- 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.

害羞草研究所淢y dad worked in international development and I was in Zimbabwe to visit him,害羞草研究所� she says. 害羞草研究所淚 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害羞草研究所檛 get my head around.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淚 decided I didn害羞草研究所檛 need to go back overseas to help people. I just needed to go downtown,害羞草研究所� says Krista, who害羞草研究所檚 been in Victoria since 1996. 害羞草研究所淪o I started talking to homeless people and making friendships.害羞草研究所�

It was the beginning of a storytelling journey that害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檚 first feature-length film that centred on four chronically homeless people in Victoria, each struggling with addiction. The film害羞草研究所攑owerfully empathetic and compassionate害羞草研究所攑remiered at City Hall in Victoria and has screened thousands of times across North America, including an exclusive parliamentary showing for Canada害羞草研究所檚 MPs, hosted by the federal minister of health, Jean-Yves Duclos.

害羞草研究所淒one well, films can be very powerful and they can influence people,害羞草研究所� Krista says. 害羞草研究所淔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.害羞草研究所�

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害羞草研究所檛 enough for Krista.

害羞草研究所淚 was making films to try to influence politicians to think differently and develop new policies, but it wasn害羞草研究所檛 happening fast enough, so I decided it was time for me to step up,害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所淚t was a very powerful day,害羞草研究所� she says of being inaugurated. 害羞草研究所淭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害羞草研究所檚 kind of surreal, to be honest. But it害羞草研究所檚 wonderful. I害羞草研究所檓 so excited.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淭he sheltering issue is one of the first things we害羞草研究所檙e going to be looking at, and then the housing crisis,害羞草研究所� she says. 害羞草研究所淪heltering is really intertwined with public safety and we need to work on that issue. We can害羞草研究所檛 continue business as usual.害羞草研究所�

As well as getting multiple partners at the table害羞草研究所攊ncluding service providers, advocates for the unhoused, the police and different levels of government害羞草研究所擪rista adds, 害羞草研究所淚 feel strongly that it害羞草研究所檚 important to have people with lived experience at the table, to make sure that what we害羞草研究所檙e proposing is going to work. They害羞草研究所檙e the experts.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e a fresh council. There害羞草研究所檚 lots of camaraderie, good conversations and positive feelings. And I害羞草研究所檝e been unbelievably impressed with city staff in all the departments,害羞草研究所� she says. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 inspiring and a privilege to be part of creating a well-functioning municipality.害羞草研究所�

The 7 Sins

Envy:

Whose shoes would you like to walk in?

Jack Layton. Had Jack become Prime Minister, I don害羞草研究所檛 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害羞草研究所攅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害羞草研究所檚 stuffing害羞草研究所攑artly because it害羞草研究所檚 delicious, but also because it connects me to family traditions. Followed closely by an endless dish of tiramisu.

Greed:

You害羞草研究所檙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害羞草研究所檛 show up to help with the problem.

Sloth:

Where would you spend a long time doing nothing?

Therm毛a Spa. However, I害羞草研究所檇 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害羞草研究所檙e secretly proud of?

My dogged determination. My favourite quote is, 害羞草研究所淣ow that all possibilities are exhausted, let害羞草研究所檚 get started.害羞草研究所�

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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