Monday, November 4, 2024

CRAB Park: Vancouver’s Unseen Crisis of Displacement

Today, we face another disheartening chapter for CRAB Park. What began as an emergency shelter for those with nowhere else to turn has been a longstanding sanctuary, a community, and an Indigenous heritage site. Yet, once again, its residents are being evicted, their few possessions discarded, and their dignity eroded.


For years, CRAB Park has been more than just land. It is a space of healing, connection, and survival for those who have lost their homes and for Indigenous communities who view the waterfront as sacred. And yet, the Port of Vancouver and city officials continue to target this area, pursuing development projects that prioritize commercial interests over community needs.


Despite repeated promises for safe housing solutions, the city’s actions leave many displaced and disconnected. What we see happening to CRAB Park is not an isolated issue but part of a larger, distressing pattern: in one of the wealthiest cities, those most vulnerable are treated as obstacles to be managed, rather than individuals to be supported.


We must ask ourselves – is this the Vancouver we want? One where the unhoused are swept aside and their stories forgotten, where historical spaces lose meaning in the rush to commercialize? CRAB Park deserves better, and so do its people. It's time we hold our officials accountable to make this city inclusive for all its residents, not just those who fit into development plans.


Speak Up: Share this story, demand transparency, and call on the Port and city officials to put human rights at the forefront of their policies.


No comments: