Projects & Initiatives

Here's a listing of current and recent projects and events WECAN is or has participated in:

• WEINN - The West End Integrated Neighbourhood Network
• Out of the Rain
• Integrated Youth Services Centre
• Safe Streets Coalition
• Four Pillars
• Park Partners Program
• Police Board Deliberative Dialogue
• Justice Review Task Force
• Youth S.E.A.R.C.H.

Stay tuned for more, we're always working on something new!

WECAN members were involved with many different activities and groups over the past few years. Some of them are listed below.

Park Partners - Nelson Park Project, January 27, 2005

WECAN member Rowley Johnson participated in consultations about changes to Nelson Park. Here is the group's report, presented to the Parks Board Jan. 27th. For more information, contact Bob Hindley, Recreation Programmer, tel. 604-257-8331.

Block party at Gordon Neighbourhood House, Aug. 14 2004

WECAN members took part in this annual event, hosted by our neighbourhood house. Live entertainment, games, raffles, BBQ, children's crafts - it was fun for the whole family!

Justice Review Task Force Street Crime Working Group, 23 June 2004

WECAN members attended this forum to present citizen concerns. An initial forum was held on April 14th. The second forum, an open discussion, looked at the problems associated with street crime and some potential solutions. For more information, contact streetcrime@bcjusticereview.org or contact us at info@westendcan.com.

Keep Vancouver Spectacular, May 29, 2004

WECAN members joined other organizations and individuals to clean up the West End. Over an hour or two we cleaned up litter from several blocks, and celebrated with a hot dog feast in the sun. Volunteers included the young and old. It was a great social event, and a great way to show that small efforts make a big difference. Thanks to WENA for organizing this annual event!

West End Community Co-ordinated Response Pilot Project

WECAN is participating in this City initiative, in response to the Mayor's Forums, which is the pilot project for other neighbourhoods. The purpose is to facilitate a community-based approach to address street level public order, liveability and safety issues. For more info, please come to WECAN meetings.

Safe School Zones

This initiative, coordinated by WECAN for the Provincial Government and the Vancouver City Police, has now been moved under the auspices of the Davie Street Community Policing Office for training and implementation. For further information, or to volunteer for patrols, please contact the Davie Street CPO.

Heritage home revitalization - Rand House (995 Bute Street)

Support your neighbours! The residents applied to City Hall to restore this 1896 heritage home by removing the stucco, restoring the original siding, rebuilding the original rooflines with turret and recreating the wrap-around veranda. The project will reuse many original materials with an environmentally sustainable approach. For more information, please visit www.3greenhorns.ca.

WECAN encourages all levels of government to work together to provide adequate shelter and services to our homeless population, so that our property, parks and lanes do not have to serve as housing, drug dens, rehab and detox centres. We support initiatives by the City of Vancouver and the Provincial Government that endeavour to implement essential services for people who are homeless, suffer from acute mental illness, or are in need of drug rehabilitation. WECAN members strive to learn more about the root causes of poverty, homelessness and addiction. By educating and informing ourselves and our neighbours, sharing thoughts and ideas and communicating as a concerned resident body, we too can, as a community, become a part of the solution. We welcome your comments and feedback.