- 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.

91裸聊视频淢y dad worked in international development and I was in Zimbabwe to visit him,91裸聊视频� she says. 91裸聊视频淚 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 couldn91裸聊视频檛 get my head around.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淚 decided I didn91裸聊视频檛 need to go back overseas to help people. I just needed to go downtown,91裸聊视频� says Krista, who91裸聊视频檚 been in Victoria since 1996. 91裸聊视频淪o I started talking to homeless people and making friendships.91裸聊视频�

It was the beginning of a storytelling journey that91裸聊视频檚 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, Krista91裸聊视频檚 first feature-length film that centred on four chronically homeless people in Victoria, each struggling with addiction. The film91裸聊视频攑owerfully empathetic and compassionate91裸聊视频攑remiered at City Hall in Victoria and has screened thousands of times across North America, including an exclusive parliamentary showing for Canada91裸聊视频檚 MPs, hosted by the federal minister of health, Jean-Yves Duclos.

91裸聊视频淒one well, films can be very powerful and they can influence people,91裸聊视频� Krista says. 91裸聊视频淔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.91裸聊视频�

Shining a light on those four people and their struggles with homelessness and addiction humanized the issue for a lot of viewers, but it wasn91裸聊视频檛 enough for Krista.

91裸聊视频淚 was making films to try to influence politicians to think differently and develop new policies, but it wasn91裸聊视频檛 happening fast enough, so I decided it was time for me to step up,91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淚t was a very powerful day,91裸聊视频� she says of being inaugurated. 91裸聊视频淭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. It91裸聊视频檚 kind of surreal, to be honest. But it91裸聊视频檚 wonderful. I91裸聊视频檓 so excited.91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淭he sheltering issue is one of the first things we91裸聊视频檙e going to be looking at, and then the housing crisis,91裸聊视频� she says. 91裸聊视频淪heltering is really intertwined with public safety and we need to work on that issue. We can91裸聊视频檛 continue business as usual.91裸聊视频�

As well as getting multiple partners at the table91裸聊视频攊ncluding service providers, advocates for the unhoused, the police and different levels of government91裸聊视频擪rista adds, 91裸聊视频淚 feel strongly that it91裸聊视频檚 important to have people with lived experience at the table, to make sure that what we91裸聊视频檙e proposing is going to work. They91裸聊视频檙e the experts.91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e a fresh council. There91裸聊视频檚 lots of camaraderie, good conversations and positive feelings. And I91裸聊视频檝e been unbelievably impressed with city staff in all the departments,91裸聊视频� she says. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 inspiring and a privilege to be part of creating a well-functioning municipality.91裸聊视频�

The 7 Sins

Envy:

Whose shoes would you like to walk in?

Jack Layton. Had Jack become Prime Minister, I don91裸聊视频檛 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 sewers91裸聊视频攅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 grandma91裸聊视频檚 stuffing91裸聊视频攑artly because it91裸聊视频檚 delicious, but also because it connects me to family traditions. Followed closely by an endless dish of tiramisu.

Greed:

You91裸聊视频檙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 don91裸聊视频檛 show up to help with the problem.

Sloth:

Where would you spend a long time doing nothing?

Therm毛a Spa. However, I91裸聊视频檇 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 you91裸聊视频檙e secretly proud of?

My dogged determination. My favourite quote is, 91裸聊视频淣ow that all possibilities are exhausted, let91裸聊视频檚 get started.91裸聊视频�

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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