I chose to focus this series of photos on the homeless population that is ever growing around the world and rapidly here in our Nations Capital.

In my career working for the City, I have served communities from Kanata to Orleans.  My final 10 years was working in the Lowertown Community.  I lived in the Byward Market and walked throughout the community to and from work and in my daily life.

I have never been so deeply committed to a group of people.  This neighborhood houses the highest population in the City living below the poverty line and the conditions of some living here are astonishing.  The people are resilient and devoted to working to make things a better place to raise your family.

Lowertown has always been known at a working class neighborhood.  One of my facilities was the Champagne Bath Fitness Center.  This was one of the first bath houses in North America.  Built to provide a place to swim and have a hot shower as many in this neighborhood did not have indoor plumbing or running water in their homes.

Today we see 4 community hubs for the homeless mixed in with the City’s largest tourism districts for shopping and restaurants steps away from Parliament Hill.  Although I worked to help this community have access to affordable sport and recreation, I also became immune to seeing the disparities amongst those who were affluent and those who had so very little.

I remember coming out of a restaurant with a take away container.  I was with my sister and she was pleasantly surprised when I stopped to ask a fellow, who I knew by name, who lived on the street how he was doing.  After a quick catch up on his work to getting off the street, I offered my remaining meal.  He asked if I wouldn’t want it later for a snack and I reassured him that I was full and to enjoy the remaining pizza.  This is my experience with so many I got to know living in the market.

I have moved from the busy downtown area and rarely find myself in the market.  It was when I saw on the news how the City was removing a group from a small camp living over a large vent on Rideau Street.  I knew some of the homeless people they interviewed about being removed from the encampment.  I was quickly brought back to memories of when I lived there.  I could not believe that these people were still living on our cold winter streets, had survived the pandemic and were just simply trying to find somewhere warm to sleep

There are many different opinions on the matters of homelessness.  I too struggle when I have worked with different organizations that have found housing for some and then they continue to live on the streets. This is where their community is and where their support systems are.  Living alone, in seclusion is often not desirable.

Perhaps when I am done school, I may return to work with this population that needs to be seen and heard.