On November 6, 2023, a copper plate foundation ceremony took place at First United’s location in the Vancouver’s Downtown East Side (DTES).  The site, formerly occupied by the First United church at 320 East Hastings Street in Vancouver, is now an ambitious redevelopment project which will create a community-informed neighbourhood rejuvenation that is focussed on reconciliation and healing.

The copper plate is buried in the foundations, blessing the site.

“Lots of people are talking about the Downtown Eastside right now, and they should be. The DTES deserves our attention, but too often, these conversations don’t include the people who actually live there,” says First United Interim Executive Director Amanda Burrows. “Listening to the community is essential and informs the work we do at First United.”

Fundraising for the construction project began in late 2021 and in 2023, B2Gold’s More Than Mining Fund (MTMF) donated $250,000 to First United’s First Forward capital campaign.  B2Gold’s MTMF directs funds to initiatives in Vancouver that provide complex social services to the most vulnerable people in the region — supporting groups addressing social issues related to health, children, and people at risk, and people living with challenges from poverty, mental health, addiction, violence, and abuse.

First United sought community input before redeveloping their old building at Hastings and Gore.

The original First United church, built in 1964 on the corner of Gore St and East Hastings St, had fallen into disrepair.  The church was demolished in 2022 to make way for the construction of a purpose built 11-storey building that better suits the needs of the community. Redeveloping the site will provide safe and inclusive community amenities with three times more space for First United’s low-barrier services and programming. The first four floors will be dedicated to these services, and the seven floors above will offer secure homes prioritized for Indigenous peoples, who are disproportionately represented in the DTES homeless community, and will be operated by the Lu’ma Native Housing Society.

“If you don’t live in the DTES, you may not know the issues faced by the community,” Burrows explains. “For example, there are very few public washroom facilities or public spaces where people are free to gather or sleep during the day if they’re unsafe doing so at night, without being shooed away.”

Rendering of the new First United building, which will provide 40,000 square feet of program space and amenities.

In answer to these and other issues, the project, anticipated to be completed in late 2025, will include two drop-in spaces, a large dining room and commercial kitchen, a legal advocacy clinic, multipurpose spaces, public showers, a day sleeping room, an interfaith sacred space, outdoor decks, computer lab, and administrative offices. Over 100 below-market studios and one bedroom homes, with laundry and amenities will occupy the upper floors.

The copper plate burial ceremony officially launches the construction phase, with a First Nations elder laying the copper plate to guide, protect and bless all those occupying the site. Copper, a natural conductor of energy, has a historical significance in Coast Salish culture and is used in many events, ceremonies and honouring celebrations.