The FIFA World Cup is mere weeks away from kicking off in Vancouver, with hundreds of thousands of visitors expected to come to town between mid June and early July.
What the event means for locals varies: for many, it will be a party, an exciting time to celebrate and enjoy one of the world’s biggest sporting events. For others, it’s an opportunity to cash in, whether for local businesses that may benefit from extra foot traffic or homeowners who can rent out their spaces for top dollar. For some, it’s an inconvenience, a time to avoid going anywhere near downtown or the PNE, and stay home until the whole hullabaloo blows over.
But what does FIFA mean for vulnerable people in Vancouver, many of whom live in the Downtown Eastside, just a few blocks away from the epicentre of the action around BC Place?
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