Member of Parliament 1997-2015, Public speaker, writer, community activist
Libby Davies, a long time NDP member of parliament for Vancouver-East, was one of the leading voices in the fight to save the former public library. The building was constructed in 1903 to house the Vancouver Public Library’s central branch. The Museum of Vancouver also occupied a floor. It fell into disrepair after the library moved into a new building downtown in 1957, and the museum moved to Kitsilano Point in 1968. “Now this building had been unused for decades. It was full of cobwebs. It was dusty. It was dirty. It was musty,” Davies said.
MARCH 28, 2007 OTTAWA – BC NDP MPs were shocked to learn that the Conservative government decided not to contribute financially to the World Police and Fire Games to be held in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia from July 31 to August 9, 2009. The 2005 World Police and Fire Games held in Quebec City received $1.6 million dollars in federal support.
The NDP wants to make these games happen. NDP MPs from BC’s Lower Mainland are continuing to put pressure on the Harper Conservatives to match the financial support extended by the government to the last Canadian host city of this event. New Democrats are taking their message to everyday Canadians and are starting a petition campaign to put pressure on Harper to act.
“Countless British Columbians locally supported the games and Stephen Harper said no. This is unacceptable,” said Peter Julian (Burnaby-New Westminster).
“Community support for the World Police and Fire Games is huge in Burnaby,” said Bill Siksay (Burnaby-Douglas). “Folks on the lower mainland want to make sure the government does all it can to ensure they are a big success.” Siksay recently tabled a motion (m-294) seconded by Julian and Black that calls on the Conservative government to extend financial support to the Games.
“I am taken aback that the Conservative Government has decided not to contribute to the World Police and Fire Games. The Games are wonderful opportunity to showcase not only what the Lower Mainland has to offer, but also the skills of our law enforcement and fire service personnel,” said Dawn Black (New Westminster-Coquitlam)
The World Police and Fire Games (WPFG) are a biennial athletic event open to active and retired law enforcement and fire service personnel throughout the world. The Games provide an opportunity for these men and women to showcase their athletic abilities in over 65 sporting events. Since 1985, these events have been held in Melbourne, Australia; Stockholm, Sweden; Barcelona, Spain; New York City, Calgary and Quebec City.
“This is a great opportunity to promote sports and recreation in the region, while supporting these vital members of our community,” said Libby Davies (Vancouver East).
“Important working relationships are reinforced during these games. These relationships are needed in our communities during emergencies,” added Penny Priddy (Surrey North).
Hunter vividly recalls when a former Skid Road alcoholic with a brilliant mind—Bruce Eriksen—rallied the neighbourhood in the 1970s to advocate for a community centre. This story is told so eloquently in a memoir by the late Eriksen’s partner, former Vancouver East MP Libby Davies, who also joined the fight as a young social activist. So it seems fitting that Hunter and coproducer Savannah Walling would invite Davies to play a prominent role in this year’s festival, which coincides with the 40th anniversary of the opening of the Carnegie Community Centre at the corner of Main and Hastings streets. Davies will host an online workshop on how to drive change through existing political structures. In addition, the festival will play a recording of Davies reading her book, Outside In: A Political Memoir, at a livestreamed tribute to the Carnegie Community Centre on October 28. It will be hosted by Hunter.
ormer longtime area NDP MP Libby Davies will be a guest in an Oct. 28 online event that celebrates the anniversary of the opening of the Carnegie Community Centre and its library.