Spencer van Vloten
About Spencer van Vloten
Spencer van Vloten is a community advocate, nationally published writer, and editor of BCDisability.com. BC recently awarded him the Medal of Good Citizenship. The Rick Hansen Foundation, which focuses on issues such as accessibility, named van Vloten the 2022 Difference Maker of the Year.
Trudeau government needs to go big or go home
Lagging at the polls, the Liberals must make a statement with today's budget.
The new year should bring in a new focus on accessibility
Although medically vulnerable populations may always be among the most at risk during climate disasters, there is no need for the loss of life to be as great as it has.
Canada must tackle poverty to save lives
Tackling Canada’s cost-of-living crisis is a matter of survival.
Resilience and resistance in the fight against homophobia and transphobia
It's important to remember the work of the Canadian trailblazers in the fight to obtain more justice for the LGBTQ community.
Public safety — a problem needing perspective
Loading up on law enforcement is not enough to prevent violent crime from making headlines. Creating safer communities requires political will, long-term commitment and improved collaboration among stakeholders and levels of government.
Life, not death, must be the focus in MAID delay
In pausing the expansion of MAID, the government has taken a baby step in the right direction, but it still does not seem to get it: too much time is spent considering who should die, rather than how to help people live.
Portraits of Poverty
Canada is one of the world’s richest countries, yet millions of Canadians are poor. We meet three of them, looking at the measures they must take to survive and at the roots of poverty in Canada.
Without Pride, things just weren’t the same
Hate is still all around us, and not everyone is fortunate enough to enjoy the Pride parades that made a comeback this summer.
As hate grows, multiculturalism falls short
Leaders across Canada recently celebrated multiculturalism, but the nationwide rise in hate and discrimination requires a more active approach to inclusion.
You want an accessible Canada? Put the people first
We need a larger focus on policies and initiatives that place persons with disabilities in jobs, help them afford post-secondary education, connect them with affordable housing and support them if they are struggling.