Vancouver's first lifeguard Joe Fortes died 100 years ago. What can be learned from his legacy?

A century afterhis death, Joe Fortesis being remembered for his commitment to community and kindness as a Black lifeguard in a predominantly white Vancouver.

The Trinidad and Tobago-born seaman, who arrived in Vancouver aboard a trade ship in 1885,is credited with saving at least 29 lives and teaching "innumerable" people how to swim,according to Lisa Anne Smith, co-author of Our Friend Joe: The Joe Fortes Story.

Fortes died on Feb. 4, 1922. But his legacy lives on, saysSmith, as a testament to the impact people can have on others by staying true to who they are and offeringassistance wherever it's needed.

"If we could extrapolate just a little bit of that persona of Joe into our own lives, we'd be all the richer for it," she said.

'Citizen of the Century'

Seraphim Joseph Forteswas most likely born in Port of Spain around 1863. He moved to Liverpool, England around the age of 17and worked as a seaman aboard the trade ship,theRobert Kerr.

Theship came to the settlement of Granville, now known as Vancouver,in 1885. According to Smith's book, Fortes and his fellow workerswere dischargedbecause the ship was damaged.

Fortesdecided to stay in then-Granville and worked as a bartender andhotel porter. Heswam inEnglish Bay beach in his spare time.

In the 1890s, hebeganto volunteerasa lifeguard and swimming instructor apart of his life that was chronicled in the Vancouver Daily World newspaper,which reportedFortes savinga woman from drowning at the beach in July 1897.

People share stories about Vancouver's 1st paid lifeguard

3 years ago

Duration 0:59

In a 1964 CBC special on Joe Fortes' life, people reminisce about the time they spent with him at English Bay beach.

He wasofficially put on the city's payroll in 1900after citizens petitioned for him to be paid for his service, although some city councillorsfelt a salary was out of order for the work he was doing, saysSmith.

While Fortes'legacy has been recognized in Vancouverin various ways a drinking fountain has been installed in his memoryand he was named"Citizen of the Century" in 1986 some local Black advocatessay they think of Fortes' story in a different way.

Fortes, for instance, performed lifeguarding duties for many years for freebefore he received a monthly salary from the city.

"What I see here is, a White Vancouver patting itself on the back for being extremely generous to a Black man, as if, with some exception, that he was a capable Black man," said June Francis, chair of Hogan's Alley Society.

Francis adds that for her, Fortes' life is representative of the ways in which Black people, despite the odds against them at that time, found ways to contribute to society while carving out a life for themselves.

But little is known about Fortes' connection to Vancouver's Black community, saysFrancis.

She sayswhen Fortes died in 1922, Vancouver's Black community, Hogan's Alley, was just starting to form.

Thealley ran between Union and Prior Streets from Main Street to Jackson Avenue, and was home to many Black people from the early 1900s to the late 1960s.

Fortesdidn't get to experience the fullness of the community,which later had a church, restaurants and other businesses.

Smith's book does highlight Fortes' relationship with at least one Black family, theScurrys, whose rooming houseFortes lived inbefore movingto English Bay. Heremained close withthemuntil his death.

Fortes didn't keep in close contact with his own family, and never married or had children.

Despite being surrounded by hundreds of peopleat the beach, Francis says when she sees photos of Fortes, he's usually pictured by himselfor with white people.

"I see isolation. I see social isolation. I see the ways in which he's a token of something."

A historical figure

Parts of Fortes' life can be still be found in Vancouver: his oil lamp, a framed certificate of appreciationfrom the city, and a portrait of Fortes are on display at the Old Hastings Mill Store Museum.

Fortes' porch chair and one of his silk handkerchiefs can also be found in the Museum of Vancouver archives.

While parts of Fortes' life may always remain a mystery, Smith sayshe hascemented himself as a historical figurein Vancouver for helping so many people in the water.

Francis saysshe hopes Canadians take the time to learn about Fortesand other historical figures, and consider Black History Monthan opportunity to flesh out the complexity of Canada's history.

"We should all be angry that things have been hidden from us, that they have been disguised or erased so that we don't have the full story."

On Friday, the City of Vancouver declared Feb. 9 Joe Fortes Day, in honour of hisbirthday.

For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of.You can read more here.