Hello there!

Welcome to my website!

This website has an extensive array of 18 years of archival material from the Canadian Parliament – where I served as an MP from 1997-2015.

In addition the website includes information about my recent publication of “Outside In: A Political Memoir” (published May 2019). You can order the book from Amazon or from your favourite local independent bookstore. Read more about the book here.

Outside In is also now available as an ebook and was released as an audio book in January 2021.

You’ll also find a list of media articles and reviews of the book and other current affairs that I continue to be involved with.

I periodically update my Blog with reflections and news about upcoming activities.

I can be contacted for speaking engagement or other enquires via the contact form.

Thank you for visiting this site!

Libby

Here is what people are saying about “Outside In”

In a time of peak cynicism about the political class, Libby has always been the exception. For decades, she has been a human bridge between the passions of activism and the pragmatism of the electoral sphere. It is no surprise then, that this book is quintessential Libby: principled and brave, full of energy and generosity.  Naomi Klein, author of This Changes Everything

For more see Between The Lines.

Libby’s bio

Libby Davies has been a social activist for 45 plus years and began as a community organizer in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside in 1972. She was elected to Vancouver City Council for 5 consecutive terms, 1982-1993. As the Member of Parliament for Vancouver East for six consecutive terms, 1997-2015, she became NDP House Leader, (2003-2011) and Deputy Leader (2007-2015). Libby continues to be an outspoken advocate for human rights, housing, peace, and social justice. She was awarded the Order of Canada in 2016.

Libby was appointed to the board of governors of Vancouver Community College in 2018, and serves as Vice Chair. She is also a board member and Vice Chair, of the Portland Hotel Community Services Society (PHS).

She is the author of “Outside In: A Political Memoir” (May 2019, published by Between The Lines, Toronto) and is a frequent public speaker on progressive transformative change and its relationship to politics. Libby is currently writing a new book.

Libby’s full bio

Libby Davies has been a social activist for 45 plus years and began as a community organizer in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside in 1972. She was elected to Vancouver City Council for 5 consecutive terms, 1982-1993. As the Member of Parliament for Vancouver East for six consecutive terms, 1997-2015, she became NDP House Leader, (2003-2011) and Deputy Leader (2007-2015). Libby has been an outspoken advocate for human rights, housing, peace, and social justice throughout her political life.

She was named to the Order of Canada in 2016, and invested to the Order in May 2018, and received the City of Vancouver Civic Merit Award in November 2018.  Libby was appointed to the board of governors of Vancouver Community College and serves as Vice Chair. She is also a board member and Vice Chair of the Portland Hotel Community Services Society (PHS).

Libby was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Vancouver East in 1997. She was re-elected in November 2000, June 2004, January 2006, October 2008, and most recently in May 2011. Libby was also the Official Opposition Spokesperson for Health and the Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Health from May 2011 until January 2015. She was Deputy Leader of the federal NDP from 2007-2015. Libby also served as the NDP House Leader from 2003 to March 2011. After serving 6 terms, and 18 years, as the Member of Parliament for Vancouver East, Libby did not run in the 2015 general federal election.

As a Parliamentarian, Libby was Co-Chair of the HIV/AIDS Tuberculosis Caucus, an all-party parliamentary caucus which involved parliamentarians in national and international efforts to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis and improve the lives of those living with these diseases. She was a key player in global parliamentary efforts around health and HIV/AIDS, serving as the Chair of Inter-Parliamentary Union’s (IPU), Advisory Group on HIV/AIDS and Maternal and Child Health.

Her history as a strong community activist for Vancouver began over 45 years ago. She and her late partner, Bruce Eriksen, were key figures in the formation of the Downtown Eastside Residents’ Association (DERA) in 1973. In 10 years of community organizing, Libby developed her strong grassroots approach to working with people and diverse communities. In 1982, Libby was elected to Vancouver City Council and served 5 consecutive terms. She became involved in every community issue; from protecting community services to developing affordable housing, fighting for parks and working for the elimination of poverty. In her capacity as a Vancouver City Councillor, Libby also served on the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD); now know as Metro Vancouver, and the Vancouver Public Library Board.  From 1994 to 1997, Libby worked with the Hospital Employees’ Union (HEU) serving in the role of Ombudsperson for Human Rights, Complaints Investigator, and Coordinator of Human Resources.

As the Member of Parliament for Vancouver East, Libby provided a strong voice for Vancouver East. She consistently raised issues of concern to her constituents in Parliament, including: community safety; the need for a national childcare program; and affordable and accessible post-secondary education. Libby was a tireless advocate in Parliament for a national housing program, and successfully forced federal governments to address this basic human right. Libby’s community office helped hundreds of residents with federal government matters such as immigration, student loans, employment insurance, taxation, pensions, and Aboriginal affairs.

Libby has been an outspoken advocate for drug policy reforms to stop the criminalization of drug users and the harm caused by Canada’s prohibitionist policies.

She has received awards and recognitions from organizations such as Capital Xtra’s Community Achievement Award for Political Activist of the Year; the YMCA Peace Medal Award; and the Vancouver and District Labour Council’s Syd Thompson Award. Libby received the Justice Gerald LeDain Award for Achievement in the Field of Law, for her work on drug policy reform from the Drug Policy Alliance (USA), and the Visionary Award from Jer’s Vision. In 2015, she was awarded the Canadian Public Health Association National Public Hero Award, and in 2017,  Libby was awarded the Aids Vancouver Red Ribbon award. Libby was named to the Order of Canada in 2016, and invested to the Order in May 2018. She received the City of Vancouver Civic Merit Award in 2018.

Libby is the author of “Outside In: A Political Memoir”, May 2019,  published by Between The Lines, Toronto. She is currently writing a new book.

Libby is a frequent media commentator, and public speaker, including, the CBC Early Edition, CBC, National NPR, and Global TV.  Her speaking engagements include the SFU Grace McInnes lecture, Vancouver and District Labour Council, Columbia Institute,  On The Road Podcast with Ian Capstick, Witness to Innocence Conference, Florida, LGBTQ+ Conference, Ottawa, West Coast Child Care Resource Centre, Food Secure Canada, Inauguration of Vancouver City Council, 2018, Vancouver City Planning Commission Forum, Langara Community College,  BCTF Bargaining Conference, Canadian Centre For Gender and Sexual Diversity, and RESULTS Canada.

Born in 1953 in England, Libby came to Canada in 1968. She moved to Vancouver in 1969 and had one son, Lief Eriksen. She lives with her partner, Kim Elliott.