Presented by The Strathcona BIA

This July, we’re celebrating Strathcona’s vibrant café culture with a neighbourhood-wide cafe crawl and contest that showcases the range of third-spaces in Strathcona, and rewards the people who champion our local economy. From July 7th–30th, 2026, visit participating cafés throughout Strathcona, enjoy your regular or discover something new, and enter for a chance to win a $100 gift card from the cafés you visit.

Participating Cafés

• Rumor Cafe
• Eden Cafe
• Pallet Coffee
• Prototype Coffee
• Railtown Cafe
• Tommy’s Wholegrain Bakery
• Rise Up Marketplace
• Doe Coffee
• HAVE Cafe
• Peace and Culture Coffee
• The Garden Strathcona

How It Works

1. When you visit a participating Strathcona café, write your contact information (name & email address/phone number) on the back of your receipt.
2. Drop your receipt into the contest box located inside the café. Your entry will be eligible for that café’s $100 gift card draw.

To enter without making a purchase, email contest@strathconabia.com during the Contest Period with:

• Your full name
• Email address
• Telephone number
• The participating cafe’s draw you’d like to enter
• A 50-word essay describing how you’d spend a day in Strathcona.

Eligible no-purchase entrants should indicate which participating café they wish to enter and will receive one (1) entry into that café’s prize draw.

At the end of the campaign, one entrant will be randomly selected from each participating café’s entries to receive a $100 gift card to that café. So whether you’re kick-starting your day, meeting a friend for lunch, or picking up something on your way home, your visit is another opportunity to win while supporting Strathcona’s café cluster. 

Contest Rules

• Contest period: July 7, 2026 at 12:00 AM PST to July 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST.
• This contest is open to BC residents, age 19 and above, excluding café and Strathcona BIA staff.
• Any qualifying purchase transaction at a participating café is eligible. There is no minimum purchase value.
• Participating cafés are limited to Strathcona cafés that have the contest box. For cafés with multiple locations, only the Strathcona location with the contest box is regarded as a participating café.
• Only one (1) entry is permitted per purchase transaction. Multiple entries are permitted, provided each entry is supported by a separate qualifying purchase transaction.
• Entries must include a legible/valid name and contact information (phone number/email address).
• For no-purchase entries, entrants must write a 50-word essay on the topic “How I’d Spend a Day in Strathcona”.
• One winner will be selected from each participating café.
• A total of 11 prizes are available to be won. Each prize consists of a $100 gift card.
• A single $100 gift card will be won at each participating café. (approximate retail value: $100 CAD).
• Each winner will receive one (1) $100 gift card to the participating café from which their entry was selected.
• Random draw will occur on or around Thursday August 6, 2026
• Prizes will be awarded by the Strathcona BIA.
• The odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received.
• Before being declared the winner, the selected entrant must correctly answer a time-limited mathematical skill-testing question administered by the Strathcona BIA.
• Selected entrants will be contacted within 5 business days following the random draw.
• Personal information is collected solely for administering the contest.
• The Strathcona BIA reserves the right to select another entrant if no response is received after five days.
• The Strathcona BIA reserves the right to modify or cancel the contest if necessary.

Ready to win? Start exploring cafes and start submitting those entries. Your next favourite spot awaits.

Come curious. Leave learned.

Asian-Canadian Special Events Association. One might simply be attending one of their major festivals for good eats and great music, but Managing Director Charlie Wu’s goal is that you leave with more understanding of Taiwanese and Asian culture. In this interview, he tells us about how it all started, why culture is more than just food and performances, and how curiosity can be a powerful tool for moving from multiculturalism to interculturalism. Please enjoy our conversation and visit the website to see the schedule for TAIWANfest happening from August 30 – September 1.

Please tell us about your organization.

