“I enjoy selling Megaphone this time of year because I like the greetings. I have a feeling that customers and vendors are going through the same thing with the weather. So there’s a bit of a relationship there.

“My most memorable moments this year were the Bowen Island trip and the Voices of the Street production.

“The trip, it had been a few years since I went on any kind of day trip so it felt really good. It was nice to take the time out and do something like that. I did a sketch out there. I went for a hike. I did a little rock climbing.

“At the Voices of the Street production, I felt on top of the world when I finished it. I never did anything like that before. It gave me a sense of accomplishment. (Editor’s Note: Rodney read two of his poems at the 2017 launch event for Megaphone's annual literary edition, Voices of the Street.)

“I love doing artwork and printmaking. I like being able to learn something new in printmaking, being able to draw patterns. In this case it was a bee. I felt very good about the results I had from my print and the other prints I made. It was fun doing it. (Editor's note: The bee by Rodney hangs in Megaphone's office.)

“My biggest surprise this year was being in the advertisement for the Vancouver Courier newspaper, the Megaphone advertisement. I didn’t expect that at all. I got a call one morning asking me to do it. I guess it surprised me because I didn’t think it would be an advertisement for the newspaper like the Courier. If it was an advertisement just to promote the product, but I didn’t expect it to be in the Courier!

“I had a few challenges this year. My foot was a challenge. I’ve been walking on a sore foot for the past year and I finally got it checked out at the walk-in clinic and it’s healing now. I guess I procrastinated and didn’t go right away.

“The last challenge I had was when I got sick just recently, after the big rainstorm we had in November.

“It was also a challenge to be on the Vendor Advisory Board. It’s a challenge to get myself up in the morning to make it in. I was late once. I guess I just had enough times doing it, my body got used to it. (Editor’s note: Rodney served one three-month term on the board, which is peer-chosen. The board provides Megaphone staff with input.)

“I’d like to take a vacation next year but I never seem to get there. I’d love to go somewhere warm if it was in the winter, but in the summer I’m OK with going somewhere in Canada. Saving money has always been a difficulty for me.

“Next year, I’d just like to keep healthy. I’ll probably continue to do bike riding and physical activities. I did them last spring and summer but as soon as we had those forest fires, I wasn’t motivated to do my exercises because of the smoke in the air.

“I always like to wish my customers a very Merry Christmas and hope they can achieve their dreams in the new year, as much as I look forward to achieving mine.”

Rodney sells in Vancouver at Cambie and Eighth in front of the Whole Foods or at Granville and Dunsmuir. Photo by Geoff Webb.

Since you are already here: We’re working hard to create more low-barrier work opportunities while we build support to end poverty. But we need your help to continue. There’s still a $25,000 gap for what we have planned for next year. Please chip in $10 or more today to build solutions to homelessness: www.megaphonemagazine.com/donate