Lance Lim first came to Megaphone to participate in the 2021 Hope inShadows calendar photo contest.His entry, The Space Between Us, won the Best Artistic Photo Award.

It wasn’t surprising, as Lance is a creative force. Trained in graphic and fine arts, Lance was involved in Vancouver’s public art initiative as a project manager when murals were being created in the Downtown Eastside. He also enjoys writing and is an enthusiastic teacher in the All Bodies Dance program offered at Carnegie Community Centre.

“It’s dance for enabled and disabled people with no judgement,” Lance explains, adding that this group has been chosen to take part in a performance withDanceHouse at SFU Woodwards.

Lance, 60, knows first-hand the importance of feeling comfortable with who you are. He relies on a motorized scooter to get around and is a single dad to 17-year-old Robert, who has autism. Robert is in his final year of high school and is planning a career in the tech industry.

Lance loves spending time with Zeke, a bichon frise who acts as an emotional support dog for him. Zeke’s mom Michelle Heshka also takes the friendly pooch to visit patients at local hospitals and to work at Union Gospel Mission. (Follow his adventures on Instagram: @zeketherapy).

A lifelong Strathcona resident, Lance is passionate about food insecurity issues, and was instrumental in creating meal programs at local schools and Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House.

He believes with a little creativity, people can make healthy, nutritious meals with what they have on hand and a few purchased ingredients. His Nourishing Salmon Soup is an example.