Announcements

Call for Director Nominations

The Strathcona BIA Board of Directors actively works to build a thriving, mixed-use, and resilient local economy here in Strathcona. We are currently seeking business members with particular experience and skills in governance and marketing. Members with a diversity of experience and interests in areas like placemaking, local economic development, community safety, and a passion for Strathcona, are also encouraged to apply.

How we work

The Board can have between 8 and 12 directors. The Board is made up of 12 board seats. All directors must meet the needs and expectations of the role and responsibilities as outlined in the Election Guidelines. There are four director seats up for election in 2024 (three directors have terms ending in 2024 and there is one vacancy on the board).

The length of a term for an SBIA Board Director is two years. Our meetings take place monthly for one and a half hours over lunch and are currently hosted in person. Board Members can be property owners, business tenants, or an authorized representative of an SBIA member property or business. Property owners must make up the majority of the Board per SBIA bylaws.

How to apply

Interested members can download the SBIA Candidate Package here or call the SBIA office to request a paper package for mail out. All candidate packages must be completed and received either by email or dropped off in person at the SBIA office, no later than noon on July 17, 2024. All candidates are subject to the Election Guidelines (as laid out in your candidate package). 

SBIA office: 1220 E Hastings St, Vancouver, BC, V6A 1S6

Hours: 9:30AM – 4:30PM Monday to Friday

Email: info@strathconabia.com

Phone: 604-285-2727

What It Takes to Build a Thriving Food Economy

The Strathcona Business Improvement Association in collaboration with Dunefield and other local stakeholders, are championing an initiative that explores the potential opportunities and barriers of further developing a food business cluster in Strathcona. This project aligns closely with the goals of the Strathcona BIA’s Economic Vision and Implementation Plan developed in 2023, combining the plan’s focus areas of industrial lands, retail spaces, and community engagement. An economic cluster in an urban industrial business district refers to a concentration of interconnected businesses in a particular industry, ranging from manufacturers and suppliers, to service providers, retailers, and institutions. Further developing a business cluster can help lead to increased innovation, productivity, and competitiveness among the businesses within the cluster, driving economic growth, attracting investment, creating jobs and fostering collaboration within the local economy.

Focusing on the district’s food cluster was a natural choice for this economic development initiative. There is already a strong presence of food businesses in Strathcona, spanning from manufacturing, logistics, product innovation, unique restaurants, and cultural foods, showcasing all kinds of specialized food and beverage skills. This cluster includes both industrial and retail businesses, leveraging our district’s unique blend of industrial and retail zoning and proximity to residential. Many of the challenges faced by food businesses are macro-level challenges. Looking at how to address these shared challenges within the food cluster will not only benefit food businesses but also other business sectors in the area. In particular, a strategic effort to maintain the neighbourhood’s capacity to support both production and manufacturing as well as sales is crucial for retaining a competitive edge for businesses here. 

The early stages of this project have focused on engaging and interviewing food businesses in the area to uncover the key barriers and challenges businesses have been experiencing. This project aims to help connect the dots about how collaborative approaches could address some of these common challenges and capitalize on opportunities. The following interview with project leads Wilco van Bemmel and Vincent Kwan dives deeper into the exciting work of this project. Read on to learn more about the significance of establishing a stronger food cluster in Strathcona and discover some of the early findings and recommendations.

What are the key characteristics of a successful food cluster?

There are a few key aspects, and some of these are present here in Strathcona, which is good news. The first key thing is what we’re calling the ability to make and sell. Businesses need to have the ability to both create and innovate food products, as well as test them in the market. That includes getting immediate feedback from wholesalers, stockists, or customers. Which leads to the importance of the proximity to employees and residents. The cluster should be located near both employees and residents to facilitate easy access and interaction. A strength that Strathcona uniquely offers.

From our engagement in the community, businesses have shown us that for them to thrive here they need to develop a diverse business model. For example, including elements of wholesale, retail, and product innovation, or even just being smart in utilizing your space, such as allowing other businesses to use space during off-hours can be important. Only relying on foot traffic is often not enough. Another important factor is stability in land use and lease rates, which is essential for businesses to have the confidence to invest in their operations and logistics for the long term. If people feel like they don’t have any certainty of what the future is going to look like, it can deter investment and growth.  