I’m the Managing Director for the Asian-Canadian Special Events Association. That’s the organization that took over TAIWANfest back in 2009. Prior to that, the festival was called Taiwanese Cultural Festival and was organized by another charity, the Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Society. I was part of that organization, but because the festival expanded, we had to form another organization to oversee it. Then we expanded in 2010 as the Cultural Olympiad was looking for a partner in organizing events for Asian communities, and we were brought in to create our second event, LunarFest, a legacy event from the Cultural Olympiad in 2010. We’ve put on LunarFest over the years, and it’s still a flagship festival in the wintertime. I also lead another organization called The Society of We Are Canadians Too, which was founded after Canada celebrated its 150th anniversary. We felt that there was a need to focus beyond the Asian community, so The Society of We Are Canadians Too was established to speak to this concept of interculturalism especially from the newcomers and the first-generation perspective. With this organization, we organize the Jade Music Fest. It was created to elevate Chinese language music in Canada. Now we’ve sort of evolved to include more languages. In the past, most of our music festivals were primarily dominated by English or French artists and we didn’t have a lot of opportunities for people with different backgrounds to include their mother tongue into their work. Right now, we’re not seeing linguistic diversity within the music industry, and it isn’t just me saying this. The Canadian Live Music Association reports that there’s an under-representation of racially marginalized communities in the music industry. The Jade Music Festival is our answer to that. So we have these three festivals that we host on an annual basis, but we also build partnerships throughout. For example, we work with Vancouver International Film Festival, Vancouver International Children Festival, Vancouver Public Library, Museum of Vancouver, and the Dutch Cultural Association of BC. These are some of the partnerships that we coordinate programs with. In Strathcona, we work with the Eastside Arts Society and being here now, we’re trying to be part of the arts community as well.

Tell us about the move to Strathcona

We used to be in the South Marine area, and we didn’t see ourselves as a good fit, especially with our neighbours being businesses that didn’t know what we did. Since we hold our events in Downtown Vancouver and we have a lot of partners living and working in the Strathcona area, we thought it was time that we finally belonged to the arts community. It’s something we’ve been looking forward to, as our footprints are quite often in the East side.

Why is connecting people to culture important to you?

Being from Taiwan, I have always embraced the concept of diversity. Taiwan has Indigenous populations like Canada, and there are newcomers, say people from Southeast Asia and all over living in Taiwan. However, there’s a certain narrative that perhaps comes from past colonization and political situations. People didn’t know how Taiwanese people wanted to identify and thought they were just one group. I’ve seen that here in Canada as well, where people speak of Taiwanese people in a certain way, and I have to explain that we also have Indigenous populations, just like Canada, that aren’t Taiwanese or Chinese, that sort of thing. So that concept of diversity and allowing people to be who they are and have their own way of identifying themselves, it’s very important here in Canada. Sometimes we see cultures being presented in a very stereotypical and superficial way, reduced to the food that we eat, the outfits or the music, and this becomes attached to our identity, but it’s much more complicated. In Canada, we’re so lucky to be surrounded by different cultures and we wanted to make sure there’s an opportunity for everyone to be curious and realize that there’s more than the food. The curiosity factor is something that we want our events to address. When people come for the food, they just want to eat. That’s hunger, not curiosity. Curiosity says “Hey, I’m waiting for you to tell me something that I don’t know” because when people walk away from an event learning something new, that’s something that’s going to affect their lives.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

I love watching sports because of my upbringing. So I get a lot of inspiration from competition and teamwork. I’m inspired by people that work hard and try to be good at something, and this applies to everybody. It applies to artists, creatives and everyday people, because the success that we have is because of the people that we work with. I don’t do this myself, I have people that support the vision, and partners that I don’t always agree with, but we sit down and try to work together. I see a lot of sports analogies in my work. I need help from people, partners and institutions. I need people to be willing to listen to my stories, and I see this best represented in sports. 

Beyond ticket sales and attendance, what does a successful event look like? 

We used to be so focused on building attendance, setting ticket prices and such, sometimes because of commercial sponsorship that wanted us to do certain things, and that created a false perception about our events. Since we moved our events downtown, that’s never an issue anymore. We don’t have to worry about attendance because there are a lot of people on site. But it allows us to learn more about everybody else. Downtown Vancouver is not a neighbourhood that we are in all the time, so we’re mindful of the experiences of the people who work and live there, making sure that we’re not intruders. We want to be positive rather than a disturbance. We want to be that plus factor rather than the minus factor. Now over the years with these intercultural dialogues that we’ve created, people tell us that they didn’t know about their connection to Taiwanese culture. I tell this funny story of when we had the dialogue with the Dutch community. They set up a market as part of TAIWANfest, and it’d never been seen before. But there’s a historical connection, because the Dutch colonized Taiwan for over 30 years. So we reconnected because of this relationship. I remember overhearing two European-looking people ask “Why are we here?” And one person told the other “Hey, we used to colonize Taiwan”. So I think that’s the curiosity aspect, making people ask questions and dive into conversations, rather than, “Hey, this food tastes great” and that’s the end of it. 

