Work on legacy mural begins in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside

A significant mural project has commenced on the wall of the former Balmoral Hotel site in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, dedicated to honoring two well-known community members, Trey Helten and Angel Gates. Lead artists Kyle Shipman and Jesse Gouchey launched the large-scale legacy project last week at 159 East Hastings Street.

"This is our way of finally getting to mourn the loss of our friends and get a little bit of closure," Shipman stated in an interview. Helten, who passed away in April 2025, had envisioned transforming the wall into a community mural. He had planned to feature Angel Gates, a prominent community member and former resident of the Balmoral Hotel, which was closed in July 2017 due to fire and safety concerns.

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This is our way of finally getting to mourn the loss of our friends and get a little bit of closure.

The city acquired the Balmoral Hotel in 2020 through an expropriation settlement, intending to upgrade the Single Room Occupancy (SRO) building. However, due to "decades of underinvestment and mismanagement by the building’s former owners," the city deemed it unsafe, leading to a demolition order in February 2022. The new design for the mural now depicts Helten painting Gates, serving as a dual tribute.

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The gift of Trey just keeps giving and it’s just so meaningful to me to give back and to have a part of this.

"The gift of Trey just keeps giving and it’s just so meaningful to me to give back and to have a part of this," Gouchey told Global News. Legendary street artist Jamie Hardy, also known as Smokey D, will be painting the lower section of the mural, which is anticipated to become one of the city's largest artworks. "I knew them both (Helten and Gates) very well so it’s pretty heavy," Hardy said. "It’s really big for the whole community, right? You know what I mean, everyone loved them."

Sarah Blyth, executive director of the Overdose Prevention Society (OPS), mentioned that she and Helten began working on the mural concept years ago. Following the Balmoral's demolition in 2024, they initiated contact with the city and other stakeholders to secure the site for the project. Blyth recalled Helten's eagerness, noting he once wanted to "jump the fence and just start painting."

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I knew them both (Helten and Gates) very well so it’s pretty heavy. It’s really big for the whole community, right? You know what I mean, everyone loved them.