She thought David, just a teenager, was taking Matthew, no older than eight, to the big top for some fun near their childhood home in Kitchener, Ont. It wasn’t—David wanted to protest the way the circus elephants were being treated. “I often go back to that memory as one of the first steps toward what he was trying to do, advocating for those groups that he works tirelessly for and tries to help support,” Patrick said, speaking in an interview from his home. . in Ontario. “When he sets his mind to something, he will try and succeed.” Eby, 46, will take the latest step in his career when he is sworn in as BC’s 37th premier on Friday — a journey that has taken him from high school board president to protester to activist to civil rights lawyer and politician career preferred for the province’s highest legislative office. It is a path that does not surprise his family and colleagues.
Childhood
Ebby was born in Kitchener, Ont. in 1976. His mother was a high school principal and his father a lawyer. The eldest of four brothers, he stood out for his leadership side and studious side. “He was a vegetarian from an early age and a strong advocate for animal rights,” recalls Patrick. “He was always ambitious. He was always driven.” Eby grew up in Kitchener, Ont. His family says that even as a child, he fought tirelessly for what he believed in. (Submitted by Patrick Eby) After high school — where he was elected student council president — Eby earned his undergraduate degree in “rhetoric and professional writing” from the University of Waterloo in 1999, logically choosing his hometown university “because he liked the comfort of living at home while going to school.” After graduation, he worked briefly as a technology writer for various companies before leaving home to pursue his law degree at Dalhousie University in Halifax.
Early career
In the early 2000s, he moved to BC Long before embarking on the path to provincial politics, Eby was an outspoken advocate for progressive causes as a lawyer at Pivot Legal Society in the Downtown Eastside from 2005 to 2008. During this time, he advocated for the rights of Vancouver’s homeless. He then became executive director of the BC Civil Liberties Union, fighting for police accountability. He also wrote a how-to guide on people’s rights during arrests and sue the police in small claims court.
Political path
Eby’s political career began with a pair of unsuccessful elections. First in the 2008 Vancouver municipal election. Followed by the 2011 provincial election, which saw him as the BC NDP candidate for Vancouver-Point Grey. She lost to then Prime Minister Christy Clark by less than 600 votes. In 2013, the stage was set for a rematch. This time, however, Eby won with 47 percent of the vote, toppling the prime minister. He has since been re-elected twice. BC premier candidate David Eby lists housing, health care and public safety as his top priorities. (Ben Nelms/CBC) Since 2017, Eby has served as attorney general. His tenure was marked by a number of headline-grabbing policies, including his money-laundering inquiry and investigation, a ban on corporate and union political donations, and reforms to – what he called – ICBC’s “trash fire” . After the last election, Eby also took over the housing portfolio. In the legislature, his political opponents have long recognized his intelligence. “As a competitor … he is a worthy opponent during the debate. You better be prepared,” said Mike De Jong, the official opposition critic for the attorney general. But this recognition is also tempered by criticism. De Jong believes Eby has been the most partisan attorney general in his memory, adding that his confidence can often be mistaken for arrogance. He calls Eby’s run as an AG disaster. “The degree to which British Columbians feel less safe today than they did five years ago is palpable.” Eby has said he wants to hit the ground running in the Legislature, immediately introducing legislation to address pressing issues such as housing, health care and public safety. But with just four days left in the legislative session after taking office, there is concern among the Eby opposition that he will try to push legislation through without proper scrutiny. “I can assure you we will make a lot of noise about it if he tries to end something without proper discussion and debate,” said BC Liberal Leader Kevin Falcon. WATCHES | Eby sets priorities for first 100 days in office:
David Eby promises to focus on housing and health care in first 100 days in office
In a speech Friday, David Eby laid out his priorities for when he becomes premier of BC, which include housing, health care and public safety.
Passing the torch
Eby replaces John Horgan, 63, B.C.’s first two-term NDP premier, who announced in June that he was stepping down after recovering from throat cancer. He was named NDP leader after his only rival in the race, activist Anjali Appadurai, was disqualified following an investigation into her campaign’s conduct. Eby will be sworn in as premier on Friday at the Musqueam Community Center in Vancouver. He lives in the area with his wife, Kaylee, and their two children. His brother Patrick says he’s always set boundaries to protect his personal time as best he can, even as his work life has evolved. “Over the years you’ve seen, as his career has developed and the work he’s done, he’s definitely not taken his foot off the gas. He’s there for his family and he’s got time for his family. “But when it’s in working mode, it’s in working mode.”
