2 Sustainable Businesses Offering Environmentally Responsible Fabrics in Strathcona
Everything we purchase has an environmental impact. The growing popularity of fast fashion over the last couple of decades has led to a cheaper price point but has also been a contributor to the negative impact on the environment.
Making environmentally responsible choices with our clothing is a great way to show your love for fashion but also the planet. Having a high standard for the social and environmental impact of our clothing is a great step we can take as individuals to help create a cleaner, greener and more fair planet.
We spoke with Strathcona businesses Blackbird Fabrics and Our Social Fabric about why having a positive, sustainable impact is an important part of their businesses. Read more below.
Blackbird Fabrics
Blackbird Fabrics is a Strathcona business that provides high-quality fabrics and supplies for sewists, by sewists. They offer a range of apparel fabrics that feel at home in any modern wardrobe including natural fibers, deadstock fabrics, and custom print lines, with an emphasis on fabrics that are environmentally and socially responsible wherever possible.
How does your business make a difference to the environment?
By providing home sewists with the fabrics & tools they need to make their own garments, we aim to steer people away from fast fashion and towards a slower and more sustainable way of engaging with the fashion industry.
The growth of our business has allowed us to take on a number of custom projects where we are able to ensure that we are working with suppliers that meet our social and environmental standards. We also work with a number of deadstock suppliers where we source leftover rolls and offcuts from fashion brands and textile mills, breathing new life into existing fabrics rather than purchasing all of our fabrics brand new.
Within our warehouse, we strive to produce as little waste as possible, repurposing and recycling our scraps wherever possible. We do this by selling our remnants and flawed cuts at reduced prices, creating bundles out of our scraps, and recycling any leftover fabric pieces with a local textile recycling company, Fabcycle.
Why is social and environmental impact important to your business and/or in your industry?
Having seen the negative effects that have resulted from the rise of fast fashion, such as overconsumption, inhumane labour practices, and devastating effects on the environment, we believe that it’s important to commit ourselves to use our platform and our purchasing power responsibly.
Likewise, as a team made up of home-sewists who have a personal investment in the slow-fashion movement, we believe that it’s important that our practices as a business reflect these shared values.
What do you find inspiring about the slow-fashion movement and community?
It’s incredibly inspiring to see the wealth of knowledge that has been made available to regular consumers by way of the slow-fashion community. In an industry like the fashion industry where many of the details around production have traditionally been behind closed doors, it’s so encouraging to see people pushing their favourite brands for more transparency and asking industry-level questions surrounding their practices.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Alongside Earth Day, this week is also Fashion Revolution week, an annual global campaign dedicated to mobilizing consumers, brands, and policymakers to advocate for a safer, more transparent, and less exploitative fashion industry. We’ll be participating by sharing articles and information over on our Resource page and Instagram, we also encourage you to check out the numerous resources provided by Fashion Revolution if you are interested in learning more.
Our Social Fabric
Our Social Fabric is a non-profit fabric store selling donated deadstock fabric and fibre arts supplies online and in person. They keep ‘waste’ fabric out of landfills by getting it into the hands of the fibre arts and slow-fashion community. They believe in a future where no useable fabric ends up in Canadian landfills.
How does your business make a difference to the environment?
Our Social Fabric is a non-profit selling donated deadstock fabric and fibre-arts supplies online and in-person. We keep ‘waste’ fabric out of landfill by taking donations of fabric and selling it to the fibre-arts and slow-fashion community. In 2021, we kept more than 20 tons of textiles and sewing-related materials out of landfills. Over the last five years, we have diverted a staggering 85.5 tons!
Our fabric, notions and supplies are priced at up to 75 per cent less than regular retail prices. We sell to the public through weekly in-person sales at our store on Venables Street and ship across Canada through their online store.
Our shelves, virtual and real, are crammed with unique high-quality fabrics that shoppers won’t find anywhere else.
We help to make sewing more affordable, approachable and more sustainable for our creative community.
Why is social and environmental impact important to your business and/or in your industry?
Our Social Fabric exists to reduce the environmental impacts of ‘waste’ fabric caused by overproduction and overconsumption and to provide more sustainable shopping options to those in our creative community who are enjoying the practice of making their own clothes as opposed to consuming fast fashion.
We were founded in 2009 by a set decorator and a fashion designer who were both alarmed at the large volumes of fabric ‘waste’ being generated by the movie industry in Vancouver and took action to save it from going to landfills.
We still receive donations from the movie industry, but now count clothing manufacturers, designers, wholesalers, estates and home sewers amongst our donors.
