Nobody wants to be poor, nobody wants to be sick, and nobody wants to be addicted to drugs, said Councilor Albert Koehler, during the Livin' in the VLA event Friday afternoon.
"Something needs to be done and a workshop like this is a good place to start," Koehler said.
The Coldsnap Music Festival workshop was held at the Youth Around Prince George Centre and was hosted by CBC Radio, addressing issues and potential solutions facing residents in the low-income Prince George neighbourhood.
Coldsnap festival headliners The Boom Booms were there to perform and offer their support, along with local singer songwriter Derek Joyce, who lives in the VLA.
Issues of poverty and safety were explored and solutions like targeted programming to aid those in need were discussed. Many audience members told the tale of hungry children and suggested assistance for young mothers asking for formula and diapers for their children.
Audience members were encouraged to share their experiences in the 'hood', as Betty Clark, of Shoalin Boxing Club calls it.
"All the coaches are volunteers and the boxing club is all about having a safe place to achieve your goals, whatever those may be," said Clark of the Connaught Youth Centre club. "Something needs to be done to help those kids, those families and those young moms."
There are several Coldsnap festival workshops to attend for free and many shows to see. For more information visit www.coldsnapfestival.com.
