UBC Learning Exchange
The Learning Exchange is where the walk will begin. For more information: https://learningexchange.ubc.ca/COVID UPDATE:Learning Exchange is currently closed and is working to support other community organizations with resources they need to continue operation.
Carnegie Community Centre
Carnegie Centre & KitchenCommunity Centre Purpose:The community centre is set up to allow residents to access it for senior programs, recreation facilities, and social programing. The Centre holds arts and culture programs, educational programs and volunteering opporunties for those residents outside of the community to come be a part of this larger communty. This centre allows low income adults to nurture themselves in all aspects of health in a environment that is geared towards celebrating and aiding them. Kitchen Purpose:The purpose of the Carnegie Community Centre Cafeteria is to provide nutrious, hot meals on a menu each day to serve the DTES community. The meals are provided at very low costs to allow local low-income residents to easily access the fresh and afforadable food. COVID UPDATE:*Public indoor access is suspended, but Centre is still providing takeout meals*Hours of take out meals: 9am to 11am Noon to 4pm 5pm to 8pm Facilities provide sanitiation stations prior to handing out meals and after handing out meals. Address: 401 Main St, Vancouver, BC V6A 2T7Website Link: https://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/carnegie-community-centre.aspxContact Info Link: https://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/carnegie-hours-location-contact.aspxPrograms Link: https://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/carnegie-centre-programs.aspxVolunteer Opporunity/ Donations Link: https://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/make-a-difference-at-carnegie-centre.aspx
Enterprising Women Making Art
Enterprising Women Making Art EWMA launched in 2003, where the focus was to support women in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside to work together to develop an alternative form of business or employment that is grounded in their needs and realities. These self employment programs were for all women in the Downtown Eastside that have been impacted by violence (including aboriginal, immigrant, visible minorities, senior women and women with physical or mental disabilities), who faced signficant barriers due to traditional employment who seek safety, who are in search of income generating oppournties free from exploitations, abuse or other vulnerabilities. This program is designed to cater to women from all intersectionalities. These women are active in design, planning, marketing and production of their products (which include: "Semi Precious Jewelry, Hand knit garments, cards, ceramics, fine arts photography and textiles")Due to COVID the store is closed until further notice. The studio is closed on the weekends, but open Monday-Friday from 10:00am to 5:00pm Address: 800 E Hastings St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1R6 For further information: https://atira.bc.ca/what-we-do/program/enterprising-women-making-art/Donation Link: https://atira.bc.ca/give-back/donate/donate-funds-gift-cards/
Embers Eastside Work
Embers Eastside Work was launched in April 2018 as a social innovation pilot program that responds to the gap in employment services in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside neighbourhood. Embers Eastside Works is a “Income Generation Hub” that aims to generate income for those with barriers to traditional work. This program offers support in achieving personal employment goals, various work opportunities for those with different needs and abilities, and also collaborates with different community organizations and the local government to support the DTES community. They offer one-on-one programming to support a variety of needs. A unique program offers employment within partner organizations, mainly local social enterprises and non-profit organizations, to help ease the transition into long-term work. One such example of connecting with other organizations is Work BC drop in. Every Tuesday, a WorkBC staff member will be available at Eastside Works to answer questions and offer information and resources. https://emberscanada.org/our-programs/embers-eastside-works/COVID Update: At this time, all EMBERS Staffing Solutions operations remain active as before, with extra vigilance and care being paid to ensuring the health and safety of our workers, clients and staff.https://emberscanada.org/blog/covid-19-update/
East Van Roasters
East Van Roasters http://eastvanroasters.com/menuFirst opening its doors in 2013, East Van Roasters is a social enterprise in the DTES neighborhood that provides a unique and delicious cafe experience for its customers while simultaneously creating meaningful employment opportunities for local residents. Operating as a highly successful cafe in the neighborhood, EVR produces a range of award-winning chocolate and coffee products that are all made in house. Customers can watch the refinement process take place as beans are transformed right before their eyes into their favourite confectionery treats. To support the high demand for their products EVR coffee and chocolate is also sold at several other cafes around Vancouver such as Spud Urban Delivery and Harvest Community Foods. In order to support their community, EVR is primarily staffed by female residents of the Rainier Hotel which is a local social housing initiative for women. EVR focuses on providing safe, meaningful, and low barrier employment opportunities and skill development for women looking to enter the workforce. The success of EVR’ s asset-based business model sets a positive example for up and coming culinary social enterprises by proving that businesses can produce exceptional products while also supporting its local residents and economically stimulating the community. COVID update - The cafe is still currently closed but you can support the enterprise by purchasing their chocolates and coffee beans through their online store. Orders can be picked up curbside at their storefront Tuesday- Thursday from 10am-2pm.
