Newly installed signs guiding FIFA 2026 World Cup visitors through Vancouver have sparked a heated debate over the presentation of the Downtown Eastside to an international audience. The large, color-coded maps encourage tourists to 'Explore Vancouver' but omit the Downtown Eastside, instead labeling the area as 'Hastings Crossing.' This business zone encompasses parts of downtown, Gastown, and the Downtown Eastside, and its listed attractions include art, music, comedy, local dining, a 'Mexican Barrio,' and historic landmarks.
Controversy Over Rebranding
Photographer and writer Katherine Arnett, who has worked in Vancouver for two decades including in the Downtown Eastside, criticized the signs in a Threads post that garnered over 23,000 views. She wrote, 'The FIFA 2026 Vancouver maps have rebranded the DTES as 'Hastings Crossing' and say it includes a 'Mexican Barrio.' For reference, that is where I tell tourists not to go.' Her post cited a Wikipedia entry describing the area as having 'disproportionately high levels of drug use, homelessness, poverty, crime, mental illness, and sex work.'
Community Reactions
Arnett told Postmedia that the city is 'trying to sweep the issues of the underserved community in the Downtown Eastside under the rug, like some dirty secret.' She argued that a world-class city should treat its citizens in a way that makes it unafraid of the spotlight. 'I want tourists to go in with their eyes open and respect the people living in the Downtown Eastside, which is very much the real life of Vancouver,' she added.
Other neighborhoods are described in glowing terms: Gastown as a national historic site with boutiques and live entertainment, Chinatown for authentic dining and speakeasy vibes, and Yaletown for lively patios and boutique shopping. The Downtown Eastside, however, is conspicuously absent from the signage.
Official Responses
The Vancouver Host Committee did not respond to requests for comment. However, its online 'Know Before You Go' guide acknowledges that B.C. Place Stadium is located in a downtown urban setting with 'diverse lived realities.' It notes that the Downtown Eastside 'continues to navigate complex social and health challenges related to poverty, mental health, and substance use, alongside sustained community-led efforts focused on care, resilience, and opportunity.'
Destination Vancouver CEO Royce Chwin declined to comment on the signs but said at a news conference last month that visitors are increasingly raising concerns about personal safety, street disorder, and aggressive behavior downtown.
