YMCA’s Intercultural Community Gardens planned for the roof of Vancouver’s St. Paul’s Hospital

Planter boxes on St. Paul’s roof looking over the West End of Vancouver. Photo by Michael Levenston.

Planned garden to open in June organizers hope.

The goal of the Intercultural Community Gardens Project is to make Vancouver more welcoming and inclusive for everyone, including immigrants. Everyone can grow healthy, organic food together with neighbours from all over the world!

Who is in charge?

The project is managed by YMCA Connections in partnership with the West End Residents Association (WERA) and the Gordon Neighbourhood House. This project is made possible through funding from the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia.

Where will it be?

The rooftop of St. Paul’s Hospital—a large, sunny public space that already has planter boxes that could be used to grow vegetables.

Planter box with irrigation on St. Paul’s roof. Photo by Michael Levenston.

How much does it cost?

Participation in the project is free, but you will have to commit time and energy for the gardens to succeed. There are free training sessions that you must attend on intercultural communication and on racism and diversity.

How can I join?

You must attend the Community meeting and the Training Workshops. After this, the coordinators will select the first group of gardeners. Forty percent of the gardeners will be immigrants, because 40% of the downtown peninsula is made up of immigrants.

View of the Burrard-Davie community gardens from the St. Paul’s roof garden. Photo by Michael Levenston.

Anyway, the next events that would be mandatory for anyone wanting to join the project would be the Community Dialogue meeting on May 19, from 7-9pm at the Robert Lee YMCA on 955 Burrard, and the Diversity training workshop on May 29, from 9am-5pm at the same address.

For more information,

contact Joao Salm or David Tracey

joao.salm@vanymca.org

david.tracey@vanymca.org

or call (604) 685-8066.