Oct 10, 2024
This year, WISH was recognized with a nomination for the Untapped Workplace Inclusion Awards, and on September 19, WISH was announced as the winner in the “Inclusive Culture Champion – Non-Profit” category.
Aug 12, 2024
The search for a new ED began nearly five months ago, and was conducted with the help of There Consulting, including input from WISH staff at all levels.
Jun 9, 2024
Have you ever been faced with an impossible choice? Everyone deserves the opportunity to make free, healthy, and positive choices—but the people WISH Drop-In Centre Society exists to serve are often denied that fundamental right.
Jun 7, 2023
June 6, 2023 marks the one-year anniversary of WISH’s Sex Worker Circle (SWC), held as part of our Indigenous Health & Safety Program. The Circle is a safe, dedicated space for participants who are current and active street-based sex workers.
Apr 12, 2023
A 100% sex worker-developed and sex worker-run report is shedding light on the unique needs and risks faced by sex workers in the Lower Mainland and Southern Vancouver Island.
Jan 6, 2023
Choice is a loaded word. Many of the participants who walk through our doors face limited options. When Avery Gray* was living in a tent on Alexander Street, she didn’t know what WISH was. One freezing night, she was invited into the drop-in for a hot chocolate and decided to check it out.
Nov 12, 2022
While many communities are moving on from the pandemic, in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic is still acutely felt. To make matters worse, this community continues to face multiple crises, including the ongoing opioid crisis, worsening homelessness, and escalating gender-based violence.
Aug 16, 2022
Last week, a police operation violently dismantled the encampment along East Hastings in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. We firmly condemn those acts of violence, as well as the continued lack of strategy to address the homelessness crisis.
Jun 1, 2022
Kwaakwii, also known as Elder Terri, is a proud Haida woman from Haida Gwaii, who came to the Lower Mainland about 30 years ago. Her journey began as a participant in the program and in less than three years she became WISH’s in-house Elder.
May 11, 2022
This spring, we are proud to be re-launching our Indigenous Health & Safety Program (IHSP) at WISH. The IHSP is a recurring six-month-long program that runs twice a year and is one of three streams that WISH’s Indigenous Health and Safety focuses on: Indigenous Drop-In; Indigenous In-Reach Services and; and IHSP.
Jan 19, 2022
Women’s organizations in the Downtown Eastside renew calls for community-led safety following an arrest made outside the Downtown Eastside Women’s Center.
Nov 24, 2021
Our hearts are heavy with the passing of Lillian Howard, who was an active and long-time member of the Coalition and fierce advocate for Indigenous women and peoples. The members of the Coalition share our heart-felt condolences.
Oct 26, 2021
It’s been one year since Canada’s first 24/7 emergency shelter for street-based sex workers opened its doors in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and the overwhelming demand for the space continues.
Oct 25, 2021
It’s hard to believe it’s been one year since WISH opened the doors to Canada’s first-ever 24/7 temporary emergency shelter for street-based sex workers. The overwhelming demand for the space continues to highlight the urgent need for housing and safe spaces for women and gender diverse people.
Jul 6, 2021
It’s been nearly eight months since Kilala Lelum launched its mobile clinic to provide primary care and cultural wellness outreach to the Downtown Eastside (DTES) community.
Jun 22, 2021
The following open letter was issued to the City of Vancouver and representatives responsible for convening the City of Vancouver’s Community Panel on Decriminalizing Poverty and Supporting Community-led Initiatives.
Jun 9, 2021
It’s been one year since the MAP Van day shift began operating in response to an increased demand for our trauma-informed and harm reduction supports and services. The MAP Van has provided essential services for woman-identified street-based sex workers across the City of Vancouver for 17 years.
May 13, 2021
It’s been six months since WISH opened the doors to Canada’s first-ever 24/7 temporary emergency shelter for street-based sex workers. Since then, we’ve seen an overwhelming demand for the space, resulting in the shelter being at capacity since opening day. Sadly, this means women are turned away from the shelter every single day.
Apr 22, 2021
June 21 marks the 25th annual recognition of National Indigenous Peoples Day. Due to the lack of action from the federal government to mark June 21 as an official statutory holiday, WISH has decided to officially recognize the day as an additional paid holiday within our organization.
Mar 19, 2021
On March 11th, we held our first-ever WISH Talks virtual event in honour of International Women’s Day. WISH Talks is intended to be an ongoing series through which we hope to collaboratively create impact through conversations.