- Word by Angela Cowan Photography by Lia Crowe

Krista Loughton was in her late teens when she first witnessed the extreme level of poverty which would shape her entire experience with the world.

鈥淢y dad worked in international development and I was in Zimbabwe to visit him,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 had never witnessed poverty like that. It really affected me. The idea that 80 per cent of the country was sleeping on dirt floors was something I couldn鈥檛 get my head around.鈥�

She came back to Canada with a fierce determination to help, but the experience also opened her eyes to the hardships in her own community. Already passionate about filmmaking, Krista began to see a way to combine it with her drive to make a difference.

鈥淚 decided I didn鈥檛 need to go back overseas to help people. I just needed to go downtown,鈥� says Krista, who鈥檚 been in Victoria since 1996. 鈥淪o I started talking to homeless people and making friendships.鈥�

It was the beginning of a storytelling journey that鈥檚 lasted well over a decade, and has included two short films focussing on the new location of Our Place and Reverend Al Tysick, and Us & Them, Krista鈥檚 first feature-length film that centred on four chronically homeless people in Victoria, each struggling with addiction. The film鈥攑owerfully empathetic and compassionate鈥攑remiered at City Hall in Victoria and has screened thousands of times across North America, including an exclusive parliamentary showing for Canada鈥檚 MPs, hosted by the federal minister of health, Jean-Yves Duclos.

鈥淒one well, films can be very powerful and they can influence people,鈥� Krista says. 鈥淔ilmmaking was part of how I wanted to help. I wanted to tell stories about the homelessness situation, to help others understand, or just to witness it.鈥�

Shining a light on those four people and their struggles with homelessness and addiction humanized the issue for a lot of viewers, but it wasn鈥檛 enough for Krista.

鈥淚 was making films to try to influence politicians to think differently and develop new policies, but it wasn鈥檛 happening fast enough, so I decided it was time for me to step up,鈥� she says.

This year, Krista dove into the realm of politics when she became a Victoria city councillor for the first time after campaigning on an intensive platform with major focuses on public safety, the housing crisis and supporting Indigenous relationships.

鈥淚t was a very powerful day,鈥� she says of being inaugurated. 鈥淭he Lekwungen dancers led us into council chambers. There was an address by the Esquimalt Chief Rob Thomas, the mayor did an address and we were all sworn in. It鈥檚 kind of surreal, to be honest. But it鈥檚 wonderful. I鈥檓 so excited.鈥�

Following her lifelong passion, Krista is driven to address homelessness and housing as soon as possible from her new position.

鈥淭he sheltering issue is one of the first things we鈥檙e going to be looking at, and then the housing crisis,鈥� she says. 鈥淪heltering is really intertwined with public safety and we need to work on that issue. We can鈥檛 continue business as usual.鈥�

As well as getting multiple partners at the table鈥攊ncluding service providers, advocates for the unhoused, the police and different levels of government鈥擪rista adds, 鈥淚 feel strongly that it鈥檚 important to have people with lived experience at the table, to make sure that what we鈥檙e proposing is going to work. They鈥檙e the experts.鈥�

Looking forward to the next four years, Krista is excited and optimistic.

鈥淲e鈥檙e a fresh council. There鈥檚 lots of camaraderie, good conversations and positive feelings. And I鈥檝e been unbelievably impressed with city staff in all the departments,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 inspiring and a privilege to be part of creating a well-functioning municipality.鈥�

The 7 Sins

Envy:

Whose shoes would you like to walk in?

Jack Layton. Had Jack become Prime Minister, I don鈥檛 think we would have a homeless encampment crisis exploding across our country in 2022. In his early political days as a Toronto city councillor, he worked on the ground with the homeless and their advocates. He wrote an influential book called Homelessness: How To End The National Crisis and understood that social housing is like the roads and sewers鈥攅ssential infrastructure for every town and city.

Gluttony:

What is the food you could eat over and over again?

In the spirit of gluttony, I choose two. My grandma鈥檚 stuffing鈥攑artly because it鈥檚 delicious, but also because it connects me to family traditions. Followed closely by an endless dish of tiramisu.

Greed:

You鈥檙e given $1 million that you have to spend selfishly. What would you spend it on?

I would put a down payment on a multiplex so my mother can age in place and I can live beside her and help care for her.

Wrath:

Pet peeves?

Online warriors. People who talk a big game online but don鈥檛 show up to help with the problem.

Sloth:

Where would you spend a long time doing nothing?

Therm毛a Spa. However, I鈥檇 have to travel to Winnipeg to partake. We need one on the island. Someone reading this please look into opening one!

Pride:

What is the one thing you鈥檙e secretly proud of?

My dogged determination. My favourite quote is, 鈥淣ow that all possibilities are exhausted, let鈥檚 get started.鈥�

Lust:

What makes your heart beat faster?

The idea that everyone in my community has a safe place to sleep at night. The possibility of leaving my community better than I found it makes my heart beat faster.

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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