As an organization, we believe that fabric waste can not only be avoided, but channelled to create positive change in our community. As a non-profit our pricing structure is designed so that we make just enough to keep the business running.
Joanna Wyatt, chair of Our Social Fabric, explains further, “Being part of a wider community is really important to us. Any surplus funds we have are channelled back into sewing-related educational opportunities and organizations as well as key community causes. For example, we offer three annual scholarships to Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s school of fashion design. And in 2021, when first the fires and then the floods were raging in British Columbia, we donated part of our sales or made an in-kind donation to support the rebuilding efforts.
What do you find inspiring about the slow-fashion movement and community?
All our volunteers and employees are sewists and fabric lovers. We swap pattern ideas and love showing off our latest makes and share sewing tips. We are firmly part of the slow-fashion movement and community!
When we spend time selecting fabrics and patterns and then sewing them up into wearable garments we are making conscious and deliberate choices about what pieces we add to our wardrobes. When you invest time and learn new skills to produce a garment you have respect for it that can be lost when you purchase fast fashion items.
But best of all, when you sew the garment is uniquely yours. You can proudly wear something you made and know there is little to no chance that anyone else will be wearing the same outfit as you anywhere in the world! Don’t like the colours or trends in stores? Not a problem, make it how you want. It’s so liberating to know that the only limitation is your imagination.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Our online store can be found at www.oursocialfabric.ca or visit us at 270-1275 Venables St during one of our in person sales. We’re open every Thursday 3pm-7pm and one Sunday a month, 10am-1pm. Check our website for the latest sale schedule. Our staff and volunteers are always on hand to answer questions and help you make fabric selections. We also sell sewing machines for anyone wanting to get started.
10 Things You Likely Didn’t Know About Railtown
At the north end of Strathcona and the DTES, you’ll find the sub-district of Railtown, a creative industrial area home to a multitude of businesses, artist studios, and unique spaces. Railtown runs from Gore Ave to Heatley Ave, bound by the railway tracks and waterfront to the north, and Alexander Street to the south. You may have passed through Railtown before, or seen some of the stark white buildings cross your Instagram feed, but there’s a lot more to learn and discover about this corner of the city than initially meets the eye.
The currents of cultural history run criss-cross, deep, and dynamic through this area. Railtown is located on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, whose cultures and economies shaped the land since time immemorial – hundreds of years before the first settler establishments and industrial businesses were built here. This area was also part and parcel of the historic heart of the Japanese Canadian community before they faced dispossession and internment during the Second World War. The area continues to be a culturally important centre for the Japanese Canadian community today. The area’s incredible history and distinct historical buildings bring a character to Railtown that doesn’t quite feel like anywhere else in Vancouver.
Today in Railtown you’ll find a hub of apparel companies, globally recognized design firms, furniture manufacturers and a whole host of other multifaceted businesses, including electronic music producers. There’s a lot going on here to open your eyes to, and we’ve pulled together a list of things you likely didn’t know about Railtown to get you inspired.
Read on for a list of 10 Things You Likely Didn’t Know About Railtown below.
- The Vancouver Japanese Language School and Japanese Hall founded in 1906 and located at 487 Alexander St in Railtown is a Canadian National Historic Site. It’s a centre for multicultural education and cultural community programs and a powerful symbol of community strength and resilience. It’s the only property among any Japanese Canadian citizen or organization to retain rightful ownership after the Second World War.
- The first school in Vancouver, opened in 1873, was the Hastings Sawmill School at the foot of Dunlevy Avenue. The school supported the families of workers at the lumber mill. The mill and surrounding buildings are no longer there, but the Hastings Mill General Store was preserved and moved by barge to Point Grey in 1931. It’s now the Old Hastings Mill Store Museum.
- In 1986 Railtown residents successfully lobbied for policies to allow artists live-work privileges in warehouse studios, the first of its kind in Canada. The new regulations prompted the conversion and construction of new live-work buildings in the area.
4. Railtown’s Settlement Building at 55 Dunlevy Ave was built in 1923 as a steel foundry manufacturing machinery parts. Today, it is home to Vancouver Urban Winery, Belgard Kitchen, and Settlement Brewing.
5. 611 Alexander, sometimes referred to as the Alexander Centre, used to be home to the American Can Company. At its height, the fish canning plant produced over 350 million cans annually. In 1988 the building was repurposed as a reimagined commercial and artistic space with multiple business spaces. Today it’s home to the SFU School of Contemporary Arts, Aritiza’s head offices, and many other design and textile firms.
