- 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.

B次元官网网址淢y dad worked in international development and I was in Zimbabwe to visit him,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淚 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 couldnB次元官网网址檛 get my head around.B次元官网网址�

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.

B次元官网网址淚 decided I didnB次元官网网址檛 need to go back overseas to help people. I just needed to go downtown,B次元官网网址� says Krista, whoB次元官网网址檚 been in Victoria since 1996. B次元官网网址淪o I started talking to homeless people and making friendships.B次元官网网址�

It was the beginning of a storytelling journey thatB次元官网网址檚 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, KristaB次元官网网址檚 first feature-length film that centred on four chronically homeless people in Victoria, each struggling with addiction. The filmB次元官网网址攑owerfully empathetic and compassionateB次元官网网址攑remiered at City Hall in Victoria and has screened thousands of times across North America, including an exclusive parliamentary showing for CanadaB次元官网网址檚 MPs, hosted by the federal minister of health, Jean-Yves Duclos.

B次元官网网址淒one well, films can be very powerful and they can influence people,B次元官网网址� Krista says. B次元官网网址淔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.B次元官网网址�

Shining a light on those four people and their struggles with homelessness and addiction humanized the issue for a lot of viewers, but it wasnB次元官网网址檛 enough for Krista.

B次元官网网址淚 was making films to try to influence politicians to think differently and develop new policies, but it wasnB次元官网网址檛 happening fast enough, so I decided it was time for me to step up,B次元官网网址� 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.

B次元官网网址淚t was a very powerful day,B次元官网网址� she says of being inaugurated. B次元官网网址淭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. ItB次元官网网址檚 kind of surreal, to be honest. But itB次元官网网址檚 wonderful. IB次元官网网址檓 so excited.B次元官网网址�

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

B次元官网网址淭he sheltering issue is one of the first things weB次元官网网址檙e going to be looking at, and then the housing crisis,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淪heltering is really intertwined with public safety and we need to work on that issue. We canB次元官网网址檛 continue business as usual.B次元官网网址�

As well as getting multiple partners at the tableB次元官网网址攊ncluding service providers, advocates for the unhoused, the police and different levels of governmentB次元官网网址擪rista adds, B次元官网网址淚 feel strongly that itB次元官网网址檚 important to have people with lived experience at the table, to make sure that what weB次元官网网址檙e proposing is going to work. TheyB次元官网网址檙e the experts.B次元官网网址�

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

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e a fresh council. ThereB次元官网网址檚 lots of camaraderie, good conversations and positive feelings. And IB次元官网网址檝e been unbelievably impressed with city staff in all the departments,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 inspiring and a privilege to be part of creating a well-functioning municipality.B次元官网网址�

The 7 Sins

Envy:

Whose shoes would you like to walk in?

Jack Layton. Had Jack become Prime Minister, I donB次元官网网址檛 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 sewersB次元官网网址攅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 grandmaB次元官网网址檚 stuffingB次元官网网址攑artly because itB次元官网网址檚 delicious, but also because it connects me to family traditions. Followed closely by an endless dish of tiramisu.

Greed:

YouB次元官网网址檙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 donB次元官网网址檛 show up to help with the problem.

Sloth:

Where would you spend a long time doing nothing?

Therm毛a Spa. However, IB次元官网网址檇 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 youB次元官网网址檙e secretly proud of?

My dogged determination. My favourite quote is, B次元官网网址淣ow that all possibilities are exhausted, letB次元官网网址檚 get started.B次元官网网址�

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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