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My dear friend and personal hero Jim Green passed away peacefully this morning after a tough battle with cancer.

If you weren’t fortunate enough to know him as well as I did, I encourage you to read about his incredible life, which led him from Birmingham, Alabama all the way to Vancouver (originally as a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War), where he dedicated himself to civil rights, social justice and the betterment of Vancouver for all of its citizens, especially the less fortunate. From his early work as a shop steward down at the docks to his successful run for city council (and unsuccessful run for mayor), Jim was a tireless advocate for the everyman, and because of his unwavering commitment and unmitigated badassery, today literally thousands of previously homeless and downtrodden Vancouverites live in dignity, safety and greater hope for their future. A vegetarian who cooked a mean barbecue, a devoted family man and a lover of bourbon, women, native art and opera, Jim was a complex, deeply thoughtful individual who wasn’t afraid to push people’s buttons if it meant getting them to care about their fellow citizens.

What he shared with me during my time as a columnist about civic politics made me a better writer, Vancouverite and human being. I fucking love that guy.

RIP, old friend. You changed my life for the better and I’ll never forget you.