6. Railtown is the only area where you have ‘Creative Products Manufacturing’ zoning in the city, which is why so many unique creative businesses are located here. This zoning was designed to support Railtown’s evolving creative economy, in particular businesses focused on the creation, development, prototyping, and production of design products in physical or digital form.
7. Railtown is a hub for clothing design and prototyping, housing head offices for companies like Aritzia, Herschel, and soon to be Haven. You’ll also find boutique apparel companies like Park & Fifth, who handcraft modern, elegant dresses for weddings and special occasions.
8. Railtown is home to globally recognized design firms creating exquisite furnishings, like Bensen Manufacturing, Bocci, and Hinterland Design. From the contemporary and elegant furniture pieces of Bensen to the hand-sculpted large scale light installations of Bocci, these companies have helped give Vancouver an international name in the design world.
9. Railtown will soon see new developments that will build on the existing industrial and creative assets of this neighbourhood, creating a lot of new opportunities for more creative businesses to come to the area. Some of the exciting developments coming soon to Railtown include the inspiring Maker Exchange at 488 Railway and a new creative centre at 411 Railway.
10. Recently completed BENCH Railtown at 353 Railways St is Railtown’s first new strata commercial light industrial development in over 50 years. It’s designed to be a collaborative micro-community of entrepreneurs, innovators, and creators, who leverage their collective energies to forge new ideas, technologies and products.
3 Strathcona Businesses Offering Easter Eats and Treats
The Easter long weekend is coming up soon and in our community, it’s a special time for delicious offerings from makers and caterers alike.
Traditional Easter treats like hot crossed buns or chocolate eggs are a few of the specialties available from some of our members or you can opt for a full catered brunch or dinner in your own home.
Follow along for 3 Strathcona Businesses Offering Easter Eats and Treats below.
Living Lotus Chocolate
Plant-based chocolate never looked and tasted so good. Living Lotus Chocolate is taking traditional Easter goodies, like cream eggs and chocolate chick pops, and making them dairy-free. You’d never notice the difference, and trust us when we say you’ll want to jump on Living Lotus’s Easter Collection early – they always sell out in advance.
Visit their website for a list of retailers or to place an order for delivery.
Railtown Caters
Enjoy Easter dinner from the comfort of your home via Railtown Caters. Their heat-and-serve family feast includes Honey-Glazed Ham alongside an array of sides and classic plates, including our Scalloped Potatoes with Gruyère Cheese, and some of the fluffiest Hot Cross Buns in town. Railtown will also donate partial proceeds from the sale of each Easter To-Go package to Mission Possible, a non-profit organization that provides street-level care for those with immediate and critical needs in the Downtown Eastside.
Visit their website for menu and order details.
Savoury Chef
Savoury Chef is offering a stacked feast consisting of house-made milk buns, herb roasted potatoes and your choice of lamb or pork roast. They don’t slack on dessert either offering brown sugar pie, apple pie and hot crossed buns. You can also get your appetizer on with a selection of charcuterie boards or antipasto options.
Find their full menu and delivery options on their website here.
If you have an Easter offering and would like to be included on this list please email info@strathconabia.com to submit your details.
Meet The Maker: Orii Jewelry
Stephanie is the owner and designer of Orii Jewelry, a specialty jewelry brand with roots in Strathcona. She utilizes MakerLabs for creating her pieces where she has a quaint studio set-up with a gorgeous mountain view.
The daughter of an artist, Stephanie is also an artist at heart who studied design at university. Her story is one of inspiration and patience – that it’s never too late to pursue your dreams.
You can find Orii Jewelry showcased in the MakerLabs shop and the handmade pieces can also be found online at oriijewelry.com
Learn more about Stephanie of Orii Jewelry below.
Tell us a little bit about your brand and what you make.
Orii jewelry is a miniature sculpture with a minimalistic aesthetic. Handmade in gold, silver and bronze, each piece is an abstract interpretation of elements from nature such as wind, water or geological formations. I use traditional metalsmithing techniques combined with computer-aided design.
How did you start your journey with design and when did you decide to turn your passion into a business?
Creating art has been my passion since I was a child. I grew up observing my father sculpting and painting in his studio. I was mesmerized playing with his plasticine clay, watching it emerge into new shapes. I later studied sculpture and industrial design at university. After my studies, I worked for a high-end jewelry store which led me to starting my own business about 7 years ago.
Where in Strathcona are you based and what makes this neighbourhood special to you?
Strathcona has a rich creative community with many diverse artists. My studio is in Makerlabs, an inspiring maker space with over two hundred members and many artist studios.