What kinds of support or policy should we expect a municipal government to have in place for the healthy development of this kind of cluster? 

One thing that is really threatening these kinds of businesses is the way we have defined “highest and best use” for properties and land. In practice, the types of light industrial businesses where people make and sell things are not the kind of use that can generate the highest property values and taxes. In the current system they’ll often be the second pick for a landlord, especially considering barriers around required tenant improvements and the length of time to get permits. What if we shifted the conversation on the highest and best use being where people actually make healthy, nutritious, and culturally interesting foods that the local community desires and can afford? Then we can start to look at policy and incentives aimed towards making sure that is actually possible. At the moment, it’s not a level playing field. The businesses that have a connection to the local neighbourhood, that want to hire locally, be good neighbours, source their materials or ingredients locally, and want to add value to the communities, are often the businesses having the hardest time to make it work in terms of upfront investment required and length of time to get their permits. So this is an important area to look at in terms of where the government can step in with incentives. 

What are some other pressing issues facing food-related businesses right now?

One thing to keep in mind is that a lot of challenges that food businesses face are macro-challenges as well. Many businesses are still dealing with the impacts of COVID and are still recovering. The pandemic really demonstrated the argument for having a diverse business model, because it’s these businesses that had some built-in resiliency and could more easily pivot to new opportunities. There is a big concern about the loss of industrial land and also the quality of remaining or new industrial spaces. If spaces are replaced by something that on paper is still industrial but in practice is supposed to be quiet and tidy, then it loses that true industrial use. We also heard from businesses that city-permitting is taking a very long time. The whole process can feel very uncertain, a bit like a black box. Another challenge we’ve identified is the difficulty of scaling. For example, scaling up from a small-scale commissary kitchen space to your first retail front is challenging and expensive. There is a big need for smaller stepping stones and support mechanisms in scaling and growing businesses. There is a lot of food that is produced in Strathcona by talented people, but you cannot always enjoy it here – it has no outlet. It highlights the potential for more opportunities for businesses to develop, incubate, and test their products locally before expanding to other communities, without having to take too much of a risk.   

What are some of the potential economic impacts of developing an even stronger food cluster in Strathcona? Why is this work important?

Food businesses have a high percentage of economic spin-off that stays within the vicinity of the community compared to other business sectors. This is evident in the sourcing of ingredients, packaging, staffing, and menu items, all of which contribute to the local economy. Some of the practical reasons for the local economic impact are cost-effectiveness and logistical advantages such as ensuring product freshness. For example, sourcing locally reduces financial risks associated with sourcing from distant locations. So there is something intrinsic in food businesses that make them have a local footprint. Which is great, because if we want to build strength as a cluster, that’s exactly what you want to see. When businesses are actively seeking opportunities to collaborate and source locally this enhances the return on investment in the food cluster.   

Food as a sector is an important one because it serves all categories of end-users in the economy, including residents, workers, and visitors. While sectors like high tech and green technology often receive a lot of attention, the food cluster is essential due to its direct impact on a wide array of end-users. Especially given the City’s current interest in supporting small businesses, it makes a lot of sense to prioritize the food cluster in local economic development strategies. This should include setting industrial land targets to preserve and support the sector. 

A big consideration is what is the role of different stakeholders within the ecosystem? We are actively asking ourselves what is the role of government, community entities, and then of course BIAs in filling those current gaps in economic support, and how can BIAs be empowered more to play a stronger role in filling those gaps. Focusing on the food cluster work helps expose a lot of those opportunities.  

What are some of the early findings and recommendations for creating a supportive ecosystem for food businesses in the neighbourhood?

Firstly, we should engage in a debate with the city about the highest and best use for the area, ensuring that the types of food businesses we actually want have a fair chance to thrive here. Discussions with the city should also include long-term things like land-use and zoning. In the shorter-term, we should be thinking about the relaxation of rules. This could involve challenging rules and processes that make it difficult to experiment and innovate. For example, could we streamline the process for someone with a successful commissary kitchen product to transition to a retail setting, by identifying a suitable location and obtaining necessary permits within one month. We should be encouraging pilots that push some of these existing boundaries, and involve multiple stakeholders, like landlords and banks, for support and funding opportunities. 