What’s been the most challenging moment in your journey so far and what did it teach you? 

For me it’s presenting new aspects of culture to the community and they go, ” I don’t recognize this as Taiwanese culture.” That’s not because they’re not Taiwanese, but that even for them, there’s a part of discovery or exploration that they need to do. So presenting to a Taiwanese community, sometimes that’s a hurdle. Some people don’t recognize it and so don’t see it as a part of them, but as we’ve grown, people now expect to attend TAIWANfest and learn a bit of the past that they didn’t know, and learn about other cultures that are connected to theirs. It took a bit of time before we built this reputation, but in the beginning, it was very hard. 

What does the future of your organization and Asian-Canadian expression in Vancouver look like to you?

As much as our organization is Asian-Canadian and we do a lot of events from this perspective, I see it as a starting point to help our community to learn more about ourselves. Ultimately, I think we all need to have a new perspective of what an intercultural Canada could look like. We all recognize our differences and we share our citizenship as Canadians, but that doesn’t mean that we have to give up our cultural heritage. In my ultimate vision of the future, all cultures are regarded as mainstream, and I think Canada has a great opportunity to do just that. The multicultural policies were a good starting point, but now we have to move towards interculturalism. 

If you’ve never explored Strathcona’s gallery district before, this February is the perfect time to dive in. Vancouver Art Walk offers immersive self-guided tours in the Vancouver Arts District of Strathcona and Chinatown, with events happening the first Saturday of every month. Follow their carefully crafted map and discover a diverse selection of contemporary art from acclaimed local, international and Indigenous artists. 

The urban industrial district of Strathcona is home to some of the most dynamic and groundbreaking galleries Vancouver has to offer. With Lunar New Year around the corner, what better time to immerse yourself, get inspired, and take in the art scene in the cultural and historic areas of Strathcona and Chinatown. The opportunity to engage with the work of several Asian-Canadian artists at the gallery exhibitions this month is a special way of honoring the rich tapestry of Asian-Canadian cultural identity in the community. Read on for some of the exciting exhibitions you’ll find along the Vancouver Art Walk in the neighbourhood this month.

First Saturday with Vancouver Art Walk

This Saturday February 3, the several galleries will have exhibitions open for the Vancouver Art Walk.

Outsiders and Others at 716 East Hastings will be hosting an opening reception for their first exhibition of 2024, Cour d’Blax-Neeck: The Aitcheverse from 2pm-4pm.

THIS Gallery at 268 Keefer will also be hosting an opening reception from 12pm-4pm for Re-Imagining Chinatown, a new solo exhibition by Vancouver artist/illustrator Donna Seto. 

Immersive Art Installation Coming to Strathcona to Celebrate Lunar New Year

Where I’m From Exhibition Dates at Gallery 881: February 10 – March 9, 2024

Make sure to return to Strathcona for more immersive art debuting the second weekend in February. Opening on February 10th to kick off Lunar New Year, Where I’m From is a site-specific installation at Gallery 881 by Vancouver based artists, Megan Kwan and Jeremy Jude Lee. Featuring a collection of 55 photographs, the exhibit explores themes of (be)longing captured during Vancouver’s summer time in conversation with physical objects and locations nostalgic to the Asian-Canadian experience. 

Set in Strathcona’s distinctive neighbourhood, Where I’m From collages cinematic photography with video and everyday artifacts, rediscovering the lesser-seen beauties of Vancouver while highlighting the mutual influence of Asian culture in a Western World. The Strathcona BIA is proud to be supporting this collaborative exhibition that the artists’ hope will bridge local artists with Strathcona businesses to foster a culture of belonging and community support for creative entrepreneurs. Participating businesses include: Gallery 881, Printmaker Studio, Sunrise Soya Foods, Sunrise Market, Coolite Bamboo Products, CINCO Drink Co, Allegra – Vancouver, and Alterior/A Living Taste.  

Admission to the gallery exhibition is free and regular operating hours at Gallery 881 are from Tuesday to Friday 10am-5pm and Saturday from 12pm-5pm. Gallery 881 is proudly part of the Vancouver Art Walk initiative, so be sure to pick up a gallery tour map and unlock the doors to a world of creativity in Strathcona and Chinatown.

Let one of these Strathcona catering companies take over the cooking for your holiday parties or winter gatherings.

We’re so lucky to have a plethora of amazing catering companies working right here in Strathcona. Getting ready to plan your holiday dinners and gathering but don’t want to cook? Let one of these delicious businesses take on the heavy lifting and impress your guests at the same time.