How does your work impact the community?
Jewelry is more than an accessory. It holds sentimental value to the wearer and is often a symbol of commitment or something that holds a special memory. My designs communicate and connect on an emotional level with nature-inspired themes and visual language. My intent is to create heirlooms that embody memories that can be passed down for generations.
Where can we find your products?
Visit my online shop oriijewelry.com or make an appointment to see my collection in person at my studio.
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Meet Strathcona’s Community Safety Team
You may have seen these faces walking or driving down the streets of Strathcona. These are a few of the wonderful people that make up Strathcona’s Community Safety Team, a job that is rarely ordinary but one that we are so lucky to have these friendly, helpful women fill.
The team helps out by providing a safe presence in the area and vital eyes on the street. A typical day includes starting with a vehicle patrol to conduct hot-spot checks, and reporting on activity, including debris or graffiti, and helping to report any vehicle and property crime. During the afternoon, when the two team member shifts overlap, you’ll find the team walking and visiting the different sub-districts of the Strathcona BIA area. They are actively identifying areas in need of additional Strathcona BIA, police, or city resources and work closely with the Strathcona BIA staff and Strathcona Community Policing Center to address areas of concern.
Another daily responsibility for the Community Safety Team is responding to SBIA member calls. The team is ready to respond quickly to your needs 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week. Whether that be a needle pick-up request, or providing assistance in engaging with a community member in need, the team is ready to offer their support where needed. They work to establish relationships with people in the community as well as with peer-led and place-based service providers and agencies so that they can help connect people to the right resources.
The approachable and compassionate nature of this team is second to none, and we hope you enjoy getting to know them a little better!
Lindsay Shaver
You might recognize Lindsay from Strathcona, she’s been a Community Safety Team member since 2017 and is the current site supervisor. She likes getting to be out in the community and getting involved with local organizations but on her days off she likes running, reading and playing in the mountains. She says “no two days in Strathcona are ever the same”.
What are some of the highlights of working with the Strathcona Community Safety Team?
Getting to know and see new and different businesses, getting to know community members and hearing stories of what’s going on in the neighbourhood and how they came to be in Strathcona.
Why do you feel this program is important?
This program is important because we have built relationships with different organizations within the community to work together to address the needs and safety of both the businesses in the area and the community members together.
What do you think makes Strathcona unique to other neighbourhoods?
The diversity of cultures, businesses, unique coffee shops and authentic food.
Favourite spot for an after-work drink?
Container Brewing.
Georgia Snider
Georgia is our Community Safety Team assistant site supervisor, who likes to spend her downtime hanging with her dog and listening to true crime podcasts. She says the reason she likes doing work with the Community Safety Team is that they are able to support the community, whether it’s providing information about community services or reporting issues to the city. She says “there’s always some way we can help both the businesses and the community members”.
What are some of the highlights of working with the Strathcona Community Safety Team?
Interacting with the business and community members and building relationships to create a strong Strathcona community.
Why do you feel this program is important?
Every community has its own individual issues that can never be resolved with one single answer. This program provides a multifaceted answer to the different types of issues the community faces and helps provide community-based solutions to those issues.
What do you think makes Strathcona unique to other neighbourhoods?
It has a wide diverse range of businesses and people who bring all their unique worlds into one place. It also has a strong sense of community where everyone supports one another.
What is your favorite hidden gem in Strathcona?
Moonlight Natural Pet Store. It’s got everything your dog could dream of wanting plus their mugs for their human owners are hilarious.
Jeanette Lim
Jeanette is one of the newest members of the Community Safety Team, joining the crew in December 2021. On her days off you can find her doing nearly any type of sport. Right now she’s taking in some snowboarding, climbing at The Hive, or playing volleyball.
Jeanette likes interacting with the community and gaining a better understanding of the social issues of the area, and getting to know the variety of resources available.
What are some of the highlights of working with the Strathcona Community Safety Team?
The best part of the job is interacting with regular community members and catching up to see how they are doing.
Why do you feel this program is important?
This program is unique because our team gets to interact with businesses in the area, VPD Community Police Officers, and also the residents of the Downtown Eastside. This program is impactful to the neighbourhood because businesses and community members both feel a sense of security when they see our team on foot or patrolling in our vehicle.
What do you think makes Strathcona unique to other neighbourhoods?
Strathcona is unique because it has a diverse crowd, wonderful parks and great local food.
Favourite spot to stop for lunch.
Rise Up Marketplace – The Jerk Chicken is a must-try!
