Though the hounds of gentrification are nipping at its heels, Strathcona remains one of Vancouver’s poorest neighbourhoods. For reasons which may become clear, Lindsay and I spent an hour wandering around taking photos of local sites and businesses. It struck me how dead and empty Strathcona feels compared to Chinatown, which is only a few blocks away but is much livelier.
It struck me how dead and empty Strathcona feels compared to Chinatown, which is only a few blocks away but is much livelier.
You’re kidding. I ride through Strathcona twice a day, and it’s easily the best part of the ride. It has a strong sense of community, and I’d love to live there. The early morning ride is the best, as there are literally hundreds of seniors in the parks doing Tai Chi or other forms of exercise, the schoolgrounds are packed, and people praying before the shines in front of the temples.
I keep meaning to take my camera and take a few shots. Maybe I’ll do it tomorrow…
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your pics were actually taken on the northern edge of strathcona in the area known as railtown… verging on gastown. it’s my neighbourhood. :)
it is a poor area, but also one in which many artists and tech geeks (like me) live. where else in town can you still get amazing water views at reasonable prices? who am I kidding? gentrification is well on its way here. I’ll enjoy it while I can.
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This is too funny! Darren, just for you, I’m going to take a stroll tomorrow (time willing) and take a Verdun series of photos just for you. You’ll see a BIG difference.
When last in North Van visiting my family and trying to secure work to move to Vancouver (my dream home) I refused to be guided around, preferring instead to simply, deliberately get lost and find my way as a better way of learning the city — btw, my sister was a tour guide.
Everyday, I’d go out to interviews and hand out my business cards and CV and literally ‘get lost’. It was a lot of fun and I learned a lot. Then came the day I found East Hastings Street. I kept saying, ‘I’ll just keep walking until it gets better. OK, I’ll walk a little further… No, thank you, I don’t want to sleep with you for $20 and no I don’t want your disposable camera for $5 — ew!’ On and on it went until I backtracked and cut through a park. On the ground were needles.
I’ll never forget that day. That was the day I realized there were poorer neighbourhoods than where I currently live, and far, far lonelier, scarier, and more disgusting.
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I used to live on Alexander and Heatley, right in the middle of the Downtown Eastside. Yeah, it’s grim there.
But walk four blocks south into Strathcona, and you’re in a different world. Walk another four blocks south, and you’re at the Strathcona Community Gardens. Beautiful.
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