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Reporting, analysis and community stories from Downtown Eastside.
New Study Challenges the Effectiveness of Harm Reduction in British Columbia
Nearly a quarter of participants in BC’s safer supply program are diverting prescribed opioids, according to a recent Vancouver-based study. The findings also reveal…
Canada’s Top Court Clears Path for Opioid Class Action Against Big Pharma
In a historic ruling, Canada’s Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of British Columbia’s Opioid Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act. This decision…
Mobile Health Program Delivers Elder-Led Care in Downtown Eastside
In the heart of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, transformation takes the form of a vibrant mobile clinic—a beacon of care, connection, and cultural healing. It’s…
How BC’s 2.5-Gram Decriminalization Rule Shapes the Overdose Crisis
British Columbia’s groundbreaking drug decriminalization policy is rewriting the rules of harm reduction, but a closer look reveals a complex reality where the interplay…
Science or Activism? The Ethical Maze of Research in Downtown Eastside
In Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, one of Canada’s most heavily studied yet persistently misunderstood communities, the intersection of research, ethics, and activism raises difficult questions.…
Housing, Politics, and Suppressed Data in British Columbia
British Columbia is facing a housing and addiction crisis that has left lives in the balance and policies under scrutiny. But a $30-million housing…
Why More Vancouver Seniors Are Working Past Retirement
Retirement in Canada is no longer the predictable milestone it once was. What was traditionally a time to step away from the workforce and…
First United Redevelopment Brings Housing and Hope to Downtown Eastside
The transformative First United redevelopment project at 320 East Hastings Street is nearing completion, promising to address urgent housing needs and offer revitalized community…
BC Health Minister Pledges Reform After Mental Health and Addictions Ministry Closure
Following the dissolution of British Columbia’s Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions, Health Minister Josie Osborne has made bold announcements about a renewed approach…
Canada Faces Tough Questions on National Housing Day
As Canada observes National Housing Day 2024, a day dedicated to awareness about housing and homelessness, the stark reality is that housing insecurity is…
The Crossing Pop-Up Brings Creativity to Downtown Eastside
Downtown Vancouver is set to buzz with creativity and community spirit as The Crossing Pop-Up @ 130 West Hastings Street launches a four-weekend series…
Nitazenes Poised to Eclipse Fentanyl in Canada’s Opioid Crisis
As Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside struggles with the devastating toll of fentanyl, a new and potentially deadlier class of synthetic opioids—nitazenes—is making its way into…