5 Female Entrepreneurs Flourishing in Strathcona
March 8th is International Women’s Day and to celebrate we want to highlight five women who are making a difference in Strathcona all year round.
Our neighbourhood is home to a diverse group of business entrepreneurs in wonderful sub-districts that all contribute to the eclectic vibe that is Strathcona. And over 35 of those businesses were founded by women.
We’re featuring five women, each with unique offerings and interesting stories. From a bakery owner to the founder of a co-working space, the women below all represent the hardworking, determined characteristics that are at the core of the Strathcona way of being. We hope you discover something new and amazing.
For a full list of women-owned businesses operating in Strathcona visit this link here.
Janna Bishop
Janna is the co-founder of Flourist, a newer addition to Strathcona and one of the yummiest bakeries we’ve had the pleasure of indulging in. With her partner Shira, Janna created a company that works exclusively with Canadian family farms to source premium local grains and beans and provides high-quality fresh flour, dry goods and other baking supplies. They now have two successful locations (their flagship store is on Commercial Drive) which include both retail and baked goods, and an online store for all their specialty items.
What is a piece of advice you would give to aspiring entrepreneurs?
Spend as much time as you can figuring out who your business helps and make sure you know that person as well as you can. Also, that old cliché to plan for half the sales and twice the costs is an old cliché for a reason.
What was your motivation for starting your own business?
I was mostly motivated to see through the vision that I couldn’t get out of my head. There were other reasons of course, but the driving force was being able to bring something new to life.
What have you enjoyed most about starting your own business?
I love connecting with customers, the ones that truly appreciate why we do this. Nothing is more gratifying!
Monique Cherrie
Monique is the founder of Makeshift Work Space, a beautiful co-working space in Strathcona. Monique has created a space that is inviting, comfortable, and inspiring – the perfect space to build something meaningful. Monique has a unique career path and journey that led her to becoming an entrepreneur in the event space and co-working space business.
What is a piece of advice you would give to aspiring entrepreneurs?
I remember in the beginning things were nerve racking, but if you have something that you believe in, make a plan and chase it. Don’t do it without the plan. You’ll never regret the chances you take, only the ones you didn’t, but you also have to remember that not every chance you take is a success, and you have to roll with the losses by learning a lesson from each one. Keep moving forward and remember that the road you take to success will look very different than it did when you take your first steps.
Who inspires you and why?
I am truly inspired by Queen Latifah. In addition to her success in business and the arts, she is running a campaign called “It’s Bigger Than Me” aimed at changing the conversations about weight and obesity, addressing the shame, bias and stigma of being overweight. I appreciate her role in this difficult conversation, and the impact it has on society. She is also Producing and Starring in a TV show that is addressing the challenges we have as a society with racism and social justice. She is not shying away from the conversation, and that is captivating and motivating me. I understand and aspire towards the effort it takes to succeed in any line of work.
What was your motivation for starting your own business?
I had a very long career in the security industry, but I left it feeling unfulfilled. I questioned whether my children would be proud of what I do for a living and ultimately I realized the answer was no. It is a real challenge having to reinvent yourself and choose a new path, but I found success in my last career, I felt I could find success working for myself. I also felt zero impact being a person of color and a woman in my last career, and I wanted that to become a large part of the business that I run since it is a large part of who I am.
What have you enjoyed most about starting your own business?
I do enjoy working for myself but I revel in the opportunity to meet new people. I always hope that there is a chance I can help someone forward in their life or career. I know I have the strength to run a strong operation but its first and foremost about building a community. A place where people enjoy working from, and networking within our community.
What does the future hold for your business?
We are in a rebuilding phase after the impact of COVID on our community. We are growing and looking towards expanding our operation. It’s all about supporting other businesses and helping each other out.
Kendra Klemke
Kendra is the owner of Goodbye Graffiti Vancouver, a company that has an integral role in how the Strathcona BIA supports our business community. Goodbye Graffiti provides graffiti removal from any surface, and currently removes graffiti from almost 3,000 individual locations on a weekly basis, including servicing four BIA districts. Not only is Kendra running the show at Goodbye Graffiti, she’s also got an incredible story that led her to becoming an entrepreneur.
Who inspires you and why?
I grew up in a family with strong female entrepreneurs. My parents were both self-employed, and as a child, I was fortunate to come from a home where business was always talked about at the dinner table. My mother raised my sister and me while going to college and running multiple businesses at the same time. She demonstrated to us at a young age that you can be a successful entrepreneur and a caring and involved parent at the same time. My mother has always been an extremely important supporter of my career, and I am so grateful for her overall guidance and lessons on business that continue to this day.