We have also heard that businesses have a hard time connecting to innovation. Many feel like existing support programs are geared toward larger companies, and so there’s a lot of potential in providing support for small businesses here to connect with innovation so they can implement it into their processes. The connection to education is another area to explore. It seems like there is a lot of potential in helping bridge the gap between businesses and educational institutions that are addressing topics like food security and food systems. 

Finally, there is a large need to address the high costs of running a food related business, whether that be startup costs, operational expenses, or scaling. The lack of coordination between government and other stakeholders is inevitably leading to inefficiencies and higher costs. A more structured approach to incentivize collaboration and improve coordination is needed to support businesses more effectively.  

What role do you see technology and innovation playing in the development of a food business cluster?

Quite a few businesses are very interested in the connection between food and health. There are businesses out there challenging the way we think about the ingredients in our foods. I think we’ll see innovation around plant-based foods, customer education, and changing people’s food habits towards more healthy foods. Another interesting area is the production process itself. We’re seeing a focus on making the production process more sustainable and circular, even on a smaller scale by sharing waste streams and resources within the community, with interesting opportunities for technology there. When thinking about the stepping stones required for scaling, the connection between digital and physical space will also be really interesting. In what ways can businesses build a customer base even without having a physical presence yet, or use digital as a way of connecting with suppliers and bring down the costs of starting your business? The connection between digital and physical will be an interesting angle for more businesses to be experimenting with.

Connecting the Dots and Creating Opportunities

Part of the aim of this project is to identify gaps and make meaningful connections within the food business cluster ecosystem in Strathcona. By helping articulate gaps and connecting dots the Strathcona BIA can work with stakeholders to understand the actionable steps needed to further develop a strong food cluster in Strathcona. Acting as a nimble connector, the SBIA strives to facilitate collaboration with key players and government to drive new initiatives and policy changes that will benefit the food business sector. Together, we can build a thriving and sustainable food business cluster in Strathcona, leading the way for innovation and economic development. 

Next Steps

One concrete next step is that we will be supporting food talent in Strathcona towards a food retail (pop-up) presence. We want food entrepreneurs who today work in commissary kitchens and small production spaces, to have a low-risk, affordable way to reach a new customer base and test their readiness for a permanent retail space. We hope this will create new food options that Strathcona residents and workers need and crave, like fresh greengrocers, more lunch options, a greater variety of local and cultural foods, and food experiences in the late afternoons.

We recently interviewed some exciting Strathcona businesses as part of our focus on the local food economy.

Learn more about Tommy’s Whole Grain Bakery, a new bakery in the district committed to redefining baking with whole grains here.

Dive into the world of shared kitchen spaces in this interview with B3 Collective Commissary Kitchen here.

A directory of businesses in Strathcona that are founded by women.

Showing support for women-owned businesses is easy when the options are this good.

Making a conscious decision to shop and work with local businesses is a wonderful way to empower your community. Choosing to support women entrepreneurs takes it a step further. When we support women in business we are not only boosting the economy and promoting inclusivity, but also empowering all the creativity, community impact, and mentorship that women bring to the business landscape.

In Vancouver, female entrepreneurs are easy to come across if you’re looking in the right place and in Strathcona, we’re proud to say that dozens of women-owned businesses operate out of our neighbourhood.

We’ve updated our directory for those interested and looking to support female-founded brands and businesses. We hope you discover something new here.

If you are or know of a female business-owner in Strathcona and would like to be added to the list please contact info@strathconabia.com

Offering hydrotherapy, fitness training and wellness appointments for dogs. 

888 Clark Dr.

aquapaws.ca

Stained glass art and workshops by Corinne Leroux.

780 E Cordova St.

awesomesaucedesigns.com

High quality garment fabrics curated for sewists by sewists. 

