At the end of April BOB moved to a new office at 87 East Pender.

BOB Staff in our New Digs

As you might expect, it was a big job involving the whole team as well as other members of our community. First we hired a project manager through PM Volunteers to help with the logistics.

Dan Suratos, Project Management Volunteer Extraordinaire

Once we got organized, we rented re-usable Frogboxes and packed everything up.

Frogboxes hold a LOT of stuff!

And then we had to get it all up the stairs at the new place!

Up, up, and away!

As you can see, we worked as a team and tried to maintain a good sense of humor. But the best part of all is that we decided to take advantage of the great services  available in our neighborhood and used inner-city businesses from start to finish.

Want to know how we did it? Check out the following business listings and consider their services next time you’re moving. You too can get the job done while supporting the inner-city community!

My Black Sista’s Painting Company

Corinthian Clark is the proud proprietress of this inner-city based painting company. Corinthian did a beautiful job of painting our new office, with great attention to detail, prompt service, and accurate quoting. And her painting company is a social enterprise devoted to empowering women in trades! 604-724-0287 or corinthianclark@yahoo.ca

Take the Green Challenge

During our move we needed to lighten our load and get rid of some junk, so we called Take the Green Challenge! Their business is an inner-city focused social enterprise, employing people with disabilities and providing eco-friendly waste disposal. They provide undeniably friendly service and give free quotes, too. 604-992-5316

Frogbox

We rented these convenient, eco-friendly, re-useble, heavy duty, hard plastic stacking moving boxes for the duration of our move. Frogbox also kindly donated a storage box as a door prize for our New Directions Party. Wondering what puts the frog in Frogbox? 1% of their profits go to saving or restoring frog habitat! 1-877-FROGBOX

AJK Moving

These enthusiastic guys worked tirelessly to tote our desks, filing cabinets, and Frogboxes up and down stairs. They were an indispensable part of our move. 604-875-9072

Recycling Alternative

They had no trouble making an extra pickup on short notice for ALL the extra paper we had to recycle. Recycling Alternative actively cultivates an inclusive workplace, employing folks with and without barriers to work together and learn from one another. 604-874-SAVE

These are all shining examples of the variety of socially and environmentally responsible businesses that are actively involved in the inner-city. The diversity and quality of services they offer is remarkable. The next time you need to move, you know who to call.

And be sure to drop by and check out BOB’s new digs, upstairs at 87 East Pender!

Calling all Employers! BOB’s next Employer Breakfast is coming up on Thursday May 26th. This is a great opportunity to network with other local businesses and find out more about how to support your community. You will also get to check out the new BOB office, upstairs at 87 East Pender (between Columbia and Carrall).

BOB’s Managing Director, Liz Charyna, will discuss how BOB can help your business prepare for summer hiring.

We will be serving breakfast as a delicious build-your-own yogurt parfait bar.

When: Thursday May 26th 8:00-9:00am
Where: 87 East Pender, upstairs

Please RSVP to Liz Charyna at liz.charyna@bobics.org or

It was just announced that Steve Cole of Sacred Heart Tattoo will be doubling his prize giveaway at Kaleidoscope from $160 to $320 dollars worth of tattoo time!! And with that I’ll launch into a quick reminder that Kaleidoscope, a celebration of art, culture and entrepreneurial spirit in the DTES is happening this Saturday at the Rickshaw Theatre, 257 E 4th Ave from 7:00 pm to 10:00 Pm. Other prizes include a georgeous gift basket from Saul Good Gift Co. an Award for the Coolest Person in Vancouver 2010 form Eclipse Awards International and a $250 gift card from Fluevog (Vancouver’s favorite shoemaker)

A reminder that tix are $10 and are available at Red Cat, Scratch and Zulu records or you can pay by donation at the door.

WHY DID WES AND HIS FRIENDS FRASER AND LEX DO THIS? Well…let me be disarmingly personal for a moment if I may. In the 3 months that I’ve been with Building Opportunities with Business I have been so impressed by the work that goes on here, by the office culture, the leadership that the management team shows and the work ethic that the staff have. The projects and people that I’ve been introduced to have inspired me and given me hope. The Canadian Mental Health Association and many other organizations at work in Vancouver’s inner-city help people who are most at risk of losing their livelihoods and ending up in a self destructive cycle. Mental health, is  a serious issue and one that has impacted the DTES (particularly in light of one particular mental health facility closing down some 20 years ago).

Why a celebration of entrepreneurial spirit in the DTES? Because as important as it is for our government leaders to address these social issues and help to improve our communities it is also up to us. Entrepreneurs who take a chance on inner-city neighbourhoods, who put their creativity, their elbow grease and their cash into a venture in the inner-city deserve to be recognized; they too can have a powerful positive impact on the community through their actions, and through their success. They show leadership and take initiative, they create opportunities for residents and other businesses here in the DTES. Those are the kinds of people who strengthen community capacity. So by having these companies donate a prize it’s a way to promote them and recognize them, by having the proceeds go to non-profits and charitable organizations we recognize the work that goes on from that end too. We celebrate them both and celebrate art, music and life along with them!

So naturally a combination of the two made sense, and that is what Kaleidoscope is all about. That, and having fun listening to great bands and enjoying a drink with friends in a cool venue. If this sounds like something you might enjoy then come on down this Saturday 7pm to the newly reopened Rickshaw Theatre at 257 E. Hastings. We would love to see you there.

Wes