VANCOUVER - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's promise to meet with all kinds of Canadians took them to Vancouver's gritty Downtown Eastside Sunday, where they met with mothers recovering from addiction who said the visit helped show them they are respected, despite their struggles.
Allison Wright, a mother of two children under five, told the royals her story with a small group of moms over tea at Sheway, an organization that helps marginalized pregnant women and mothers living in one of Canada's poorest neighbourhoods.
“I'm really grateful for the chance to bring some light on this place because there's a lot of love and a lot of hope here,” Wright said.
She said the visit by Prince William and his wife Kate gave those who benefit from the program a chance to be seen as people “and not just a problem to be solved.”
Sheway was modeled on the Glasgow Women's Reproductive Health Service Unit, which opened in 1990 to serve women with major social problems. That program also has a connection to the Royal Family as it was officially opened by William's mother, Princess Diana.
The interest from the duke and duchess in Sheway was evident, said manager Patti Zettel.
“Moving through the program with them, their questions were thoughtful, their questions were informed,” she said. “And you can tell that there's this kind of longitudinal legacy in terms of their understanding of women, addiction, marginalization.”
Their decision to visit the Downtown Eastside was profound, and visiting a women's organization was even more so, she added.
“It is so important to this community, to the lives of these women. Their voices matter, their lives matter and their kids matter,” Zettel said.
The royal couple later toured the Immigrant Services Society's new Welcome Housing in Vancouver, where they met Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau.
The prime minister spoke of his government's efforts to settle 25,000 refugees, but said the “real story” is the Canadians who volunteered their time at organizations that help immigrants and families across the country who sponsored refugees. William nodded as he listened to Trudeau speak.
William asked a refugee from Afghanistan how the society has helped him, and was told about a technology course that help the man learn new skills.
At each stop, people gathered behind barricades to catch a glimpse of the couple, hand them flowers or perhaps get the chance to say hello.
Marika Ball waited for three hours at the Jack Poole Plaza on Sunday morning to snag her front-row spot to greet the royals after they flew by float plane from Victoria.
“We're thrilled,” she said. “We're great admirers of Princess Diana, so this is all historical and wonderful and exciting.”
Ball confessed she was most excited to see the Duchess of Cambridge.
“I think she has done everything perfectly. I think she's a wonderful mother. She's a great representative of the Royal Family. I think she is intelligent and bright and terrific."
While the royal couple arrived to cheers at every stop, at least one person wasn't a fan, carrying a sign that read, “No Kings. No Landlords.”
When the tour started in Victoria on Saturday, Prince William told thousands at an official welcoming ceremony that he and Kate want to meet as many Canadians from as many walks of life as possible during their visit, highlighting the environment, support for young families and mental health initiatives as areas they are interested in learning more about.
The royal couple have been advocates for mental health services in the United Kingdom. They launched a mental health campaign called Heads Together in the U.K. earlier this year to reduce the stigma around mental illness and raise funds for support services.
William and Kate travelled Sunday without their children, three-year-old Prince George and Princess Charlotte, who is one.
They were dressed semi-formally for their visit to Vancouver, with William wearing a blazer, tie and dark pants. Kate was wearing a red-and-white patterned dress by the late British designer Alexander McQueen, with her hair down, red shoes and a red purse.
William and Kate also hosted a reception for young Canadians making important contributions to their communities and visited the Kitsilano Coast Guard Station.
