Spotting the socioeconomic divide in Vancouver. | Photo by Adam Jones.
Over the short six months I’ve been living in Vancouver, the thoughts, feelings and experiences I have had have led me to see the subtle but powerful social paradox that Vancouver holds.
Having lived in the now blooming city of Calgary, talk of Vancouver existing as a hub of cultural diversity had always been loud. A city ripe with alternative and progressive outlets and opportunities was a primary inspiration for myself, as well as a multitude of others from various walks of life.
Though my time here has not been long, I have found there to be little room for disappointment in terms of the diversity that Vancouver offers; there can be little to no argument that almost anyone, regardless of their background, can find their niche. For many, this can be invaluable. From small matters of finding an abundance of restaurants catered to different tastes and nations, or joining communities that foster a religious or cultural unity, to more complex political and social outlets for activism, I can understand how Vancouver has rightfully earned its title as being one of the most multicultural cities in the country.
While I can appreciate the diversity of the city, I cannot help but to be similarly baffled at the blatant gap that exists between communities, the socioeconomic portion of which I have been most exposed to.
I work as a barista in Gastown, dealing with a great number of customers each day. Gastown is on the unofficial yet visible boundary that exists on Hastings between one of the trendiest parts of Downtown and the Downtown Eastside. People from two communities, vastly divided in terms of daily life, socioeconomic status and visible differences in appearance come together in my store to relish in the same service. When I mentioned my move to the city I was warned that East Hastings was to be avoided, by Vancouverites and others alike. This fuelled an anxious curiosity within me.
While I do not boast any deep understanding or knowledge of the community of East Hastings, the difference between the East and West is striking. At work it is interesting to observe the interactions between the people from each side. In my small bubble at the edge of Gastown, a community of people who suffer from mental illness, poverty and racial stigmatization is at odds with the higher socioeconomic community of students and young professionals. The skeptical almost condescending nature with which the members of East Hastings are regarded, and the general stigma that surrounds East Hastings, is evidence of the gap that exists between these communities, and alludes to the existence of gaps between other communities as well. While it is understandable that great economic, cultural and social differences may apply to various communities of Vancouver, there is always unity to be aimed for and awareness to be raised.
Vancouverites have unofficially coined each neighbourhood of the city by the kind of people that live within them. Supposedly, Yaletown is where the young “yuppies” are found, never to be without a dog, the West End historically has a large LGBTQ community, and Kits has the trendy health nuts. These are only a few examples of how I have heard communities defined. Vancouver, as I am coming to view it, is a city that has a great potential to be more unified than it is now.
The paradox exists in the seemingly “together but apart” essence that I have found to exist on the streets of Vancouver. While there is no arguing that anyone and everyone can find a community for themselves, the interactions and gaps between these communities remain vague and unexplored. There is no denying that the city is on the right path, rightfully being recognized as widely diverse. This being said, I am hoping for a greater desire, and greater action for a more cohesive, aware YVR.