1236 Frances St.

Mon – Fri: 9am – 5pm

blackbirdfabrics.com

Art gallery featuring a rotation of curated exhibits.

950 E Cordova St

catrionajeffries.com

Luxury silk lingerie and lounge wear designed by Christine Morton, proudly made in Canada. 

821 Powell St

Mon – Fri: 10am – 5pm

christinelingerie.com

Rentable storage units. Creating space in your life.

915 E Cordova St

Mon – Fri: 8am – 7pm

Sat – Sun: 9am – 5pm

ulok.com

Blending art, community, and social entrepreneurship, EWMA works with emerging women artists in the DTES and sells their art and handmade products at their store.  

800 E Hastings St

Mon – Fri: 10am – 5pm

EWMA Website

Art gallery promoting a diverse selection of contemporary art with a special emphasis on works by established and up-and-coming Indigenous artists. 

659 E Hastings St

Tues – Sat: 11am – 5pm

fazakasgallery.com

Home staging and interior design.

873 E Hastings St

Mon – Fri: 9am – 5pm

flowsmartliving.com

Vancouver healthy private chefs and nutrition services. In-home or delivery.  

941 E Hastings St #16

Mon – Fri: 9am – 5pm

freshinyourfridge.com

Canada’s 1st graffiti removal company.

950 Powell St #206

Mon – Fri: 8am – 5pm

goodbyegraffiti.com

Specialty chocolate, gourmet treats, and ice cream

855 E Hastings St

Wed – Fri  1pm – 7pm

hypechocolate.com

A network of indie news entrepreneurs pooling resources so they can focus on what’s most important: serving their community.

308 – 877 E Hastings St

indiegraf.com

Custom frames and finishing.

560 Clark Dr,

Mon – Fri: 10am – 6pm

@kaskoframeworks

Vancouver based architecture firm specializing in design, planning, architecture and interior environments.

939 E Hastings St

Mon – Fri: 9am – 5pm

krarchitecture.ca

Restaurant and event space serving homecooked foods, drinks and cocktails.

362 Powell St

Thurs – Friday: 8pm – 1am

Sat: 4pm – 1am

Sun: 6:30pm – 12am

lanalous.wixsite.com/lanalous

Vancouver’s best specialty cheese shop.

843 E Hastings St

Open daily 10am to 6pm.

Closed Holiday Mondays.

buycheese.com

Vegan, organic bean-to-bar chocolate maker.

780 E Cordova St

livinglotus.net

Italian, West Coast inspired brewery & pizzeria.

1123 Venables St

Tues – Thurs: 12pm – 10pm

Fri – Sat: 12pm – 11pm

Sun: 12pm – 9pm

luppolobrewing.ca

Handmade accessories and more.

780 E Cordova St

maddlesmade.com

Plastic-free solid dish soap 100% natural, vegan, and cruelty-free.

950 Powell St – Unit 105

makenicecompany.com

A co-working space in Strathcona.

308 – 877 E Hastings Street

Mon – Fri: 9am – 5pm

makeshiftworkspace.com

Landscaping services, including maintenance, renovations, lighting and irrigation services.

1295 Frances St

Mon – Fri: 6:30am – 4pm

meridianlandscaping.com

Leader in construction services and deficiency solutions across western Canada.

715 E Hastings St

Mon – Fri: 8:30am – 4:30pm

metatribe.com

Building brands that enhance human potential.

877 E Hastings St – Unit 205

Mon – Fri: 9am – 5pm

mondaycreative.co

Sculptural jewelry. Simple elegance in form, light and space.

780 E Cordova St

oriijewelry.com

Canadian non-profit fabric store, tackling textile waste by selling donated deadstock fabric online and in-person.

1275 Venables St #270

Thurs: 3pm – 7pm

oursocialfabric.ca

Modern dresses and separates created for social occasions. 

439 Railway St

Tues – Fri: 11am – 7pm

Sat – Sun: 9am – 5pm

parkandfifthco.com

Leak proof undies intentionally designed for all sizes, all styles, and flows.

950 Powell St – Unit 205

getcares.com

Diner-style cafe serving traditional American breakfast and lunch foods and Chinese cuisine.

