Fiona York
Finding warmth in the cold with the Ayx Bus
January 12, 2026By: Maya Barillas Mohan, Staff Writer For 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…
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Vancouver mayor Ken Sim freezes construction of supportive housing
March 18, 2025By: Lucaiah Smith-Miodownik, News Writer Content warning: Mentions of racism, Indigenous displacement, and substance use. On February 26, Vancouver City Council voted “yes” on mayor Ken Sim’s motion to freeze the construction of new supportive housing units in the city.…
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Winter weather worsens conditions for evicted CRAB Park residents
January 22, 2025By: Mason Mattu, News Writer On November 7, 2024, “Vancouver’s only sanctioned [houseless] encampment” located at CRAB Park closed. The Vancouver Park Board previously sectioned off a designated area of the park for overnight sheltering. Evicted park residents who did…
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CRAB Park tent city forced to close
November 10, 2024By: Sofia Chassomeris, News Writer On October 23, the residents of CRAB Park’s tent city woke up to an eviction notice from the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation. The Board stated they aim to close the camp and return…
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New mother’s tent seized at CRAB Park
October 28, 2024By: Sofia Chassomeris, News Writer On September 24, Vancouver Park Board officials cut open a new mother’s tent and disposed of her belongings at CRAB Park. The mother gave birth to her baby 30 hours before the incident and was…
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Volunteers prevented from entering CRAB Park amidst street sweeps
July 8, 2024By: Hannah Fraser, News Writer Content warning: description of police violence. According to local advocates, “The Vancouver Park Board is creating a daily exclusive ‘work-zone’ around the encampment at CRAB Park, preventing volunteers and media from entering.” The work zone…
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Residents of CRAB Park experience street sweeps
May 14, 2024By: Hannah Fraser, News Writer On April 16, the Vancouver Park Board began street sweeps of CRAB Park residents, forcibly removing any individuals outside the “14–tent ‘designated area’” on the peninsula. Park rangers dismantled residents’ homes and confiscated belongings according…
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Unhoused residents of Vancouver parks subjected to discrimination
January 15, 2024By: Olivia Sherman, News Writer Since 2018, Fiona York has dedicated her time to advocating for some of Vancouver’s most vulnerable populations. Unhoused residents of Vancouver parks, such as CRAB Park and Oppenheimer Park, are subjected to street sweeps, exposure…
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