Abandoned spaces get artistic second chances in the Downtown Eastside. Local businessman and entrepreneur David Duprey recently oversaw a revitalization project of a building located at 108 East Hastings.

“We took an empty department store that has been closed for fourteen years... and built artist spaces into the building,” he describes. The project came about when Duprey, a member of BOB’s Creative Industry Cluster, connected with Albert Fok, another cluster member and the owner of 108 East Hastings. The project opened at the beginning of 2009 and the once vacant building is now home to two new retail businesses and art galleries.

Duprey has been active in the neighbourhood, overseeing the conversion of seven abandoned inner-city buildings into artist and retail spaces in recent years. All of the rent rates in these buildings are low which makes them more accessible to artists and small business owners looking to locate to the inner-city.

BOB worked with Duprey to supply the labour-force needed to renovate the 18,000 sq foot space. “BOB provided me with workers through their CORE Plus program,” he says. “The workers had completed training and were ready to do some hands-on work, so they did drywall and framing and got some real on-the-job training experience”.

Renovating and revitalizing these buildings with arts, culture and small business is a positive step for the neighbourhood. “It’s a way of taking these buildings and bringing them back to the community,” Duprey says.

For more information about the Creative Industry Cluster, please contact Andrew McKay at 778-328-7672 or andrew.mckay@bobics.org.

For more information about the CORE Plus training program, please contact Lani Johnson at 778-328-7674 or lani.johnson@bobics.org.

On June 10th 2009 over 30 people representing businesses, not-for-profits, social enterprises, government, and residents gathered at the Japanese Language Hall in Strathcona for the Green Inner-city Cluster Kickoff event. The event was hosted by Building Opportunities with Business (BOB) and featured a welcome address by Deputy Mayor Andrea Reimer.

There were seven sessions in all, covering topics from urban agriculture to green policy in Vancouver. BOB would like to thank all our guest presenters and facilitators:

• Toby Barazzuol of Eclipse Awards
• Saul Brown of Saul Good Gift Co.
• Kristina Welch of the Sauder School of Business, the Centre for Sustainability and Social Innovation
• Maureen Cureton of Vancity
• Kira Gerwing of the City of Vancouver
• Louise Schwarz of Recycling Alternative
• Seann Dory of United We Can
• Chris Hild of the Sauder School of Business, the Centre for Sustainability and Social Innovation
• Morgan McDonald of Offsetters
• Doug Horn of Light House

The event was covered by local social media firm AHA for whom we're grateful for the accompanying photograph as well as local Chinese language media Ming Pao.

Follow up information and resources will be on the Greening the Inner-city Blog.

About the Industry Clusters

BOB's cluster strategy is modelled on successful initiatives founded by Harvard professor Dr. Michael Porter and works to bring together private and public sector stakeholders to drive innovation and growth to the benefit of all the companies in the cluster. Currently, clusters are active in: Tourism & Hospitality, Construction, Creative Industries, Information & Communication Technologies as well as the Green Inner-city Cluster.

For more information please contact Andrew McKay at 778-328-7672 or Andrew.mckay@bobics.org.

Recognizing a need for ‘pro-planet’ office product alternatives, business founder Gil Yaron started Frogfile Office Essentials in early 2006. “Environmental sustainability is becoming a cornerstone,” Yaron says, “and it’s an essential consideration for any business”.

Sourcing and distributing hundreds of environmentally responsible office products to clients in the Lower Mainland and across Canada, Frogfile operates on the idea that sustainability doesn’t have to cost convenience or affordability. Supplies are delivered in recyclable bins and transported in biodiesel-fuelled trucks.

“Green businesses are growing,” Yaron says, “and there are employment opportunities. It’s not just about environmental sustainability but also social, environmental, and economic... Part of what we do is we try to hire locally and revitalize the community”.

BOB has been able to work with Frogfile towards this end. “[Frogfile] has posted job positions [through BOB] on several occasions,” Yaron describes, “we’ve hired once through BOB. We’ve participated in their Employer Breakfast Seminars, training workshops... [and] we recently received a consulting grant to help with upgrades to our computer systems. They have been very supportive of our business”.

