Why BC’s Bail System Keeps Releasing Repeat Offenders Rising crime by repeat offenders on bail has fuelled public anger in BC. This investigation unpacks how bail works and why dangerous offenders walk free.

Why Repeat Offenders Keep Getting Bail in British Columbia downtowneastside.org/why-repeat-o... #dtes #downtowneastside #vancouver #britishcolumbia #bailreform

Ronnie Burkett’s Wonderful Joe – Vancouver Until Feb 23 Ronnie Burkett’s masterful puppetry play Wonderful Joe runs at Vancouver’s Historic Theatre until Feb 23, 2025—an intimate story of change and community.

Ronnie Burkett’s Wonderful Joe Brings Puppetry Mastery to Vancouver downtowneastside.org/ronnie-burke... #dtes #downtowneastside #vancouver #britishcolumbia #wonderfuljoe #ronnieburkett

Women’s Memorial March Returns to Vancouver in 2025 Join the 34th Women’s Memorial March in Vancouver on February 14, 2025, to honour missing and murdered Indigenous women and demand lasting change.

Downtown Eastside Marks 34th Women’s Memorial March downtowneastside.org/downtown-eas... #dtes #downtowneastside #vancouver #britishcolumbia #womensmemorialmarch

From Crisis to Control: HIV in British Columbia British Columbia cut HIV rates dramatically, but disparities persist. Explore the latest data on treatment, prevention, and the challenges still ahead.

The Changing Landscape of HIV in British Columbia downtowneastside.org/the-changing... #dtes #downtowneastside #vancouver #britishcolumbia #hiv

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Understanding Opioid Diversion in British Columbia Diverted prescription opioids are fuelling a street supply surge in British Columbia, exposing gaps in oversight, pharmacy incentives, and safe supply policies.

Understanding Opioid Diversion in British Columbia downtowneastside.org/how-diverted... #dtes #downtowneastside #vancouver #diversion #safesupply

There are various opinions on harm reduction, but it's hard to see who would gain anything from the closure of facilities like Get Your Drugs Tested. What’s easy to understand, however, is that such actions will have consequences—and they are unlikely to be positive.

The Cost of Housing Vancouver’s Unhoused in Shelters or Camps Vancouver’s homelessness response costs millions. Are encampments or tiny shelters a better investment for long-term, cost-effective housing solutions?

Encampments vs. Tiny Shelters: The Cost of Housing Vancouver’s Unhoused downtowneastside.org/encampments-... #dtes #downtowneastside #vancouver #homeless #encampment #shelter

Banana Beat Marks 20 Years With a Downtown Eastside Fundraiser Celebrate 20 years of Banana Beat! Join the Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House fundraiser on April 5 at Rickshaw Theatre. Live music, community, impact!

Banana Beat Celebrates 20 Years With a Special Fundraiser downtowneastside.org/banana-beat-... #dtes #downtowneastside #vancouver #bananabeat #downtowneastsideneighbourhoodhouse #dtesnh

40 mg is an extremely small amount, possibly not enough to differentiate a user from a trafficker.

If intended to punish high-level dealers, it should likely be 40 g instead of 40 mg.

This could be a misinterpretation or a drastic policy stance targeting even minor possession for distribution.

How BC’s 2.5-Gram Decriminalization Rule Shapes the Overdose Crisis British Columbia’s drug decriminalization policy aims to reduce stigma, but its impact is clouded by toxic drug supplies and conflicting public perceptions.

BC's 2.5g decriminalization limit (initially 4.5g proposed) aims to reflect personal use, but proposed 40g fentanyl trafficking threshold is 16x higher. How much more is that than average use? Depends—daily users may use 0.1-1g or more.
downtowneastside.org/how-bcs-2-5-...

Downtown Eastside's Falling Overdose Rates Challenge What We Think We Know DTES sees the first significant drop in overdose deaths in years, but experts remain cautious. Is this 9% decrease a turning point or temporary relief?

There are several theories downtowneastside.org/downtown-eas...

The Rise of Smokable Drugs in BC: Fire Risks and Policy Gaps BC’s rise in smokable drug use is driving more fires, displacing residents, and straining emergency services. Can policies keep up with the growing crisis?

Rising Fires, Policy Clashes, and the Spread of Smokable Drugs downtowneastside.org/rising-fires... #dtes #downtowneastside #vancouver #sro #fentanyl

Why Drug Checking is Essential in BC’s Overdose Response Drug checking services are expanding across British Columbia, offering real-time substance analysis to prevent overdoses and improve harm reduction efforts.

