Downtown Eastside
Finding warmth in the cold with the Ayx Bus
January 12, 2026For some living in the Downtown Eastside (DTES), the warmth associated with the holidays is not a reality. The Ayx Community Bus, a grassroots initiative spearheaded by advocate Fiona York, attempts to lessen the loneliness and aid those who are unhoused and precariously housed. Encompassing the range of seasons and needs, the Ayx Bus serves as a cooling centre in the summer, and later in the year, provides warm clothing and hot drinks. This past December 24 and 25, care packages were delivered in the DTES from 9:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. The Ayx Bus operates three days a week…
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Calls emerge for increased program funding for BC sex workers
January 5, 2026On December 16, 2025, 10 organizations — including sex worker-led groups, feminist organizations, and First Nations groups — released a statement marking the International Day to End Violence against Sex Workers. In their statement, the groups called for the provincial…
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Community-Engaged Research Initiative celebrates fifth anniversary
January 5, 2026SFU’s Community-Engaged Research Initiative (CERi) marks its five-year anniversary of “community-driven research.” The organization focuses on “the capacity of SFU’s researchers and students to engage respectfully and ethically with community organizations, Indigenous Nations, community members, and leadership.” CERi places community…
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Changes to supportive housing in Vancouver
July 21, 2025In Vancouver, the supportive housing saga continues to develop. On July 3, mayor Ken Sim announced that his office has identified five unnamed potential city-owned locations for new supportive housing. This statement comes as the city looks for alternatives to…
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Vancouver Police’s Task Force Barrage draws controversy from the community
July 8, 2025A new initiative aimed at stopping crime on the Downtown Eastside (DTES) adds another layer to conversations about the Vancouver Police Department’s (VPD) purpose and policy. In February, the VPD and Vancouver mayor Ken Sim publicized Task Force Barrage, a…
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Police presence outside Downtown Eastside harm reduction sites sparks concerns
May 28, 2025Healthcare workers and patrons in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES) are voicing concerns that the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) is “deterring access to harm reduction sites.” Harm reduction is an “evidence-based approach to care” that minimizes harms by “preventing infections, illness,…
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Local advocate talks dispelling drug stigma
September 12, 2023For Nicole Luongo, substances like alcohol and heroin are only separated by the thin line of what society deems moral or legal. Luongo is a systems change coordinator for the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition (CDPC), which aims to reduce the…
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A poetic homage to Strathcona’s heritage and history
October 11, 2022Editor’s Note: This article was updated on November 9, 2022 to include information about the second stage of the City Poems Contest. The previous version of this article omitted this information. On October 3, Strathcona Poems at the Garden brought…
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Displacing houseless people isn’t a solution, it’s violence
October 10, 2022It’s been over two months since Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services ordered all tents in Hastings Tent City be removed. Since then, increased efforts for forced decampment have been taking place in the Downtown Eastside. Street sweeps on East Hastings…
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Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre increases safe spaces for women
May 10, 2021The COVID-19 pandemic has limited women’s access to shelter and increased their potential for abuse. Further, physical distancing to reduce COVID-19 transmission has led to isolation and restricted support for victims of abuse. As a result, Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre board…
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Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.
For advertising inquiries: [email protected]
For promotional inquiries: [email protected]
Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.
For advertising inquiries: [email protected]
For promotional inquiries: [email protected]