 decided I didn香蕉视频直播檛 need to go back overseas to help people. I just needed to go downtown,香蕉视频直播� says Krista, who香蕉视频直播檚 been in Victoria since 1996. 香蕉视频直播淪o I started talking to homeless people and making friendships.香蕉视频直播�

It was the beginning of a storytelling journey that香蕉视频直播檚 lasted well over a decade, and has included two short films focussing on the new location of Our Place and Reverend Al Tysick, and Us & Them, Krista香蕉视频直播檚 first feature-length film that centred on four chronically homeless people in Victoria, each struggling with addiction. The film香蕉视频直播攑owerfully empathetic and compassionate香蕉视频直播攑remiered at City Hall in Victoria and has screened thousands of times across North America, including an exclusive parliamentary showing for Canada香蕉视频直播檚 MPs, hosted by the federal minister of health, Jean-Yves Duclos.

香蕉视频直播淒one well, films can be very powerful and they can influence people,香蕉视频直播� Krista says. 香蕉视频直播淔ilmmaking was part of how I wanted to help. I wanted to tell stories about the homelessness situation, to help others understand, or just to witness it.香蕉视频直播�

Shining a light on those four people and their struggles with homelessness and addiction humanized the issue for a lot of viewers, but it wasn香蕉视频直播檛 enough for Krista.

香蕉视频直播淚 was making films to try to influence politicians to think differently and develop new policies, but it wasn香蕉视频直播檛 happening fast enough, so I decided it was time for me to step up,香蕉视频直播� she says.

This year, Krista dove into the realm of politics when she became a Victoria city councillor for the first time after campaigning on an intensive platform with major focuses on public safety, the housing crisis and supporting Indigenous relationships.

香蕉视频直播淚t was a very powerful day,香蕉视频直播� she says of being inaugurated. 香蕉视频直播淭he Lekwungen dancers led us into council chambers. There was an address by the Esquimalt Chief Rob Thomas, the mayor did an address and we were all sworn in. It香蕉视频直播檚 kind of surreal, to be honest. But it香蕉视频直播檚 wonderful. I香蕉视频直播檓 so excited.香蕉视频直播�

Following her lifelong passion, Krista is driven to address homelessness and housing as soon as possible from her new position.

香蕉视频直播淭he sheltering issue is one of the first things we香蕉视频直播檙e going to be looking at, and then the housing crisis,香蕉视频直播� she says. 香蕉视频直播淪heltering is really intertwined with public safety and we need to work on that issue. We can香蕉视频直播檛 continue business as usual.香蕉视频直播�

As well as getting multiple partners at the table香蕉视频直播攊ncluding service providers, advocates for the unhoused, the police and different levels of government香蕉视频直播擪rista adds, 香蕉视频直播淚 feel strongly that it香蕉视频直播檚 important to have people with lived experience at the table, to make sure that what we香蕉视频直播檙e proposing is going to work. They香蕉视频直播檙e the experts.香蕉视频直播�

Looking forward to the next four years, Krista is excited and optimistic.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e a fresh council. There香蕉视频直播檚 lots of camaraderie, good conversations and positive feelings. And I香蕉视频直播檝e been unbelievably impressed with city staff in all the departments,香蕉视频直播� she says. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 inspiring and a privilege to be part of creating a well-functioning municipality.香蕉视频直播�

The 7 Sins

Envy:

Whose shoes would you like to walk in?

Jack Layton. Had Jack become Prime Minister, I don香蕉视频直播檛 think we would have a homeless encampment crisis exploding across our country in 2022. In his early political days as a Toronto city councillor, he worked on the ground with the homeless and their advocates. He wrote an influential book called Homelessness: How To End The National Crisis and understood that social housing is like the roads and sewers香蕉视频直播攅ssential infrastructure for every town and city.

Gluttony:

What is the food you could eat over and over again?

In the spirit of gluttony, I choose two. My grandma香蕉视频直播檚 stuffing香蕉视频直播攑artly because it香蕉视频直播檚 delicious, but also because it connects me to family traditions. Followed closely by an endless dish of tiramisu.

Greed:

You香蕉视频直播檙e given $1 million that you have to spend selfishly. What would you spend it on?

I would put a down payment on a multiplex so my mother can age in place and I can live beside her and help care for her.

Wrath:

Pet peeves?

Online warriors. People who talk a big game online but don香蕉视频直播檛 show up to help with the problem.

Sloth:

Where would you spend a long time doing nothing?

Therm毛a Spa. However, I香蕉视频直播檇 have to travel to Winnipeg to partake. We need one on the island. Someone reading this please look into opening one!

Pride:

What is the one thing you香蕉视频直播檙e secretly proud of?

My dogged determination. My favourite quote is, 香蕉视频直播淣ow that all possibilities are exhausted, let香蕉视频直播檚 get started.香蕉视频直播�

Lust:

What makes your heart beat faster?

The idea that everyone in my community has a safe place to sleep at night. The possibility of leaving my community better than I found it makes my heart beat faster.

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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