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Reporting, analysis and community stories from Downtown Eastside.
Why Repeat Offenders Keep Getting Bail in British Columbia
In the early hours of December 27, 2023, a man was arrested in Vancouver following an alleged stabbing outside a convenience store. He had…
Ronnie Burkett’s Wonderful Joe Brings Puppetry Mastery to Vancouver
A few blocks from Commercial Drive, where storefronts have slowly shifted from long-standing family businesses to sleek cafés and boutique shops, Ronnie Burkett’s Wonderful…
Downtown Eastside Marks 34th Women’s Memorial March
On February 14, 2025, the 34th annual Women’s Memorial March will move again through Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside streets. Beginning at noon at the intersection…
The Changing Landscape of HIV in British Columbia
British Columbia, once the province with the highest rate of HIV infections in Canada, has become a model for prevention and treatment. A new…
How Diverted Opioids Are Flooding British Columbia’s Streets
British Columbia’s opioid crisis has entered a new and complex phase, with recent investigations revealing that a significant portion of prescribed opioids intended for…
Encampments vs. Tiny Shelters: The Cost of Housing Vancouver’s Unhoused
The City of Vancouver has allocated substantial resources to manage homelessness, yet the financial and logistical viability of its approaches remains under scrutiny. Between…
Banana Beat Celebrates 20 Years With a Special Fundraiser
For over 20 years, the Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House (DTESNH) has provided essential support to Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, offering nourishment, dignity, and a sense…
Rising Fires, Policy Clashes, and the Spread of Smokable Drugs
Smokable drug use is reshaping British Columbia’s overdose crisis, creating new risks for public safety and emergency response. As health officials push to expand…
How Drug Checking is Reducing Overdose Deaths in BC
Drug checking services are a frontline defence against fatal overdoses in British Columbia. With Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside at the epicentre of the crisis, these…
Canada’s Cannabis Industry Six Years After Legalization
Six years after legalization, Canada’s cannabis market faces high taxes, strict regulations, and ongoing competition from the illicit market. In 2018, Canada became the…
Vancouver’s Daytime Shelter Ban Faces Legal Challenge
The City of Vancouver is facing a lawsuit over its daytime ban on outdoor sheltering, a policy that has drawn significant criticism from legal…
Woodward’s: The Unraveling of Vancouver’s Gentrification Icon
Once seen as a transformative project, Woodward’s redevelopment promised to redefine Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, blending social housing, high-end condos, and cultural spaces to bridge…
