February 28, 2024

Following a comprehensive search, we are excited to announce the appointment of a new Executive Director with the planned retirement of long-serving ED, Nancy Keough.

“We are thrilled to welcome Leslie as our new Executive Director”, said Sarah Corrigall-Brown, Board Chair of The Kettle Society, “His track record in program delivery, fund development, and community engagement will be instrumental in driving The Kettle’s strategic goals as we continue to deliver and grow essential community services and supported housing to our members”.

December 6, 2023

If you feel like you are seeing more and more people experiencing homelessness on the streets of Vancouver, you aren’t wrong.

This year’s homelessness count by the Homelessness Services Association of BC found that there are 4,821 people experiencing homelessness in Greater Vancouver—a 32 per cent increase since 2020. While the roots of today’s homelessness crisis have been well documented, the key to solving it is not as simple as just building more housing….

November 30, 2023

A few weeks after starting at my job at Vancouver Opera, I had the honour of meeting the amazing Carole Côté over the phone - singing her heart out. Carole graciously agreed to visit us at the VO and shared songs and stories. I think you’ll agree that she is truly one-of-a-kind…

June 25, 2023

The Kettle Society is a non-profit organization based in Vancouver - providing housing, community services and employment opportunities to those living with mental illness.

Since 2016 - they've hosted their weekly choir - otherwise known as "The Kettle Choir"

Our own Jeremy Ratt went down to their rehearsal at the Recovery Cafe in Vancouver….

December 8, 2022

“There are so many pathways in recovery, and we just want to be another option,” said café manager Damian Murphy in an interview. “We hope to be a space where people can explore that and learn from one another.”

Murphy, who has worked for the Kettle Society for 13 years, says he’s seen the gaps between health care, housing, substance use and mental health services widen and widen...

4 décembre 2022

Après un an à exister sans lieu fixe, le Recovery Café a officiellement des locaux à Vancouver. Le centre est le premier de son genre au pays, selon ses fondateurs, et sa création a pour but de combler un manque dans l’offre de services dans la lutte contre les dépendances à Vancouver.

Géré par la Kettle Society, un organisme à but non lucratif, le centre est axé sur les liens de confiance que les membres forment entre eux, leur permettant de créer une communauté, notamment durant les rencontres hebdomadaires en groupe…

December 2, 2022

A community network for people in recovery is making its first foray into Canada, with Vancouver's Recovery Café opening its doors on the Downtown Eastside on Sept. 12.

The Recovery Café Network was launched in Seattle in 2016 and, according to its website, offers warm, welcoming and healing community spaces with the support of other like-minded organizations.

Damian Murphy is the manager of the new Vancouver location at 620 Clark Drive. He says the local effort is sponsored by the Kettle Society — a non-profit that aims to empower the city's most vulnerable…

December 2, 2022

Canada’s first Recovery Café, which opened in East Vancouver this past September, has marked a milestone.

According to the café’s manager, the site welcomed its 50th member last week.

The facility is meant to provide a safe and supportive place for people recovering from substance use, mental illness, and those experiencing homelessness…

December 2, 2022

“For those of you that don’t know, the Recovery Café model started down in Seattle, and we now belong to a network of about 50 other cafes across the United States. We’re very proud to be the first one here in Vancouver, Canada,” explained Damian Murphy…

May 24, 2022

An east Vancouver agency says vulnerable people sought help from its homeless outreach program nearly 6,000 times in 2021, more than double the demand in 2019 — and that massive increase in need continues into this year.

This escalation is mainly due to crises creating havoc for an already vulnerable population. The COVID-19 pandemic shut down services and exacerbated mental health challenges. The overdose epidemic continues to kill more than five British Columbians every day. And rising rents and almost-zero vacancy rates make finding affordable housing nearly impossible…

May 22, 2022

The pandemic has exposed the growing need among those struggling with mental illness and experiencing homelessness. Now, staff at a Vancouver organization that tries to help people in need says the lifelines to support them are dwindling…