Effy Demeter

Euphemia “Effy” Demeter is a 5th generation Afro-Canadian/Hungarian and Jamaican who holds a degree in Anthropology with a focus on Urban Culture and Planning. She has been passionate about the DTES since moving to Vancouver in 1997 through witnessing her Mother’s work as an Indigenous advocate in the neighbourhood and beyond. This also came with the massive gift of standing side by side at protests and the inexplicable honour of being invited to sing at the Big Drum during Powwows as a child.

After living abroad for most of her twenties in St. Maarten, China, Thailand, Hungary, the UK and Australia she returned to Vancouver and shared her experience in high-end arts with youth. In London she had worked with all the major fashion magazine publications such as Vogue, i-D and Harper’s as a showroom manager for an international PR company. She also passed on her experience as a producer of fashion commercials and music media having worked on music videos from millions to billions of plays. 

In 2022 she decided to refocus and use her degree for the cause she intended it for - caring for the DTES. She started by building a website that lists over 200 local organizations as well as remaking the BC Housing listings with better user design for residents, social workers, and doctors - something none of the levels of government have yet to accomplish. Other than being an info-service, it has also raised awareness for homelessness and has been a substantial fundraising platform. 

Effy is committed to Affordable Housing, Healthy Communities, and Youth in the Arts.