Description

When a young black man named Seraphim “Joe” Fortes arrived
in Vancouver in 1885, with little to his name, no one could have possibly
suspected that one hundred years later he would be voted “Citizen of the
Century.” Our Friend Joe is the first
biography of the West Indian sailor who became a local legend, saving dozens of
lives and teaching three generations of Vancouver children how to swim. On a
chance rowboat ride not far from the city, he would find his “perfect place” in
English Bay, where the untold story truly begins. In 1900, after years of
volunteering, Joe was officially hired by the City as lifeguard, swimming
instructor and special constable of English Bay beach. Colourful, often
poignant details chronicle Joe's many adventures both on and off shore, his
genuine rapport with citizens of all ages and his deeply personal relationship
with one Vancouver family. On February 7, 1922, thousands of mourners lined
Vancouver's streets to bid farewell to “our friend Joe.” His legacy continues
today, with one of Vancouver's libraries named after him. Part of the proceeds
from this biography are being donated to the Lifesaving Society/Société du
Sauvetage, Canada's national organization for lifeguarding and water safety
expertise.