To learn more about Frogfile Office Essentials, please visit www.frogfile.com

“You’ll have mostly good days, but you may have one or two in a week that are really bad. It’s living life on life’s terms, and you have to be strong enough to get over those bad times.” — Chris Foster (BOB CORE program graduate)

In early 2008, Chris Foster was going through a job seeking program as part of the recovery process from substance abuse when he was referred to the CORE program. CORE (which stands for Construction Orientation to Retain Employment) is a program administered by BOB on behalf of the City of Vancouver and Millennium Development Corporation. Trainers from the Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA) provide students with safety and hands on training with construction tools following successful pre-employment training (e.g. basic math and communication) given by Tradeworks Training Society.

“My expectations were past met,” Foster says of the program, “The instructors are great, very knowledgeable of what they’re doing. I learned quite a bit... and what was really good was that I got seven [construction and safety] certificates out of the deal.”

Following the CORE program, Foster was connected to a job on the Vancouver Olympic Village site. Through its Supported Employment Program, BOB worked to make the transition into the workforce a smoother one by supplying tools and work clothing, as well as with regular follow-ups to help increase the client’s success.

“It’s nice to have the person from BOB get in contact with you periodically to see how you’re doing or if you’re in need of work,” Foster says, “and even after I got the job I still had the job coach coming right to the site and seeing how I was doing, it was really nice.”

“I’m more stable in my thinking these days of what I want to do with my life,” he says, “I’d like to become a counsellor because I’ve been there. I’d like to be able to help people, that’s a long-term goal of mine... I’m proud of myself, I’ve come a long way.”

Growing up in the Downtown Eastside, Shirley Chan attended Strathcona and Britannia schools. As a young adult, she was a leader in the community movement that stopped the three levels of government from demolishing Strathcona and building a freeway through the neighbourhoods of Chinatown, Gastown, Strathcona and the Grandview-Woodlands. Now, as the CEO of Building Opportunities with Business (BOB), Shirley’s involvement in and passion for the inner-city continues to be evident.

Shirley earned a BA from Simon Fraser University, a Masters in Environmental Studies from York University, an Outstanding Alumni Award from SFU and an Honorary Doctor of Laws from UBC. Her diverse background in the public, private and voluntary sectors have included serving as Chief of Staff to the Mayor of Vancouver, Manager of Housing Operations for the City of Vancouver, Director and Chair of Vancity Savings Credit Union, Director and Chair of UBC Board of Governors, Director of BC Hydro and Regional Director for Health Canada. She is currently a Director of Learning for a Sustainable Future, a Trustee of the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden and serves on the Chinatown Historic Area Planning Committee.

Shirley brings her experience and knowledge to her current role as CEO since joining BOB in 2007. “I joined the BOB team because I saw an opportunity to make a difference in a neighbourhood that I care about,” she says. “In an area with significant social and economic issues, I see BOB’s mandate of economic revitalization without displacement as a real way to accomplish positive change.”

Are you:

• A business looking for business development support, to locate or connect to other inner-city businesses?
  E-mail Brian at brian.smith@bobics.org or call 778-328-7668
• An employer willing to hire from the inner-city with support from BOB?
  E-mail Liz at liz.charyna@bobics.org or call 778-328-7669
• A socially responsible business or social enterprise who wants to join the Social Purchasing Portal?
  Go to www.buildingopportunities.org/spp
• An organization that wants to support BOB's work?
  E-mail Shirley at shirley.chan@bobics.org or call 778-328-7670; or
• An inner-city resident looking for employment opportunities?
  Email Lani at lani.johnson@bobics.org or call 788-328-7674.

BOB-hosted events

SAP Business Objects and BOB are planning a summer of Business Development Seminars.

Get big ideas and practical tips from experienced business leaders in a small group setting. Take the opportunity to ask questions and get advice about your business.

Seminars take place on the first Wednesday of each month, 8–9:30 am at BOB (325 Main St, Vancouver):

Aug 5, 2009 – IT development for SMEs – e.g. customer relations software
Sept 2, 2009 – Record keeping and accounting for small and medium sized business
Oct 7, 2009 – Business Law & Contracts
Nov 4, 2009 – Business Speed Dating - Ask an expert
Dec 2, 2009 – How Small Business can implement Corporate Social
Responsible policies and practices

Register at:http://ca.brownpapertickets.com/event/68896

Employer Breakfasts

A partnership with Potluck Café Society and BOB. Breakfast presentation and discussion for employers who are interested in being part of the revitalization of the inner-city and increasing employment opportunities for local people. 8-9 AM at the BOB office. Breakfast, networking and discussion.