874 E Hastings St

Mon – Sat: 8:30am – 5pm

Go-to wedding and event caterers in Vancouver.

1175 Union St

Mon – Fri: 7am – 5pm

savourychef.com

Bicycle-powered mobile craft coffee bar. For lovers of steel bikes, vintage espresso machines and everything handmade.

1007 E Cordova St

scavengercoffee.com

Commissary kitchen space in Strathcona.

266 Raymur Avenue

smallpotatoescommissary.com

Cafe, retail, and event space in the heart of Strathcona.

868 E Hastings St

Mon – Sun: 9am – 4pm

thegardenstrathcona.com

Trumps is a purveyor of innovative wholesale desserts.

646 Powell St

trumpsfood.com

Holistic wellness + co-work community with a shared sense of purpose

1275 Venables St #290

Mon – Fri: 7:30am – 6pm

werklab.com

Ethically sourced, sustainably produced, carefully designed linen.

858 E Hastings St

Mon – Fri: 11am – 2pm

shopwilet.com

Perspectives from our Executive Director

The Strathcona BIA is embarking on a strategic planning process centered on the future vision for economic development in the district. We caught up with our Executive Director, Vincent Kwan, to gain his perspectives on the exciting work ahead.

“Among the different conversations I have been having with SBIA members, the best description I have come across about Strathcona is that it is an imperfect yet resilient district that never stops evolving in order to adapt. It is a place where we can find points of tension between people who come with their own ideals, often looking towards the same goal but sometimes may diverge on the path to take. Ultimately, Strathcona is a district that can accommodate diversity.

The diversity of people and businesses within Strathcona is one of our key assets as an urban industrial district and an aspiring complete community.  This diversity is rooted in Strathcona’s unique history and continues to be shaped by entrepreneurs, investors, residents, planners, artists, community activists, political officials and, of course, the people who fuel the local economy as part of the workforce. This diversity of businesses and workforce is the economic driver of not only Strathcona but the local economy of the city and larger region of metro Vancouver. This diversity is what differentiates the Strathcona district and what anchors its competitive position for employee retention and market access. However, one must not lose sight of the fact that diversity, on its own, does not guarantee health and prosperity. Diversity is not the end goal but, instead, an essential condition for a resilient local economy that can benefit the entire community.

This diversity is a gift, but it is not permanent if we do not invest into caring for it. Nurturing this diversity requires investment into largely three areas of work. Firstly, we have to develop a continuous and deep understanding of the key economic drivers (people, organizations, infrastructures, policies) that make up this diversity. Only by fully appreciating the fundamental make-up of the economic drivers can we determine what we need to protect and where we need to attract investment. Secondly, we need to be strategic. We have to prioritize where we focus our development efforts so that Strathcona’s local economy can connect to the priorities, policies and potential of the wider city and regional economy. Lastly, we need to be effective in telling the Strathcona story as an urban industrial district and an economic driver for regional industry clusters. We need to be articulating our vision, goals and the values that Strathcona brings so that we can further attract entrepreneurs, investment and talents to the district and to continue to add to the diversity of this urban industrial district.

I often view Strathcona as a microcosm of the City of Vancouver. The tensions found in Strathcona also manifest in a similar fashion in the city and across the metro Vancouver region. On the same level, the economic potential and constraints of Strathcona also point to the opportunities and challenges of the city and region with inaction being our biggest collective threat in the near term. If Strathcona is an indicator for Vancouver’s performance, I am undeniably optimistic about the future while staying realistic and pragmatic towards the range of issues that are part and parcel of an imperfect society. 

In the next 12 months, our team at SBIA looks forward to the chance of working closely with our members through a visioning and planning process as we strive to define our district’s economic development priorities. Participation, input, ideas and guidance from Strathcona BIA members will be critical in this process. I can’t wait to get to work.”  

What We’re Up To

The Strathcona BIA is embarking on a strategic planning process centered on the future vision for economic development in the district, with a focus on the usage and protection of industrial and commercial lands in the area. 