You’ll find a range of unique bites from all of the businesses listed below – keep reading to discover 5 Strathcona catering companies to consider this holiday.

@railtowncaters

With holiday season around the corner, trust Railtown for all of your catering needs!

Whether you are planning a party with friends, a long-awaited office celebration, or are looking for a stress free holiday dinner for the family, Railtoen Caters has memorable and delicious offerings to make your celebration the highlight of the year.

Choose from a selection of canapes, platters and seasonal menus suitable for all of your entertainment needs.

railtowncatering.ca

@savourychef

Nothing tastes better than market-fresh produce, locally farmed meats and sustainably sourced seafood. Fresh, local and seasonal ingredients in every dish –  and Savoury Chef is dedicated to featuring the very best that B.C. has to offer.

From carefully planning, tasting and custom-creating menus with each client to offering connections to a network of industry partners and event resources, Savoury Chef is a true one-stop shop, as well as a preferred catering vendor to a number of Vancouver’s premier event venues.

See what they have to offer this season for holiday meals.

savourychef.com

@cocktailscanapes

Cocktails & Canapés specialize in creating a one-of-a-kind innovative experience. With an abundance of catering services and menus and no shortage of creativity, they bring something special to the table every time.

Offering canapés, fine-plated menus, family style meals, graze menus and more you’ll find everything you need for a unique holiday meal right here.

cocktailsandcanapes.com

@yardiegrabz

Yardie Grabz specializes in homestyle grab & go Jamaican food – from Jamaican Patties to BBQ Jerk Chicken, Oxtail Stew & much more! Sticking to their Caribbean roots, their love for homestyle and natural foods remains.

Cooking with halal meats, fresh produce and traditional Jamaican spices and herbs Yardie Grabz uses the freshest and most natural ingredients.

Searching for tasty food to compliment a team lunch, holiday gathering or festive meal? Yardie Grabz provides catering for all clients of any size and circumstance. 

yardiegrabz.ca

For an extensive list of Strathcona businesses visit our business directory here. 

Vancouver has so many great places to grab a cup – here are the best coffee shops in Strathcona.

Strathcona is filled with exceptional coffee roasters and cozy cafes serving up great cups of coffee with incredible ambiance. Here you can find everything from in-house roasters to perfectly pulled espresso to the loveliest of latte art. It’s truly a coffee connoisseur’s dream *insert heart-eye emojis here*.

Some of Vancouver’s best coffee shops live in the heart of Strathcona. We’re proud to have almost a dozen unique and inviting cafes in our little neighbourhood alone. You will find exceptional blends and delicious aromas from locally-owned coffee shops and cafes. Each space represents a little piece of the heart and soul of Strathcona.

However, it doesn’t stop there. If java isn’t your thing, rest assured you can find plenty of delicious snacks, lunch items, teas, and tonics as well – something for everyone!

Here’s a full list of Strathcona’s best places to find coffee and more.

@oidecoffee

From the folks behind the former Gastown coffee stand Iktsuarpok Coffee Stand, Oidé Coffee took over the old Agro Roasters on Clark Drive this past Spring. According to their Instagram, they are still in their soft opening phase however you can still enjoy delicious coffee, teas and baked goods from Thursday to Sunday.

550 Clark Dr.

Hours:

Thurs – Sun: 10am – 4pm

Mon – Wed: Closed

@coastedencafe

They consider themselves more than a cafe. Eden is a social enterprise dedicated to providing the DTES with great coffee and food. They strive to provide a welcoming space for people from all walks of life.

643 East Hastings Street

Hours: Mon – Thurs: 8am – 4:30pm

Sat: 8am – 2pm

Sun: Closed

@thegardenstrathcona

The Garden is top of the list for aesthetically pleasing cafes in Strathcona. Aside from delicious coffee they also have amazing food, a curated retail section, and an entire banquet space that is rentable to the public.

868 E Hastings St. 

Hours: Mon – Sun: 9 am – 4 pm

@palletcoffee

There are few calmer vibes than the ones you experience walking into Pallet Coffee’s Strathcona location. High ceilings and wonderful daytime light make this Powell St. cafe one of our favourites to sit and stay awhile. You can also score their locally roasted beans to take home or order them online.

