On the 50th anniversary of the New Democratic Party (NDP) and while Canadians paused to reflect on the life of Jack Layton, a celebration was held Aug. 27 in Gibsons to pay tribute to James Shaver (J.S.) Woodsworth and his contributions to this community and to Canada.
The old-age pension and unemployment insurance are two cornerstones of Canadian society that some take for granted, but thanks to Woodsworth, the ideas for these programs sprung to life in the home of Frederick "Doc" Inglis in Gibsons Landing.
Last Saturday morning, a street sign (Woodsworth Road) was unveiled in the Parkland subdivision by members of the Woodsworth family.
Town of Gibsons councillor and acting mayor LeeAnn Johnson spoke of the significance of Woodsworth and the impacts he had on the community.
"Today we are celebrating past and present history, and we will always remember that when we see this street sign," Johnson said.
Powell River - Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons also remembered Layton and Woodsworth.
"This is a day where so many people in Canada are celebrating a great leader of the NDP in Jack Layton and we're celebrating a great leader of days gone by in J.S. Woodsworth," Simons said. "His time here was fleeting, but he certainly touched the community and had an amazing impact on our country. I think that's why we are celebrating. This sign here is something that will remind us of his impact.
"I'm so proud of the Town of Gibsons for recognizing an important person who had an important role in our community whose voice spread all across this great country."
Following the sign unveiling, a celebration was held at the Gibsons United Church where more of the history of the family was shared through the family and other community members.
Woodsworth is best known as one of the founders and first leader of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (1932), later to become the NDP.
In 1917, Woodsworth was appointed Methodist Church minister in Gibsons Landing. There his vision of a Canadian social democracy was much influenced by the co-operative philosophy of the early Finnish settlers and was refined in discussions in the parlour of the Inglis family. The Doc Inglis house remains as the landmark Stonehurst house above Pioneer Park in Gibsons. Woodsworth's wife and six children were taken in by Inglis and his family and lived in Stonehurst during the years between Woodsworth's resignation from the Methodist Church and his first election as an MP in 1921.
Before founding the CCF, as a member of the Independent Labour Party, Woods-worth had already successfully pressured the government of Canada to introduce unemployment insurance and an old-age pension.