Save on Meats
Save on Meats https://saveonmeats.ca/Originally operating as a Butcher shop in 1957, Save on Meats has since undergone a major transformation into one of the DTES neighborhood's most well known social enterprises. With a focus on addressing food insecurity in the community, the enterprise now operates dually as both a butcher shop and vintage diner that serves a wide range of clientele from various socio-economic backgrounds. To better serve their community, the enterprise's storefront operations work in conjunction with A better Life Foundation which makes and distributes over 1,700 meals per day to various SRO’s and partnering organizations in the DTES. Additionally, Save on Meats provides its customers with several opportunities to directly support its community meal program by purchasing meal tokens or taking part in the diners monthly Greasy Spoon fundraising event. For larger groups of patrons looking to collectively give back and engage with the local community, Save on Meats runs a unique community event known as Plenty of Plates. At this event, groups of patrons work alongside a local chef to prepare a three-course meal which is then served and shared at the diner with local residents of the community. Beyond its successful economic impact, events like Plenty of Plates provide the opportunity and space to strengthen community relationships through the creative outlet of cooking. Additionally, all sectors of the Save on Meats enterprise provide low barrier employment opportunities for residents of the neighborhood. COVID update - Currently, Save on Meats has halted all customer-facing operations and fundraising events such as the Plenty of Plates and Greasy Spoon events to adhere to COVID restrictions. Its community meal program will remain operational to combat the heightened level of food insecurity from the pandemic.To support the enterprise during this time customers are still able to donate to enterprise's, A Better Life Foundation https://www.abetterlifefoundation.ca/donate/And buy Meal tokens on the Save on Meats website http://saveonmeats.ca/product/tokens/
Downtown Eastside Central Kitchen & Lunch Peddlers
Downtown Eastside Central Kitchen and Lunch Peddlers https://www.phs.ca/project/downtown-eastside-central-kitchen/The Downtown Eastside Central Kitchen & Lunch Peddlers food program is one of the many nonprofit services that operates within the larger PHS Community Services Society. Reflecting an Asset based approach to community provisions, this specific sector of the larger organization works diligently to combat food insecurity and malnutrition in the community by employing local residents to prepare and deliver nutrition-packed meals to their fellow community members in need. In partnership with The Stanford House Society & BC Housing; the Downtown Eastside Central Kitchen & Lunch Peddlers meal program ensures that any resident living in any of the low-income housing projects that are affiliated with PHS receive a nutritious hot meal daily. Additionally, the organization encourages internal community involvement by providing residents to participate or work for any community program in the neighborhood with three hot meals every day. COVID Update - The Downtown Eastside Central Kitchen & Peddlers meal program continues to be operational throughout the pandemic.
Skwachàys Lodge
Skwachàys Lodge (pronounced skwatch-eyes) Lodge and Residence is located on 31 West Pender Street. It is a social enterprise created by a social housing organization, Vancouver Native Housing Society. The building houses a fair trade Indigenous art gallery, boutique hotel, and an urban Indigenous artist residence. The Lodge works together with the street level Urban Aboriginal Fair Trade Gallery to provide and fund supportive housing for 24 Indigenous artists and their live/work studios.Vancouver Native Housing Society (VNHS) is the largest Indigenous non-profit housing provider on the British Columbia mainland. Skwachàys Lodge was named by Chief Ian Campbell (ancestral name Xálek’/Sekyú Siyám) of the Squamish nation. Chief Campbell told us that prior to European contact this area was known by the local Indigenous groups as Skwachàys.https://skwachays.com/COVID Update (June 2020): The Gallery has recently reopened for customers and visitors. There are enhanced protocols which set limits for the number of guests to prevent overcrowding and to help maintain physical distancing. The Hotel remains closed until further notice.
