Joe Fortes: Vancouver’s ‘Citizen of the Century’
English Bay Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Vancouver, with thousands of tourists and locals visiting the sandy shore each year. But, did you know, in a past life, the area was simply known as “Joe’s Beach”?
The nickname references Vancouver’s first lifeguard, Joseph Seraphim Fortes. Joesph, or Joe, patrolled the beach for over three decades. He arrived in the Pacific Northwest in 1855 from England, aboard a damaged British ship that was forced to retire mid-voyage. The crew, Joe being one of them, were discharged and many found work in the Granville townsite. This townsite was officially named Vancouver the following year.
Joe was originally from Barbados and was one of Vancouver’s first black citizens. He found work at a number of different hotels in the city as a porter, shoeshine and barman. But it was his afterwork activities that landed him his fame.
Joe spent all his free time at the beach, specifically English Bay or First Beach. He was already an accomplished swimmer when he arrived on the coast, having set crossing and diving records in England. But his notoriety in Vancouver came from his volunteer hours as lifeguard and swim instructor. Joe took it upon himself to do both these tasks without payment. In 1900, the city made it official, naming him Vancouver’s first lifeguard. The position came with a salary, so he could leave his hotel work and focus on the beach. He was later made a special constable and given a gun and badge.
As an instructor, Joe taught hundreds of children how to swim. One of those youngsters was my Grandfather (fact!). Many of the children would repeat his famous phrase: “Kick yo feet child, kick yo feet.” As a lifeguard, Joe saved dozens of lives.
Joe passed in 1922 and Vancouver held a record breaking funeral procession in his honour. It seemed everyone had a connection to the larger than life shoreline hero. He was laid to rest at Mountain View Cemetery with the simple inscription: “Joe.”
In 1927, a memorial water fountain was put in at Alexandra Park, steps away from the beach front cottage Joe lived in at English Bay. The cast was done by local sculptor Charles Marega, the same gentleman who created the Lions at the south end of the Lions Gate Bridge. The fountain has a succinct inscription: “Little Children Loved Him.”
In 1976, the Joe Fortes Library opened in the West End to honour his work with children in the area. I have taken out many books from this library to build my knowledge of Vancouver’s history for my Vancouver bike tours.
In 1986, the Joe Fortes Seafood and Chophouse opened. This restaurant is considered one of the premier steak and seafood establishments in the city. The local business also honours Joe’s other skill, hospitality.
In 1986, to celebrate Vancouver’s centennial, the city declared him him the official “Citizen of the Century,” and in 2013 he was put on a stamp to honour Black History Month in Canada. The stamp’s release occurred 150 years after his birth.
A legend in his time and posthumously, Joe Fortes taught more than swimming; Joe taught Vancouverites what a true coastal citizen strives for: community, safety and fun at the beach!
