Celebrating Downtown East Side

The Heart of the City Festival is like Gay Pride for the Downtown Eastside. But without the parade and queens. And no tight gaunches rhythmicaly gyrating towards your hypnotized eyeballs. Ok, maybe they're not alike after all. But the Heart of the City is an event which, like Gay Pride, brings focus to a group who is often overlooked and undervalued in our city. In its second year, HotC continues its purpose of entertaining and educating people about the history of the area, the trials and tribulations of past and present, and possible new directions.

Downtown Eastide was once known as Skid Road. It's definitely a place where a great deal of tragedy has unfolded and continues to do so. But there's a great depth of history and hope in this neighbourhood, which is coming more and more to light. October 26 to November 6, the DTES will be filled with activities, exhibits, interpretive tours, concerts, performances and more, showcasing the talents and gifts of the people, and exploring the issues surrounding the area.

Start off the day with a yoga session at Radha yoga studio. Take a walking tour to learn how DTES even came to see itself as a community. See a spectrum of art exhibits that touch upon DTES issues and inspirations. See the Shadows Project, where East End residents, professional artists, and the public collaborate on a shadow play, followed by a forum led by SFU's Psychology Professor Emeritus. See a Persian, Indian, and Arabic modern fusion band. Basically, there are some really cool stuff happening, much of it free.

DTES is one part of Vancouver, with many rich and untold stories. It's also a place which will certainly transform into something else as the years continue to trickle past, for better or worse. The DTES as it is now will be this way for now and now only. Do get to know it while it's here.