Improving public spaces in the Downtown Eastside
Great Beginnings projects that improve public space
Oppenheimer Park Commemorative Project
The Oppenheimer Park Commemorative Project is a celebration of the rich cultural history of this park in the downtown eastside of Vancouver.
Documentary: Seeds of the Inner City
The purpose of the Pioneering Urban Food Production in the DTES project was to produce a documentary film about the SOLEfood Farm, the first urban farm in Vancouver run by inner city residents. The documentary, entitled Seeds of the Inner City, was directed by Colombian-Canadian filmmaker, Andrés Salas.
Community Hanging Baskets
Providing a beautiful backdrop for the vibrant Strathcona business area, the flower baskets were the result of a three-year partnership between the City Great Beginnings Program and the Strathcona Business Improvement Association (BIA).
Toilet accessibility in the Downtown Eastside (DTES)
In the Downtown Eastside (DTES), there has been a call for more public toilets. Homelessness, drug addiction and mental illness place even more pressure on the limited resources that are available, and result in laneways being used as alternatives to public toilets. Great Beginnings teamed with community partner the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU) to respond to this need.
Oppenheimer Park Community Garden
Oppenheimer Park Community Garden was created in the north eastern corner of Oppenheimer Park and will be overseen by local organizations.The garden increases community involvement in the local food system and cultural traditions, and improves community capacity to deal with food security.
Street Cleaning Grant Program
Clean Street participants provide micro-cleaning of city lanes and streets throughout the Downtown East Side.