Hastings tent city displacements overshadow UGM’s annual Easter meal

United Gospel Mission’s 33rd annual Easter meal wasn’t as upbeat as previous years Saturday, coming just days after the City of Vancouver forced people out of the long-running tent city on East Hastings.

“It’s just a little more sombre,” said Dean Kurpjuweit, Union Gospel Mission’s president. “It’s not quite as joyful as you’d like it to be.”

Kurpjuweit said the Mission’s shelter has been running overcapacity since the displacements, similar to other shelters in the area.

“We’ve laid down extra mats, but you know, that’s not great,” he said.

The Mission’s thrift shop, which sometimes provides neighbourhood residents with clothes and other goods, also saw an uptick in requests following the displacement.