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A Thousand Dreams: Vancouver's Downtown Eastside and the Fight for Its Future
In this mix of history, journalism, political analysis, and first-person accounts, former chief coroner and Vancouver mayor Larry Campbell, renowned criminologist Neil Boyd, and investigative journalist Lori Culbert, offer a portrait of one of North America’s poorest, most drug-challenged Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
A Thousand Dreams raises provocative questions about the challenges confronting not only Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside but also all of North America’s major cities and offers concrete, urgently needed solutions,
Continued support for Insite, the safe injection site
Decriminalization of prostitution and drugs
The transfer of addiction services to the Health Ministry, allowing detox into the medical system
More government-funded SROs and more affordable social housing
A Thousand Dreams raises provocative questions about the challenges confronting not only Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside but also all of North America’s major cities and offers concrete, urgently needed solutions,
Continued support for Insite, the safe injection site
Decriminalization of prostitution and drugs
The transfer of addiction services to the Health Ministry, allowing detox into the medical system
More government-funded SROs and more affordable social housing
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
7 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
Larry Campbell
38 booksA former chief coroner for B.C. and mayor of Vancouver from 2002 to 2005, Larry Campbell oversaw the establishment of North America's first legal injection site. He co-authored A Thousand Dreams: Vancouver's Downtown Eastside and the Fight for Its Future (Greystone, 2009) with Neil Boyd and Lori Culbert. Campbell was appointed to the Canadian senate in 2005. His work as a coroner was the basis for a popular Canadian television drama DaVinci's Inquest.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 27, 2022
The first two thirds of the book read quite well and i suspect were by lead author Larry Campbell using third person. It was mostly a history of Vancouver's duug addiction (and prostitution). It told of some of the successes in dealing with the issue but not on a grad scale. A lot of the problems stemmed from the federal Liberal Government ending the housing program in 1993 and the Provincial Government crosing Riverview (a home for mentally ill people). With no where to go they ended up on the streets. Despite pointing out a large source of the problem there is no reverting back to a solution.
It cst something like $90,000 a year to deal with an addict through a judicial system (policing and incarceration) but only around $60,000 through harm reduction and such. The book gives a number of qualititatjte examples oe success but seems short on an overall quantitative benefit if there were more rerources devoted to prevention and treatment. It wasn't able to answer if it could significantly reduce addiction or just make it easier to be addicted.
There seems to be about 5,000-10,000 addicts in the City. Those on heroine need 8-14 hits PER DAY! (at $20 a pop). I wonder if that applies to opiod users? In an early book i read on Casino money laundrying i had calculated that for every million dollars laundered per day there would need to be 50,000 addicts at $20 a hit (where all the twenties were coming from) with my naively thinking one hit a day sufficed, but it closer to ten. Which could explain how 5,000 addicts account for a million dollars a day drug money (to be laundered).
The book states half the crime in the downtown is attributed to addicts. So you get the crimes of theft and prostitution (with their dealers and pimps) tied up withe gambling and money laundering and putting the value of real estate up.
Another reason i read the book was to try and make sense of Larry Campbell being presently chair of the Casino most infamous for the money laundrying (of dug money) and the Larry Campbell, author of this book, and champion of addiction reform through being a coroner and Mayor of Vancouver (and TV series' "DaVinci's Inquest" and "DaVinci's City Hall" bsed on him). I could not reconcile the dissonance.
It cst something like $90,000 a year to deal with an addict through a judicial system (policing and incarceration) but only around $60,000 through harm reduction and such. The book gives a number of qualititatjte examples oe success but seems short on an overall quantitative benefit if there were more rerources devoted to prevention and treatment. It wasn't able to answer if it could significantly reduce addiction or just make it easier to be addicted.
There seems to be about 5,000-10,000 addicts in the City. Those on heroine need 8-14 hits PER DAY! (at $20 a pop). I wonder if that applies to opiod users? In an early book i read on Casino money laundrying i had calculated that for every million dollars laundered per day there would need to be 50,000 addicts at $20 a hit (where all the twenties were coming from) with my naively thinking one hit a day sufficed, but it closer to ten. Which could explain how 5,000 addicts account for a million dollars a day drug money (to be laundered).
The book states half the crime in the downtown is attributed to addicts. So you get the crimes of theft and prostitution (with their dealers and pimps) tied up withe gambling and money laundering and putting the value of real estate up.
