Our mission is to facilitate meaningful change and provide a bridge to healthier possibilities through innovative, community driven and supportive programming.

Watari embraces diversity as an integral part of being a caring community. We are committed to building and maintaining a diverse, accessible, civil and supportive environment by including diversity of religion, gender, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, disability, age and socioeconomic class.

To this end, we will make positive efforts to reach out to groups that have traditionally been under-represented and who can enrich and be enriched by their experience at Watari. At Watari we encourage behaviours that enhance the freedom and respect that every individual deserves.

Watari was developed in 1986 as a response to the lack of services and programs for high-risk street involved youth in Vancouver. Since then, Watari has helped thousands of people in the downtown eastside and the surrounding communities, through several youth and community programs as well as through our counselling team. Over the years, Watari has developed important programs not only for youth, but for everyone needing support here in the community, including Indigenous people and migrant workers. Our Latin American Group and Vietnamese Community Kitchen have become important staples in the community as well. Although much has changed over the years, Watari continues to be a safe and supportive place for the people in the community. Today, Watari has 13 essential programs made possible by the dedicated staff, and amazing volunteers and community partners!

A full history of Watari’s activities in the Downtown Eastside, and surrounding communities, for the past 10 years, can be read here!