EP#277 BEYOND POLITICS: Life Lessons and Stories with Former Premier Mike Harcourt

Over the span of his illustrious career, Mike began by starting the first storefront law office in Canada, and establishing the UBC law school legal advice clinic (1968-71).  He then went on to serve for four terms as a Vancouver Alderman (1972-980), until he became a tremendously successful and articulate Mayor of Vancouver for three terms (1980-1986).  In that position he played a prominent role in establishing Vancouver as one of the world’s most livable cities through effective land use and planning. Mike then moved on to serve as the 30th Premier of British Columbia (1991-1996), where he extended the boundaries of quality of life in urban areas, with the 1995 Growth Strategy Act.

In that position he played a prominent role in establishing Vancouver as one of the world’s most livable cities through effective land use and planning. Mike then moved on to serve as the 30th Premier of British Columbia (1991-1996), where he extended the boundaries of quality of life in urban areas, with the 1995 Growth Strategy Act.

Among his many noteworthy achievements at that time was his success in safeguarding more than 12 percent of the province’s land base, establishing 500 new protected areas.

After retiring from politics, Mike made headlines in 2002, when a devastating six-metre fall left him partially paralyzed. He has shown incredible physical, emotional and spiritual strength in his remarkable recovery, and published a book about his ordeal called Plan B – One Man’s Journey from Tragedy to Triumph.

Following his accident, Mike became actively involved in spinal cord research and education, working with the Rick Hansen Man in Motion Foundation on International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (I-CORD) and chairing the Spinal Cord Injury Quality of Life Advisory Group.

As a self-described “recovering politician,” Mike was appointed Federal Commissioner on the British Columbia Treaty Commission in 2003. He has always been an avid supporter of aboriginal economic development, and his commitment to the treaty process is long-standing; as Premier in 1992, he signed the agreement establishing the Commission – the neutral body responsible for facilitating treaty negotiations among the governments of Canada, B.C. and First Nations in B.C. 

In recognition of Mike’s exceptional community contributions, Simon Fraser University presented Mike with the 2019 President’s Distinguished Community Leadership Award.