Bruce Eriksen
Encyclopedia
Bruce Eriksen was an artist, social activist and founder of Vancouver
's Downtown Eastside Residents Association
(DERA). Eriksen and DERA are recognised for materially improving the lives of residents in the Downtown Eastside (DTES).
, Manitoba
, a child of an immigrant Danish couple. When he was five years old, he and two brothers were sent away to Knowles School for Boys, an orphanage, after the death of his mother. He ran away from the school at the age of twelve, and rode the freight trains to the West Coast, arriving in the DTES at age 14. By age sixteen he boarded a grain freight ship bound for Shanghai
. Upon his return to BC
, he logged in the Franklin River
and Port Alberni regions. During World War II
, Eriksen worked in a shipyard in Vancouver, and became a member of the Seafarers' International Union of Canada
. He eventually became an ironworker until a serious back injury forced him to take more sedentary work.
and other communicable diseases related to poverty) was a democratic organization. He enlisted the support of Eriksen, Jean Swanson
and Libby Davies
, who organized DERA. The group's mandate was to build a democratic voice within the neighbourhood. The organization required its members to be residents of the community, which for many years had been known only by the pejorative Skid Road. DERA renamed the area the Downtown Eastside
.
The contributions of DERA and Bruce Eriksen to the people of the DTES include the passing of a bylaw requiring hotels and rooming houses to have sprinkler systems, strong efforts in respect to rezoning, in order to protect affordable housing
in the Downtown Eastside, and establishing the Carnegie Community Centre
. Another accomplishment was the lighting of neighbourhood lanes and alleyways at night to prevent robberies, sexual assaults and beatings.
Davies describes Eriksen's advocacy of the sprinkler bylaw: "Neither the province nor the city made it mandatory for Single Room Occupancy
(SRO) hotels to have sprinkler systems. Approximately 25 people died every year, 40 in 1973. DERA worked hard to have the bylaw changed. The struggle was ignored by the city and fought against by the landlords who threatened to close permanently if they were required to put sprinkler systems in. The fire deaths of five people in the Commercial Hotel on Cambie Street allowed Bruce Eriksen to corner the mayor at the site of the burning building in front of the media and demand he bring in sprinkler laws to stop the unnecessary deaths. This incident led to the passing of the (Vancouver) Fire Sprinkler Bylaw, responsible for the saving of many lives."
as a member of COPE
, and he served in that capacity for six consecutive times, finally retiring in 1993.
spouse of fellow city councillor Libby Davies
, who later became a NDP
MP for Vancouver East
. They had one child together. Bruce Eriksen died on March 16, 1997, after a year-long fight with cancer.
, was opened in 1996. Inscribed on each of the balconies of the building are the words such as "Hope, Integrity, Vote, Dream, Vision, Courage and Respect", in tribute to Eriksen and his contribution to the community he loved. Bruce — The Musical (originally titled The Tipping Point) is a musical radio drama and stage play by Bob Sarti, with songs and music by Bob Sarti and Earle Peach. It features Bruce Eriksen as a character and describes the origins of DERA.
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
's Downtown Eastside Residents Association
Downtown Eastside Residents Association
The Downtown Eastside Residents Association is a non-profit Society in the Downtown Eastside area of Vancouver.The association was founded in 1973 by Bruce Eriksen, Libby Davies, Jean Swanson and other residents of the Downtown Eastside and membership is restricted to those who live within the...
(DERA). Eriksen and DERA are recognised for materially improving the lives of residents in the Downtown Eastside (DTES).
Childhood and youth
Bruce Eriksen was born in WinnipegWinnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, a child of an immigrant Danish couple. When he was five years old, he and two brothers were sent away to Knowles School for Boys, an orphanage, after the death of his mother. He ran away from the school at the age of twelve, and rode the freight trains to the West Coast, arriving in the DTES at age 14. By age sixteen he boarded a grain freight ship bound for Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
. Upon his return to BC
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, he logged in the Franklin River
Franklin River
The Franklin River lies in the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park at the mid northern area of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Its source is situated at the western edge of the Central Highlands and it continues west towards the West Coast of Tasmania...
and Port Alberni regions. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Eriksen worked in a shipyard in Vancouver, and became a member of the Seafarers' International Union of Canada
Seafarers' International Union of Canada
The Seafarers International Union of Canada is a Canadian labour union of mariners working aboard Canadian flag vessels. SIU Canada is an affiliate union of Seafarers International Union.-External links:*...
. He eventually became an ironworker until a serious back injury forced him to take more sedentary work.
