News

In Memoriam

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June 13, 1939 – December 30, 2022

A loving tribute to a dear friend, Jill Hamm, who entered her eternal rest on December 30, 2022, by Shirin Theophilus, St. Anselm’s Parish Liaison, Westside Anglicans Neighbourhood Ministry (WANM)

We received the sad news of Jill’s sudden passing in her sleep with deep sadness and a sense of thankfulness for her well-lived life.

Mine was 24 years of joyful friendship, partnering and organizing many events in our parish of St. Anselm’s. We all shall remember Jill as a vibrant, dynamic, loving and caring person with a sense of humour, a friend to many and willing to go that extra mile to help anyone in distress or need.

When the WANM became a reality under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Pitman Potter in 2007, it was natural for Jill to join, volunteering as an indoor team member at St. Anselm’s. She remained a volunteer for the Indoor Team until her last day. Jill’s organizing skills, gentleness in recruiting volunteers to the WANM, generosity and care toward those suffering were exemplary. 

She travelled the world, visiting many continents and was an avid reader, which enabled her to see the “authentic” self in all and approach others with gentleness to make them feel at home in all novel situations.

Thank you, dear Jill, for living and expressing your faith in words and actions to uplift all who came into contact with you.

May your soul rest in peace through the mercy of God.

A memorial service is being held at St. Anselm’s Anglican Church, 5210 University Blvd, Vancouver, BC V6T 2H5,  at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 4, 2023.

For more information, click here: Vancouver Sun

Kitsilano Community Centre Showers Program

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After a 2 ½-year hiatus due to the COVID pandemic, the Kitsilano Community Centre Program Showers Program for anyone in need is up and running again.

The program is offered on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month.

Services offered:

  • Hot breakfast, starting at 7:30am and served until 8:45am
  • Hot showers until 9am
  • Toiletries provided
  • Valet service for attendees’ carts and dogs
  • Clean change of clothes
  • Bagged lunch to-go
  • Monthly haircuts (second Saturday of the month)
  • The Westside Anglicans Neighbourhood Ministry’s Mobile Care Unit—includes an onsite doctor and social work services such as housing applications, tax filing, and connections to other outreach services.

Location: Kitsilano Community Centre, 2690 Larch Street, Vancouver, BC V6K 4K9. Entrance “Seniors Garden Entrance” off of West 12th Avenue.

Rear view of a bicycle with two baskets full of personal belongings on top. Each basket has a license plate on the back. The bicycle is in front of a red brick wall.
A man in jeans, a dark jacket, toque and wearing a mask stands next to his bicycle which has baskets full of can on it. Each basket is adorned with license plates in different styles.
A man in a dark jacket, toque and jeans points at the license plates that are displayed on the front and rear baskets of his blue bicycle.
A man in a dark jacket, toque and jeans points at the license plates that are displayed on the front and rear baskets of his blue bicycle.

Kits Saturday Program, a valued service

One of our regular attendees at the Kitsilano Community Centre Program Showers Program, happy to be back after a long absence and showing the variety of license plates on his valued transport vehicle.

Photos: Dr. Janet McKeown

Westside Anglicans Neighbourhood Ministry Annual Meeting

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Tuesday, June 28th, 2022

7 pm at St. Anselm’s Anglican Church, 5210 University Boulevard

Light refreshments served

Through its volunteer base, the Westside Anglicans Neighbourhood Ministry (the parishes of St. Anselm’s, St. Helen’s, St. Philip’s, and St. John’s Shaughnessy) have been serving homeless and vulnerable people on Vancouver’s Westside since 2008.

At the annual general meeting, we celebrate the volunteers, give thanks for their service, offer an update on the past year’s activities and look to the future.

Not a volunteer? Curious about what we do? Want to learn why our watchwords are “Mutual Transformation?”

We encourage you to come and hear more about the services we offer to our brothers and sisters who live among us on the streets of Vancouver’s Westside. We value your input!

They are Not just Statistics Opioid Crisis Service of Lament

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Squamish Elder Xwechtaal (Dennis Joseph) offered a welcome, a territorial acknowledgement and a powerful Travel Song at Christ Church Cathedral’s Opioid Service of Lament.

“On this date, April 14 of 2016, the provincial health officer of the day, Dr. Perry Kendall declared a public health emergency in relation to the opioid-related overdose deaths. In 2016, the rate of overdose deaths per 100,000 people was 20.4. That rate in 2021 was 43 deaths per 100,000 people.2,224 deaths last year, more than six people dying every day. Every day.

These are the statistics and perhaps if we simply keep them as statistics, we can try to ignore them or avoid them or not make any real eye contact with them. But these are real people. People who are our neighbours.

Continue reading “They are Not just Statistics Opioid Crisis Service of Lament” →

CCPA Proposes Action to Achieve Affordable Housing in Vancouver

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Founded in 1980, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) is one of Canada’s leading progressive voices in public policy debates. Through its National Office in Ottawa, and provincial offices in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Nova Scotia,  the  organization monitors progress on affordable housing commitments by both the federal and BC governments–and offers practical solutions.

Continue reading “CCPA Proposes Action to Achieve Affordable Housing in Vancouver” →