Could a program that’s being used Vancouver’s Chinatown improve livability in New Westminster? That’s an idea the City of New Westminster will explore.
City council unanimously approved a motion by Coun. Nadine Nakagawa directing staff to report back on opportunities to bring a program similar to the Chinatown Stewards model to New West. The motion’s introduction states that New Westminster is focusing on enhancing livability in the downtown and throughout the entire city and that the City of New Westminster prioritizes compassion and proven solutions.
The Chinatown Stewards program is operated by the charity EMBERS (the Eastside Movement for Business and Economic Renewal Society) which aims to create economic and employment opportunities for people by providing them jobs, training and support.
Nakagawa said the employment program hires Downtown Eastside community members to act as stewards for the Chinatown community. Their roles can include being a liaison with businesses, doing needle and litter pickup and helping to de-escalate some situations.
“I see this as very complementary to our pre-existing Eyes on the Street model, which is a really great program,” she said. “But this is almost like a level up of that, an enhancement of that.”
Nakagawa said she thinks it’s an interesting opportunity to explore for New West and is looking forward to seeing if it could work in the city.
“We hear from businesses throughout the community that, as we see an increase in street homelessness, sometimes businesses needs to open their doors but there might be somebody sleeping there, and they want a compassionate approach,” she said. “And this would really help the businesses. It would help the people who are living in really tough positions, sleeping outside in the elements, as well as people with lived and living experience gain some employment skills.”
Coun. Ruby Campbell said she’s heard from many businesses that they’d like to see a compassionate approach to dealing with issues in the city.
“They really want to have a second option from calling the police,” she said. “They really want a different option.”
Coun. Jaimie McEvoy said the City of Vancouver is using the program as part of its strategy for Chinatown. Reading from an online report about the initiative, he said the Chinatown Stewards aim is to establish a more safe and inclusive community in and around Chinatown, while providing a variety of services such as helping tourists navigate the Chinatown district and acting as liaisons between shopkeepers and those experiencing homelessness, using drugs or loitering.
“I’ll just say that that sounds good to me,” he said. “And I know that the program has been seen as effective and has had broad support in Chinatown. So I think it’s a model worth trying.”
Coun. Daniel Fontaine questioned the next steps for New Westminster.
“If this motion is approved, we are to report back on the opportunities to bring a program similar to Chinatown,” said Lisa Spitale, chief administrative officer. “So, what that means to us is: What is the program? How does it work in Vancouver? And then, what does it mean for it to work in New Westminster?”
Spitale said staff would consider what’s required in terms of city staff time, a work plan to set it up and a budget for the program.
