Strathcona Community Centre is located in the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish & Tsleil-Waututh Nations, in one of Vancouver's oldest neighbourhoods. The Strathcona Community Centre Association (SCCA) partners with the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation to deliver programs and services at the Strathcona Community Centre. Since its inception in 1972, the SCCA is lead by a volunteer board of directors and is both a provincially registered society and a federally registered charity. Located in Chinatown and as part of the Downtown Eastside, Strathcona is one of Vancouver's oldest neighbourhoods but also one of Canada's poorest. Often described as "inner-city", the area deals with issues such as a diverse socio-economic and multicultural population, poverty, crime, additions, homelessness, affordable housing, unemployment and gentrification. In the midst of this, the community centre delivers a multitude of programs and services for all ages, including recreation and physical activities, licensed childcare, youth leadership, food security, social, educational and cultural programs. A large part of Strathcona's continued success is due to financial support from foundations, grants, donations and fundraising. Examples of programs include arts and crafts; dance; drama; performing arts; sports; physical activity; licensed out-of-school care; licensed preschool; summer daycamps for children; Christmas break and spring break programs for school-aged children; youth leadership; youth sports teams; seniors tai chi, dance, karaoke, etc; parent and tot drop-in; Food Security programs such as the free breakfast program and backpack program for school-aged kids and their families; and family support programs such as Community Action Program for Children and Nobody's Perfect Parenting Program.
