As Vancouver gets set to mark "Homelessness Action Week," the Union Gospel Mission is hoping a new program will give a fresh perspective of the Downtown Eastside. It's called the "Eastside Stride" -- and it's a walking tour of the neighbourhood. UGM spokesperson Keela Keeping says the area is often misjudged. "A lot of people when they think of the … [Read more...]
Union Gospel Mission hoping walking tours will change perspectives of Downtown Eastside
October 6, 2012 by
Final weekend for downtown Sears
October 6, 2012 by
It's been called Vancouver's ugliest building -- and tomorrow, the downtown Sears closes its doors for good. And not even the employees seem too upset. Brian Stone has managed the store since it opened as Sears 12 years ago. Before then it had been an Eatons location. Stone says more than 25-million dollars in inventory has been sold over the past … [Read more...]
Gay pride parade draws as many as half a million downtown
August 5, 2012 by
As many as half a million people packed the streets of Vancouver's West End this afternoon to take part in the 34th annual gay pride parade. It was a mix of colour, dance music and dazzling costumes as the floats made their way through downtown. Says one spectator: "I think that we're evolving more and more every year, and I think that it's … [Read more...]
Coroner’s inquest to begin into 2011 shooting death in Downtown Eastside
July 30, 2012 by
A coroner's inquest is set to begin today into the case of a man shot dead a year ago by Vancouver police officers in the Downtown Eastside. 48-year-old Darrell Elroy Barnes was fatally shot by an officer last July at Powell Street and Gore Avenue. Witnesses say they saw him run at a group of police holding a machete. The Integrated Homicide … [Read more...]
Options for the downtown viaducts
July 24, 2012 by
City staff have unveiled some ideas for removing the Dunsmuir and Georgia viaducts to improve traffic flow in downtown Vancouver. City council has been discussing changes since the fall of 2009. The most viable proposal is to create a two-way roadway network along Georgia to Pacific. While initially working on a 15-year timeline, staff … [Read more...]
Underground blast in downtown Vancouver
July 5, 2012 by
The union representing BC Hydro electricians says luckily, no one was hurt. But crews are dealing with a circuit fault under Beatty and Pender, which actually blew the lid off a man-hole cover this morning. Doug McKay with IBEW local 258 says it points to the obvious problems with BC Hydro's underground system in downtown … [Read more...]
A downtown building has been damaged and workers sent home after a water pipe burst.
May 1, 2012 by
Massive flooding caused chaos at a downtown Vancouver highrise this morning. Some time overnight, a pipe burst on the 18th floor of the 32 storey Bentall Tower at Burrard and Dunsmuir, which houses several law firms and the Bank of Montreal. Several hundred workers were sent home because the power has been shut off below the 18th … [Read more...]
Completed Emery Barnes Park opens in downtown Vancouver
April 28, 2012 by
After about 10 years, a Vancouver park dedicated to a late MLA is officially finished. Emery Barnes Park now features an entry plaza at Davie and Seymour streets, and tables with chess boards built into them. "My brother, Craig, and my dad used to play a lot of chess. … When I was actually in Beijing, I saw these people out playing Mah Jong … [Read more...]
What the Canucks’ elimination means for downtown businesses
April 23, 2012 by
The Executive Director of the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association says even though bars and restaurants won't have the same crowds now that the Vancouver Canucks are out of the playoffs, they will continue to do well. "There will still be fans that will go and watch hockey, but not certainly in the same numbers that we had, or would … [Read more...]
Union Gospel Mission treats Downtown Eastside to annual Easter meal
April 7, 2012 by
More than 3,000 meals are being served up to Vancouver's most vulnerable as the Union Gospel Mission hosts its annual Easter dinner. 3,500 pounds of ham, 900 pounds of potatoes and 800 apple pies. Just some of what it takes to serve everyone expected this year. Among them is Don, who has come to the dinner for about 10 years now. “People do … [Read more...]
