For many years, Union Gospel Mission’s barbecue and the Powell Street Festival have used Oppenheimer Park thanks to its central location and cultural history. But with campers occupying the park to protest the right to sleep at the park and the condition of Downtown Eastside housing, event organizers at both organizations are going elsewhere.
UGM’s barbecue is July 26 and the Powell Street Festival runs Aug. 1 to 3.
UGM chose Oppenheimer Park because it is convenient for Downtown Eastside residents but the decision was made Monday to relocate to CRAB Park at Portside, commonly known as Crab Park. This is the 16th annual barbecue and the non-profit’s biggest event of the year. They are preparing enough for 5,000 meals.
“We had to make [the decision] quickly,” said Keela Keeping, senior PR specialist at UGM. “Looking into the future and guessing what would happen, we wanted to be respectful of the debate that was going on… We didn’t want to get stuck in the middle, and make sure that the barbecue would happen.”
UGM relocated the barbecue to Crab Park in 2009 due to renovations at Oppenheimer.
The Powell Street Festival has also chosen not to use Oppenheimer Park this year and is working with the city to find a viable location nearby.
“[We] do not support the removal order or the threat of removal of residents in the park in any way,” read an unattributed statement by the festival society and sent to media.
The statement said it respects the area as unceded Coast Salish territory. “The alternatives [in location] will impact our program and it will be disappointing… However, we will move forward with the celebration…”
“The challenges are many, including securing area(s) with power and water sources, relocating some of our food booths, craft vendors and community booths, and finding new venues for our performers — all while staying in proximity to our other indoor venues with scheduled activities and performances," Kristen Lambertson, Powell Street Festival Society general manager and programming director, told the Courier.
The festival is in its 38th year and celebrates Japanese history and culture in the area, which dates back to the late 19th century. Oppenheimer Park is also where the successful Asahi Japanese-Canadian baseball team was based in the years prior to the Second World War. The festival is the Lower Mainland’s longest running community celebration.
Protesters who attended a city council meeting Tuesday said the group would be allowed to sleep at the park as long as tents and structures are taken down.
The city has not mentioned if a future eviction notice will be issued.
Pete Bunting, a Downtown Eastside resident camping at Oppenheimer, said the group is aware of both events.
During a visit by the Courier on Monday, Bunting pointed to a makeshift longhouse at the park made of cedar branches he hoped would turn away attempts at eviction.
“Longhouses are very spiritual places,” explained Bunting, who believes the structure would be treated with greater respect than tents and would be less likely to be torn down by the city.
UGM representatives stopped by Oppenheimer Park during their weekly walks around the community and brought donations for tenters, who have also been invited to the barbecue.
“It’s a complicated issue,” said Keeping. “There are good points by all people involved and we hope that will be resolved to the satisfaction of all.”
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