Ovaltine free dinner

Good morning,

Sometimes great things happen because of persistence. And today is one of those days.

Late last year, journalist Maddi Dellplain reached out to me, asking about potentially writing for the Lookout. I was in the middle of travelling, and somehow lost track of the request (unfortunately, with our small team pulled in so many directions, this happens more than I care to say).  

Then, a few weeks ago, Dustin, who has written for the Lookout in the past and you can expect to see later this month, suggested that Maddi would be a great person to help out in March while Nate is off on vacation.

Fast forward to today, and we have Maddi’s first, and definitely not last, story for the Lookout. As I think you’ll agree when you read it, it’s the type of story that fits perfectly with what we’re doing at the Lookout, a look at a local business that’s become an important community hub in its neighbourhood.

But I won’t spoil anymore of it. Let’s dive into today’s newsletter. 

— Geoff Sharpe, Lookout managing editor and founder 

Editor’s note: We’ve got a few corrections to make from our other newsletters this week. Firstly, in Monday’s story on art therapy we incorrectly referred to the BC Parks Foundation as the Vancouver Parks Foundation. 

Secondly, on Wednesday we ran an agenda item that said new paid parking requirements at three community centres didn’t apply for the first three hours. However, that was misleading as the three-hour grace period only applies for people who are using those facilities and register inside. 

Finally, in our story about Lenny Zhou on Wednesday we spelled the councillor’s name incorrectly in two instances. We regret these errors and are grateful for the readers who brought them to our attention.

PS - If you find this newsletter valuable, please consider forwarding it to your friends. New to the Lookout? Sign-up for free. 

WEATHER

Friday: 7 🌡️ 2 | ☁️

Saturday: 6 🌡️ 2 | ⛅

Sunday: 8 🌡️ 1 | 🌤️

Monday: 8 🌡️ 2 | 🌤️

FOOD SECURITY

Ovaltine Cafe partners with non-profits to feed community members

By Maddi Dellplain

Read the story online.

Hungry patrons packed the wooden and red leather booths in the Downtown Eastside’s iconic Ovaltine Cafe earlier this month for a free chicken dinner complete with roast veggies, potatoes and pumpkin pie.

In mid-February, locals were welcomed to the classic 1940s-era diner for the Ovaltine’s inaugural free community dinner. The event was co-organized with the non-profit DTES Emergency Supply Hub (DTES Hub) and Kilala Lelum, an urban Indigenous health cooperative.  

“It just came about in such an intentional and wholesome way,” Evan Reeks, operations manager at the DTES Hub told Vancity Lookout. According to Reeks, nearly 100 meals were given out to community members over the course of the evening. Based on that success, another free community dinner is already being planned, currently set for 6 p.m. on March 22.

The inspiration for the event came from Grace and Rachel Chen, the mother and daughter co-owners of the Ovaltine, who have run the restaurant as a local neighbourhood sanctuary since 2014. 

“Grace approached us at the Hub and was curious about how she could do more for the community,” Reeks said, adding that Grace already does a lot for her neighbours. 

The Ovaltine serves some of the last affordable dine-in meals in the city, offers low-barrier jobs to patrons, and forges strong connections with regulars, many of whom even call Grace “mom.” Some customers will even come up and tell Grace they love her, Grace told Vancity Lookout. Those connections are what make the Ovaltine more than a typical restaurant, she said.

Rachel, Grace’s daughter and co-owner of the Ovaltine, said that even middle-income families are struggling to make ends meet and put nutritious food on the table these days. “We really see the food insecurity going on in recent years, especially in the Downtown Eastside,” Rachel said, who also works as a community food coordinator at a local neighbourhood house. “We just want to make sure that everyone has a warm meal at the end of the day and doesn’t go to sleep hungry.” 

The event was held strategically at a time when money was likely to be tight for many in the neighbourhood. The week or two before “cheque day,” the last Wednesday of the month when government income assistance cheques are released, is often when people aren’t able to afford” luxuries” like a warm, well-balanced meal, Reeks explained. 

Even though free food in the neighbourhood is not necessarily hard to come by, the majority of what is on offer is high-sugar, high-carb, processed foods, Reeks said. “That has a place, but it isn’t nutritious. I believe that nutrition is one of the base forms of harm reduction… if you’re filled with all the things that you need… you’re going to subconsciously make better choices for yourself.” 

The DTES Hub started out in early 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, collecting and distributing personal protective equipment like masks, hand sanitizer, and other medical supplies in the neighbourhood. As public attention shifted away from the pandemic, the Hub expanded to offer weather gear and seasonal clothing, hygiene supplies and food products, among other resources. To date, Reeks explained, the DTES Hub has rescued more than 4 million pounds of food from the landfill and supported over 2 million meals. 

The DTES Hub is based near Main and Hastings, just across the street from the Ovaltine Cafe. For Rachel and her mom Grace, it makes the collaboration a natural fit, as they both strive to give back to the community that has given them so much. 

