Message from Executive Director

I am thrilled to have been awarded the contract to continue running the Four Directions Trading Post formerly the DTES Market.

As the new Executive Director for the past year I have worked very closely with my peers, vendors and volunteers and am very proud to say that collectively we have achieved many new and exciting goals!

Many of the community folks felt that the name DTES Market had a certain stigma attached to it that did not reflect who or what they wanted to represent so a committee of vendors including our very valued Indigenous brothers and sisters.  With the new traditional TeePee erected on site the thinking was to honor the unceded Coast Salish territory that we inhabit daily. Thus the name Four Directions Trading Post was created. We look forward to a big celebration in the near future.

We have worked very hard to employ as many of the most vulnerable people in this community as well as house and support them in any way we can. We now have a very positive relationship with the Vancouver Police Department and work diligently to discourage stolen property and the use of drugs onsite.

We are so happy to now see families with children, tourists and people from other Vancouver communities come to visit the Post and feel safe.

I want to thank the City of Vancouver for their support and Tracey Axellson the Executive Director of Vancouver Community Network for her expertise in Operations and Financial Management

In Solidarity,

Constance Barnes.