š VanGran4Pal Community Newsletter (December 5, 2025)
Neighbours and friends,
Thank you so much to those of you who responded to our survey earlier this week. We are excited to grow and strengthen our community together with the help of the insights you provided. Thank you for your time, solidarity and kindness. If you didnāt have a chance to fill out the survey and would like to, you still can! We have also updated our email address, so our team can respond to your feedback, questions and comments - simply hit reply to any of our emails going forwards.
This week, we are keeping our eyes on Gaza. VanGran4Pal team member Federica has written an excellent post on our site offering a scathing analysis of the illegal UN Resolution 2803 and establishment of the 'Board of Peace'. If you're looking for a clear, concise explainer of the supposed Gaza peace plan, this is it. Her writing is both enlightening and motivating: "The resolution is not a framework for liberation but an instrument of domination... Every petition, every letter to a representative, every protest, teach-in, conversation, every donation, every boycott, or cultural event is a refusal to accept this imposed control". Thank you Federica!
Since the so-called ceasefire on October 10th, Israel has killed at least 360 Palestinians (including 52 children on October 29th) and injured close to 1000. We refuse to look away from these atrocities, even as world leaders congratulate themselves on achieving āpeaceā.
As the actions of our governments stray ever further from the will of the people, we are grateful for our community members who stand up, make noise, and refuse to be ignored. This week in particular we are grateful to the hundreds of Vancouver residents who stood up to Ken Sim at city council budget meetings in the face of blatant, shameless cronyism and wealth-hoarding. The passing of the budget despite massive outcry is yet another reminder that those in power do not care about us; we keep us safe.
This week, we have a number of important actions and events to share with you, as well as the debut of a brand new segment in our newsletter: VanGran4Pal Book Club! We hope you find something to engage, motivate, and connect you. Thank you for being here.
As always, in solidarity,
The VanGran crew
Actions you can take
It is critical that CONCACAF take action and speak out in the face of grave injustice towards Palestine and Palestinians. It is particularly important to get to CONCACAFās President, Victor Montagliani, as he is also the Vice President of FIFA. Montagliani holds a unique position of power, and has a higher responsibility to take action to ensure that FIFA upholds international legal obligations by banning or suspending Israel. It is appalling that FIFA and the UEFA continue to allow Israel to participate, even as they took swift and immediate action to sanction Russia after its invasion of Ukraine.
If Canadaās Parliament recognized the Gaza genocide, it would send a powerful message that Israel is not immune from international law. It would be the first step in holding Israeli officials accountable for committing the gravest of crimes. It would mean that our government is serious when it says āNever Againā for anyone.
Thatās why CJPME is asking folks to join its campaign to have Canada recognize Israelās genocide in Gaza by sending an email to Prime Minister Mark Carney, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, and your MP. Canada must call it like it is and finally say āgenocide.ā
On December 3, four Israeli leaders spoke in Toronto as part of āThe Munk Debates.ā These four Israeliās were invited to ādebateā the ātwo-state solution.ā
Because of this, the Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF), the Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights (CLAIHR), and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) filed a complaint to the RCMP and the Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Section of the Department of Justice today.
They are urging the RCMP to āopen an investigation into their roles and issue a warrant for their arrest pursuant to Canadaās Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act, S.C. 2000, c. 24, and in compliance with Canadaās obligation under Article 146 of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to āseek out and prosecuteā those reasonably suspected of grave breaches who set foot in Canada.ā
Upcoming Events
Book & Bake Sale for Gazan & Indigenous Families | December 7
Date and time
Sunday, December 7th, 10 am - 5 pm
Location
Progress Lab, 1422 William St, Vancouver BC
About
Calling all book and pastry lovers!! š š§ Check out the annual booksale by Massy Books & @parentsforpalestineyvr to raise funds for Gazan and local Indigenous families. Homemade baked goods will also be available to nourish you as you search for your next best read ā¤ļø
Narratives of Resistance: Vancouver Palestine Film Fundraiser | December 7
Date and time
Sunday, December 7, 4 pm - 8 pm.
Location
SLICE Art Gallery.
About
Come to NOR: Vancouver Film Festival! Narratives of Resistance (NOR) has curated a rare program to show the daily life under displacement, understanding that every refugee looks different and has their own problems, but should still be shown humanity. āWith help from Cross and Crows Books and SLICE Art Gallery, the festival will screen 7 short films and documentaries from the Palestine Film Institute and Nakba FilmWorks. Each film will be followed by a short discussion, and postcards from artists living in Gaza will be available to buy.
Movement & Mobility Open House | December 13
Date and time
Saturday, December 13, 1 pm - 2:30 pm.
Location
Engineered Bodies Strength & Conditioning,
Unit 4 - 2822 Spring Street, Port Moody
About
Movement & Mobility Open House for AFC Team Members, AFC Signatories and Allies! AFC is thrilled to announce their upcoming event in collaboration with one of their amazing AFC signatories, Engineered Bodies. Get re-energized and fight harder for Justice. This workshop will address the physical and mental challenges of these demanding times and provide practical tools and hands-on coaching to help you move better, release stress, and build sustainable habits for your well-being.
For Palestine, With Love: A Night of Music & Solidarity in Support of Gaza | December 18
Date and time
Thursday, December 18, 7:30 pm to 9:40 pm.
Location
The Waterfront Theatre, 1412 Cartwright Street, Vancouver, BC.
About
An evening of boundary-crossing artists in a moving expression of solidarity and care. 100% of proceeds go to Gaza relief efforts.
The Drive for Palestine Fundraiser | December 20
Date and time
Saturday, December 20, 11 am to 6 pm.
Location
Britannia centre / Gym D- Vancouver.
About
āThe Drive for Palestineā is organised by REACH Community Health Centre and their partners. What to expect: Indigenous opening with blessings and prayers, Gaza remains exhibition, Vendors and artists of different local businesses: food, clothing, accessories, henna art, fashion shows, Dabkeh, drums, Kids corner, embroidery (Tatreez) corner, raffle prizes, silent auction and much more. Save your Xmas gift decisions till you visit this event. All proceeds will be donated to Humanitarian aid in Gaza. Come with your family and friends to show solidarity, support the cause and to support your local communities.
Community Spotlights
Gaza Soup Kitchen
Parents4Palestine are hoping to add 20 more sustaining donors so that they can fund a full 7 days a week of operations at a new location for the Gaza Soup Kitchen, where they are currently feeding 200 families every day, 6 days per week. This holiday season, if you know anyone else who'd like to continue supporting their life-saving operations, will you share their sustaining donors campaign with them?
Businesses to support this holiday season
Whether you're just looking to feed yourself, clothe your family or you celebrate a gift-giving holiday - the capitalist season is in full force! The list of businesses at Watermelon Maps is ever-growing - skim their list of pro-Palestine businesses you can support by clicking here. Don't forget that there are also loads of holiday markets where you can support local artisans, many of whom are openly advocating for Palestine in their art and actions.
Introducing: VanGran4Pal Book Club!
Reading recommendations by VanGran volunteers and community members
Minor Detail tells the story of occupied Palestine through two vignettes, separated by decades but united by the striking, mundane cruelty they both depict. In unsparing, almost clinical detail, Adania Shibli recounts first the rape and murder of a young Bedouin-Palestinian girl by Israeli soldiers in the Negev desert in 1949, and the subsequent fixation of a young woman in Ramallah with the incident half a century later. The novella is a blend of historical fact and modern fiction which articulates the cruelties of occupation both overt and insidious. It is a powerful, difficult and captivating book that lingers lost past its modest page count.
Donāt forget to Boycott Indigo and shop Pro-Palestine!