Community impact

HOPE IN SHADOWS was launched by Pivot Legal Society in 2003 with the intention of giving residents of the Downtown Eastside a chance to portray their neighbourhood from their point of view.

Recent growth includes

Expanded Training Program: 100 percent more people were trained to sell the
calendar between 2005 and 2008.

Increased Sales and Revenue for Vendors: Calendars, which had a print-run of 9,250,
sold out in December. Overall sales were 30 percent up on last year’s calendar. 150 percent more money was earned by local calendar sellers ($60,000 compared to $23,000 in 2005).

Media Coverage: In depth coverage from TV, radio and print including Global, CTV, CBC Radio, a two page spread in The Vancouver Sun, front page coverage in 24 Hours, coverage in Metro and articles in the Globe and Mail and the Vancouver Courier. HOPE IN SHADOWS appeared live on Breakfast TV.

Participation: Two hundred people picked up cameras during the handout at the Interurban Gallery in June.

Increased Community Building: Over 800 people participated in the community vote for their favourite photos on the street outside the local Carnegie Centre. The award ceremony was held in the local 319 Cinema to a packed hall full of winners.

Increased Profile: Following a high-profile launch by TV celebrity Gabrielle Miller, thousands of people viewed the exhibition of the images in the foyer of the HSBC building over the two weeks it was on display.