Hope in Shadows book offers first-hand stories of life in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside

Thanks to Vincent and his fellow vendors, people are getting an opportunity to learn about life in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside from folks who actually live there.

All too often, especially during the Olympics, we hear stories from media outsiders who visit the neighbourhood for a short tour and then report all the bad things they see. While many journalists come looking for sensational stories of crime and addiction, some have good intentions. Of course, it’s important to shed light on problems to raise awareness in society at large, but too often reporters miss the stories of spirit and community in this neighbourhood. That’s why Hope in Shadows is such an important project.

It all started in 2003 with a photography contest for locals that published winning images in an annual calendar. Today the project also includes cards and this new book that has sold more than 5,000 copies. Hope in Shadows is a registered charity that works in partnership with Pivot Legal Society, and 50 percent of street sales go to the vendors.

“Pivot makes this product so people can earn some extra money from it,” said Vincent, who I spoke with today on Commercial Drive. “I believe in Pivot. I like the work they do and not only am I making a few extra dollars, but I’m also contributing to the cause.”

Vincent said he has been without a home in the past, but today he has a place to live and is working with The Open Door Group to find a new career. Years ago, he studied English and History and came within two courses of completing a degree, but severe depression and the pressures of life threw him off track. Now he’s planning to forge a new career in counselling, helping homeless folks find housing and a better quality of life.

Hope in Shadows book editors Brad Cran and Gillian Jerome were nominated in 2009 for the B.C. Book Prize: Roderick Haig-Brown Regional Prize. This prize is “awarded to the author(s) of the book which contributes most to the enjoyment and understanding of British Columbia. The book may deal with any aspect of the province (people, history, geography, oceanography, etc.) and must be original,” says the B.C. Book Prizes website.