Book review: Exploring Vancouver’s split personality of ‘world class’ vs. livability champion

Daniel Francis, an impressively prolific popular historian based in Vancouver, published Becoming Vancouver in the fall of 2021. In the book colourful characters are noted, including the irascible city archivist Major James Mathews and his chief Indigenous informant, August Jack Khahtsahlano, the fiery suffragette May Gutteridge, the city’s first woman council member, and Libby Davies, a dedicated anti-poverty campaigner from the Downtown Eastside who went on to hold a seat on city council and later a seat in Parliament.. Read the book review here.





Kootenay Morning Radio with Libby Davies

Kootenay Morning Radio with Libby Davies

Libby speaks to Kootenay Morning hosts Jane and Nicole.


Libby Davies on the tragedy of missing and murdered women in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside

Libby Davies on the tragedy of missing and murdered women in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside

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.


A step by step guide to making political change: Former MP Libby Davies

A step by step guide to making political change: Former MP Libby Davies

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.


The past and present in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside

The past and present in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside

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.


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