What is a piece of advice you would give to aspiring entrepreneurs?
I have three key pieces of advice. First, Imposter Syndrome is a very real thing, especially for women working in male-dominated fields. You assume that everyone who already has a seat at the table (most often men) is so much more qualified, capable, and knowledgeable than you. And then you get to the table and you realize…that’s really not the case. That’s one thing that’s really struck me in my journey in business. Being able to witness and experience first-hand the shattering of the myth that certain positions just aren’t meant for you because you’re a woman.
Second – always take care of your people! This has been instrumental in my success. You’re only as good as your team and healthy company culture is incredibly key. So it’s really in your best interest to communicate transparently, authentically and frequently. Check in regularly so that they feel empowered by your support and ask them what they need from you to be successful. And never assume that you can’t be growing and learning too. Ask your team what more you can be doing to better yourself and the business, and never let yourself get too comfortable. You should always be working on improving your business and looking forward, and that means asking for feedback on your own performance as well as your organization’s.
Last but definitely not least, when you’ve reached a point of success and have the opportunity to, make sure you’re holding the door open for the people, ESPECIALLY the women, behind you. There’s no reason it should be “every man for themselves” out there. I am a firm believer that you have to help all your employees reach their full potential and sometimes that means holding the door open for them to move on, which could mean leaving your business for another opportunity. It’s hard to see top performers go, but you are doing yourself a disservice if you think closing off opportunities to people behind you will advance your business.
What was your motivation for starting your own business?
As a kid growing up I was challenged and struggled in school. But my parents taught me that even if I was a ‘C’ student but was doing my best that was okay. They promoted the fact that even if school wasn’t easy for me, I could still be very successful in life as long as I had a positive attitude and strong work ethic. I took this advice to heart and when I got my first job at 14 I started implementing these strategies for many years to come. I would always be the one to offer to stay late, to cover shifts, take on work no one else wanted to do. I did whatever I could to make my manager’s job easier, to support others, and I believe these tactics helped me grow my career in business much more quickly. Struggling in school as a young person motivated me to work harder outside of the classroom, which lead me to eventually go into business for myself.
What have you enjoyed most about starting your own business?
One of the things I have enjoyed most about owning my own business is having the ability to build out my own team of people. At Goodbye Graffiti™ we have such a unique and diverse workforce and I feel strongly it’s one of the key pillars to our success!
What does the future hold for your business?
Today the future means reinvesting in our business at Goodbye Graffiti. I’m sure it will come as no surprise to hear that since 2017 we have seen unprecedented growth in overall graffiti volumes, not just across the city of Vancouver but in all major municipalities in Canada. Our organization has plans to add many more vehicles, staff, and is even planning to pilot some new and innovative graffiti management strategies with key stakeholders.
Mithalee Rawat
Mithalee is the founder of Shorba Bone Broth, providing collagen-rich bone broth with medicinal spices for gut health & immune support. Mithalee is a chef who used her passion for traditional food products and strongly held values of food as medicine in the Ayurveda tradition, and turned it into a full-scale business.
Who inspires you and why?
My parents were both entrepreneurs so watching them inspired me to be one myself.
What is a piece of advice you would give to aspiring entrepreneurs?
Do you research before jumping in! Informational interviews are super helpful – entrepreneurs are busy but always love making time for enthusiastic entrepreneurs. Just have pointed questions ready.
What was your motivation for starting your own business?
I was a chef in the health food industry when I noticed bone broth becoming trendy. However, all the other brands were making it like soup stock. I had learned the medicinal ways to produce bone broth through Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine, so I felt passionate about providing representation from those lineages in the offerings of bone broth.
What have you enjoyed most about starting your own business?
When customers have shared with me that they have experienced positive health impacts because of my broth. Makes me teary thinking about it!
What does the future hold for your business?
This is the year of scaling up! We are finally expanding into more of BC this month. As well, as a brand new offering this summer which will offer a ready-to-eat bone broth-infused side dish!
Lillie Greenwood
Lillie is the owner of Small Potatoes Commissary, a space that has been instrumental to the production of some of Strathcona’s best and emerging food and beverage businesses. A long-time veteran of the food business scene in Vancouver, Lillie is passionate about plant-based eating, zero-waste initiatives, and all things food!
What was your motivation for starting your own business?
