“I first heard about Megaphone through Hope in Shadows, and I thought I would give it a try. I like Megaphone because it gives me a chance to interact with people and it helps supplement my income. It’s a lot of fun.

“I have a poem published in Megaphone’s Voices of the Street issue. I don’t write much, but I like to sometimes. It’s great getting published and it made me feel great. I’m getting compliments from people on the street telling me that it’s really good. That’s the kind of feedback I’m getting.

“I’m originally from Nova Scotia. I used to do lot of work in nursing—I was an orderly nursing assistant. I also used to cook in the high-end restaurants for living. I did that for years. But now I’m on a disability and live on a fixed income. I came West because of the opportunities for work here. Back home the opportunities just weren’t there.

“If I could go back to nursing, find someone to work one-on-one with and look after would be nice—to be a companion caregiver—that would be my dream job. Right now I volunteer at Oppenheimer Park and take classes at UBC.

“I live in the Downtown Eastside. Being on a fixed income, it’s a lot more affordable. I like it here because it’s a great community. There are a lot of good people down in this area and a lot of talent. It might not seem like it, but people stick together down there. There’s a lot of camaraderie.

“I’m going to Calgary soon to visit my daughter. She graduates Grade 12 and I’m really proud of her. I’m trying to earn enough money right now to afford that trip because I’ll be staying in a hotel. So I hope to sell a lot of magazines and I’m looking forward to going to her graduation. It will be really great.”

Dan sells Megaphone at the corner of Granville and Dunsmuir.