Vancouver Aboriginal Health Society

What Vancouver Aboriginal Health Society does

Vancouver Aboriginal Health Society (VAHS) is a not-for-profit charitable organization founded in 1991 in Vancouver, British Columbia, that provides culturally grounded healthcare, dental, mental health, and social services to the urban Indigenous population of Greater Vancouver, with a focus on Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. VAHS operates a multi-program portfolio spanning five pillars: (1) a Primary Care Clinic offering full-scope primary care including Opioid Agonist Therapy (OAT), HIV care, wound care, and Elder-led traditional healing; (2) the Eastside Dental Clinic, a 15-year-old low-barrier dental practice that is the first not-for-profit clinic in British Columbia to offer SOLEA painless laser dentistry, SureSmile clear aligners, and sedation services; (3) the Women's Mobile Primary Care (WMPC) program, an all-women-led mobile health unit launched in 2023 serving three Downtown Eastside sites; (4) Indigenous Early Years, a wraparound suite of family and child development programs (AIDP, Supported Childhood Development, Building Blocks, Family Support Worker, Family Violence Intervention, FASD Support, Sheway, and Reaching Home housing); and (5) Our Circle is Strong cultural programming, delivered by an embedded network of Elders and Knowledge Keepers.

The organization delivers services through five fixed locations clustered on East Hastings Street and Princess Avenue in the Downtown Eastside, supplemented by the mobile health unit and outreach partnerships with five neighborhood houses (Britannia, Cedar Cottage, Kiwassa, Mount Pleasant, South Vancouver). Its core operating model integrates Indigenous traditional healing practices — ceremonies, smudging, prayers, drumming, traditional medicines, and Elder guidance — with Western medical care under a trauma- and violence-informed care philosophy.

VAHS is funded primarily through federal, provincial, regional health authority, and municipal government grants (Health Canada, BC Ministry of Health, Ministry of Children & Family Development, Vancouver Coastal Health, City of Vancouver, Infrastructure Canada via Reaching Home), supplemented by donations (Charitable Registration Number 13044 6933 RR0001), philanthropic support (e.g., Vancouver Foundation), and patient fees from the dental clinic including Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) acceptance. Programs are delivered free or low-cost to clients. The organization employs 51–100 staff under Executive Director Carrie Humchitt (Heiltsuk Nation) and is currently developing the VAHS Healing Centre, a new land-based healing facility, as its next major capital expansion.

Name

Vancouver Aboriginal Health Society

Legal name

Vancouver Aboriginal Health Society

Website

https://vahs.life

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Vancouver Aboriginal Health Society is a 1991-founded, Indigenous-led not-for-profit in Vancouver that delivers culturally grounded primary care, dental, mental health, housing, and family services to the urban Indigenous population of Greater Vancouver, with a focus on the Downtown Eastside.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Health Services

NAICS

Health Care and Social Assistance (62), Individual and Family Services (6241), Social Assistance (624), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Services-Home Health Care Services (8082)

akta.pro primary industry

Primary Care for Underserved Populations (e.g., migrant, homeless, refugee clinics) (HLAFAGAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Tribal/Indigenous Public Health Authorities (HLAJAAAD), Maternal, Child & Family Health Departments (HLAJAAAK), Local Public Health & Human Services Administration (BPAIACAK)

Keywords

• Indigenous healthcare services
• Community health clinics
• Culturally grounded care
• Primary care clinic
• Dental clinic services

