Vancouver Mural Festival 2021

It’s one of our favourite events of the year and we’re thrilled to see the Vancouver Mural Festival back for their 2021 event. Celebrating creativity, diversity and bringing our communities together through art, VMF has over 60 new murals in the works throughout Vancouver plus live shows, tours, public talks and more. 

Adventure through 11 Vancouver neighbourhoods, including Strathcona, to see the beautiful murals come to life through personal, cultural and historical storytelling. Find daily Mural Tours, Talks and Workshops, and 40+ Live Shows at outdoor, licensed venues!  

We’re excited to welcome several new murals to the Strathcona neighbourhood, including four projects sponsored by the Strathcona BIA. These include Benjamin Stone’s new work at Container Brewing, a mural by Sitji Chou at Noble, the addition of the Black Strathcona Resurgence Project led mural by Sasha Mbabazi near Powell St. and Princess St. plus over a dozen tree-planter murals designed and ready to be painted by Zac George. Public art has the power to help strengthen the connections between all who share space here, and we are so proud to be a part of supporting more public murals for all to enjoy. 

To learn more about Vancouver Mural Festival’s community projects this year, check out: Blanketing The City IV, Black Strathcona Resurgence Project, and Punjabi Market or for an overview of the entire 2021 festival you can visit vanmuralfest.ca. 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 

Les Amis Du Fromage (843 E Hastings alley)

Artists: Jerry Whitehead and Take5

The work is titled Remember Us. Both artists hope their work will “start community conversations about the path of reconciliation, and develop meaningful relationships in [their] communities” (as shared on this VMF blog).

Container Brewing

Artist: Benjamin Stone 

The piece is titled No Arrival.

Noble (1001 Venables St.) 

Artist: Sitji Chou 

This piece is called Ripple. The mural faces a senior’s home and was created in the hopes to bring joy to the residents who will see it most. The artist hopes the waves, lilies, and koi mingling inbetween will instill a sense of tranquility and whimsy (as shared in this VMF blog).

Black Strathcona Resurgence Project (603 Powell St.)

Photo of mural in progress.

Artist: Sasha Mbabazi

Bike To Shop returns this summer from August 7 – 22nd.

Hub Cycling’s Bike To Shop event is back this summer kicking off on August 7th – 22nd. Local businesses in 20 neighbourhoods across Metro Vancouver are offering free coffee, snacks, sweet discounts, and more to people who visit their shop by bike.

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

Register before July 30 for a chance to win a $50 Compass Card from TransLink so you can explore even more Bike to Shop neighborhoods this summer.

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

VV TAPAS LOUNGE

Free glass of wine or nonalcoholic cocktail with the purchase of food.

HARKEN COFFEE

One free coffee to those who participate and ride to the shop.

CONTAINER BREWING

Free pork crisps, happy hour beer pricing ($2 off full pours), 10% off any take-home orders. Enter a draw to win a $100 gift card.

ENTERPRISING WOMEN MAKING ART (EWMA)

Free coffee/iced tea and/or button. Plus enter to win an original art item from the EWMA Store with each purchase.

LUPPOLO BREWING

15% off pizza with purchase of a beer (DINE IN ONLY),  $10 Margherita with purchase of a 4Pack (TO-GO ONLY).

LIQUIDS AND SOLIDS

Free 10 oz Soup with purchase of a sandwich or an entrée salad.

COASTAL EDEN CAFE

One free baked good with a purchase of any drink. Until sold out.

STRATHCONA BEER

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

LANDYACHTZ

Free air & oil, plus high fives and bike advice all week.

Register at bikehub.ca/biketoshop

Gift Big Shop Small promotion runs Dec. 1 to 20

We want to help you help our small businesses.  

Spend $25 or more at 3 locations and get $25 to support shopping small this holiday season.

