Vancouver, BC — It’s been a busy summer for volunteers at Vancouver’s Working Gear Clothing Society. Each Saturday from 10:00am until 2:00pm job-ready men, or “customers”, show up by appointment to be fitted for dress pants, shirts, construction gear, steel-toe boots, and even three-piece suits.

The men, that Working Gear sees, come from very different backgrounds and ages but at the core their stories are similar – they are trying to better themselves by finding legal and full-time employment. Some have struggled with drugs, alcohol, depression and low self-esteem, yet all are determined to fight against the past and begin a new life. The next step to this new life begins with full time employment. Working Gear Clothing Society believes that if they can help make them look polished, professional and work-appropriate then it just might help them land the job and give them confidence as they start the job.

Earlier this summer, with a generous gift from Vancity Savings and Credit Union, the non-profit located in Chinatown, launched a small but spirited campaign called “No Small Feet”. The campaign highlighted the need for donations of steel-toe boots.

Lani Johnson, Vice Chair of the non-profit says, “We tend to get a lot of high quality donations of suits, and dress casual attire but what we always seem to lack are work boots. These can usually cost men upwards of one hundred dollars and is a huge setback to finding work with construction or utility companies. While we need great clothes, we also need boots.”

Since the campaign launched, Working Gear Clothing Society has seen 127 pairs of boots donated. Organizations like Coast Mountain and the Vancouver Police Department are working with the No Small Feet campaign to set up donation bins at their headquarters for workers and officers to drop off used boots. The Canadian Border Services Agency at YVR recently made a significant donation of steel toe boots, and Telus has also stepped in and donated high quality work gear. The non-profit has also received cash and clothing donations from individuals and other organizations in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley.

“We are so grateful to our supporters – both individuals and corporations,” says Johnson. We could not do this alone, and we truly feel the support of those that have contributed.”

Since the non-profit opened its doors in November of 2007 it has helped over 730 men – something that Johnson and the Working Gear board are thrilled about. However, with a slow donation year it has become stressful financially for the organization. Johnson shares, “We are a micro non-profit with no paid staff. This ensures that 100% of all donations and contributions that we receive go directly to the men that we help, and this is so great. But in order to keep our doors open and provide support for more men we need to have some regular champions.”

Even though the organization is finding it financially tough, Johnson shares that working with the “customers” is worth the effort and the worry. “When a customer leaves feeling confident and standing a little taller – that is the payoff for us initially. When we later hear that they landed full-time employment and doing well – there is no better feeling. It’s such a success story.”

Financial contributions can be made through www.canadahelps.org
Information on Working Gear Clothing Society can be found at www.workinggear.ca
Updates on the ”No Small Feet“ campaign and Working Gear can be followed on Twitter at @WorkingGear, or on the Working Gear Facebook account: Working Gear.

Lani Johnson, who is also the Employment Support Coordinator at Building Opportunities with Business Inner-City Society, will be appearing on the Early Edition With Rick Cluff tomorrow morning (Friday August 27th sometime between 6:30 and 8:30 Am)

Original article by Erin Mussolum
Tel: 604-880-5040
Email: erinlm@telus.net

accessed from  http://www.workinggear.ca/media /aug-24-2010.html

Vancouver is a young city, in fact it is one of the youngest major cities in North America. Founded in 1886, originally it was to play second fiddle to New Westminster which grew rapidly thanks to the Fraser Gold Rush of 1858. Even the towns of Nelson and Barkerville rivaled or outshone Vancouver early on. But after the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914 Vancouver’s importance as a Pacific deep water port grew rapidly and steadily. In fact Vancouver has the largest port in Canada and 4th largest on the continent!

This and other amazing photos of Vancouver can be found at http://flickriver.com/photos/tags/coalharbour/interesting/ Photo by BlackBird

This port is adjacent to the DTES, Gastown, Strathcona, and the Hastings-Sunrise areas of the inner-city and is connected to them and the rest of North America by the very same railway system that enabled Vancouver to become the booming port city that it is today.  This railway (The Canadian Pacific Railway) was also instrumental in enabling the creation of the Canadian federal system itself. It was a key pillar of Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald’s National Policy and therefore the major catalyst in BC joining confederation. These same neighbourhoods that the old CPR rails meander through are the original core of Vancouver which the city grew around (After it burned to the ground June 13th 1886 and was promptly rebuilt of course). But the CPR is not the only set of rails that played an important part in the development of our city.

