| Events and programs | Events and programs | <div class="ExternalClass43BBECE5CDA44DBD9BD25E3DEC870D57">A range of social events, educational workshops, and other special initiatives help to support well-being, build capacity, and foster community spirit.<span id="ms-rterangecursor-start"></span><span id="ms-rterangecursor-end"></span><br></div> |
| Healthy living programs | Healthy living programs | <div class="ExternalClass245736B89E76448EB329A3E5AC478DB9">Initiatives such as community kitchens, cooking workshops, and programs like Food Skills for Families help to support healthy living.<span id="ms-rterangecursor-start"></span><span id="ms-rterangecursor-end"></span><br></div> |
| Community gardens | Community gardens | <div class="ExternalClass33C5DB98201846D68B2AB58C01C650F0">Community gardens are a great way to get some sun and fresh air while growing your own produce and reducing your grocery bill. Through the pandemic, we’ve seen an increased need for food security and have been expanding community gardens. Learn more about Community Gardens at Metro Vancouver Housing.<br><br><span id="ms-rterangecursor-start"></span><span id="ms-rterangecursor-end"></span>
<i class="fa-light fa-link"></i> <a href="/services/housing/community-gardens" target="_blank" title="Community Gardens">Community Gardens</a><br></div> |
| Gardening workshops and hydroponics | Gardening workshops and hydroponics | <div class="ExternalClass2F2FED6816394A37BA274411D3934727">Metro Vancouver Housing is working with tenants to explore new ways to enjoy gardening! This includes free gardening workshops hosted by a resident Organic Master Gardener as well as a hydroponic gardening pilot project that uses nutrient-rich water without soil and substantially decrease growing time.<span id="ms-rterangecursor-start"></span><span id="ms-rterangecursor-end"></span><br></div> |
| Murals | Murals | <div class="ExternalClassB8D037F71EC34EAD9616446FA93DBD37">Metro Vancouver Housing has supported tenants at numerous housing sites to design and paint murals, encouraging creativity and community building.<span id="ms-rterangecursor-start"></span><span id="ms-rterangecursor-end"></span><br></div> |
| Play space design projects | Play space design projects | <div class="ExternalClass2D3EEBD3E06B4C79A327AE3589510501">Metro Vancouver Housing has been working with residents to design new hard play spaces at their housing sites. Hard play spaces allow for a greater range of play for all ages and provide safe spaces for kids to ride bikes and scooters away from roadways and parking areas. Residents are challenged to a design contest and get involved in painting the designs, followed by a celebration.<span id="ms-rterangecursor-start"></span><span id="ms-rterangecursor-end"></span><br></div> |
| Free food program | Free food program | <div class="ExternalClass71B312998224436781D5168FFB4B0B62">Metro Vancouver Housing is working with Immigrant Link Centre Society (a local charity) to minimize food waste by providing free food to low income residents. Perishable food is collected from grocery stores close to its “best before” date and then distributed to housing sites. Resident volunteers coordinate the separation of food into boxes for the households registered in the program while following safety protocols. This important program assists residents with their grocery bill and provides nutritional food. This successful program is being expanded across Metro Vancouver Housing sites to serve even more communities in need.<br><br>
<i class="fa-light fa-link"></i> <a href="https://immigrantlink.ca/" target="_blank" title="Immigrant Link Centre Society">Immigrant Link Centre Society</a></div> |
| Housing extreme makeover | Housing extreme makeover | <div class="ExternalClass7CA61A4565FB4F8DAF85E606A86756A7">Each year, a housing site is selected and teams made up of Metro Vancouver staff and residents spent the day working together to beautify the site with projects like landscaping upgrades, painting fresh lines in parking lots, and renewing/repairing fences.<span id="ms-rterangecursor-start"></span><span id="ms-rterangecursor-end"></span><br></div> |
| Spring flower program | Spring flower program | <div class="ExternalClassFFC0DA2C2E3F48E081647F75AC1E35C9">Every Spring, Metro Vancouver Housing provides a selection of spring flowers to housing sites to beautify outdoor spaces. Community Champions volunteer to distribute flowers to interested households.<br></div> |
| Community clean up events | Community clean up events | <div class="ExternalClass67A20249F2DE47FC960B8332F7F66028">Metro Vancouver Housing supports tenants to clean up their local communities. At Greystone Village, the Tenant Association, along with the Eagle Creek Stream Keepers Society, host an annual community event that brings together neighbours, cleans up the surrounding creek area, and gets tenants and youth involved in environmental stewardship.<br><br>
<i class="fa-light fa-link"></i>
<a href="https://mvupdate.metrovancouver.org/issue-59/greystone-village-creek-cleanup/" target="_blank" title="Greystone Village Creek Cleanup">Greystone Village Creek Cleanup</a><br></div> |
| Educational workshops | Educational workshops | <div class="ExternalClassEDD2674FEC6F43C487131F69E38EE1A9">Metro Vancouver Housing hosts workshops related to the interests in the community. Educational workshops have included: fire safety and emergency preparedness, financial literacy, health and wellness topics, gardening workshops, paint days with local artists and much more.<br></div> |
| Free book exchange | Free book exchange | <div class="ExternalClass6F2DF00E90B845FAA45AAF3802BFFD83"><span id="ms-rterangecursor-start"></span><span id="ms-rterangecursor-end"></span>Staff and tenants support free book exchanges to encourage reading and build community.</div> |
| Fundraising for community events | Fundraising for community events | <div class="ExternalClass10BD23923D534910AC3F3B46786B46A9">Metro Vancouver Housing encourages residents to participate in fundraising to support community events. Examples include: applying for Community Small Grants, organizing bottle drives, hosting yard sales, and electronic recycling fundraisers.<br></div> |
| Children’s summer programs | Children’s summer programs | <div class="ExternalClass62562CF030934BFA87C992153B78F785">Metro Vancouver Housing has partnered with local organizations to provide Summer Pop-Up Play for children and parents at select housing sites. These programs provide healthy activities and opportunities to engage and connect with other families in the community. Local organizations provide the programming while Metro Vancouver Housing provides spaces for hosting as well as snacks and beverages for participating children.<span id="ms-rterangecursor-start"></span><span id="ms-rterangecursor-end"></span><br></div> |