Emery Barnes, OBC
(1929 - 1998)
(1929 - 1998)
Born in New Orleans, Emery and his family moved to Portland, Oregon when he was 12. He studied at Oregon State University and earned a Bachelor of Science. He was a talented athlete; towering at 6’6”, Barnes played for the Oregon State football team and was an alternate for the US Olympic Team in the high jump. In 1954, Barnes was drafted to the NFL and briefly played for the Green Bay Packers after leaving the US Army. He then moved to Vancouver in 1957 when the CFL’s BC Lions sent him an offer.
While playing football, Barnes continued his studies at University of British Columbia, earning a Master’s degree in Social Work. In 1964, he began his career in this area, until he entered politics in 1972. In a Canadian Parliamentary Review interview in 1987, Barnes summed himself up perfectly: ‘“It seems the first part of my life was more oriented toward athletics and actions. The cerebral part developed later. I began to develop a social conscience.”’ Barnes continued to demonstrate this “social conscience” throughout the rest of his life.
First, ever the renaissance man, Emery briefly owned a night club called the “Emery’s Plug.” Club ownership, however, proved to be a difficult one, and through future BC Premier Dave Barrett’s encouragement, Barnes decided to make a run for politics. His first attempt in 1969 didn’t prove successful, but in 1972, he made it and was elected MLA in his riding of Vancouver Centre. Barnes and Rosemary Brown were the first African Descent candidates to be elected to a legislative office in British Columbia. They would go on to form the first social democratic government in the province.
Emery enjoyed the confidence of his constituents, thus winning every election he contested and served continuously as a Member of the Legislative Assembly until 1996. Barnes had also won the confidence of his peers and was recognized for it through being appointed as Deputy Speaker in 1991, and as Speaker of the House in 1994 - the first Speaker in BC to be elected via secret ballot.
Barnes demonstrated his commitment to social justice through his actions. In 1986, he rose up to a Vancouver anti-poverty group’s challenge and moved to Vancouver’s “Downtown Eastside” for two months, choosing to live on an amount equivalent to welfare standard. The outcome was that Barnes lost fifteen pounds in the first three weeks and became committed to fighting poverty, concluding that doubling the monthly welfare rate was necessary to live at a basic level.
Barnes kept a friendly constituency office and was able to entertain his peers with his piano tunes. He passed away in 1998 at the young age of 68 after a battle with cancer. He is always remembered in Vancouver at Emery Barnes Park, located at 1170 Richard Street. Barnes posthumously received the Order of British Columbia in 2003.
While playing football, Barnes continued his studies at University of British Columbia, earning a Master’s degree in Social Work. In 1964, he began his career in this area, until he entered politics in 1972. In a Canadian Parliamentary Review interview in 1987, Barnes summed himself up perfectly: ‘“It seems the first part of my life was more oriented toward athletics and actions. The cerebral part developed later. I began to develop a social conscience.”’ Barnes continued to demonstrate this “social conscience” throughout the rest of his life.
First, ever the renaissance man, Emery briefly owned a night club called the “Emery’s Plug.” Club ownership, however, proved to be a difficult one, and through future BC Premier Dave Barrett’s encouragement, Barnes decided to make a run for politics. His first attempt in 1969 didn’t prove successful, but in 1972, he made it and was elected MLA in his riding of Vancouver Centre. Barnes and Rosemary Brown were the first African Descent candidates to be elected to a legislative office in British Columbia. They would go on to form the first social democratic government in the province.
Emery enjoyed the confidence of his constituents, thus winning every election he contested and served continuously as a Member of the Legislative Assembly until 1996. Barnes had also won the confidence of his peers and was recognized for it through being appointed as Deputy Speaker in 1991, and as Speaker of the House in 1994 - the first Speaker in BC to be elected via secret ballot.
Barnes demonstrated his commitment to social justice through his actions. In 1986, he rose up to a Vancouver anti-poverty group’s challenge and moved to Vancouver’s “Downtown Eastside” for two months, choosing to live on an amount equivalent to welfare standard. The outcome was that Barnes lost fifteen pounds in the first three weeks and became committed to fighting poverty, concluding that doubling the monthly welfare rate was necessary to live at a basic level.
Barnes kept a friendly constituency office and was able to entertain his peers with his piano tunes. He passed away in 1998 at the young age of 68 after a battle with cancer. He is always remembered in Vancouver at Emery Barnes Park, located at 1170 Richard Street. Barnes posthumously received the Order of British Columbia in 2003.
