With the eyes of the world on Vancouver for the Winter Olympics, residents of the city’s Downtown Eastside will have a unique opportunity to dispel the negative stereotypes of their historic, but troubled, neighbourhood.

Megaphone, a magazine sold on the streets of Vancouver by homeless and low-income vendors, is launching a special, double-issue on the Downtown Eastside at the Interurban Gallery on Wednesday, February 3rd at 11 a.m. Entitled “Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside: A People’s History”, the issue aims to change the perception of the neighbourhood and the people that populate it.

“There are a lot of unfortunate stereotypes about the Downtown Eastside,” says Megaphone’s editor-in-chief, Sean Condon. “Many people have a tough time seeing beyond the drug use and poverty. But if you dig a little deeper, you’ll find a community bursting with spirit and compassio