H’Arts benefit

H’ART WARMER The city’s opioid crisis, a health tragedy that is crossing boundaries and affecting many, was the focus of the Lookout Housing and Health Society’s 9th Annual H’Arts for the Homeless benefit. Orchestrated by Deanna Knight, the event saw party guests make their way to the Imperial on Main Street in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside to support the agency’s efforts to raise funds and address the growing public health emergency.

Lookout currently operates two federally approved supervised consumption sites, one in Vancouver, and another in Surrey, where the city has the distinction of having the second highest number of fatal drug

overdoses outside of Vancouver.

Attendees enjoyed an evening of cirque acts, music and art while raising critical funds to address the opioid issue. Eight local artists — Donna Giraud, Lori Goldberg, Bill Higginson, Mo Khaleel, Jace Kim, Louise Nicholson, Olga

Rybalko and Danyne Johnston put their best effort forward creating works of art that would be auctioned off at the end of the evening. For Johnston it was personal, as the North Shore artist shared the loss of her 20-year-old niece to the epidemic with gala-goers in hopes it will further put a spotlight on the drug crisis sweeping the nation.

Johnston’s painting Trees of Hope, along with the seven other works, drummed up $15,000 in the live auction. The art sale would contribute to a $65,000 night, a new fundraising standard for the registered charity.

“The overdose crisis has deeply affected our guests and our staff. Everyone knows someone who has died.

Not only is Lookout helping vulnerable individuals stay safe, we are supporting them as they cope through tremendous loss,” said Shayne Williams, Lookout’s executive director.

Founded in 1971, Lookout operates 30 facilities across Metro Vancouver supporting the city’s most vulnerable; in Vancouver, Surrey, New Westminster, the North Shore, Burnaby, Maple Ridge, Mission, Langley and Abbotsford.

On the heels of opening their new Yaletown gallery The Space, husband and wife team of Bill Higginson and Olga Rybalko created works of art that went up for auction. Their paintings along with the six others created that evening drummed up $15,000 for...

Shayne Williams, Lookout’s executive director, and Deanna Knight, event coordinator, were all smiles when nearly $65,000 was posted, a new fundraising standard for the registered charity.

Animator and contemporary artist Jace Kim put his best work forward for The Lookout Society’s annual H’Arts for the Homeless benefit and art auction.

North Shore artist Danyne Johnston shared the loss of her 20-year old niece earlier this year to the opioid crisis with gala-goers in hopes it will further put a spotlight on the drug epidemic sweeping the province.