Upcoming Employer Breakfast dates:
Thursday, July 30th, 8am – 9am
Thursday, September 24th, 8 am – 9 am

Please contact Liz for more information or to RSVP 778-328-7669 or liz.charyna@bobics.org.

Shine

Have you or are you currently participating in a Supported Employment Program through BOB, Potluck Café and the Cleaning Solution? You are invited to a tasty and free dinner where you can meet and share your workplace and life experiences with others. Join us at the Potluck Cafe located at 30 West Hastings Street in Vancouver on the following date and times:

Monday, July 27th 4 pm to 6 pm

Please contact Alejandro to RSVP 778-328-7662.

Industry Night

Events that bring together inner-city jobseekers and employers to network and learn more about employment opportunities in specific industries. 4-6 PM at the BOB office. Refreshments, door prizes, industry information and applications for the related BusinessLinks training programs.

For more information contact jobpostings@bobics.org

Sept – TBA: Customer Service (Retail Industry)

BusinessLinks training programs

Sessions that help link local jobseekers to employers interested in participating in our Supported Employment Program.

August – TBA Materials Handler Training (for positions with the VANOC)
Sept – TBA Customer Service session for people interested in retail opportunities at London Drugs, or Nester’s in the new Woodwards building.

If you are an employer that needs to hire and would like collaborate to design a training program for inner-city residents to prepare them for employment with your company, please contact liz.charyna@bobics.org or call 778-328-7669. Some funding is available.

BOB Open House and SPP Networking | Aug 20

Come celebrate with BOB as we move to our new office located closer to the heart of the inner-city. Keep an eye out for more details to come!

Eastside Events

Vancouver Chinatown Night Market | MAY 15 – September 6

A taste of Asia in a colourful street market taking place every weekend (Fri- Sun from 6:30pm- 11pm). Shop for gifts, clothes, and electronics while sampling delicious ethnic foods. Experience it at Keefer St and Main St.

For more information please go to www.vcma.shawbiz.ca.

Mad Pride 2009 | July 3 – August 2

Gallery Gachet presents Mad Pride: a month-long group show contributing to dialogue on mental health human rights through the sharing and showcasing of artistic expression. A Mad Pride Cabaret will be held on July 18 in partnership with West Coast Mental Health Network.

For more information please visit www.gachet.org.

Enchanted Evenings: A Summer Concert Series | July 10 – September 4, Every Friday night

The critically acclaimed annual concert series at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden introduces dynamic new performers to its roster of returning favourites in its 16th season. Come and enjoy a variety of live music in a beautiful setting, including classical, world, Asian, Gypsy jazz, Celtic, African and fusion music.

For tickets and information, contact 604.662.3207 ext. 208 or email assistant@vancouverchinesegarden.com.

An Evening in the Garden | August 12, 8pm–10:30pm

Come celebrate summer in the gorgeous Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden. With engaging entertainment, a silent auction, and delectable snacks, it will be an evening to remember.

For tickets and information, please contact Margaret at 604-662-3207 or Margaret@vancouverchinesegarden.com.

24 Artists 24 Hours! | August 15 – 16

The second live art show fundraiser for the Downtown Eastside Centre for the Arts where 24 unique emerging and established local artists will work for 24 hours. The event begins at 6pm on Saturday, August 15th and is open for public viewing all night and day until 6pm on Sunday, August 16th. It will be taking place at the InterUrban Gallery (1 Hastings at Carrall Street). Music, food & entertainment as well as a live art auction to follow at 6.30 pm Sunday, August 16th.

Drop in and show your support! For more information please visit www.decentreforthearts.com.

Dragon Rickshaw Adventure Pedicabs Have Launched!

Keep your eyes open for the red Dragon Rickshaw pedicabs that launched on Saturday July 4th at the Chinatown Arts and Culture Festival. More than transportation, a ride in a pedicab is a trip through time as you learn stories of the heart of the city. The pedicabs are a joint initiative of the Chinatown Business Improvement Association, Bell Canada, the Vancouver Agreement and the Tourism &Hospitality Cluster at BOB.