A little more context

Strathcona is known as a unique urban industrial district, thanks to a diverse mix of commercial uses and zoning options, its proximity to the downtown core, and the existing array of businesses and mixed-use assets in the area. Different competing socio-economic factors and business trends present future challenges and opportunities for Strathcona. These range from tremendous development pressure, the loss of industrial lands, affordability of both residential and commercial spaces, sense of safety, and the condition of the public realm, to name a few. A strong economic vision and implementation plan will help ensure the Strathcona BIA plays an effective role in industrial and commercial lands protection and attracting investment in both established and emerging industry clusters to the district.

Project Timeline

We plan to achieve this work in three phases, involving engagement with our membership along each step of the way.

Phase 1 – Setting a Baseline 

Summer 2022

In this research and analysis phase, we’ll gain an in-depth view of the current state of Strathcona as an urban industrial district. We’ll identify political, socio-economic, and technological drivers, and determine trends impacting future opportunities and threats relevant to the economic development of our district. In this phase we will engage with both subject matter experts and Strathcona BIA members through focus groups and one-on-one interviews, as well as conduct a zoning assessment and asset mapping of the district to identify community strengths and resources. 

Phase 2 – Developing the Vision 

Fall 2022 – Spring 2023

In this phase we’ll determine the key directions for a local economic development vision for Strathcona as an urban industrial district. The vision will take into consideration everything we learned in phase one, along with municipal and regional priorities around industrial land uses, emerging key industry clusters, critical success factors, and identified challenges and barriers. This phase will also focus on in-depth engagement and feedback from Strathcona BIA members through a range of online and in-person activities. Ultimately we also want to articulate Strathcona BIA’s role and responsibility in the implementation of a long term economic development vision for the area, and the benefits for both existing and future businesses of the district.  

Phase 3 – Implementation Planning 

Spring 2023 – Summer 2023

The implementation plan of the economic development vision will define key objectives and the strategies and programs required to achieve those objectives. The implementation plan will define a timeline and budget for the work, areas that may require new investment, important strategic partnerships, and key performance measurement indicators.   

Do you have further questions or want to get involved?

Please reach out to our Executive Director Vincent Kwan at vincent@strathconabia.com with any questions you may have or if you wish to contribute your input on the project. We look forward to working with SBIA members from all sectors to shape the future of Strathcona. 

Summer has finally arrived – here’s where to grab the perfect patio spot in Strathcona.

After a wet and gloomy winter in Vancouver, we deserve to soak in every sunny moment this summer. Take in the vibes at one of Strathcona’s amazing patios. 

From cafes to breweries to tapas there is no shortage of unique and delightful patio spaces. We’ve got all the info you need on the best spots in Strathcona including our personal food and drink recommendations below.  

1123 Venables St

Hours: Tues – Thurs 2-9pm | Fri – Sat 2-10pm | Sun 12-9pm

Things to note:

• Heated and covered
• Table service with pizza

Must Try:

Tart Wild Ale with Citrus 

696 East Hastings St.

Hours: Sun – Tues: 4pm – 12am

Wed – Sat: 4pm – 1am

Things to note:

• Partially covered
• Dog friendly

Must Try:

Nachos and a margarita

704 Vernon Dr. St

Hours: Mon – Fri: 9am – 6pm

Sat – Sun: 10am – 4pm

Things to note:

• Dog friendly
• Counter service only

Must Try:

Jerk Chicken Sandwich and a Ting

1216 Franklin St

Hours: Mon, Tue, Wed 2-8pm | Thus – Fri 2-9pm | Sat – Sun 12-9pm

Things to note:

• Partially covered
• Pet-friendly
• Burdy’s Food Truck on-site daily

Must Try:

Burdy’s Chicken Parm Sandwich and a Frozen Fresh Hop IPA

505 Clark Dr

Hours: Wed – Sat 12-10pm | Sun-Tues 12-9pm

Things to note:

• Heated and covered
• Pet-friendly

Must Try:

Coconuts beer and a Mac Dog. 