For many years Vancouver was a streetcar city, with workers connected to their neighbourhoods and the downtown core by charming trams (you know, like in San Francisco!).  Here’s a map from 1940 showing both the interurban and streetcar routes that connected, Strathcona, Mt. Pleasant, Commercial Drive, South Granville, Kerrisdale and the various other neighbourhoods throughout the city. In fact, Vancouver may bring back streetcars as there are many today advocating for increased transit options in the region. These streetcars have enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in Europe for being cost effective, while Toronto has also enjoyed its extensive streetcar system for years.

Vancouver is an open minded, progressive and tolerant city (but you already knew that!) What you might not know is that we also have the highest percentage of mixed race marriages in Canada! (8.5%) Which no doubt makes for some creative, colourful and extremely delicious weddings. As a matter of fact, on the topic of food…

Did you know that Vancouver has its own Food Charter? In the words of the Vancouver Food Charter:

“The Vancouver Food Charter presents a vision for a food system which benefits our community and the environment. It sets out the City of Vancouver’s commitment to the development of a coordinated municipal food policy, and animates our community’s engagement and participation in conversations and actions related to food security in Vancouver.”

Included in this vision is a just and sustainable food system that:

• contributes to the economic, ecological, and social well-being of our city and region;
• encourages personal, business and government food practices that foster local production and protect our natural and human resources;
• recognizes access to safe, sufficient, culturally appropriate and nutritious food as a basic human right for all Vancouver residents;
• reflects the dialogue between the community, government, and all sectors of the food system;
• celebrates Vancouver’s multicultural food traditions.

For an example of the kinds of urban farming initiatives that this charter supports visit SOLEfood Urban Farm in the heart of the Downtown Eastside. Online or in person.

Photo of nightmarket from http://vancouverisawesome.com/2009/06/19/vancouvers-night-market/

Or check out the Chinatown Night Market. There’s lots of amazing food scenting the air during the night market. Vancouver’s Chinatown is actually the second largest Chinatown in North America (after San Francisco) and what’s more it’s nowhere near as steep and hilly as SFs! There are some amazing restaurants in this neighbourhood too!

Well, those only a few fascinating fun facts that help to make this city one of the greatest places in the world to live. If you have any fun facts feel free to add them in the comment section.

If you own or operate a business in downtown Vancouver or EastVan (Strathcona, Gastown, Hastings-Sunrise, Chinatown) or know anyone who does, please pass word on about the upcoming business sustainability expo being held by the Strathcona Business Improvement Association. AND if you know of any green companies interested in sponsoring this great event let them know too!

The Strathcona BIA will be hosting the small business sustainability expo on September 28, 2010 | 3-7pm | at the Japanese Language Hall (475 Alexander St.) and it is an excellent opportunity for you to promote your business and showcase the steps you are taking to be green- maybe learn a trick or two along the way!

Enhance the competitive advantage of your business and be part of the progressive sustainable business community in the Strathcona Green Zone.

For more information download this  form : Sustainability 3 0 Sponsorship Opportunities Updated

or contact

Sponsorship Inquiries: Purdy Jones
greenstrathcona@gmail.com
778-737-0229
Green Zone Inquiries: Sophie Agbonkhese
sustainabilitysbia@telus.net
604-258-2727

The Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood Council has been championing a Street Market and Fair which you may have seen lately (or may see in the future). The Street Market and Fair happens every Sunday from 12-5pm in Pigeon Park and provides an opportunity for local binners and residents to display and sell various items they’ve come into possession of or created themselves.  Many of these items are very useful and in excellent condition so come on down and have a look, you might find something you need!

The Market and Fair will be continuing until December of 2010 so don’t miss out on it.

For more information on the DTES Neighbourhood Council contact:

Tami Starligh at cosmictami@shaw.ca

or visit:

http://dnchome.wordpress.com/

or http://www.youtube.com/users/DNCVIDEOBlog

In the 1970s, Vancouverites fought to a standstill the construction of a freeway through our historic neighbourhoods and take real pride in knowing that Vancouver is the most livable city in North America as a result.

As a resident and organizer of the Strathcona Property Owners and Tenants Association, I was there with my family and neighbours to protest the opening of the Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts, as we knew then that they would compromise the safety and livability of our community.

For 40 years, the viaducts have remained a finger in our eyes. Now, thanks to the vision of Coun. Geoff Meggs, who was a Strathcona resident in the 1980s, the fit of these freeway scale structures within the “Greenest City in the World” is being questioned.