Fiona York
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. As per the motion, supportive housing is designed for “individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness and with severe mental health challenges and/or substance use disorders, including 24/7 on-site support services.” The motion, according to Sim, could help “encourage a mix of housing, businesses, and services” to come to Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES). Specifically, the plan states that Vancouver will…
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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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