WELCOME TO OUR BACKYARD
Let’s talk about what’s happening in our own backyard
At Family Services of Greater Vancouver, we walk alongside clients as they navigate life’s challenges. Our Backyard is where we come together to share stories, provide resources for the community, and create dialogue about complex issues such as homelessness, trauma, and poverty. There’s more to every story, so let’s dive in.
Stories
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There’s More to Kyle’s Story
I guess you could say I started my fundraising career early – in fact, I was just 12 years old the first time I tried fundraising for a non-profit. It was for the Canadian Cancer Society because the mission was…
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Community Partnership: Fighting for Food Security
In serving low-income and at-risk clients across our programming, food insecurity crops up frequently at Family Services of Greater Vancouver. In our Food Program at the Directions Youth Services Drop-In Centre, we can immediately address this urgent need – with…
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There’s More to Kate’s Story
My name is Enda and I’m the Program Coordinator for the Street Youth Job Action (SYJA) pre-employment program at Directions and FSGV. Today, I want to share a bit about a youth I worked with this year, Kate*. Kate joined…
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There’s More to Our 2SLGBTQIA+ Program’s Story
Our 2SLGBTQIA+ Program is, of course, about giving queer and trans youth a space and celebratory space to be themselves. However, it’s also about giving youth the chance to build community, to meet queer and trans adults and role models,…
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There’s More to Harp’s Story
What’s your favourite thing about food? I love my job, and I’ve always loved food. I love the smell of fragrant aromatics; I love the bustling kitchen and turning raw ingredients into plates of delight. But what I love the most…
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Entry Point Programs Open Doors
When it comes to helping homeless and at-risk youth, centres like the Directions Youth Services Drop-In serve as a first point of contact—a safe haven where young people can find the support they desperately need. Among the most essential services…
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There’s More to Em’s Story
I love street life. Being born in a non-English speaking country, street life means people who love to hang out on the street with their crew, days and nights, and not necessarily homeless. It was a lifestyle, a choice that…
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There’s More to Jessica’s Story
For most of the last nine years, I was a reclusive shut-in. Now, as I write this, I’m planning my next trip to Mexico and two months ago I went to Spain with my daughter. What’s at the bottom of…
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Pride at Directions Youth Services
Since Directions began, there have always been 2SLGBTQIA+ youth coming, and welcome, here. The history of this group of programs has always been welcoming and that’s something we’re proud of. However, specific programming for queer and trans youth hasn’t been something we’ve always…
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The Cutest Graduation: Celebrating Another Year of COLTS
In June, Family Services of Greater Vancouver hosted our annual graduation ceremony for youth and their children in our COLTS program. Before we show you pictures of these cute little grads, we want to more properly introduce you to the…
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There’s More to Mae’s Story
I was caught off guard when my counsellor first asked me if I thought I would have benefitted from any of the programs that Family Services of Greater Vancouver offers. This job had always felt really personal. Of course when…
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There’s More to Rosie’s Story
The sound of a motorcycle sent me down memory lane the other day. Not every motorcycle has this effect, just a specific kind of road bike with a higher-pitched sound, the changing gears as the bike comes to a stop,…