By David P. Ball
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The keystone cultural event of the Downtown Eastside neighbourhood is going ahead this week despite having many obstacles from the pandemic -- and for supporters, it's as important as ever to bring the "DTES to life."

The Heart of the City Festival started last week and runs until Sunday, Nov. 8. For its 17th anniversary this year, the theme tying together more than 100 events is "This Gives Us Strength."

Kat Norris, who has served as the elder-in-residence of the Heart of the City Festival for several years, explained the importance of the event to the Downtown Eastside community in an interview with The Pulse on CFRO.

"It brings the DTES to life," said Norris, who is Coast Salish, from the Lyackson First Nation, and Nez Perce; her traditional name is Zucomul'wat, after her great-great-great grandmother in Musqueam Nation. "It's quite the struggle this year for everyone to bring it out to the people, but they know it's happening.

"I'm extremely impressed at the fervor with which they're bringing it out to the people... It tells the story of many people who live and work in the DTES -- people who wouldn't normally have a venue, voice or a stage on which to share their talent."

The festival ends Nov. 8 and a full listing of events -- both virtual and in-person -- can be found online.