395 Alexander St. 

Hours: Mon – Fri: 8 am – 3 pm

Sat – Sunday: Closed

@riseupmarketplace

Rise Up Marketplace is a wonderful community gathering place where neighbourhood folks pop by for morning pick-me-up or come to settle in for a quiet lunch break. You can find freshly baked goods, yummy lunch specials, and of course a fine cup of coffee.

704 Vernon Dr.

Hours: Mon – Fri: 9 am – 6pm

Sat – Sun: 9 am – 4 pm

@prototype.coffee

Considered a micro-roastery Prototype is a unique space where you can find a perfectly designed roasting bar and brewing station all in one. The result is one fantastic cup of coffee. You’ll also find take-home beans, cold brews and best waffle-donut hybrid treat.

883 Hastings St.

Hours: Mon – Fri: 8 am – 4 pm

Sat – Sun: 9 am – 5 pm

@scavengercoffee

This quaint little coffee cart lives in Strathcona but can be found at various farmer’s markets, parks and events throughout the city serving hand-pulled espresso and a variety of tea-based drinks.

Various locations and times

@railtowncafe

Upon entering the Railtown Cafe the inviting smells of home-cooked comfort food will instantly tell you that this is so much more than a coffee shop. Serving local Moja beans Railtown Cafe is also not a place to sleep on when it comes to a coffee. We just recommend you arrive hungry.

397 Railway St. 

Hours: Mon – Fri: 8 am – 6 pm

Sat – Sun: 10 am – 4 pm

For an extensive list of Strathcona businesses visit our business directory here. 

Trick or Treat? Halloween Hop returns to Strathcona 🎃

It’s that time of year! The Strathcona Community Policing Centre and RayCam Co-operative Centre, in partnership with Strathcona BIA, will be hosting the third annual Halloween Hop in Strathcona. Several of our local businesses will be handing out candy to trick-or-treaters in the 800 Block of East Hastings from 3:30pm to 5pm on October 31 Halloween Day.

Join Strathcona’s most colourful block for a fun and spooky afternoon! This event is free to attend and all are welcome. The Strathcona Halloween Hop walking route starts at RayCam Co-operative Centre at Campbell Ave and East Hastings St. Enjoy treats provided by local businesses, a photo booth, and an activity zone with fun for the whole family.

It’s the perfect event to kick off your Halloween festivities! We hope to see you there.

Vancouver Mural Festival 2022

It’s been another successful year of Vancouver Mural Festival and we’re thrilled to welcome some brand new murals to the Strathcona neighbourhood for 2022, including one sponsored by the Strathcona BIA. In total, four new murals came to the Clark Drive area this year as part of Vancouver Mural Festival in partnership with local property owners and businesses, adding a whole new level of vibrancy to this corridor. Along with traditional wall murals, 12 Strathcona BIA tree-planter murals in and around East Hastings were refreshed with a new mural design by Zac George.

Public art has the power to help strengthen the connections between all who share space here. We are proud to be a part of supporting more vibrant public murals for all to enjoy, in particular focusing on uplifting Indigenous artists and dedicating more visual space in Strathcona to their impactful work. 

To learn more about Strathona’s murals you can book a walking tour via Vancouver DeTours or visit vanmuralfest.ca for city-wide updates and info. Be sure to download their app for an up-to-date map of murals throughout the city. 

Here’s where you can find new Strathcona Murals.

VMF Map 

620 Clark Drive (at Frances St.)

Artist: Jennifer Clark

Title: Imaginal Discs

Jennifer Clark’s paintings explore themes around the natural world, psychology and the polarities of what it means to be human in our contemporary culture.  

Artist Statement:

This mural is located on a building that is home to Canada’s first Recovery Cafe operated by the Kettle Society. This space is a refuge for individuals seeking recovery from homelessness, poverty, isolation, substance use and other mental health challenges.

Butterflies and moths are the primary imagery representing symbols of transformation. Through the process of metamorphosis, they are changing, shifting, and forming. The same can be said for the community at Kettle, their lives are shifting in new directions. The flight of the butterfly is symbolic of hope, the yellow and blue squares reference light, matter, pixels, stars and individuals in a community, together. The white shapes in the background bring light, something necessary to illuminate a path forward. Nature carries within its design a kind of poetry that we can learn from.

Perhaps if we study and appreciate the complexity of nature we will take good care of it, as well as ourselves because the two are connected and are part of a bigger whole.