895 East Hastings St

Hours: Mon – Sun 12-10pm 

Things to note:

• Open in all weather
• Partially covered

Must Try:

Hawaiian Pizza and a Strath Lager

957 East Hastings St

Hours: Wed – Fri: 11:30am – 2:30pm / 5 – 10pm 

Sat: 5 – 10pm 

Things to note:

• Partially covered
• Happy Hour 4-6pm and 9pm to close

Must Try:

Wild Mushroom Risotto and an Unsworth Rosè

643 East Hastings St

Hours: Mon – Fri: 8am – 4:30pm

Sat: 8am – 2pm 

Things to note:

• Limited seating
• Dog Friendly
• Counter service only

Must Try:

Creamy Chocolate Smoothie and a Grilled Cheese

1279 East Hastings St

Hours: Mon – Fri: 12pm – 10pm

Things to note:

• Open in all weather

Must Try:

Vegetarian platter

Call for Director Nominations

The Strathcona BIA Board of Directors actively works to build a thriving, mixed-use, and resilient local economy here in Strathcona. We are currently seeking business members with particular experience and skills in governance and marketing. Members with a diversity of experience and interests in areas like placemaking, local economic development, community safety, HR, and a passion for Strathcona, are also encouraged to apply.

How we work

The Board can have between 8 and 12 directors. Following the 2022 AGM, the Board is currently made up of 11 board seats, and this number of directors will be confirmed at the 2023 AGM by a members’ resolution. All directors must meet the needs and expectations of the role and responsibilities as outlined in the Election Guidelines. There are seven director seats up for election in 2023 (five directors have terms ending in 2023 and there are two vacancies on the board).

The length of a term for an SBIA Board Director is two years. Our meetings take place monthly for one and half hours over lunch and are currently hosted in person. Board Members can be property owners, business tenants, or an authorized representative of an SBIA member property or business. Property owners must make up the majority of the Board per SBIA bylaws.

How to apply

Interested members can download the SBIA Candidate Package here or call the SBIA office to request a paper package for mail out. All candidate packages must be completed and received either by email or dropped off in person at the SBIA office, no later than noon on July 17, 2023. All candidates are subject to the Election Guidelines (as laid out in your candidate package). Candidates are also required to comply with the procedures governing the nominations as set by the Elections Commitee. The Elections Committee is requiring that all candidates meet with a member of the Elections Committee and the SBIA Executive Director over Zoom or in-person in order for their nomination to be valid.

SBIA office: 1220 E Hastings St, Vancouver, BC, V6A 1S6

Hours: 9:30AM – 4:30PM Monday to Friday

Email: info@strathconabia.com

Phone: 604-285-2727

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.

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”

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.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.

Gift Big. Shop Small. Stock Joy.

Vancouver BIA’s are partnering with the Mayor’s office to give back to the community through the #StockJoy charity gift auction.

Fourteen neighbourhoods have curated incredible stockings full of unique gifts featuring the distinct flavours, goods, and services from local businesses in their district. 

The stockings are being auctioned off until December 20 in support of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. It’s a special way to bring joy to a loved one (or yourself!), support local businesses, and give back to a worthy cause this holiday season. 

Head to the Vancouver BIA Partnership auction website to view the stockings. When you’re ready to place your bid, you’ll be asked to register. If you are the winning bidder you’ll be contacted on December 21st and provided with your #StockJoy holiday stocking. 

Here’s what you’ll find in the Strathcona Dreamers and Makers stocking.

Strathcona is where makers come to fulfill their dreams. Our diverse community is home to makers of all kinds working hard to share their wonderful gifts with the world. From craft breweries to jewelry makers you’ll find that there’s something for everyone. Enjoy our #StockJoy holiday stocking with the following items, totaling over $250 in value:

– Strathcona Beer T-shirt

– Dosanko Koji Salt

– Container Brewing Mug

– Pallet Coffee Roasters Benchmark Coffee Beans

– 3 Living Lotus Chocolate bean-to-bar Chocolate Bars

– Dream Catcher by Swallow from Enterprising Women Making Art

– Necklace by Grace Machine from Enterprising Women Making Art

– Tea Towels from Flax Home

– $50 gift card to Liquids & Solids

– $30 gift card to Rise Up Marketplace

From all the participating small business communities, thank you for supporting local.