Another reason i read the book was to try and make sense of Larry Campbell being presently chair of the Casino most infamous for the money laundrying (of dug money) and the Larry Campbell, author of this book, and champion of addiction reform through being a coroner and Mayor of Vancouver (and TV series' "DaVinci's Inquest" and "DaVinci's City Hall" bsed on him). I could not reconcile the dissonance.
February 4, 2014
I picked this book up to learn more about Vancouver's history having just moved here. I have to say that if you want a look into the politics that shaped Downtown East Side Vancouver,this will give you some great insights. Each of the three authors bring their own unique perspective to this story. Larry Campbell was of course hip deep in it all as Mayor of Vancouver or Chief Coroner during the time of this book's story. Neil Boyd's background as a criminologist gives us all a view into the thinking behind much of the criminal behavior explored in this book. But it was journalist Lori Culbert who really made me want to read this. She has such passion for this city and the disenfranchised of our beautiful city.
In the book you find out how there was a time when this part of Vancouver was vibrant, important and a big part of what made Vancouver an amazing city to live in and be a part of once upon a time. As we follow the decisions the city made, we watch how it affects the citizens. I was astounded to find out just how much the opening of travel affected this area with the arrival of heavy drugs from places like Vietnam in the 70s. The book is moving, an eye opener and a history of how a small part of a big city can have a huge impact on us all.
In the book you find out how there was a time when this part of Vancouver was vibrant, important and a big part of what made Vancouver an amazing city to live in and be a part of once upon a time. As we follow the decisions the city made, we watch how it affects the citizens. I was astounded to find out just how much the opening of travel affected this area with the arrival of heavy drugs from places like Vietnam in the 70s. The book is moving, an eye opener and a history of how a small part of a big city can have a huge impact on us all.
September 30, 2010
Depressing and inspiring all at the same time. I completely agreed with the authors' perspectives on the majority of issues - so refreshing to read such an in-depth and compassionate portrayal of the neighbourhood and its people, compared to the superficial comments and fear-mongering that's usually in the media. Highly recommended for any Vancouverites who are still skeptical about harm reduction or the benefits of providing housing, services, etc to people with addictions. Also recommended for Stephen Harper and his government who continue to waste our time and money trying to find loopholes to shut down Insite, and now are appealing the recent Ontario supreme court decision that struck down our archaic prostitution laws on human rights grounds...
March 24, 2023
Super interesting! I liked how it was a balanced look into the history of the neighbourhood. The intersections with mental health, HIV status, drug use and sex work were clearly articulated. Learning about harm reduction in Canada and the different initiatives targeting Downtown Eastside residents was the part I enjoyed the most!
The beginning was a bit slow but this book is very much work the read!
The beginning was a bit slow but this book is very much work the read!
November 12, 2013
This is a must read for all Canadians, and for anyone interested in harm reduction policy, and the impact uninformed governments can have on the health and wellness of their most marginalized citizens. A brilliant, informative, heartbreaking read.
October 26, 2022
Excellent excellent book. I work in the DTES and this has helped me understand the dynamics of this unique community... bear in mind that this was written before fent hit the streets, so things have changed significantly since then. But the community is still here and that gives me hope.
June 13, 2022
“Life expectancy [in the Downtown Eastside] was closer to Hades than Vancouver.”
The best parts of the book were excellent, particularly the chapters on the history of the DTES. At times it felt like the book was trying to accomplish too much, and some chapters read like a detailed bureaucratic pamphlet for a specific neighbourhood outreach. The chapter on the Pickton murders was told from a refreshing perspective, but I wished the authors would have devoted more time to case/trial.
The best parts of the book were excellent, particularly the chapters on the history of the DTES. At times it felt like the book was trying to accomplish too much, and some chapters read like a detailed bureaucratic pamphlet for a specific neighbourhood outreach. The chapter on the Pickton murders was told from a refreshing perspective, but I wished the authors would have devoted more time to case/trial.
July 19, 2022
Insightful, detailed look at Vancouver's Downtown Eastside and how it became what it is and how local people are working to help those in need instead of just brushing them off. Given that this was published roughly 12 years ago I would love an updated version or something just to know how much progress has been made.
January 29, 2012
This book moves through drug addiction, prostitution, murder, rape, poverty and racism in a way that never lets the reader forget the humanity that lies underneath. Worthwhile, alternately uplifting and stomach churning.
January 28, 2012
The writing is a bit dry, but the insight on some contemporary history (which I only knew in general terms) was great.
October 25, 2013
Liked it, learned a lot, am excited to discuss it at book club. It's great to know some of the history around government and activism in Vancouver.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews