John
W. Turvey -
Vancouver
![Click on image for full-size version](/web/20061229021935im_/http://www.protocol.gov.bc.ca/protocol/prgs/obc/2004/2004_Turvey_sm.jpg) John
Turvey was heroin-addicted at age 13 and rehabilitated in his early
20s, but he never left the streets, choosing to give back and work
on the streets rather than live on them. With only a Grade 6 education,
he has generously educated instructors and students alike during
his decades of public and community service.
For more than
35 years, Mr. Turvey worked tirelessly as an experienced, outspoken
advocate for the most unfortunate people. His priority was children
and youth, and he provided many original, accessible and user-friendly
services to them. Frequently with personal and professional sacrifice,
he challenged all levels of government to improve the lives of impoverished,
vulnerable adults, children and youth.
As executive
director of the Downtown Eastside Youth Activities Society for 20
years until his recent retirement, John Turvey was a principled,
community-centered visionary, gifted social worker, brilliant educator
and respected and elegant public speaker. He was a determined and
outspoken defender of socially excluded citizens and a role model
for aspiring social workers and community activists.
As a champion
of the rights of residents of the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver
to live with good health, dignity and opportunity, Mr. Turvey's
efforts often involved new, and sometimes controversial methods.
On the cutting edge of providing solutions to social problems that
affected many B.C. communities, all citizens of this province have
benefited from his tireless commitment.
In 1988, the
Atlanta Centre of Disease Control recognized John Turvey for running
the most cost-effective needle exchange program in North America.
Mr. Turvey was a founding member of the B.C. Aids Network and Vancouver
Native Health Society. His leadership of the Downtown Eastside community
on the issue of sexually exploited children and youth resulted in
Criminal Code changes, development of the B.C. Provincial Prostitution
Unit, educated newsrooms and increased public awareness of the issue.
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