620 Clark Drive (at Frances St.)

Artist: Corey Bulpitt

Title: This is an Invitation to Leave Your Armour at the Door

Corey Bulpitt also known as Ta’kiid Aayaa or “Gifted Carver” by the Haida of the Naikun Raven clan, is from the Naikun Raven Clan. He completed his studies at Langley Fine Art School, apprenticed for Haida artist Christian White, and worked for Haida master carver Jim Hart at the Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver, BC. Corey is a multimedia artist with a background as a graffiti artist and practice in totem pole and mask carving. 

Artist Statement:

This mural depicts a scene of sea, land and sky, with mountains and the moon in the background, with a killer whale fin, paddlers in a canoe and a cedar branch in the foreground.

The mountains represent what the Dudes have overcome, the paddlers represent the Dudes on their journey, the killer whale fin represents those that have gone on before them.

The moon represents the female energy which is important to them all even in this male-based group. The cedar branch represents medicine.

1295 Frances Street (Meridian Landscaping)

Artist: Caleb Ellison-Dysart

Title: miskinâhk

Caleb Ellison-Dysart is a nîhithaw (Cree) artist living on Coast Salish territories. His family comes from O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation & Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation in Northern Manitoba, and the Twin Cities of Minnesota. Caleb specializes in 3D Animation, Murals, Design & Illustration. His process-driven work is finely crafted to celebrate Cree culture and incorporate stories that centre around physical and spiritual connections to land.

Artist Statement:

Turtle Island is the name that various Indigenous nations have always called “North America” since time immemorial. The name comes from oral histories and creation stories that tell of a turtle who holds the world on its back. It is important, now more than ever, that we take care of Turtle Island and all its inhabitants. Let’s not forget our responsibility to the life around us.

912 Clark Drive (Fujiya Japanese Foods)

Artist: Mia Okhi

Title: Protect Our Trees

Mia Ohki is a Métis-Japanese-Canadian Artist specializing in illustration.

Artist Statement:

“Protect Our Trees” features three bonsai trees: the first is a cherry blossom tree, the middle pot has a person in a kimono tending a fir tree sapling, and the last features a Japanese maple tree. The kimono is adorned with traditional Métis beadwork designs that connect to the roots of the sapling. The cherry blossom with the image of Japan’s Mount Fuji on the pot is protected by a shimenawa warding off evil spirits. The Japanese maple tree’s pot has Vancouver’s “The Lions” mountain range carved on its surface.

“千樹の森を守ろう” on the center pot roughly translates to “Protect Ancient Trees”, with emphasizes the importance of protecting sacred trees. Considering the long history of Fujiya in Vancouver, the title of the design has two meanings: we must protect the trees in British Columbia, pillars of the coastal forest, and we must support the pillar businesses of the Vancouver community.

Various locations

Artist: Zac George

Zac George is a member of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation. He was born and raised in North Vancouver and now lives in Chehalis, BC. His work is inspired by his late grandparents, Chief Dan and Amy George, and Robert and Betty Edge. Zac studied carving with Don Joe of Chehalis and is proud to use the Coast Salish artistic style. He lives the rich cultural lifestyle of the Salish People: he is a hunter and a fisherman and follows the traditional spirituality practiced by his people for centuries.

Artist Statement: The sacred mountain sees everything and has the ability to pray for and watch over the people of Vancouver. Our mountains hold a lot of history and strength and if you look over to the North Shore, you’ll understand.

Bike To Shop returns this summer from August 13 – 21.

Hub Cycling’s Bike To Shop event is back this August 13 – 21. Local businesses in neighbourhoods across Metro Vancouver are offering amazing freebies and sweet deals for people biking to their businesses. 

Get on your bike and come join the Bike to Shop movement with us! As always, registration is 100% free. 

Register here and find the full schedule, including all participating businesses, here.

Visit these Strathcona businesses during Bike To Shop for great deals and delicious freebies.

Map of Itinerary

AWEN HAUS

780 E Cordova St

10% discount for anyone who bikes to Makerlabs.

Awen Haus is a collective of makers focused on beauty, function, quality, creativity, innovation and ingenuity. Come discover their products showcased under one roof at MakerLabs.

COASTAL EDEN CAFE

643 E Hastings St

One free baked good with a purchase of a coffee, tea, or smoothie. Until sold out. 

The Eden Cafe is a social enterprise, dedicated to providing great coffee and food in a welcoming space for people from all walks of life. All proceeds from the Eden Cafe go directly into the Eden DTES program.

