St. James Community Service Society mural celebrates 50 years
of serving historic Vancouver neighbourhood

Improving the lives of vulnerable people in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside is what St. James Community Service Society is about and has been about for half a century. In keeping with this goal, SJCSS is proud to unveil, at the Powell Street Festival, a mural by Vancouver artists Joey Mallett and Rita Buchwitz.

The mural, which was painted in July 2011 and unveiled at the Powell Street Festival, celebrates the diversity of this historic neighbourhood and the 50th anniversary of St. James Community Service Society.

“As our Society celebrates its 50th anniversary, it’s so clear that our history is intertwined with that of our local neighbourhood and with the city as a whole,” says St. James executive director Jonathan Oldman. “It’s impossible to work in this part of the Downtown Eastside and not feel a strong sense of history.

“Vibrant communities have been both created and lost right here, and for those of us who are working to strengthen today’s neighbourhood, there is much to take inspiration from,” Oldman says. “This mural is just one way we can acknowledge and celebrate that history, and we’re very proud to have helped in its creation.”

More than just beautifying a plain wall of St. James’s Cecelia House, supportive housing for those living with mental health issues, the mural incorporates symbols that refer to the rich history of the community. For example, fishing boats represent the Japanese who once fished and lived in this area, then known as Japan Town. Shells represent the First Nations midden that is reputed to have once existed on the shores near what is now Crab Park, and a scallop shell in the mural’s bottom corner is a nod to St. James Community Service Society, which has a scallop shell in its logo.

“The nature of the imagery in the mural design respects the historical and current-day activities that enrich the businesses and residences of the area where the wall is located. The mural will be seen by those living, working and visiting the community,” says the artist, Joey Mallett.

This mural, created in partnership with the City of Vancouver’s Celebrate Vancouver 125 Mural Program, adorns the west wall of 315 Powell St. beside Rice World, facing Gore Ave.

View a video showing the creation process for the mural:

Read more

Vancouver Sun article: “Mural captures bittersweet history of Eastside: Artists complete depiction of community to mark city’s 125th anniversary.”

Georgia Straight article, photos and videos: New mural by Joey Mallett and Rita Buchwitz celebrates the history of the Downtown Eastside

View the Georgia Straight’s video where artist Joey Mallet describes how the mural captures the history of the area:

St. James Community Service Society has been a part of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside since 1961 and has a unique understanding of this diverse neighbourhood. St. James is an effective community organization with a long history of giving care and support to this city’s most marginalized and vulnerable people. We have transformed lives for a better future through the provision of women and children’s emergency shelter and transitional housing, adult guardianship for seniors, supportive housing for those living with mental health issues, and hospice care for those with terminal illnesses.