By David P. Ball
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Did you know that once upon a time, Vancouver had a town fool, who lived in a Downtown Eastside single-resident occupancy hotel on Hastings Street, dressed as a court jester, rode a cart pulled by donkeys through the streets, and snarled traffic with street dance parties?

The stunts of Polish immigrant Joachim Foikis landed him in jail several times, as he decried the growing car-obsessed culture and pollution in the 1960s — still problems as ever, today — and the hypocrisy of politicians. But in fact, this self-described "town fool" was publicly funded by the federal government.

His story is recounted by Vancouver historian Jesse Donaldson, who shared some of his antics, stunts and interventions with The Pulse on CFRO, and discussed this unique and colourful character of the Downtown Eastside's history.

Donaldson's new book, released by Anvil Press, is "Fool's Gold: The Life and Legacy of Vancouver's Official Town Fool."