Moving through our timeline to the 1980s, we highlight the words of parents and staff from West Side Family Place in a time of political change and economic austerity measures in Vancouver. Despite the optimistic mood of the 1970s, the next decade was marked by frustration over the lack of real change and the hardships that followed as a result of economic weakness in the early 1980s.
By the end of Expo 86 marking Vancouver’s 100th anniversary, the city’s physical landscape had changed, and it was firmly established as a global city and international real estate hub reviving the economy.
It was a time when people needed their friends, families and local communities more than ever, whether they were locals or new immigrants. West Side Family Place became a safe haven for parents and caregivers in search of community, support, and access to vital resources.
Did you attend West Side Family Place in the 80s or know someone who did? Tag your 80s parents, grandparents, friends or neighbours below! We’d love to hear the stories.