How Drug Checking is Reducing Overdose Deaths in BC downtowneastside.org/how-drug-che... #dtes #downtowneastside #vancouver #drugchecking #getyourdrugstested

Six Years of Legal Cannabis in Canada: Growth and Challenges Six years after legalization, Canada’s cannabis industry struggles with high taxes, strict regulations, black market competition, and enforcement crackdowns.

Canada’s Cannabis Industry Six Years After Legalization downtowneastside.org/canadas-cann... #dtes #downtowneastside #canada #legalization #cannabis

This sentence gets wilder with every word and it has our attention

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Vancouver’s Daytime Shelter Ban Faces Legal Challenge Vancouver faces a lawsuit over its daytime shelter ban, with advocates arguing it violates constitutional rights and endangers the unhoused amid a housing crisis.

Vancouver’s Daytime Shelter Ban Faces Legal Challenge downtowneastside.org/vancouvers-d... #dtes #downtowneastside #vancouver #encampments #homeless

This is a fantastic read

Woodward's: The Unraveling of Vancouver's Gentrification Icon Explore the rise and fall of Woodward's redevelopment in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, a gentrification icon now facing urban renewal struggles and disparity.

Woodward's: The Unraveling of Vancouver's Gentrification Icon downtowneastside.org/woodwards-th... #dtes #downtowneastside #vancouver #woodwards #gentrification

About | DOWNTOWNEASTSIDE.ORG We highlight the daily realities residents, advocates, and organizations face within Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES).

We’re a collective of independent authors sharing diverse perspectives. Kris’s view on combining harm reduction with recovery is one of many explored. Learn about our authors here: downtowneastside.org/about/. We appreciate your engagement and wish you the best!

Can Alberta’s Recovery Model Solve BC’s Opioid Crisis? Can Alberta's recovery model help BC tackle its opioid crisis? A detailed comparison of harm reduction, youth initiatives, and recovery-focused strategies.

Can Alberta’s Recovery Model Solve BC’s Opioid Crisis? downtowneastside.org/can-albertas... #dtes #downtowneastside #vancouver #britishcolumbia #hardreduction #opioidcrisis

British Columbia Urged to Improve Data on Supervised Consumption Sites Ontario’s reviews of safe consumption sites reveal gaps in BC’s data and harm reduction approach, raising calls for better research and prevention focus.

British Columbia Urged to Improve Data on Supervised Consumption Sites downtowneastside.org/british-colu... #dtes #downtowneastside #vancouver #harmreduction

Steve is a national treasure

Vancouver Mayor Halts New Supportive Housing Projects in DTES Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim halts new supportive housing in DTES, proposing a strategy to reduce social service concentration and address crime while promoting regional accountability.

Vancouver Mayor Halts New Supportive Housing Projects in Downtown Eastside downtowneastside.org/vancouver-ma... #dtes #downtowneastside #vancouver #kensim #saveourstreets

Vancouver Crime Trends 2023-2024: Insights and Key Changes Vancouver's 2023-2024 crime data reveals shifting safety challenges, highlighting changes in public safety, economic pressures, and law enforcement strategies.

Vancouver Crime Trends 2023-2024: Insights and Key Changes downtowneastside.org/vancouver-cr... #dtes #downtowneastside #vancouver #vpd

How Justin Trudeau Shaped Canada’s Drug Policy Justin Trudeau’s progressive drug policies reshaped Canada, but their impact on BC’s ongoing crisis reveals both successes and critical shortcomings.

How Justin Trudeau Shaped Canada’s Drug Policy downtowneastside.org/how-justin-t... #dtes #downtowneastside #vancouver #britishcolumbia #canada #justintrudeau #drugpolicy

Save Our Streets Forum Addresses BC Safety and Public Concerns Join experts at the Save Our Streets Forum in Vancouver on Jan 23, 2025, tackling BC’s safety challenges with panels on addiction, crime, and housing solutions

Save Our Streets Forum Addresses BC Safety and Public Concerns downtowneastside.org/save-our-str... #dtes #downtowneastside #vancouver #saveourstreets

Targeted Interventions to Reduce Youth Substance Use Disorders Montreal's PreVenture study shows a 35% drop in youth substance use with personality-focused interventions, offering a model for proactive, targeted prevention strategies.

Targeted Interventions to Reduce Youth Substance Use Disorders downtowneastside.org/targeted-int... #dtes #downtowneastside #vancouver #youth #intervention

Lawsuit Against Atira Highlights Vancouver’s SRO Housing Controversies A lawsuit against Atira Women’s Resource Society renews focus on controversies and accountability in Vancouver’s troubled Single Room Occupancy housing system.

Lawsuit Against Atira Highlights Vancouver’s SRO Housing Controversies downtowneastside.org/lawsuit-agai... #dtes #downtowneastside #vancouver #sro #atira