Scout was a proud sponsor of the first This Is East Van community book project, and we are again for the second, which started printing over the weekend. The launch party goes down at 7pm on July 7th at the Interurban Gallery (1 East Hastings at Carrall). Scout will be there, and we hope you will, too! Check out the video above for a behind the scenes look at the production. If you’re unfamiliar with the first book…

It all began with the idea of celebrating the many sides of East Vancouver through community art. In July of 2010 Erin Sinclair and Jason Uglanica put out a call for submissions: Any image of East Vancouver, from anyone, in any photographic medium. The response was overwhelming. Soon dozens of images started pouring in, in all shapes and sizes, from community members young and old, some of whom rarely picked up a camera, while others did so for a living.

Much like the progressive community that is East Vancouver, the photos demonstrated the diversity of its people, art, design, food and architecture. It soon became clear that the THIS IS EAST VAN project was going to be a candid snapshot, an authentic glimpse, of this diverse neighbourhood right now. Real images, by real people, in a very real, and vibrant community.

The collection of photos in the book give just a taste of East Vancouver. It would be impossible to capture it all, and that of course is part of the neighbourhood’s allure. The same allure is contained in every story told by these images, stories of a progressive, open-minded, and diverse community with a pace and energy that can’t be found anywhere else in the city.

THIS IS EAST VAN hopes to inspire thoughtfulness and change, even if that change is as small as seeing a part of your community through the eyes of your neighbours.