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Time Traveller: Here's the man the John Braithwaite Community Centre was named after

Former City of North Vancouver councillor John B. Braithwaite was given the Freedom of the City award in 2003
John Braithwaite

This image of John B. Braithwaite was taken in 1991 while he was serving on the City of North Vancouver council.  

Born in Ontario in 1929, Braithwaite gained his BA and MSW degrees at the University of Toronto. He came to North Vancouver in 1956, as a young social worker, to work at North Shore Neighbourhood House.  

A year later, at the age of 27, he became executive director of Neighbourhood House, and served in that capacity for 23 years. He successfully ran for office as city councillor in 1972, and retired from civic politics in 2002. In 2003, he received the Freedom of the City. The John Braithwaite Community Centre is named in his honour. 

Visit the MONOVA website for more information about the history of the North Shore and to plan your visit to MONOVA: Museum of North Vancouver now open at 115 West Esplanade in The Shipyards.

Currently, MONOVA: Archives of North Vancouver at 3203 Institute Road in Lynn Valley is open by appointment only. Contact: archives@monova.ca

Navigate culture on the North Shore by using the North Shore Culture Compass.