CONTAINER BREWING

1216 Franklin St

Buy a beer to stay and get a free cookie. OR buy beer to go and get 15% off.  

Industrial-chic brewpub with a two-level tasting room and lounge, plus one of the best outdoor brewery patios in the city. Munch on eats from the Burdy food truck, including their legendary Chicken Parm sandwich.

ENTERPRISING WOMEN MAKING ART (EWMA)

800 E Hastings St

Complimentary coffee/iced tea. Plus enter to win an original art item from the EWMA Store with each purchase of $20 or more. 

EWMA supports emerging women artists and artisans in the Downtown Eastside community – over 30 local artists are featured at their store! When you shop local here, you support their programming that lifts women up in the community. Find greeting cards, specialty ornaments, pottery, beautiful jewelry and more.

LIVLITE

807 Powell St

Complimentary snacks and a coupon.  

Livlite provides zero waste groceries for delivery or pick-up in Strathcona. They carry everything from quality pantry staples, specialty brands, and tons of local produce and essentials. Goods are stored in returnable, reusable, or compostable vessels.

LUPPOLO BREWING

1123 Venables St

Buy a pizza and get a free beer.  

Your home away from home in the East Van brewery district. Enjoy their craft beers and delicious food – including incredible pizza by Mordimi Bite of Italy – in a warm and welcoming environment.

STRATHCONA BEER

895 E Hastings St

Buy a pint of beer and get an order of our garlic bites for free while quantities last daily. 

World class brewery right in the heart of Strathcona. The brewery focuses towards traditional European styles, global IPA styles, fruit beers, radlers and seasonal offerings. Their gourmet pizza is a neighbourhood favourite!

MAKERLABS

780 E Cordova St

The first 50 visitors who cycle to their Summer Social event will have the opportunity to paint and take home a free laser-cut coaster.

Only on August 13 from 3pm to 8pm. 

A maker space in Vancouver that provides the tools, space and skills to make almost anything. Communal areas include a wood shop, metal shop, CNC router table, laser cutters, sewing machines, Design Lab with 3D printer, and electronics area.

SETTLEMENT BREWING

55 Dunlevy Ave

Brewery Open House with summer beers. 

Only on August 14 from 2pm to 5pm. 

Brewing from the historic Settlement Building, this brewery is a place of collaboration, innovation, and fermenting friendships. Enjoy their beers at neighbouring Belgard Kitchen, or pick-up beers to-go from their retail shop.

Summer is here! We are thrilled to see a full lineup of events in Strathcona happening this July and August. We can’t wait to get out into the sun and enjoy our neighborhood.

A few of Strathcona’s annual favourites are making their in-person return after a hiatus and some events are brand new to the neighbourhood. Rest assured, all of the events coming up are a great opportunity to experience local music, vendors and workshops right here in Strathcona. You’ll find something for everyone.

Keep reading for more info on what’s coming up next.

Upcoming Events in Strathcona

Create! Arts Festival 

July 23 & 24

10am – 5:30pm

Strathcona Park

From the producers of the Eastside Culture Crawl Festival comes a new and innovative art-making event, the CREATE! Arts Festival. CREATE! Arts Festival is a new community initiative of the Eastside Arts Society bringing together local artists and the community to explore, learn and create art together through a series of affordable and accessible art workshops and a public-participation art installation. Attendees of all ages will learn how to create art such as block printing, felt making, glass blowing, ceramics and painting from Eastside artists in a safe and comfortable outdoor space this summer. Register in advance for workshops here!

Powell Street Festival 

July 30 & 31

11am – 7pm

Oppenheimer Park

Vancouver Mural Festival 

August 4-14

Citywide

MakerLabs Summer Social 

August 13

3pm – 8pm

780 E Cordova St

Bike to Shop

Aug 18 – 21

Citywide 

From August 13 – 21, 2022, local businesses in neighbourhoods across Metro Vancouver are offering amazing freebies and sweet deals for people biking to their businesses.

Registration is 100% free. Let’s show our businesses and decision-makers how important cycling is for local businesses and for the community. Register now at bikehub.ca/biketoshop.

And stay tuned for more information on participating businesses in the Strathcona neighbourhood closer to the event date! Businesses interested in taking part can sign-up here.

Summerlights Festival 

August 20

2pm – 9pm

876 Cordova diversion

Purchase tickets here.

Monstercat Compound Block Party

August 20

2pm – 9pm

380 Railway St

Free RSVP here!