A Talk with The UBU Champion

Today we were fortunate to meet up with Doris Chow from United We Can, the largest social enterprise in the DTES focusing on collecting recyclable  produts such as bottles and cans. Everyday numerous binners (people who search through garbage bins looking for items that be recycled for cash) pile into an old building along East Hastings, unloading ”treasures” they have discovered. It is a sustainable business that provides employment to local residents, who would generally not be hired anywhere else. 

Doris spearheads the Urban Bining Unit, a division of United We Can that focuses on creating compact carts. These carts enable binners to pick up and transport recyclable products from surrounding businesses that are willing to donate.

We engaged in 1.5 hour conversation in a small coffee shop in Gastown.  After ordering our coffee, we immediately bombarded her with questions. She was open and replied to each one thoughtfully. Drug addiction is a very complex issue. We talked about how drug prohibition had not been effective. Drug dealers are still rampant and enslaving  addicts, who need to get high.  I saw several of what appeared to be drug transactions in the back alleys as I walking to UWC.  Drug policies were made on a federal level, which creates some limitation in both the provincial and municipal level. Political bureaucracy and the need for elected officials to remain in power generally result in policies that cannot be controversial and are still the the status quo.

On the other hand, there are those who successfully complete rehab but still remain unemployed and homeless. Doris told us how she had bumped into one the regular binners at UWC outside a rehab center.  He looked a lot healthier because he had been changing his lifestyle. However upon reaching sobriety, people were reluctant to offer him a job due to his past. He managed to secure a job at UWC, but the high cost due of rent in surrounding neighbourhoods forced him to remain in the DTES. Continued exposure to an environment where drug usage is visibly high, makes it more difficult for a recovering addict. There seems to be lack of policies that enable people to leave the DTES, mixed along with NIMBYism.

Doris was an SFU sociology graduate.  Last summer, she had attended the “Semester in Dialogue” program in the downtown campus that focuseson social problems. Since our project was similar to some of the events from that program, she provided insight on who we should invite and methods to facilitate it.  A case competition involving business students would have to avoid the pitfalls of being too competitive – it may take away the true point of the exercise. She explained that it was not the end product or result that was important , but rather the process of thinking and collaborating on such issues.