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Free Legal Advice-a-thon! Pro Bono going public 2010 at Victory Square in Vancouver Downtown Eastside (DTES)
What is PRO BONO GOING PUBLIC 2010?
This September, lawyers will once again provide free legal advice in the streets of Vancouver, Kelowna and Victoria in order to raise awareness and funds for BC’s pro bono programs. The free legal advice-a-thon will facilitate access to justice for low- and modest-income people, including the homeless, by engaging lawyers in advising pre-scheduled and drop-in clients on all legal issues.
The open-air legal advice clinics will be held over three days— one day in each city— and will rely on the volunteer efforts of over 75 lawyers. Participating lawyers will be encouraged to obtain pledges from family, friends and co-workers in direct support of pro bono programs operated by Access Pro Bono (formed by the merger of the Western Canada Society to Access Justice and Pro Bono Law of BC) and the Salvation Army.
Last year, we raised nearly $25,000 for pro bono programming in BC. This year, our goal is to raise $30,000, and we need your support to help us reach our target!
What happened last year?
Last year, Pro Bono Going Public succeeded in securing the maximum amount of volunteer lawyers for each city. 48 lawyers in Vancouver, 16 lawyers in Kelowna and 14 lawyers in Victoria served a total of 167 pre-booked and walk-up clients over the course of three days. The volunteer lawyers assisted clients on a range of legal matters including: civil, criminal, employment, family, tenant and landlord disputes and wills and estates.
The clients were overwhelmingly appreciative of the opportunity to receive free legal advice in such an accessible manner. Many of them expressed that the event renewed their faith in the kindness of lawyers, and alleviated stresses and fears that had accumulated over months and years.
Pro Bono Going Public 2009 also garnered excellent and extensive publicity in several media; including CBC TV (English and French) throughout the province, A Channel and CFAX in Victoria, CBC Radio in Vancouver and Victoria, News 1150 in Kelowna, and CKNW and News 1130 in Vancouver. The Vancouver Sun also featured a particularly positive editorial on pro bono in British Columbia at the time of the event. The following websites and online reporters also featured articles relating to the event: Kelowna Capital News, Saanich News, Vancouver Courier and Victoria News.
When and where are the open-air clinics?
VICTORIA
| When: Thursday, September 2, 2010 10:00 am – 2:00 pm |
Where: Centennial Square |
Centennial Square is bordered by Douglas Street (east), Pandora Street (south), Government Street (west) and Fisgard Street (north).
KELOWNA
| When: Wednesday, September 8, 2010 10:00 am – 3:00 pm |
Where: Rose Garden – City Park |
Rose Garden – City Park is located on Abbott Street, directly across from the Travelodge.
VANCOUVER
| When: Friday, September 10, 2010 9:00 am – 5:00 pm |
Where: Victory Square Park |
Victory Square Park is bordered by Cambie Street (east), Pender Street (south), Hamilton Street (west) and West Hastings Street (north).
How can I help the cause?
If you are a lawyer, you can help us by volunteering at one of our three open-air clinics. We encourage volunteer lawyers to donate one or more hours of their time, and to raise an amount equal to or above their billable rate. Register as a lawyer by clicking here. Once registered, you can login to your account to customize your personal donation page, send emails to potential sponsors, manage offline pledges, and view the status of your fundraising efforts. We will award prizes to the top fundraisers!
Whether or not you are a lawyer, you can help us by sponsoring a lawyer as s/he provides free legal advice. Sponsor a lawyer by clicking here.
Alley Health Fair – Thursday Sept 16, 2010 11am – 2pm in Vancouver Downtown Eastside (DTES)
Alley Health Fair – Thursday Sept 16, 2010 11am – 2pm
100 Block East Hastings
Hair Cuts, Food, Smoothies, Massage, Giveaways, Yoga, Health Info
The Downtown Eastside is recognized as one of the poorest and most marginalized communities in Canada. The community’s health problems are well-documented. According to Vancouver Coastal Health, in 2007, Downtown Eastside residents were 20 times more likely than the average BC resident to be infected with HIV, and 10 times more likely to have Hepatitis C.
Inadequate housing and lack of access to basic hygiene mean that Downtown Eastside residents are at higher risk of contracting infectious diseases, such as invasive pneumococcal disease. Downtown Eastside residents have high rates of chronic but preventable diseases such as diabetes, particularly among the Aboriginal population. An April 2008 study for the City of Vancouver, the Vancouver Agreement, and BC Housing found that 40% of single room occupancy hotel residents had visited a hospital emergency room in the past year.
The idea for the Alley Health Fair came from discussions over a number of years with community members, partner agencies, and other librarians over possible ways to engage Downtown Eastside residents with health and nutrition information. Traditional approaches, such as computer workshops, books, and leaflets, were rejected as being unsuitable for a community with low literacy levels.
Instead, our idea was to share information about healthy living possibilities in a dynamic, positive way, in a person-to-person environment where people could ask questions about the things that really mattered to them. It was also important to hold the health fair in a place where people were already comfortable, rather than asking people to come somewhere where they may feel unwelcome or unsafe.
The 2008 and 2009 Alley Health Fairs were a huge success. The alley was transformed into a market-like environment, with tents of information and interactive services, from HIV testing to hair cuts, and from massage to lung testing. There was nutritious food, aboriginal drumming, foot care, and free umbrellas. Feedback from participants and service providers was so positive, that many people began asking when the next Alley Health Fair would take place. Some people wanted to make the Alley Health Fair a quarterly, monthly, or even weekly event!
DNC Street Market and Fair at Pigeon Park in Vancouver Downtown Eastside (DTES)
DNC Street Market and Fair happened this Sunday Long Weekend with bargains everywhere in the Vancouver Downtown Eastside
Even a wedding gown could be found at the DNC Street Market
AHA MEDIA at Vancouver Canadian vs Everett AquaSox Baseball Game
AHA MEDIA attended one of the last home Baseball games of the summer – Vancouver Canadian vs Everett AquaSox at Nat Bailey Stadium
C’s set attendance record in 9-2 loss to Everett
A sellout crowd pushed the Vancouver Canadians attendance mark over 150,000 for the summer as the C’s fell 9-2 to Everett on Saturday night.
Vancouver scores 2 runs!
Fireworks presented by Granville Island Brewery
A wonderful time was had by all!
Military Vehicles in Gastown, Vancouver – “The Highway of Heroes”
The portion of Water Street where the Military Vehicles will be on display will be called “The Highway of Heroes”
and dedicated to all of the fallen and serving Canadian Troops in Afghanistan and all other wars. The military vehicles have been supplied by the Canadian Military Education Center (CMEC)
The CMEC is an interactive, living history museum that purposefully educates Canadian students, teachers and the public about Canadian military history. The CMEC features displays that allow people to touch, feel and experience Canada’s military history through hands-on interactive displays. The CMEC houses one of Canada’s largest collections of restored military vehicles and equipment. CMEC’s ultimate goal is to have all Canadian citizens, especially our youth, deeply understand the sacrifices made by our Canadian soldiers and peacekeepers and to never forget. http://www.cmedcentre.ca/
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