On Thursday, Connect Associate Marina Rommel was invited to attend the Indigenous Social Enterprise Hub Community Info + Celebration. The information session and workshop was put on by The City Of Vancouver and Metro Vancouver Aboriginal Executive Council (MVAEC) to brainstorm ideas for the future Social Enterprise space on 1st and Clark which will be part of the proposed mixed-used development. “The proposed state-of-the-art development is a response to the need for long-term affordable housing, and will include community-centred addictions programs and social enterprise/jobs programs.”- BC Housing
Among many other amenities, the centre will be a community-based enterprise that will assist with skill development/ employment, health/ wellbeing, and promote indigenous culture.
The evening started with a beautiful drumming and song by Elder Kat Norris and words from Elder Shane Point. A brainstorming session into what the facilities would be offering followed and culture sharing from the Kwakwak’awakw Nation closed the evening.
Connect was honoured to be in attendance to this event and provide landscape design to this important project while working with great partners and contributors, including the City of Vancouver, Nancy Mackin, Vancity Community Foundation, BC Housing, Vancouver Coastal Health, and HDR.