Advocacy
In 1973, Vancouver city planner Peter Davies decided what was needed to address some of the DTES' health and social problems (high rates of tuberculosisTuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
and other communicable diseases related to poverty) was a democratic organization. He enlisted the support of Eriksen, Jean Swanson
Jean Swanson
Jean Swanson is an anti-poverty activist living and working in Vancouver, British Columbia.Jean Swanson is a coordinator of Carnegie Community Action Project , an organization dedicated to the welfare of the Downtown Eastside, one of Canada's poorest neighbourhoods...
and Libby Davies
Libby Davies
Libby Davies is a Canadian Member of Parliament for the New Democratic Party , representing the riding of Vancouver East in Vancouver, British Columbia. In 2007, she was named Deputy Leader of the federal NDP, jointly with Thomas Mulcair.-Background:Davies was born in Aldershot, England and...
, who organized DERA. The group's mandate was to build a democratic voice within the neighbourhood. The organization required its members to be residents of the community, which for many years had been known only by the pejorative Skid Road. DERA renamed the area the Downtown Eastside
Downtown Eastside
The Downtown Eastside is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and is known as "Canada's poorest postal code"....
.
The contributions of DERA and Bruce Eriksen to the people of the DTES include the passing of a bylaw requiring hotels and rooming houses to have sprinkler systems, strong efforts in respect to rezoning, in order to protect affordable housing
Affordable housing
Affordable housing is a term used to describe dwelling units whose total housing costs are deemed "affordable" to those that have a median income. Although the term is often applied to rental housing that is within the financial means of those in the lower income ranges of a geographical area, the...
in the Downtown Eastside, and establishing the Carnegie Community Centre
Carnegie Community Centre
Carnegie Community Centre is located at 401 Main Street at the corner of Hastings Street, in the old Carnegie Public Library building in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, British Columbia....
. Another accomplishment was the lighting of neighbourhood lanes and alleyways at night to prevent robberies, sexual assaults and beatings.
Davies describes Eriksen's advocacy of the sprinkler bylaw: "Neither the province nor the city made it mandatory for Single Room Occupancy
Single Room Occupancy
A single room occupancy is a multiple-tenant building that houses one or two people in individual rooms , or to the single room dwelling itself...
(SRO) hotels to have sprinkler systems. Approximately 25 people died every year, 40 in 1973. DERA worked hard to have the bylaw changed. The struggle was ignored by the city and fought against by the landlords who threatened to close permanently if they were required to put sprinkler systems in. The fire deaths of five people in the Commercial Hotel on Cambie Street allowed Bruce Eriksen to corner the mayor at the site of the burning building in front of the media and demand he bring in sprinkler laws to stop the unnecessary deaths. This incident led to the passing of the (Vancouver) Fire Sprinkler Bylaw, responsible for the saving of many lives."
Politics
In 1980 Eriksen was elected to Vancouver City CouncilVancouver City Council
Vancouver City Council is the governing body of the City of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.The city is governed by the Vancouver Charter, not the Community Charter and the Local Government Act which are used for other municipal governments...
as a member of COPE
Coalition of Progressive Electors
The Coalition of Progressive Electors is a municipal political party in the Canadian city of Vancouver, British Columbia.-Origins:...
, and he served in that capacity for six consecutive times, finally retiring in 1993.
Personal life
He was the common lawCommon law
Common law is law developed by judges through decisions of courts and similar tribunals rather than through legislative statutes or executive branch action...
spouse of fellow city councillor Libby Davies
Libby Davies
Libby Davies is a Canadian Member of Parliament for the New Democratic Party , representing the riding of Vancouver East in Vancouver, British Columbia. In 2007, she was named Deputy Leader of the federal NDP, jointly with Thomas Mulcair.-Background:Davies was born in Aldershot, England and...
, who later became a NDP
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
MP for Vancouver East
Vancouver East
Vancouver East is a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1935....
. They had one child together. Bruce Eriksen died on March 16, 1997, after a year-long fight with cancer.
Legacy
Near the corner of Main and Hastings streets, Bruce Eriksen Place, a social housing project, designed by Vancouver architect Gregory HenriquezGregory Henriquez
Gregory Henriquez is a Canadian architect, best known for the design of community-based mixed-use, institutional and social housing projects in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, Canada...
, was opened in 1996. Inscribed on each of the balconies of the building are the words such as "Hope, Integrity, Vote, Dream, Vision, Courage and Respect", in tribute to Eriksen and his contribution to the community he loved. Bruce — The Musical (originally titled The Tipping Point) is a musical radio drama and stage play by Bob Sarti, with songs and music by Bob Sarti and Earle Peach. It features Bruce Eriksen as a character and describes the origins of DERA.