Former Vancouver mayor Philip Owen dies

Below Mayor Philip Owen, Vancouver pioneered a brand new method to city drug customers that resulted in North America’s first protected injection website.

JOHN LEHMANN / The Globe and the Put up

Philip Owen, the previous patrician mayor of Vancouver who turned a passionate supporter of the Downtown Eastside and an method to drug habit discount, has died. He was 88.

Mr Owen struggled with Parkinson’s illness for a few years and died of issues from the illness on Thursday, his household confirmed in a press launch.

As Mayor from 1993 to 2002, Mr. Owen presided over a quickly altering Vancouver murders of ladies that have been finally attributed to Robert Pickton.

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Mr. Owen, a long-time consultant of the town’s center-right Partisan Affiliation (NPA), initially advocated a law-and-order method. However after a good friend’s daughter died of an overdose within the Downtown Eastside and he spent extra time speaking to the folks within the neighborhood, he modified his thoughts.

Below Mr. Owen, Vancouver developed a “4 pillar” method – hurt discount, prevention, remedy and enforcement – which finally led to the creation of North America’s first supervised injection website by his successor, Larry Campbell.

This advocacy of this new method to an space that some dismissed as an unsolvable ghetto created pressure in his occasion and generally in his social circle. Mr. Owen, the son of a distinguished lawyer who turned Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, grew up in Shaughnessy, Vancouver’s previous cash district.

“He led as a gentleman and handled political pals and enemies alike. However individuals who underestimated him did so at their very own threat, ”mentioned his son Christian.

Mr Owen’s dismayed political occasion instructed him he was standing for a fourth time period for mayor’s nomination, a transfer that alienated him and plenty of others and resulted within the occasion’s resounding defeat after he mentioned he wouldn’t run once more .

This excessive profile marketing campaign and battle was an anomaly for Mr. Owen, an in any other case reluctant chief who usually let others on his workforce take the lead and drove on the town streets after hours to take a look at new developments or points.

“He had a gentle hand on the wheel. Vancouver was run very properly and he was a cooperative chief, ”mentioned Sam Sullivan, initially named to the town council by Mr. Owen and later mayor of Vancouver from 2006-2009.

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Mr. Owen ran for Park Board Commissioner many instances earlier than he was first elected to the board in 1978. He misplaced twice in his efforts to affix the council earlier than being elected in 1986. And he was elected mayor for an additional very long time by the NPA in 1993 – Momentary Councilor.

Individuals who labored with him in creating and defending drug coverage mentioned he was unusually open to listening – and as soon as he made up his thoughts to do one thing, he was dedicated to taking motion.

“He has spoken to everybody to make preparations,” mentioned Don MacPherson, who was named director of drug coverage efforts throughout Mr. Owen’s time. “He was a really strategic politician and really dedicated to shifting issues ahead.”

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