Vancouver healing lodge opens after 10 years of work

"Eddy had been collaborating on his healing lodge idea with Joe Wai, an architect with a lengthy track record of working with community groups in the neighbourhood. Wai got a phone call from NDP MP Libby Davies, who had been told by Conservative cabinet minister John Baird that he was looking for a “shovel-ready” project in the Downtown Eastside as part of the federal stimulus program. 'There’s a lot of serendipity with this building,” Eddy said. “Libby called Joe and yes, bingo! It’s one of those New Age meant-to-happen things if you believe in that stuff.'"