Carnegie Centre: The Downtown Eastside’s Livingroom
401 Main Street Vancouver BC V6A 2T7 | 604 665 2220
The Carnegie Centre provides a range of social, recreational and
educational programs for the residents of Vancouver’s
Downtown Eastside. It is often described as the community’s living room—a place where people can come to participate in programs or to
simply relax and socialize with others.
Carnegie is open 7 days a week every day of the year from 9:00
am to 11:00 pm as a safe, drug and alcohol free environment. Among
the services and resources are:
- Vancouver Public Library Reading Room
- Seniors Centre
- Weight Room
- Learning/Literacy Centre
- Kitchen: 3 nutritional meals a day plus snacks
- Art Gallery
- Auditorium and Gym
- Dark Room and Pottery Room
Carnegie is also known for its rich multicultural program and
arts activities. There is an outreach program in Oppenheimer Park
for residents of that neighbourhood, and the “Street Program” for
substance users at the corner of Main and Hastings and in Pigeon
Park. Both are meant to serve people at the very margins of the
community and to help them obtain real options for moving out of
often destructive life styles.
Over 400 volunteers working in virtually every facet of the Centre
contribute their time, talents and enthusiasm, The Carnegie Community
Centre Association is the community’s voice in Carnegie, and represents
Carnegie to the community and governments.
The Carnegie
Newsletter is published twice a month and contains
a lively range of articles, news and views, prose and poetry about
life in the Downtown Eastside.
The Carnegie Community Centre building was opened in 1903 as Vancouver’s
first public library. Funds for the construction of the building
came from American steel magnate Andrew Carnegie. In 1957 it became
the City Museum and then was empty for ten years. Following a massive
campaign spearheaded by the Downtown Eastside Residents’ Association
City Council agreed to save the building and convert it to a community
Centre. Carnegie Community Centre opened its doors to the public
on January 20, 1980.
The Carnegie Centre is a testament to the strength and commitment
of Downtown Eastside residents in their struggle to renew and build
a healthy community for people with low incomes and many different
life styles and backgrounds. |