The Ovaltine is no stranger to hardship in recent years, including a temporary shutdown during the early pandemic and a suspected arson in 2023 that damaged the back of the cafe and forced it to close for repairs for nearly seven months. 

During that time, community members helped to fundraise and donate money to the restaurant to keep the Chen’s business afloat. 

“We pretty much live paycheque to paycheque, so if we don’t open the door today, there’s no income generated for our family,” Rachel said. “But [during that time], the community of people who probably has the least in our city, are the ones that are the most generous and so willing to help… it really meant a lot to us.” 

With the recently approved rezoning of the Downtown Eastside and the looming threat of redevelopment, Rachel explained that the future of the Ovaltine Cafe feels exceptionally precarious these days.

In December 2025, city council passed sweeping zoning changes that would significantly increase allowable density and reduce affordability requirements for new housing developments in the Downtown Eastside. 

The impact of “upzoning,” allowing for more density and market-rate housing, is that properties in the neighbourhood are likely to experience an increase in land value due to the expanded development potential, according to housing researchers. Higher land values would, in turn, incentivize current building owners in the area to sell their properties to developers. 

The Chens are on a month-to-month lease, and they would be left with little recourse if the building’s owner decides to sell. “We feel almost hopeless, that there’s really nothing that we can do… but we’re just riding it one day at a time,” Rachel said. 

For those who are looking to connect with the community and find the best deal in town, Rachel invited folks to come to the Ovaltine and “see what this neighbourhood is really all about. It’s really not as scary as they say.”

THE VANCOUVER NUMBER

$1.2 million

That’s the city’s contribution for a potential new VPD training academy at the Woodward’s building in Gastown, to be located in the former London Drugs storefront. The funding was approved by the ABC majority through an advocacy motion by Councillor Brian Montague, a former VPD officer and spokesperson, but the city still needs to get approval from the province to proceed with the academy. 

ABC members said the move will help address concerns about training quality and capacity at the Justice Institute of B.C., where VPD and other municipal police officers are currently trained, but the institute said Montague’s motion includes incorrect information about its capacity. The funding is in addition to the VPD’s 2026 budget and is being taken from the city’s general revenue stabilization reserve. Read more. [CTV, CBC, Vancity Lookout]

THE AGENDA

🤨The story of ABC Coun. Lenny Zhou’s false allegations that opposition councillors were distributing illegal drugs has gotten more complicated. It turns out that Zhou’s allegation, for which he apologized, was spread by Mayor Ken Sim at a press briefing for Chinese-speaking reporters earlier this month. Sim said COPE Coun. Sean Orr was “handing out illegal drugs on Christmas Day to people on the street.” Orr said he wasn’t even in Vancouver on the day in question. Read more. [Vancity Lookout, CityNews]

📉 After a frenzy of multiplex land sales in 2024, a new report shows the Vancouver market has cooled off, with 46 of these land sales in 2025, compared to 124 the year prior. The slowdown is “expected and healthy,” according to the report, as the 2024 figures were driven by provincial housing policy changes in 2023. Read more. [Business in Vancouver]

📈 The minimum wage in B.C. is set to rise to $18.25, from $17.85, a 2.24 per cent increase that’s tied to inflation. Read more. [BC Gov News]

🛳️ For good (if you’re a local business) or bad (if you’re a local), Vancouver’s cruise ship season is expected to hit record highs this year, with 1.4 million passengers expected to visit, mostly between May and October. Read more. [Urbanized]

👮 Officers who were involved in the death of Myles Gray, who died after suffering serious injuries during his arrest, were told by the Vancouver Police Union not to take notes, according to information released as part of the public hearing into Gray’s death in 2015. Read more. [CBC]

🏥 The impact of Vancouver hosting the FIFA World Cup is being felt in many different ways, including access to healthcare. Indigenous health groups in Northern B.C. say they are unable to fly patients down to Vancouver for medical appointments due to the cost of hotel rooms and travel. Read more. [CBC]

🏗️ Waterfront Station could be getting a new 22-storey tree-shaped office tower, though it would still need to be approved by council. Read more ($). [Vancouver Sun]

🏒 Another day, another Canucks loss. The team was denied a victory, losing 3-2 in overtime to the Winnipeg Jets. But on the bright side, it’s another win for Team Tank. Vancouver sits firmly in last place in the NHL standings, eight points back of the closest team. The last-place team will have a 25.5 per cent chance at getting the first overall pick in this summer’s draft. Read more. [Canucks Army]

⚽ But our soccer team is another story. The Whitecaps beat C.S. Cartagines on Wednesday to advance to the round of 16 in the CONCACAF Champions Cup series. Vancouver will be back in action against Toronto FC at BC Place on Saturday in the club’s second MLS game of the season. Read more. [TSN]

VANCOUVER BRIEF

Confusing debate over ICE at FIFA ends with a whimper

By Nate Lewis

What happened: City councillors and Mayor Ken Sim all seem to agree that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents shouldn’t be deployed for security operations in Vancouver during FIFA. But a motion at council this week to formally express that stance to the federal government and other groups was shut down by three ABC councillors and the mayor. 

