In the 1930s, Dr. Norman Bethune did many things that shocked his very WASP family. After a promising career as a surgeon, designing operating tools that are still in use today, he joined the Communist Party and began lobbying for socialized medicine in Canada.
He travelled to Russia and then Spain, where he signed up as a battlefield doctor during the Spanish Civil War and, learning from his experiences as a First World War stretcher bearer, earned praise for introducing the first-ever blood bank close to the front lines.
Then, in 1938, while the rest of the world was focusing on trouble brewing in Europe, he went to China, which had been invaded by Japan the year before.
Dr. Bethune worked tirelessly and selflessly treating the wounded soldiers in the midst of the fighting, also teaching others his craft and saving thousands of lives as a result. In November, 1939, he cut his finger while operating on a wounded soldier and died of septicaemia.
Chairman Mao Zedongs essay, In Memory of Norman Bethune, became required reading for every child in China.
Growing up, Gregor Angus Bethune Robertson knew that he was named after a well-known (and now respected) relative, but he didnt realize how revered his paternal grandmothers first cousin was until, at the age of 21, he travelled to China.
For all of [Norman Bethunes] accomplishments, they werent widely recognized in Canada, says Vancouvers mayor, who once thought he too would become a doctor. But hes a historical figure in China and holds a revered place in Chinese culture; he was a revolutionary looking after people.
Asked what Dr. Bethune might think of the role his namesake is playing in strengthening cultural and economic ties with China today, Robertson says, from books Ive read, I understand he was very taken with Chinese culture. Hed be very surprised that were the most Chinese city outside of China in the world, and how harmonious these two cultures are.
As mayor, Robertson has travelled twice to China but rather than concentrate on his relatives achievements in the past, he makes the link to what can be possible in the future by strengthening connections between Vancouver and China. Dr. Bethune introduced new medical concepts and technologies; Vancouver can do the same today, as the recent trade tour to China reinforced.
Theres another lesson he takes from his famous cousin: One person can only do so much but teaching others had a huge impact and saved lives.
He says that one of his goals for 2014 is to be re-elected in November so he can build on the foundation that he and his council have been working on to address issues the citys mental health crisis and poverty challenges.
Affordability is such a huge issue, he says.
Hes taken to using social media to engage more people he recently held a Twitter town hall both here and in China. His Chinese Twitter account on Weibo has close to 80,000 followers.
On a more personal level, his hope for 2014 is to take advantage of his and his wife Amys new life in Kitsilano. After becoming empty nesters when the last of their three children and foster son moved out to pursue their own lives, the Robertsons sold their Craftsman house in the Cambie corridor and moved closer to the beach.
Its been a big transition from having a busy kid-filled house for 22 years to moving and having a much quieter house, he says. Were adjusting to living in a duplex.... This is a nice change of pace.
An avid swimmer, the chilly temperatures have prevented him from taking full advantage to being so close to water, but hes looking forward to how easy it will be in the summer to be on Vancouvers waterfront.
At Christmas, the family will be travelling together as part of their one Christmas at home/one Christmas away tradition. But responsibilities will be only a smartphone message away.
Everything he does falls under intense public scrutiny, especially in a city like Vancouver where people arent shy about expressing what they think, good or bad.
The best thing about my job is meeting people and experiencing our city first hand, he says. The complaints and challenges are tough at times when things pile up but Im steadily reminded of what makes Vancouver great and that keeps me going.
If you want to learn more about Dr. Norman Bethune, Gregor Robertsons great-aunt, Mary Larratt Smith, wrote a book called Prologue to Norman: The Canadian Bethunes. (She was a great historian and felt that stories about early families deserve to be told, Robertson says.) Donald Sutherland and Helen Mirren starred in the 1990 movie Bethune: The Making of a Hero.
