The Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia announced a public-private partnership to renovate and restore 13 provincially owned Single Room Occupancy hotels in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside to provide access to clean and safe social housing.

The Province is providing up to $1 million to keep the First United shelter open for an additional four months on Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.

As a result of federal and provincial investments in affordable housing, a new program is available to help low-income seniors and people with disabilities finance home modifications for accessible, safe and independent living.

The 2011 recipients of the Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia (AME BC)'s annual awards include the Britannia Mine and renowned geoscientist Dave Lefebure, former chief geologist with the B.C. Geological Survey, who retired last fall.

Forty-two interim shelter spaces open today at the Marble Arch Hotel, a provincially owned SRO. This shelter facility, using vacant commercial space at the Marble Arch, will operate 24 hours a day, offer a meal program and incorporate a unique couples-only component.

With the official opening of the Aboriginal Mother Centre, Aboriginal mothers and children at risk of homelessness now have access to transformational homes that are linked to cultural traditions.

The Province and the City of Vancouver will share costs and open two new temporary shelters in Vancouver over the next few weeks.

The Province will open 42 interim shelter spaces in mid-December, using vacant commercial space at the Marble Arch Hotel, a provincially owned Single Room Occupancy Hotel located at 518 Richards St. in Vancouver.

Construction is progressing at 1249 Howe Street where a new, 12-storey building will provide 110 new supportive housing apartments for individuals in Vancouver with HIV/AIDS who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.