Musical Community

West African musician finds inspiration and makes a life in Vancouver. 
1 minute 34 seconds


By Yoro David Noukoussi
Yoro writes, produces and plays music in and around Vancouver. He currently owns and operates a studio called Waaba Music Production. 

Arrival Story

A story about getting your groove back.

2 minutes 10 seconds

By Nancy Strider
Nancy is now blooming in a housing co-op, while her son is checking out his Toronto roots and studying urban planning. Their Portrait V2K story plaque survived a large fire in 2009, and can still be read on a lamppost at the southwest bus stop at Main and East Broadway.

Home Sweet Home

A celebration of belonging in Vancouver.

2 minutes 29 seconds

By Little Woo
Little Woo is an unconventional spiritual teacher and artist who offers deep insight and joie de vivre on the journey of conscious Evolution. Many of her students are lovable freaks, burlesque dancers, artists, freedom-seekers and offbeat entrepreneurs.

Carving a Living

Mark enjoys living and working in his West End neighbourhood.  
1minute 39 seconds 

By Mark Redsky  

Mark grew up in apple country, in a place called Kelowna. He found his way to Vancouver after a couple years in Calgary and he fell in love with all Vancouver had to offer a naturalist and an artist. Vancouver and its proximity to the ocean continues to inspire Mark in his stone creations and screenplays.

Painting as Medicine

Inspiration in the Downtown East Side

3 minutes 35 seconds

By Leef Evans

Leef is an artist who used to live in shelters in the Downtown East Side.  Struggling with maintaining his mental health, Leef found painting as a tool for healing.  His amazing paintings reflect the neighbourhood he finds most inspiring.  He now lives in the Yaletown area, frequents the studio at Coast Mental Health, and diligently continues his art practice.

Finding Identity

Exploring cultural identity through art and community

3 minutes 17 seconds

By Karlene Harvey

Karlene is Chilcotin, Carrier and Okanagan First Nations.  She is an artist and illustrator and loves making zines.  Her work in the First Nations Community has influenced her art, as well as helping her find mentors to foster her own identity in Vancouver.  After living in almost every neighbourhood in Vancouver, she know lives downtown near Stanley Park and loves it.  Karlene also does roller derby!

The Drive

Finding her voice in Vancouver

3 minutes 19 seconds

By Chelsea Johnson

Chelsea lives on Commercial Drive.  She is a well known singer, often busking or performing shows at venues along the Drive.  Part of discovering her voice came from life on Commercial Drive, the people she has met and the places she has been.

You, Me and the Dog.

How dog walking can change your life!

3 minutes 40 seconds

By Sharon Kallis

Sharon is an eco artist living in the Downtown East Side.  Sharon works seasonally with whatever green materials she can use at the time. Her art ranges from woven coil structures out of invasive English Ivy to creating garments using materials such as hair, wool and leaves.  She has used her dog J.D's fur to create art pieces, such as a pair of shoes!  Her partner David is a member of the Legion of the Flying Monkeys, he creates instruments from plant materials.  Their lovely dog was responsible in bringing the two together.  It all started with David's notes to Sharon after walking J.D.

Growing Up Urban

8 year old, Malcolm, loves painting and skateboarding in his Yaletown neighbourhood.

2 minutes 21 seconds

By Malcolm Craig

Malcolm is going into grade 4 and besides skateboarding and painting, he also loves hanging out with his brother, his cousin and friends.

S7apelek

A carver revisits the place by the Fraser River where his life found new meaning.

2 minutes 52 seconds

by Doug Baker

Doug is a Coast Salish and Northwest-style carver and carving instructor at various community centres in Vancouver. When he was 38, he was given the name S7apelek in a traditional naming ceremony, but he never asked what it meant. Several years later, he had a revelation while he sat by the Fraser River.
In this video, he takes us there to tell us the story.
Doug is member of the Squamish Nation and lives on the Musqueam Reserve in Vancouver.

Vancouver Solidarity Era

Mass protests in Vancouver during the 1980's
2 minutes 34 seconds

By Henri Robideau
Henri is a photographer and has been teaching photography at Emily Carr University since the 80's.  He has lived at Fraser and 28th for 20 years, and before that on 3rd and Blenhiem for 17 years.  Henri was born in Connecticut and is of French, Irish and Mohawk roots. 
The series of photos (depicting the protests against the Social Credit Government ) in this video were exhibited at the National Centre of Photography in Paris, France in 1991.

The Way of Crows

Crow watching around Kerrisdale.
1 minutes 12 seconds


By Anna Smith
Anna is an avid drawer. She visits the Kerrisdale Community Centre for an after school program called Girls on the Go.
Originally collected for Kerrisdale Collective Memory