Appendix C: Case Study: Sustainable Development in Action

Revitalizing Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside

At WD, we are particularly proud of the broad range of business and community revitalization initiatives launched in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside (DTES) in June 2002. These initiatives will help to create a safer, cleaner, more business-friendly environment in one of that city's most historic neighborhoods. WD is working on these initiatives in partnership with Health Canada, other federal departments, the provincial government of British Columbia, the City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Richmond Health Board.

The Vancouver Agreement recognizes that economic growth cannot occur in isolation. Complex problems – such as those experienced in the DTES – require a multi-faceted approach that acknowledges how a community's health and social well-being affect its economic viability. Fortunately WD is well suited to the challenge, and is expert in forming partnerships to leverage the resources necessary to achieve success.

New Programs Increase Awareness and Build Pride

Neighbours First is a three-year program that will train, equip and supervise volunteers to patrol the Downtown Eastside (DTES) and keep the streets clean. The program provides training for residents and businesses about security, safety and hospitality. It will also provide visitors with greater access to information, and promotes the DTES to increase awareness among visitors and residents of the changing environment in the area. Neighbours First is funded by all three levels of government and several local community organizations.

The Community Historical Markers project builds on what was achieved through the successful joint WD and City of Vancouver Living Footprints pilot project.

The project provides street people with pre-employment training and work experience, while building pride in the area's rich and colourful history.

Safer Streets Improve Business Environment

Efforts to stimulate economic development in the DTES have been hindered by adverse street conditions. In order to create a more favourable environment for business revitalization, a series of Business Development initiatives – designed to make tourists, shoppers, businesses and their employees feel safer in the DTES – were also announced. These include improved street lighting, physical improvements to streets to enhance heritage sites and encourage tourism, and upgrading the security of parking lots.

Economic revitalization efforts will also support training programs for Single Resident Occupancy hotel managers and tenants to improve living and working conditions. A business advisor will help stimulate economic growth by assessing the training needs of residents interested in owning or managing a business, and helping residents develop proposals for new businesses.

These projects are an important signal to the Downtown Vancouver business community that positive change is occurring. The City of Vancouver, EasyPark and community partners joined WD on these initiatives.

Skill Development Improves Quality of Life

WD also provided funding to a non-profit society, the Greater Vancouver Housing Corporation, to renovate space for a Lifeskills Centre in the Downtown Eastside. This daytime education centre provides pre-employment skills that will help prepare people on the street for full employment. Links to health and community services – including addiction treatment, mental health services, health and education, and assistance with housing, transportation and legal issues – will help improve the prospects of some of the areas most disadvantaged residents.

Finally, WD announced funding to the Vancouver General Hospital Society for the purchase of new software at the leading edge of integrated patient care. The software, PARIS, tracks patients so that, no matter who sees them, information about the services they receive is known. PARIS will allow a more comprehensive approach to monitoring services and ensure that gaps and overlaps are removed in addressing the needs of people in severe living conditions.

Partnerships the Key to Healthier, More Sustainable Communities

These new initiatives will build on the progress already achieved under the Vancouver Agreement in the areas of economic development, improvements to the neighbourhood, housing, and health and safety.

"By coordinating our efforts and working with the community over the last two years, we have laid a strong foundation for a healthy and safe community," said former WD Secretary of State Stephen Owen. "This unique partnership is giving a much-needed push to economic revitalization of the Downtown Eastside and creating employment opportunities for its residents. It puts people first."

Western Economic Diversification Canada is proud to be part of the shared leadership that is helping create a more sustainable community and build a better quality of life for residents of the Downtown Eastside. It's a new approach to inner city revitalization that may well become an important model for all of Canada, and cities around the world.

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