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Primary revenue from federal and provincial government sources including Health Canada, British Columbia Ministry of Health, and Vancouver Coastal Health for providing healthcare and social services to Indigenous populations.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Not-for-profit organization relying on donations to ensure wellness is accessible. Charitable Registration Number: 13044 6933 RR0001.
3. Dental Services Revenue: Dental clinic generates revenue through patient fees. Offers services to BC residents (Indigenous and non-Indigenous), with an internal fee guide for patients without dental coverage. Accepts Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) and various government programs.
4. Program-Specific Funding: Individual programs like Reaching Home (Indigenous Early Years) receive dedicated funding from partners such as Infrastructure Canada and Lu'ma Native Housing Society.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Vancouver Aboriginal Health Society delivers culturally grounded, trauma-informed healthcare and social services to the urban Indigenous population in Greater Vancouver, with a primary focus on the Downtown Eastside. Core offerings include full-scope primary care, low-barrier dental care (including SOLEA laser technology), women's mobile primary care, Elder-led cultural programming and traditional healing, and a suite of family and child development programs including Sheway, FASD support, family violence intervention, and housing outreach services.

Product overview

Vancouver Aboriginal Health Society operates as a not-for-profit healthcare and social services provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs organized around five core pillars: (1) Primary Care Clinic providing full-scope medical services with Opioid Agonist Therapy and Elder-led traditional healing; (2) Eastside Dental Clinic offering low-barrier dental care including preventative, urgent, and specialized services with SOLEA laser technology; (3) Women's Mobile Primary Care delivering culturally safe mobile healthcare directly to underserved women; (4) Cultural Programming through Our Circle is Strong providing Elder-guided cultural wellness services; and (5) Indigenous Early Years encompassing multiple family and child development programs including AIDP, Supported Childhood Development, Building Blocks, Family Support Worker, Family Violence Intervention, FASD Support, Sheway, and housing services through the Reaching Home initiative. The organization is developing the VAHS Healing Centre to expand social services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Women's Mobile Primary Care: Culturally safe, all-women led, accessible, and flexible healthcare service providing essential primary care to underserved populations
• Eastside Dental Clinic
• VAHS Healing Centre
• Indigenous Early Years
• Our Circle is Strong
• Sheway
• Family Support Worker Program
• FASD Supported Circle Program
• Family Violence Intervention Program

Products and services

• Primary Care Clinic Full-scope primary care clinic providing Opioid Agonist Therapy (OAT), HIV care, foot care, wound care, immunizations, mental health supports, and Elder-led traditional healing for urban Indigenous peoples and Downtown Eastside residents.
• Eastside Dental Clinic Low-barrier preventative and urgent dental care clinic offering cleanings, fillings, extractions, root canals, crowns, bridges, sedation dentistry, SureSmile clear aligners, and SOLEA laser painless treatments for individuals with limited or no dental coverage.
• Women's Mobile Primary Care (WMPC) Culturally safe, all-women led mobile healthcare service providing essential primary care to underserved women in the Downtown Eastside using a mobile health unit at three community sites, integrating cultural outreach support, social work, physicians, and registered nurses.
• Our Circle is Strong: Cultural Programming Cultural pathway program providing holistic wellness support through Elder and Knowledge Keeper guidance, including wellness teachings, advocacy, workshops, ceremonies, smudging, feasts, prayers, songs, drumming, and traditional medicines for the Indigenous community.
• Sheway Comprehensive health and social services for women who are pregnant and/or parenting young children and experiencing current or previous substance use issues, including prenatal, postnatal, primary care, education, counselling, addictions management, housing support, parenting support, daily nutritious lunches, food coupons, food bags, and clothing.
• Wa chxw yuu Reaching Home Program Culturally safe, holistic housing services for urban Aboriginal families providing emergency financial assistance, cultural services (smudge kits, workshops, events), family-centered housing options, eviction prevention, and tenant rights advocacy.
• VAHS Healing Centre A new healing center being developed to expand social services, providing health and wellness services grounded in land-based healing approaches for the urban Indigenous community.
• FASD Supported Circle Program Family-centred program supporting parents and caregivers of children 0-18 years with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder, offering peer support, parenting skill development, and life skills training.
• Family Violence Intervention Program An 8-week intervention program meeting 3 times per week about family violence, covering topics including coping skills, communication, power and control, trauma, and conflict resolution.