I come from a family of entrepreneurs, both my parents ran their own businesses throughout my childhood, so I was well versed in the joys and pitfalls! Going into business for myself was very much second nature, and I never viewed it as any more or less challenging than setting off on a more “typical” career path. I think that deep down, even from a young age, I knew I wouldn’t flourish working for someone else in the way that I would working for myself.
What is a piece of advice you would give to aspiring entrepreneurs?
Don’t give up. As cheesy and obvious as it sounds- it really is true. I don’t take this to mean that forcing something to work is the way forward: flexibility is paramount in an entrepreneur’s skill set. For anyone starting a business or feeling stuck in theirs: ask yourself if you’re the victim of your own tunnel vision. Is there space for you to adapt an idea or current situation? And lastly, always ask for support and guidance when you need it 🙂
There’s A New Creative Hub Forming in Strathcona
Let us share about a special pocket of Strathcona.
Nestled east of Raymur Ave and south of East Hastings Street you’ll find a pocket of Strathcona with a special sense of community. Known by some as the Kiwassa district of Strathcona, the railroad tracks act as a borderline to a unique mix of industrial businesses, residential homes (including many heritage homes), artist spaces, and Admiral Seymour Elementary School.
There’s a rich history of resiliency and creativity here. The iconic Militant Mothers Raymur Overpass connects the area for pedestrians to the west of Strathcona. It symbolizes the strength and integrity that has always been a part of this neighbourhood’s character. Many of the commercial buildings in the area have an illustrious past of being home to hardworking family-owned and operated businesses. A legacy of past and current artist spaces is synonymous with the area. Many artists and creatives in the neighbourhood have long participated in the Eastside Culture Crawl, an initiative of the Eastside Arts Society who help build capacity for artists and promote space for arts and culture as a cornerstone of community development.
And there’s more excitement in store for the future.
An exciting development is coming to the area, designed to fit harmoniously into the industrial and creative fabric of the community. Assembly Strathcona, located directly across from Admiral Seymour Elementary School, is bringing courtyard-style residential units set over 11 new merchant spaces inspired by Bauhaus design. The commercial spaces are aimed at creating an inspiring workspace for retail, office, and creative industrial users. Assembly is poised to become a creative hub for artists, makers, and creative agencies alike and we can’t wait to welcome them to the Kiwassa area of Strathcona.
Assembly has already confirmed three brand new businesses who will be joining the neighbourhood. They all have one thing in common and that’s a focus on creative work – whether it’s jewelry-making, design or branding. We’re excited to see what kind of other creative businesses Assembly will house in the near future.
Keep reading for a list of current businesses coming to Assembly in 2023.
Lover's Tempo
loverstempo.com
Whether you’re getting dressed for your 9-5, a Saturday night out, or the special event of the year—Lover’s Tempo wants you to feel your finest.
They offer beautiful, delightful jewelry at accessible prices, so that everyday, and every occasion can feel a little romantic.
Why Strathcona: “We wanted a space and community that reflected our creativity. We were longing for a place we could gather with other like-minded businesses”
Carter Hales
carterhales.com
A branding agency. Visual identity, digital, and packaging for companies that aren’t afraid to be interesting. Remarkable designers doing award-winning work that gets ambitious brands noticed.
Why Strathcona: “We have plans to expand our business to showcase and promote artists, design-driven products and the creative economy. We plan to do this by creating a gallery and creative hub at Assembly. We are surrounded by so much creative talent that could benefit from having their stories told and a space to showcase them”
Roodenburg Design
roodenburg.com
Roodenburg Design Consultants works locally and internationally with governments, NGOs, and companies to advance social progress through design, branding and communication campaigns.
Why Strathcona: “The mix of industrial, retail and residential at Assembly reflects the neighborhood environment, so being a part of the building feels integrated with the community and fits with our design firm’s mentality of being a part of things at a local level.”
More About Assembly:
“Assembly is a boutique community offering 11 commercial strata units below 40 courtyard townhomes and condominiums. The Bauhaus-inspired design reflects a synthesis of multiple art forms aimed at creating an inspiring workspace for retail, office and creative industrial users. The clean lines and industrial design elements honor the history of the neighborhood while re-imagining what future workspace can be. Assembly is located in the burgeoning area of Strathcona, one of Vancouver’s oldest and unique neighborhoods with a deep history in industry and creativity. Assembly is the prototype for the ultimate live-work lifestyle, minutes from downtown Vancouver but far enough away to appreciate the fabric of an authentic neighbourhood. Assembly will be Strathcona’s premier opportunity for innovators and professionals alike with a mission to remain genuine to the community it resides in.”
For more information on available commercial spaces please visit Assembly’s website.
