Barry “Basajear” Johnson
A Life Celebrated in Light
A Métis Photographer’s Enduring Gift to East Vancouver
Introduction
(Full-page image recommended here — portrait of Barry or a key Hub photograph)
Some artists chase stories. Others grow into them.
Barry “Basajear” Johnson belongs to the latter—a photographer whose life gently, steadily, beautifully intertwined with the story of East Vancouver.
From a Pentax K1000 gifted by his father to the bustling streets of Broadway and Commercial Drive, Barry’s journey became a lifelong celebration of everyday people, quiet resilience, and the poetry of ordinary life.
Origins: A Spark in Northern Ontario
“That moment sparked a lifelong passion for photography.” —Barry Johnson
Barry’s love for photography began at home, when his father let him try a Pentax K1000. That single moment launched decades of curiosity. In Winnipeg, he immersed himself in books on photojournalism, shaping his craft with a Nikon FM, Kodachrome film, and countless hours of study.
In the early 1980s, Barry moved west, where British Columbia’s thriving community newspaper scene welcomed him. He became a staff photographer—his dream job—and spent nearly twenty years documenting local stories across the province.
“For me it was a 20-year dream job I absolutely loved.”
A Return to the Lens
(Suggested image: Barry’s early film work or something symbolic—camera gear, library books, darkroom details)
When media shifted in the late ’90s, Barry transitioned into a stable corporate IT career. But in 2018, after 18 years with the same company, he found himself suddenly unemployed.
“I was hurt – that was a major part of my life to just toss me aside.”
A coworker sold him a small Fuji camera for $20.
With that humble spark, Barry returned to the streets. He photographed constantly, rediscovered community through Instagram, and reconnected with the joy of storytelling. But he soon realized that purpose, not just practice, was what he truly needed.
The Hub
A Portrait of East Broadway & Commercial Drive
(Suggested layout: two photos spanning across the gutter—one showing transit, one showing street life)
At the bustling intersection of East Broadway and Commercial Drive, more than “100,000 people pass through daily.” It is here that Barry found the subject that would define his later life.
Seniors picking up prescriptions.
Immigrant families running small shops.
Musicians, commuters, neighbours who wave when they recognize you by your camera.
People weathering the harder edges of city life.
People thriving in the softer ones.
Barry photographed them all—not distantly, but as a neighbour.
“As someone with Métis heritage and a resident of the area, I feel a deep responsibility to portray the community from within.”
For seven years, The Hub became a living archive of East Vancouver’s heart. He documented change, loss, humour, perseverance—everything that makes a neighbourhood feel like a home.
Witnessing a Changing Community
(Suggested placement: a spread of 3–4 photos showing old businesses, seniors, daily rituals)
Barry watched beloved businesses close as rents rose. He felt the disappearance of familiar faces. But he also celebrated the vibrancy that persisted—the people who filled sidewalks with energy, resilience, and quiet warmth.
“I’ve come to know so many of my subjects.”
His images reveal a community in motion yet deeply rooted.
They remind viewers that the value of a place lies not in buildings but in the people who animate them.
Resilience & Legacy
A Project Carried Forward with Love
(Suggested image: portrait of Barry working, or a reflective street scene)
In 2024, Barry was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. The news was heavy, but his response was full of purpose:
“I’ve found this to be an excellent project to keep me going instead of sitting around feeling sorry for myself.”
He began building a legacy archive:
a high-quality photo book
large-format archival prints
preparations for a joint exhibition
materials for the Vancouver Archives, which expressed interest in acquiring his work
And he made one of the most important decisions of the project’s life: ensuring The Hub would continue after him.
A New Chapter Begins
Introducing Nathan Griffiths: The Next Keeper of The Hub
When Barry called for photographers to carry The Hub into the future, Nathan Griffiths stepped forward.
Nathan brings a deep respect for documentary photography and a heartfelt commitment to preserving the stories of East Broadway & Commercial Drive.
His involvement ensures the pulse of the project lives on through the coming years—through redevelopment, through the changing faces of the neighbourhood, through every moment that deserves to be remembered.
Thanks to Nathan, The Hub moves toward a bright new chapter.
A Legacy in Light
“Photography has always been more than a profession for me; it’s a way of connecting, storytelling, and staying present in the world.”
Barry’s work is a gift—to Vancouver, to documentary photography, and to everyone who finds meaning in everyday life. His images will outlast construction cranes and shifting streetscapes. They will speak for decades, reminding us that ordinary moments are extraordinary when seen with care.
His legacy is one of connection.
Of presence.
Of community.
Of celebration.