DTES Community Programs
The Powell Street Festival Society’s Advocacy and Outreach Committee host a series of year round events which incorporate capacity building opportunities for peers, distribution of food and useful resources for DTES residents, and cultural activities and prompts which share Japanese Canadian history and culture.
Asahi Tribute Game
The Vancouver Asahi was a Japanese Canadian baseball team that played in the Powell Street area from 1914 to 1941 until internment forcibly removed all Japanese Canadians from the coastline. The success and achievements of the team have since been recognised with the induction into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003 and the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.
In 2005, the Annual Vancouver Asahi Tribute Game was founded to celebrate the Vancouver Asahi’s contribution to the sport of baseball and to recognise their impact on the history of Canada, human and citizenship rights, and community-building. The Asahi Tribute Game is a free, inclusive, and family-friendly place to play ball, eat hot dogs, and come together for some end-of-summer fun!
In 2020 and 2021, the Annual Asahi Tribute Game was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In lieu, PSFS screened the feature film The Vancouver Asahi at the DTES Heart of the City Festival and partnered with VJLS–JH/Atira’s Respite Space in the Japanese Hall. To add to the festivities, PSFS distributed popcorn and origami baseball cap art prompts! A heartfelt thank you to Grace Eiko Thomson for providing access to the film. Click to enjoy our Asahi Tribute- Origami Baseball Cap Prompt!
14th Annual Asahi Tribute Game
August 20, 2022 10:00 AM Team Sign-up | 10:30 AM Games Begin | 12 Noon Lunch Oppenheimer Park, 400-block Powell St. at Jackson FREE, Drop-in Event Drop-in for our 14th
13th Annual Asahi Tribute Game
August 18, 2018 10 am to 2 pm at Oppenheimer Park (400 block Powell Street) on the unceded territories of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), and mi ce:p kwətxwiləm (Tsleil-Waututh)
12th Annual Asahi Tribute Game
12th Annual Asahi Tribute Game August 19, 2017 10 am to 4 pm at Oppenheimer Park (400 block Powell Street) on the unceded territories of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam),
Hanami Cherry Blossom Picnic
Hanami is our annual spring event to celebrate the cherry blossom season. Each year we present a different cultural offering in addition to a free community Japanese curry lunch.
Hanami: Cherry Blossom Picnic- 2022
Hanami: Cherry Blossom Picnic- 2022 Sunday, April 10th, 2022 at Oppenheimer Park Join PSFS and our Advocacy and Outreach committee for a hot meal of Japanese curry rice, Taiko performance,
Hanami: Japanese Curry Lunch and Haiku
Saturday, April 20, 2019 at 1 pm Oppenheimer Park, 488 Powell Street Celebrate the Sakura Blossoms with free Japanese Curry Lunch at 12:30 pm and Haiku and Block Printing Workshop at 2
Hanami Cherry Blossom Picnic Photos!
Check out some highlights from the Cherry Blossom Picnic on April 7! Thank you to Oppenheimer Park, The Right to Remain and Vancouver Japanese Language School and Japanese Hall for
Minori Harvest
Minori (実り) Harvest is an annual event to celebrate the harvest season and honour the history of Japanese Canadian farmers in BC. We partner with local farmers to source fresh produce to cook and distribute a free miso butternut squash soup. There will also be thematic cultural programming activities throughout the day, in which we celebrate the delicious abundance of autumn with our DTES community! Click to enjoy our Minori Harvest Pumpkin Origami Prompt!
Minori (実り) Harvest Event 2023
Sunday, November 13, 2022. Lunch at 12:30 PM, arts & crafts from 1:00 PM Oppenheimer Park, 488 Powell St. at Jackson Ave. Free community event We hope you’ll join us
Minori (実り) Harvest Event 2022
Sunday, November 13, 2022. Lunch at 12:30 PM, arts & crafts from 1:00 PM Oppenheimer Park, 488 Powell St. at Jackson Ave. Free community event We hope you’ll join us
Minori Harvest Event 2021
Minori (実り) Harvest at Oppenheimer Park An annual PSFS event to celebrate the harvest season and honour the history of Japanese Canadian farmers in BC On November 28, we held