Vancouver's Downtown Eastside - The Past into the Present with Libby Davies

This is the 2nd in a series that focuses on Vancouver's Downtown Eastside (DTES). Libby Davies, former Vancouver City councillor and former NDP MP for the riding in which the DTES is located, discusses the past and the present of the community.

She recalls the impact of Bud Osborn and reflects upon the struggle to establish Canada's 1st safe injection site, Insite as well as the impact of the 1990s austerity budget and the resulting challenges, still to be addressed.

Having started out as a community worker, then moving to municipal politics and subsequently to federal politics, her 50 years of experience in the neighbourhood provide her with an insight into its history and where it needs to go now. Davies, among others, helped start the Downtown Eastside Residents Association (DERA), a grassroots organization that challenged the status quo.

Bruce Eriksen, her partner until his death in 1997, was an activist who fought tirelessly for the DTES. As an artist he created a mural that now hangs in a building named in his honour.

In the present day, the Downtown Eastside faces multiple issues all of which have been exacerbated by COVID 19. Amongst these are housing, health; including overdose, mental health and the impact of the pandemic, poverty and homelessness, indigenous reconciliation and policing.

Future episodes will include representatives from various organizations: civic, provincial and grassroots, addressing the task at hand.

The work to be done is not to be underestimated yet the resilience and determination of community members, not commonly recognized, continues to grow. As well as these individuals, we will also be hearing from those who live in the community and call it home.