Despite everything, the holiday season is on our doorstep. While we may not be able to hug all our friends and family members like a normal year, there are still ways to let them know we care. Gift the people you love things that will bring them joy. It’s never been more important to shop local and shop small for gifts this year, and we want to help you do that! 

We hope you’ll have fun discovering Strathcona’s unique offerings for the holidays. All participating businesses continue to implement extensive measures to keep you safe, including social distancing protocols, limiting the number of people in shops, requiring face masks and hand sanitizing. We ask that you follow all the safety protocols in place, and if you’re not feeling well, stay home. The promotion also applies to online purchases, so you can still take part from the comfort of home.

How it works

• Spend $25 or more at 3 participating locations listed below
• In-person, online, and gift card purchases all count
• Take photos or screenshots of receipts
• Purchases must be made between December 1-20
• Donations over $25 to local service providers also count as a purchase. Learn about local organizations to donate to below.

When you’re ready with your proof of purchases/donations:

• Submit receipts/screenshots, along with your name and mailing address to info@strathconabia.com 
• Make sure the amount spent, business name, and date of purchase is clear in the receipts
• Receipts must be from three different locations or local service providers
• Deadline to submit is Dec. 20 at midnight

The prize is a $25 visa card to support shopping local which will be sent to you in the mail. 

We have twenty $25 visa cards available, with a limit of one per person. They will be redeemed on a first-come first-serve basis. Supplies are limited, so don’t delay. We cannot guarantee that everyone will receive a gift card. Please note that it may take a business day or two for us to get back to you.

Participating locations in Strathcona’s Gift Big Shop Small promotion:

821 Powell St │ Mon-Fri 10am – 5pm

Luxury silk lingerie & loungeware designed by Christine Morton, proudly made in Canada. Designs that make you look and feel beautiful.

800 E Hastings St │ Mon-Fri 10am – 5pm

Women’s art studio and social enterprise. Works from over 30 artists are featured, from jewelry, ceramics, and other beatiful household wares.

766 E Hastings St │ Mon, Wed-Sun 11am – 11pm │ Closed Tues

Body massage, reflexology, acupressure and their newly renovated sauna with private rooms available. Original wellness spa in Vancouver since 1926.

1146 Union St │ Mon-Sun 10am – 6pm

Bike shop and service centre, accessories and custom frames. Bike service can be booked by phone or email bikeshop@lanyachtz.com. Online store offers free delivery of ready to ride new bikes.

566 Powell St │ Mon-Sun 10am – 6pm

Vancouver’s best specialty cheese shop. Plentiful selection of cheese, charcuteries and pantry staples like pasta and tomato products. Wonderful gift baskets and holiday specialties available.

780 E Cordova St │ Mon-Sun 12pm – 9pm

Maker space that provides the tools, space, and skills to make almost anything. Memberships, custom projects, workshops and classes available. Discover unique items created by makers and artists who work out of MakerLabs.

701 E Hastings St │ Mon-Sat 10am – 4pm

Go-to store for the best in martial arts supplies. MMA, Boxing, Kickboxing, Karate, Judo, Jui Jitsu, Taekwondo, and more. A family run business, now extending to the third generation.

881 E Hastings St │ Tues-Sat 12pm – 6pm

A slow living and sustainable fashion boutique supporting artists and independent designers. The shop offers a carefully considered selection of art, lifestyle goods, and fashion.

868 E Hastings St │ Mon-Sun 9am – 4pm

A space to be inspired, feel relaxed, learn something new, eat and drink something delicious, meet an old or new friend. Their curated shop has beautiful, ethically sourced personal care and home items.

Giving Back

There are many fabulous community-serving organizations in our neighbourhood. That means there are many opportunities to make a difference with your dollars in the community, especially at this time of year. Here are some ideas for local organizations to donate to who are doing great work to serve those in need in our community.

• note that this is not an exhaustive list and if you find another organization in our community that you hope to donate to, please check with us in advance and we’d be happy to look at qualifying it for the promotion.