HIGHEST AWARD FOR CHAMPION OF THE DOWNTRODDEN

John Turvey, who spent 35 years defending the disadvantaged, says he
feels humbled

John Turvey, an advocate for Vancouver's downtrodden, will be invested
in the Order of Canada tomorrow.

"It's very humbling just to get that recognition," Turvey said
yesterday from his Comox home. "It means a lot, recognition from the
community."

A heroin addict at age 13, Turvey kicked his habit in his early 20s
but didn't turn his back on Vancouver's mean streets, defending the
disadvantaged for the next 35 years. He retired recently.

"There are so many people that are street-involved who want to make a
difference for other people if they have the opportunity, and I had
the opportunity," Turvey said.

In 1988, he was recognized internationally by the Atlanta Center for
Disease Control for his plan to make needles readily available for
addicts on Vancouver's Downtown Eastside who are hooked on injection
drugs such as heroin.

"It was one of the first needle exchanges in Canada," said Turvey. "It
quickly became very huge, in the millions every year," he said.

"They did some research and found it was one of the most
cost-effective needle exchanges that was in operation."

Turvey was a founding member of the B.C. AIDS Network and Vancouver
Native Health Society, and he fought to improve the plight of sexually
exploited children.

"With addiction, there's no single solution," he said.

"No matter how many times you fail or relapse, it's just another point
on your road to recovery. So just keep on trying," he advised.

Lt.-Gov. Iona Campagnolo will bestow the award on Turvey on behalf of
Gov.-Gen. Michaelle Jean. at a 3 p.m. ceremony at the Comox Recreation
Centre.

"He has been very touched, very honoured -- first by the Order of
B.C., then the Order of Canada," said Turvey's wife, Deb. "It's really
something."

"Due to his illness, he just wasn't able to travel to Ottawa," she
said. "It's a muscle disorder, so he has become a little more disabled
and weaker."

Turvey, a reformed drug addict and prostitute, said in a 1999 Province
interview that society must do more to give young people accurate
information about drug use instead of relying on slogans such as "Just
Say No," which he said they just tune out.

He slammed misguided drug abusers who seek to impress their peers by
doing cocaine and heroin. "Now it is seen as kind of groovy and it has
status, and that is crap," he said.

Deb Turvey said her husband is "especially happy to be sharing [the
award] with his new grandson."

Turvey's son, daughter-in-law and baby grandson will also attend the
ceremony.