• U.S. law-enforcement agencies cannot operate in Canada without explicit authorization from the Canadian government, though ICE does already have permission for its presence at Vancouver’s U.S. Consulate for administrative and liaison purposes, according to the motion. 

The details: Meeting chair and ABC Coun. Mike Klassen ruled the motion was out of order, saying the motion “supposes there will be deployment,” which was incorrect based on correspondence council had received that “there would not be any presence of those entities” in Vancouver during FIFA, he said. 

• Vancouver Police Chief Steve Rai said ICE has not been invited or approved to participate in security oversight for FIFA 2026 in Vancouver, according to BIV.    

Councillors Pete Fry (Green) and Sean Orr (COPE), who brought the motion forward, argued that a request could be made later in the process, pointing to ICE agents’ participation in security operations at the recent Olympics in Italy, which was only announced about 10 days before the games began, according to BBC.

In a rare break from party-line voting, ABC councillors Lisa Dominato, Sarah Kirby-Yung, and Peter Meiszner voted for the motion to be heard. However, overturning Klassen’s ruling required a two-thirds majority, or eight votes in this case, and they only got seven. The motion was ultimately thrown out. 

WEEKEND EVENT GUIDE

Vancouver International Wine Festival | Vancouver Convention Centre + more venues | March 7-14 | The wine world awaits you at the Vancouver International Wine Festival. Canada’s premier wine show features seven days of parties, seminars, lunches, dinners, and tastings. [Sponsored]

Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival | Around Metro Vancouver | Feb. 27-Mar. 11 | Come see the best movies about the outdoors | Full access passes start at $139

Early Future Club | Container Brewing | Feb. 27, 8 p.m. | Soulful house and club music, but earlier in the evening!  Tickets $18

Piano Jams at The Beaumont Studios | Beaumont | Feb. 27, 8 p.m. | Duelling pianos, contemporary dance and all-out musical fun | Tickets $25

Stand Up Comedy – Jokes Please! | The RCC | Feb. 28, 8 p.m. | Award-winning standup comedy show with popular comedians from Netflix and Just for Laughs | Tickets $18

B.C. Gin Festival | Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre | Feb. 28 | Unlimited tastings (uh oh) and onsite bottle shop from over 30+ distillers | Tickets $85

Chinese New Year Gluten-Free Dim Sum Brunch | 250 W 3rd Ave | Feb. 28, 11 a.m. | Gluten free dim sum, just as it sounds | Tickets $6

Fast Friending | The Library Square Pub | Feb. 28, 7 p.m. | Fun and quick way to make friends for people between the ages of 21-40 | Tickets $11

Heated Rivalry Craft Party | Butterfly Tea and Dessert | Feb. 28, 12 p.m. | Fun crafts day (though the event doesn’t explain the Heated Rivalry connection) | Tickets $15

Published on Main Wine Events | Published on Main | Mar. 1, multiple times | Come explore special wine events at the popular restaurant, including Pinot Noir and Chardonnay | Tickets $125+

Cocktail-Paired Brunch | Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar | Mar. 1, 12 p.m. | five course cocktail paid meal | Tickets $129

Raising the Bar: A D/6 Cocktail Masterclass | D/6 Bar & Lounge | Mar. 1, 3 p.m. | Master the essentials of mixology masterclass for building cocktails | Tickets $107

Pay What You Can at Vancouver Museums | H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, Vancouver Maritime Museum, Museum of Vancouver | First Sunday of each month, Mar. 1 | Come for free to visit these museums | Free

The Great Yaletown Shakeup | The Brix and Mortar Event Space | Mar. 3, 5 p.m. | Yaletown cocktail masters battle against each other, with attendees voting | Tickets $81

Polar Plunge for Special Olympics BC | Kits Beach | Mar. 7, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Raising money for athletes, with events all across B.C. | Free registration

PHOTO OF THE DAY

With the news that W.C. Shelly Park in Grandview-Woodland will be getting an amenities upgrade, we thought we’d check out the expanded park in its current state 🌱

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• The secret your lawyer doesn't want you to know about—Willful is trusted by over 500k Canadians. Start your online will today. [Sponsored]

• Vancouver entrance signs are getting a big change, and it involves the Olympics and FIFA. [Urbanized]

• The Aburi Market is opening up at 609 Granville St., owned by the folks at Miku and Minami. [Vancouver is Awesome]

• While this Thai dinner features top-ranked Thai chefs to celebrate Women’s Day in Richmond, the 22-course meal will set you back. A lot. [Vancouver is Awesome]

• You can ski for 24 hours at Grouse for one night. [Straight]

• Broadway Across Canada has some exciting shows hitting Vancouver this and next year. [Daily Hive]

• Want to have your announcement featured? Learn how here.

VANCOUVER GUESSER

Well done to all of you who knew that Mercato di Luigi is on East 12th Avenue! For this week’s Guesser, can you tell me what neighbourhood this is?