Andrew Roddan is not a name most Vancouverites could immediately identify. But it should be – and a new book allows us to see how he and other United Church preachers contributed so much to the fabric of Canadian society.…
First, a quick personal note: I will take next week off as we are going to visit (one set of) our grandchildren in San Francisco (I know, it’s in the States. Will repent upon return.) This week I’m looking at…
Merry Christmas everyone. Following is the December 25 reading from A Year With C.S. Lewis: Daily Readings from His Classic Works, which Margaret and I have managed to (almost) complete – with considerable pleasure, albeit also with catch-up sessions. (Is…
First United Church is in the midst of a major redevelopment – and they want to make sure the final result visually represents the local community. The church has been serving their Downtown Eastside neighbourhood for nearly 140 years. Here…
Burnaby politicians recently joined community and religious leaders to celebrate the completion of a housing project for vulnerable community members. This September 20 press release from L’Arche tells the story: L’Arche Greater Vancouver has fulfilled the biggest dream in its…
Daniel Francis: Becoming Vancouver: A History (Harbour Publishing, 2021) I should have written this long ago – but fortunately everything in this book is old news anyway. And they say you can learn from history. For example, it may soon…
First United tweeted February 13: “Our comprehensive law reform platform is now available to view! It’s based in part on findings from our #BCEvictionMap project and outlines evidence-based recommendations to strengthen tenant protections. Read the full report here. Following is…
BC Housing announced November 6 that an “affordable and supportive homes” project on the property of First United Church is now under way: Indigenous Peoples and people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside will soon have…
First United Church has a long history of standing up for its neighbours in the Downtown Eastside. And they are undergoing a major redevelopment project to ensure their presence will remain strong on the corner of Hastings and Gore. But…
There may be some light at the end of the tunnel for those who have been lamenting the passing of Mission Central (Missions Fest). Its last conference was held at Canada Place at the end of January – but it…