Articles of Monika M

A group of women participate in the Women’s Memorial March, with one woman wearing a woven cedar hat and holding a drum, singing during the gathering.
Community

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 ...
A person wearing a dark coat holds a red ribbon in their cupped hands, symbolizing HIV/AIDS awareness and the ongoing fight against the epidemic.
Healthcare

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 ...
A blurred figure walking through a brightly lit classroom or lecture hall filled with empty white chairs, with a stack of books and papers placed on one chair in the foreground, symbolizing education, learning, or community programs.
Addiction

Targeted Interventions to Reduce Youth Substance Use Disorders

Substance use among Canada’s youth has reached alarming levels, demanding immediate and coordinated action. In 2023, nearly 20% of young Canadians reported experimenting with ...
A sign with a silhouette of a woman made from neon tubes
Policy

Why Decriminalizing Sex Work in British Columbia Matters

In Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, the debate over decriminalizing sex work transcends mere policy—it’s a matter of survival for many. Canada’s legal framework, introduced under ...
Community

Advocate for DTES Housing Wins 2024 SFU Urban Studies Alumni Award

Amid Vancouver’s ongoing housing crisis, Alie Lynch, a master’s student in Simon Fraser University’s Urban Studies Program, has emerged as a powerful advocate for ...
Community

WISH Drop-In Centre for Sex Workers Closes Temporarily Amid Funding Issues

The WISH Drop-In Centre Society in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside has been a critical support hub for sex workers since its opening in 2020. Offering ...
A picture of doctor holding hand of a teenage patient in hospital environment
Addiction

Harm Reduction Barriers Facing Youth in British Columbia

Harm reduction in British Columbia has led the charge against substance-related harm. Yet, the province’s youth—some of the most vulnerable among those who use ...
Image of mother's hands holding feet of a newborn child
Healthcare

The Silent Toll of Maternal Overdose Deaths in Canada

Maternal health has long been a cornerstone of public health policy in Canada, yet an unsettling gap persists in how we address maternal deaths ...
Photo of a sign on the fence of Vancouver's Crab Park homeless encampment telling that the park is closed by the order of the Park Board General Manager
Housing

The City of Vancouver Announces Official Closure of CRAB Park Encampment

CRAB Park, a crucial green space in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, has been a focal point of the city’s homelessness crisis, drawing attention to the ...
A young person captured sitting next to bed, contemplating to use drugs
Addiction

Is Involuntary Treatment for Youth a Lifesaving Necessity or an Ethical Dilemma?

As overdose deaths among Canadian youth soar to alarming levels, especially in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, the debate intensifies: Should involuntary treatment be considered to ...
Participants of British Columbia's Community-Based Employment Services for the Unemployed posing for a group photo
Community

How Community-Based Employment Services Are Changing the Game for the Unemployed

The fight against poverty has taken a sharp turn with the launch of Community-Based Employment Services (CBES), a groundbreaking initiative designed to help individuals ...