ADVOCATE STOOD UP FOR MARGINALIZED PEOPLE

When John Turvey was inducted to the Order of Canada in March of this
year, what meant the most to him, was sharing the event with his grandson Ryan.

An outspoken advocate for marginalized people in Vancouver's downtown
eastside, Turvey's ceremony was a comparatively quiet one, performed
by Lt. Gov. Iona Campagnolo in an upstairs room of the Comox Recreation Centre.

Turvey, who had lived in the Comox Valley for about two years, had
been too ill earlier to travel to Ottawa for the service usually done
by Canada's Governor-General.

Campagnolo explained to the crowd that day that granting membership
to the Order of Canada was for those "to whom our country owes a debt
of gratitude and awarded to those for whom the country can not
express its thanks in any other way."

He had become a member of the Order of B.C. in 2004.

Turvey, who was suffering from a neuromuscular disorder that forced
his advocacy retirement a few years ago, died Oct. 11 in St. Joseph's
Hospital. He was 61.

Turvey struggled with a heroin addiction beginning at age 13 -- but
after years of abuse, he fought back though -- not only cleaning
himself up in his early 20s, but then going on to fight for the
struggling people in Vancouver's downtown eastside for the following 35 years.

He founded the Downtown Eastside Youth Activities Society in 1984 to
help young people find the support and services they need, but he is
probably best known across the country for developing Canada's first
needle exchange in 1988.

"John is a man who has been instrumental in raising consciousness on
the subject of drug addiction but perhaps more importantly he has
taken action to change issues surrounding the use of drugs," said
Campagnolo at the March ceremony.

Survived by his wife of 10 years, Deb Mearns, his son Chad,
daughter-in-law Lisa, and grandbaby Ryan, the family said a memorial
service will be held at a later date.

Meanwhile, a candlelight vigil was held in Vancouver Sunday to remember Turvey.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking donations be sent to
children's programs at the Ray-Cam Co-operative Community Centre, 920
E. Hastings St. Vancouver, BC, V6A 3T1.