If you’ve ever walked into the Cassels Vancouver office during a busy weekday, you’ll notice something right away: the place hums. Phones ringing, files moving, people in motion. But last December, there was a different kind of energy in the air – a quiet buzz that had nothing to do with closing deals or court deadlines.

At the centre of it was Jen Hansen, the lead lawyer in the Vancouver office, who carries herself with the kind of grounded steadiness that makes people feel instantly at ease. She’s not one for grand gestures or spotlight moments. But she is someone who believes deeply in showing up for her community.

“Community engagement has always been central to our firm’s vision,” Jen recalls. “Lead by Carla Potter in Toronto, in 2025 Cassels envisioned a new way of creating energy around a common cause. Locally in BC, we wanted to do something that felt true to who we are as a firm – something that reflected our values, not just our brand.” Cassels had always encouraged community involvement, but this time, the Vancouver team wanted to choose a cause together, something local, something that mattered.

Members of the firm’s Corporate Responsibility Committee dove in to do some legwork to identify opportunities where Cassels’ support could make a real difference, “We wanted to keep our efforts local and drive positive change within our own communities. The idea emerged from a discussion among partners about the pressing issues currently facing the Vancouver community and how we could drive local impact with our giving week.”

When Streetohome’s name came up, it stuck. And that’s how Giving Week at Cassels Vancouver was born.

Jen had heard of Streetohome before, but it wasn’t until she dug deeper that she realized how different the model was. “I was struck by the practicality of it,” she says. “Streetohome isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel – they’re filling gaps, strengthening what already exists, and helping people stabilize so they can move forward.”

That approach resonated with her. It felt grounded. Real. Human.

As Giving Week unfolded, Jen watched her colleagues rally in ways that surprised even her. People who rarely had time to eat lunch away from their desks were suddenly swapping stories about supportive housing, recovery programs, and the gaps in Vancouver’s homelessness system they hadn’t known existed.

Stories were shared amongst colleagues about their personal experiences with supportive housing. Engagement was visible from some, while others were behind the scenes quietly donating.

“It reminded me that you never really know what people carry,” Jen says. “Giving Week opened a door for conversations we don’t usually make space for.”

The moment that stayed with her came on the final afternoon, when the team gathered to tally the total. They had hoped to raise a meaningful amount – something that would show their support. But when the number appeared on the screen, $33,000, the room went still for a beat.

Then someone let out a low whistle. Someone else clapped. A few people just smiled at each other, a little stunned.

But the Giving Week campaign didn’t end there. With additional donations received after the campaign, the final amount raised for Streetohome reached $36,225.

“It wasn’t about the number,” Jen says. “It was about what it represented – that when we come together, even in a busy, high‑pressure environment, we can make a real difference.” For Cassels, Giving Week became a reminder that the firm’s community values are strongest when they are lived collectively: through generosity, awareness, and action.

Since then, Jen says her perspective on homelessness has shifted. Not in a dramatic way, but in the small, steady ways that matter: noticing people more, understanding the complexity behind what she sees on the street, recognizing that stability is often the turning point in someone’s life.

She hopes Cassels’ contribution helps create that turning point for someone – maybe several someones. A safe place to land. A chance to breathe. A moment to rebuild.

And as for next year?

Jen smiles. “It’s energizing, and I’m eager to continue building on the momentum and to strengthen the personal connections that have developed along the way.”