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Vancouver Downtown Eastside portraits a positive amid overdose crisis

It's become a Christmas tradition: photographers and make-up artists volunteer to take portraits of some of Vancouver's most vulnerable people.

Photographers, make-up artists highlight beauty, life for vulnerable people

Chad Pawson · CBC News ·
A toddler is shown her portrait by her mother at a free portrait taking event at the Carnegie Community Centre in Vancouver on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016. (Doug Kerr/CBC)

It's become a Christmas tradition: photographers and make-up artists volunteering to take portraits of some of Vancouver's most vulnerable people.

For 2016, it came at a dark time in the history of the city's Downtown Eastside, where hundreds of people have died from overdoses related to powerful opioids circulated on the street.

"I'd say things are really sad right now. So much death and grief and loss in our population," said Dr. Christy Sutherland at an outreach methadone clinic on Saturday next to a volunteer-run pop-up safe injection site.

Despite the crisis, the neighbourhood's annual portrait events took place. Photographers and make-up artists volunteered to try to bring a smile to the faces of those coping with poverty, homelessness and addiction.

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Volunteers work to provide make-up and hair-styling to people getting their portraits taken. (Doug Kerr/CBC)
Several people having their portraits taken often talk about their life circumstances with volunteers at the event who themselves say that there are misconceptions about what happens to people and why then end up in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. (Doug Kerr/CBC)
'It's a moment of celebrating their life, how they are in this instant,' says volunteer photographer Gabriel Moses. (Doug Kerr/CBC)
'You see more of the beauty than the addiction. We all have our addictions,' says Steven Lytton. 'Some hide it better than others. That's why we're here to have our photo taken.' (Doug Kerr/CBC)
A couple smiles at the Carnegie Community Centre in Vancouver on Saturday Nov. 26, 2016 as they have their picture taken as part of a free portrait event that has become an annual tradition in the city. (Doug Kerr/CBC)

with files from Deborah Goble.

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