Quantifiable outcome

• Dental Clinic operating for 15 years with full-time dentist and administrative staff.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Government of CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal government funding through various programs. Supports programs like Reaching Home through Infrastructure Canada. Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) accepted at dental clinic.
• Province of British ColumbiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial government funding through British Columbia Ministry of Health and Ministry of Children and Family Development. Funding for Supported Child Development program and other provincial initiatives.
• Vancouver Coastal HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional health authority providing healthcare funding and partnership for VAHS programs serving the Vancouver area.
• City of VancouvercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal government partner providing funding and support for community health and social services.
• Lu'ma Native Housing SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Wa chxw yuu Reaching Home program - a Reaching Home initiative to end homelessness. Joint initiative supported by Infrastructure Canada.
• University of British ColumbiasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership supporting research, training, and educational opportunities in Indigenous health.
• YMCAsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing support for health and social service programs.
• Ministry of Children & Family DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial ministry funding and partnership for Indigenous Early Years programs including Supported Child Development and Family Support Worker programs.
• Vancouver Aboriginal Child and Family ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChild welfare agency partnership for family support programs, working together to support Indigenous families with children.
• Britannia Community Services CentresupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with East Vancouver community center hosting Family Support Worker and IEY services.
• Cedar Cottage Neighborhood HousesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with neighborhood house hosting Family Support Worker and IEY services.
• Kiwassa Neighborhood HousesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with neighborhood house hosting Family Support Worker and IEY services.
• Mount Pleasant Neighborhood HousesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with neighborhood house hosting Family Support Worker and IEY services.
• South Vancouver Neighborhood HousesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with neighborhood house hosting Family Support Worker and IEY services.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kilala Lelum Health Centre: Indigenous-led health cooperative in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside providing primary care, Indigenous wellness, and community programs to urban Indigenous residents — overlapping client base, services, and geography with VAHS, even described as a 'sister clinic.'
• Lu'ma Native Housing Society: Indigenous housing and social-services organization in Metro Vancouver that partners with VAHS on the Reaching Home initiative; serves overlapping urban Indigenous families with culturally safe housing and family support.
• Urban Native Youth Association (UNYA): Vancouver-based Indigenous non-profit serving urban Indigenous youth and families with cultural, health, housing and social programs — overlapping client demographics, funders, and Indigenous-led service model.
• Aboriginal Mother Centre Society: Vancouver-based Indigenous non-profit supporting Indigenous pregnant women and parenting families, including those impacted by substance use — directly comparable to VAHS's Sheway program in mission and population.
• Vancouver Aboriginal Child & Family Services Society: Indigenous child-welfare and family-services agency in Vancouver that partners with VAHS on Indigenous Early Years and family programs — directly comparable mandate around culturally safe family services.
• Pender Community Health Centre: Community health centre in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside offering primary care, mental health, and addictions services to the same population VAHS serves — overlapping services, geography, and vulnerable client base.

Broad incumbents

• Vancouver Coastal Health (DTES portfolio): Regional health authority that both funds and directly operates community health services in the Downtown Eastside, including primary care and mental health/addictions programs targeting overlapping populations.
• First Nations Health Authority: BC-wide First Nations health authority that funds, designs, and coordinates Indigenous health programs and is a likely system-level partner/funder for VAHS's primary care, mental health and cultural programming.
• Métis Nation British Columbia: Provincial Indigenous government representing Métis citizens in BC, delivering health, social, housing and cultural programs — overlapping Indigenous-led service mandate and shared funder ecosystem with VAHS.

Regional players

• Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network (CAAN): National Indigenous-led organization addressing HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, and related determinants of health in Indigenous communities — relevant peer for VAHS's HIV care, OAT, and culturally safe primary-care model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/vanaboriginal
• Facebookfacebook.com/vanaboriginal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vanaboriginalhealth
• Instagraminstagram.com/vanaboriginal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vancouver Aboriginal Health Society