Victoria's Pandora Street is a hive of misery. But there's hope

Victoria B.C.’s Pandora Avenue is living up to its name. Greek mythology tells the story of Pandora’s Box being opened, unleashing untold misery on the world. Only one thing remained in the Box.

A recent Globe and Mail article illustrates the rapid downward spiral of Pandora’s street-level chaos, juxtaposing addiction and other forms of mental illness and the surrounding neighbourhood’s despair over lawlessness, crime, violence and the frustration of their, so far, failed efforts to help to strengthen the community. The article dubbed the area one of the “largest open-air drug markets in Western Canada.”

Pandora’s 900 Block is steps from the Ministry of Health headquarters, which I’ve been visiting for my work on addiction and homelessness since the 90s. Last year, I spoke with people