In 2002 I helped my friend Kat Kosiancic produce her beautifully humane documentary “Be My Junkie Shadow.” Kat interviewed seven women who lived and worked in Vancouver’s downtown eastside neighborhood. Four of these women have since died, most recently Nicole C., shown above in a 1998 photo by Lincoln Clarkes from his epic “Heroines” series.

The phrase that became the title of Kat’s documentary came from Nicole, in an unsentimental and uncompromising exchange with Kat that you can read in full here. Below is an image of Nicole from the documentary.

Peace be with you.