This is the fourth in the series, “Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside: Past and Present.” In this episode, Libby Davies, former Vancouver city councillor and former NDP MP for the riding in which the Downtown Eastside is located, discusses the tragedy of missing and murdered women in the community. She recalls addressing the issue with the then federal minister of justice, shocked that not only was the federal government not doing anything about it, he hadn’t even heard of the issue.

In a time when many have felt hopeless, Libby Davies is anything but. The former MP of Vancouver East of 18 years told The PULSE that she believes every group, no matter how marginalized, can “absolutely” make change.

This is the second in the series, “Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside: Past and Present.” Libby Davies, former Vancouver city councillor and former NDP MP for the riding in which the Downtown Eastside is located, discusses the past and the present of the community. Davies recalls the impact of activist and poet Bud Osborn and reflects upon the struggle to establish Insite, Canada’s first safe injection site. She goes on to discuss the impact of the ’90s austerity budget — and the resulting challenges still to be addressed.