Spreading Some Local Business Love
Strathcona Deals for Strathcona Businesses
Promotion Guidelines
We love that Strathcona is a business community that looks out for one another. It’s an important time to support each other as businesses continue to bounce back from the impacts of the pandemic. We want to help our members to support other Strathcona businesses by offering space in our digital member newsletter for special promotions intended for fellow local businesses.
Here’s how it works:
Once a month we’ll have up to two spots for special promotions by and for Strathcona BIA members.
This could be a discount code or coupon that you want to share with other Strathcona businesses.
Share with us:
- the details of your promotion (e.g. specific days, times, or instructions)
- why you think Strathcona is a special place to do business
Promotions from the same business will be shared up to a maximum of twice per calendar year.
Email us with your request at info@strathconabia.com and please include a photograph with your promotion if you have one.
We reserve the right to not approve a request if it is not in line with the values of the organization and the spirit of this initiative. All promotions follow Strathcona BIA’s Promotion Policies.
Love Your City #FindLoveStrathcona
Find Love in your favourite Vancouver neighbourhoods
Love Your City
This February we invite you to Find Love and rediscover everything that Vancouver neighbourhoods have to offer.
16 neighbourhoods across Vancouver are bringing you the Love Your City Contest – a call to get out, explore, and find LOVE in our city.
How it works.
- Visit any (or all!) of the participating hoods of the Love Your City contest during the month of February.
- Look out for the Love Your City installations (giant sweetheart candies, wooden hearts, murals, love banners, umbrella installations and more.) Take a photo of the special spots, share to your instagram account feed.
- Tag @loveyourcitycontest and the neighbourhood you are visiting (ex. #FindLoveStrathcona).
- You’ll be entered to win incredible prizes plus the participating districts have come together to create one epic grand prize, valued at approx. $4000!
Plus, during the month of February we’ll be hiding gift cards throughout Strathcona connected to our Sweethearts, that will be placed in various Strathcona locations. We’ll be dropping clues weekly on our TikTok channel – follow along! @MadeInStrathcona.
Sweethearts
We invite you to find our custom Sweethearts (created by MakerLabs) hung up around Strathcona with messages of love and compliments.
We will have 10+ hearts displayed throughout Strathcona and during February we’ll be hiding gift cards taped behind a select few. Hints will be dropped on our TikTok account. We encourage you to go out in the daytime, bring a buddy and be aware of your surroundings on your hunt. Remember to tag @loveyourcitycontest and #FindLoveStrathcona to be entered to win the grand prize, or if you find the gift card, stitch us and show us your findings!
Find Love and happy hunting!
Love You City Contest – Grand prize
Vancouver BIA neighbourhoods are coming together to offer a chance for one lucky winner to take home a grand prize valued at approximately $4,000! All you have to do is follow the steps above to enter.
Strathcona prize portion
Each neighbourhood will contribute a unique offering to the Love You City grand prize. From Strathcona, you have a chance to win the following items in the grand prize:
$100 to VV Tapas Lounge
$75 to Settlement Building / Vancouver Urban Winery
$85 to MakerLabs to take a class of your choice
More Experiences from Strathcona
Beyond the prizes, if you are looking for fun ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year, look no further than these ideas.
Valentine’s Day at VV Tapas Lounge
On Friday February 11 and Saturday the 12, VV Tapas Lounge will be offering a delightful 5 course menu for only $55 a person, with optional wine pairings for an additional $40. On the menu you’ll find Oysters 3 Ways, Panzanella Salad, Duck Breast and more. Call ahead to make a reservation, or reserve here.
Valentine’s Day Virtual Cooking Class with Cocktails and Canapes
Share in an evening of cooking with your loved one with a virtual cooking class for two with Chef Jason Harper. Your ticket includes a 1 hour cooking class, with the ingredients delivered right to your door. Inside your box will be ready to enjoy charcuterie and a bottle of Poplar Grove 2018 Merlot to open up right away. Cook the perfect risotto, learning cooking techniques from the Chef. Finish off the night by making a Strawberry ganache! Two evening dates available here.
Perfect Pairings Cheese Tasting with Les Amis DU FROMAGE
Join host Allison Spurrell on February 13 for a live-streamed guided cheese tasting, and learn about her favourite pairings and why they work so well. You’ll be set up with a tasting package for two people that includes 8 types of cheese, crackers, accompaniments, and a tasting menu to pick up ahead of event at their East Van store. Pick up the suggested wine pairings in advance on your own. Tickets can be purchased here.
