Jim Green (Canadian politician)
Jim Green | |
---|---|
Vision Vancouver candidate for Mayor of Vancouver | |
Election date November 19, 2005 | |
Opponent | Sam Sullivan |
Incumbent | Larry Campbell |
Personal details | |
Born | Birmingham, Alabama | May 25, 1943
Died | February 28, 2012 Vancouver, British Columbia | (aged 68)
Nationality | American-Canadian |
Political party | Vision Vancouver |
Residence(s) | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
Alma mater | University of British Columbia, University of South Carolina |
Occupation | Academic, politician |
Jim Green (May 25, 1943 – February 28, 2012) was an American-Canadian who was a longshoreman, taxicab driver, community activist, non-profit housing developer, municipal politician, university instructor and development consultant.
Early life and education
Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Green moved to Canada to avoid being drafted for the Vietnam War.[1] Green holds a Masters in Anthropology from the University of British Columbia, a Bachelor of Arts from the University of South Carolina,[2] and has studied at the Sorbonne, the Millennium Film Institute in New York, and the University of Colorado.[3]
Career
Early in his career, Green worked as a longshoreman and a taxicab driver.[4]
Green was an advocate for the city's Downtown Eastside and led the development of many housing projects, including the experimental Woodward's building redevelopment designed by architect Gregory Henriquez.[citation needed] He was a development consultant for developers and non-profit community groups.[5] In 2009 he left his role as CEO of the Misty Isles Economic Development Society to take a position working with Millennium Developments Ltd. on the 2010 Olympic Village development in Vancouver.[6][7]
Green taught opera and architecture at the University of British Columbia[2] and Anthropology at Simon Fraser University,[3] and co-founded the University of British Columbia Urban Field School.[2] Green was chair of Four Corners Community Savings, which was closed by the Gordon Campbell led BC Government.[citation needed] He served on the board of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.[citation needed]
Green co-founded the Portland Hotel Society which operates Insite, the first legal safe injection site in North America.[8]
Political career
In 2002 he was elected to Vancouver City Council as a member of the Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE),[9] and subsequently, with mayor Larry Campbell, councillor Raymond Louie, and councillor Tim Stevenson left to form a new party, Vision Vancouver.[3] Under the Vision Vancouver banner, he unsuccessfully ran for mayor in 2005, losing to Sam Sullivan[10] by 3,747 votes.[11] Some blamed voter confusion for his loss,[12] as there was an unknown candidate named "James Green" who received 4,273 votes.[11]
It was the second time Green had run for mayor unsuccessfully, having been beaten as a member of COPE by then-NPA mayor Gordon Campbell in 1990.[citation needed] Six years later, Green again faced Campbell, this time in the 1996 provincial election for the MLA seat in Vancouver-Point Grey. Green, a New Democrat, was defeated by BC Liberal leader and future premier Gordon Campbell 12,637 to 11,074.[13]
In 2008 Green supported Gregor Robertson in his successful run for mayor of Vancouver.[5]
Death
In February 2012, his family released a brief statement saying he had suffered a serious recurrence of the lung cancer he had previously battled.[14] At 06:15 PST on February 28, 2012, Green died following his battle with lung cancer.[15]
References
- ^ Spencer, Kent (February 28, 2012). "Human-rights activist, politician Jim Green dead at 68". The Province. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
- ^ a b c "Who are the judges?", Vancouver City Planning Commission Alternative Futures website, Accessed September 23, 2009.
- ^ a b c "Jim Green, The Tyee Interview", The Tyee, November 17, 2005.
- ^ "Downtown Eastsider brings varied experience to new position on the islands", Queen Charlotte Observer, July 16, 2008.
- ^ a b "Jim Green", BC Business, November 4, 2008.
- ^ "MIEDS chief executive gone", Queen Charlotte Observer, January 26, 2009.
- ^ "Olympic Village builder hires Jim Green", Vancouver Sun, January 26, 2009.
- ^ "Jim Green: The democratic solution", Globe and Mail, April 9, 2009.
- ^ "2002 Election Results", City of Vancouver archives, Accessed September 23, 2009.
- ^ "News What's Next for Jim Green and Vancouver's Civic Left", The Tyee, December 5, 2005.
- ^ a b "Election Summary Report: November 19, 2005", City of Vancouver archives, Accessed September 23, 2009.
- ^ "Almost famous", Vancouver Courier, November 27, 2005.
- ^ "Statement of Votes Report for Electoral District: Vancouver-Point Grey", Elections BC website, Accessed September 23, 2009.
- ^ Lee, Jeff (February 15, 2012). "Former Vancouver councillor, affordable housing activist Jim Green battling lung cancer - again". The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved March 9, 2012.
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(help) - ^ "Former Vancouver councillor Jim Green dies of cancer". CBC News. February 28, 2012. Retrieved March 9, 2012.
- 1943 births
- 2012 deaths
- American emigrants to Canada
- Canadian schoolteachers
- Cancer deaths in British Columbia
- Deaths from lung cancer
- People from Birmingham, Alabama
- Simon Fraser University faculty
- University of British Columbia alumni
- University of British Columbia faculty
- University of Colorado alumni
- University of Paris alumni
- University of South Carolina alumni
- Vancouver city councillors