Poverty Awareness in York Region

Room with a View

Happy New Year! I had a great time ringing in the New Year among friends, except Dan, who didn't come because, being in a wheelchair all day, all the holiday season, took a toll making him incapable physically of enduring the long night. Too bad. Before his partner of five years left him, she would assist him with this as well as getting into and out of bed at night and in the morning. Since then it's been a struggle for him having to rely on the possibility of getting a neighbour to assist him each and every night - something that should be done in dignity for those with disabilities and in this predicament - by a care provider.

Everyone deserves hope for the new year

About 3 am, New Year's night, after I got home, I had to go help Dan into bed as no one showed up to assist, who'd said they would. Of course, when it's a volunteer. you really have no recourse but to hope you can get someone else to help - and that your phone  / power works. Heck, he can't even be guaranteed his driveway will be cleared unless there is at least 4 inches of ice / snow and even then it's volunteer, so they may or may not show or by when you need out.

The system supplied someone to help him into bed for the first couple of weeks after his spouse left, but then told him they didn't offer the service past 7- 8pm. He explained he cannot go to bed then in his condition, especially when they cannot gurantee someone to assist him out of bed before 11am the next day.

" We don't have anyone at that time" he was told. That sense of helplessness beginning to take hold.

WELL GET SOMEONE THEN!

The system would rather he go into a home instead at exorbitant cost. He would rather they just supply someone between normal bed time hours of 11pm and 1 am to assist him into bed, which by the way, is already fixed with a pulley-like mechanism that allows him to be Velcroed in and raised / lowered with minimal effort. A child could do it. He then needs a couple of things plugged in. More rocket science. Yet they can't get anyone to do it? Replace them. P.A.C.C. will be happy to take over the service for them.

Make Wages, ODSP, and Assistance Rates an election issue

If C.C.A.C. wants to continue to be the chosen government sourced provider of care to our most vulnerable of our disabled and elderly, then they better be prepared to do it while offering them the best care possible,  including all care providers being able to speak English or the language of the attendee - and including dignity - and dignity includes feeling in control of going to bed at a time you are used to and a time that allows your body to physically handle it - being the intricate nature of your ever worsening muscular dystrophy.

He's has to call the ambulance guys a few times, more indignity, to put him to bed when he had no other choice. One guy told him,

" You need to go in a home".

"You go live in a F@@#$ home!" Dan yelled, just me in the room; wishing it upon the insensitive attendant.

Dan assisting community clean up best he can

The March of Dimes has a program that would assist in this case, however they have a five year waiting list. Should this guy have to disrupt his life, friends, home & supports he has because they would rather have him in a home? Or does it make more sense to provide a service to put him to bed? The answer is obvious. Meantime he's worrying about who will help tonight....and tomorrow night...and tomorrow night...and....

Frankly he's had it with our system and life in general. The little income he does get from ODSP - reduced further now as a single person with subsidized housing - leaves him little and relying on kindness sometimes for a good meal. It's outrageous. Anyway don't count a hunger strike out as at this point Desperate Dan is a nomer that fits the bill.

Politicians..over to you!

Tom Pearson

Oct 17 is International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, and as such, is marked by events around the world to draw attention to, and find solutions to, end poverty.

To me it's a day where you find out who the pretenders are in York Region. The ones who claim to want to help those in poverty, yet don't show up Oct 17 to add their supportive voice to the mix. Some of those are "do-gooders" who can't understand why food banks and free dinners aren't good enough. The dignity part goes over their heads. Some are in in for the money, not the principle, and without poverty, perhaps they don't have a job....and so you have to ask is their motive really about ending it? Fortunately, corporate business charities and nonprofits are made up of people, some of whom do care, and they come even if their agency isn't officially there.

Y.R.'s winter shelters are not open in October

Hopefully the Mayor of Newmarket, Tony Van Bynen, shows up this year. As much as Regional Councillor John Taylor is an eloquent speaker, we like to hope the Mayor also cares enough to come. M.P.'s and M.P.P.'s are also welcome to come listen in and maybe engage, and we're hoping our invitation to Newmarket-Aurora M.P.P. Frank Klees makes good, as a letter asking for support for specific legislation changes to protect vulnerable residents is in the works and to be presented. I've never seen M.P. Julia Munroe attend any year, while all the rest have. She doesn't have to care I guess. Besides, P.M. Harper just pledged to help women and children in foreign countries and that should be enough to keep people happy.Yea, right.

P.A.C.C. hosted a social audit a few years back that looked at poverty from a critical viewpoint. It was the 1st in York Region's history, and critiqued the services and system through the eyes of those experiencing it while issues were raised and discussed / critiqued amongst groups made of politicians and social / agency workers and community leaders. 

Inn From Cold woman's beds sit mostly empty in winter

The audit digested information gathered from sample persons from all sectors of York Region, inclusive across racial lines and sexes, all included in the final report, which was Co-Written by myself Yvonne Kelly and made a number of recommendations. The report was endorsed in principle after a presentation to council and its sat relatively unused since - although the Region did forward it to the Ontario government as representative insight from York Region.

This is unfortunate because such a report and the gleaned info would cost 10's of thousands of dollars normally and since government got it at a bargain, FREE, they could at least use it.

Sits empty, yet building a new shelter

The problem is, it criticizes the status quo and how things are currently run, something that has not been acknowledged nor altered. Men still feel treated poorly at shelters and continue to be low-balled in both access to programs and shelters, whilst the Region ignored the report they endorsed and steamed forward toward building a questionably needed women's shelter - as the Region has 6 already in various forms!

During the campaign to gain interest to build this shelter, the now defunct and paid by the region " Homelessness Alliance of Y.R."  supposedly did a "survey" and found women were homeless, but hidden as couch surfers, and therefore could only give "guesstimate" numbers on that but trust them they exist. These are the "facts" they then used to justify building another women's shelter - while men have but 26 full time beds available to them in a Region of 1.2 million people. Backed by a throng of Belinda Stronach worshipers, including our only newspaper's Editor who chaired the presentation to council and sits on the board, it might as well have been rubber-stamped from the outset especially with all our ties to the Stronach dynasty here. Facts be damned.

We have documented concrete proof  men are living and dying on the streets. 
Now, that's a fact.

At any rate decide for yourself on Oct 17 when the World Premiere of the documentary  "Behind The Masks" shows. This documentary style video contains live testimonials from those within the safety-net system here in rich York Region, Ontario, Canada.


The movie will premiere during the Oct 17 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty event held at Stellar Hall, 1220 Stellar Dr Newmarket 2nd floor above Stellar Bowl. 

From one of our Y.R. "food distribution programs"

Doors open 7 pm with fresh hot & cold food and refreshments provided. Includes Open Stage and features Headliner entertainment by TPE with reggae rooted The Yappers.
Cover - pay what you will.

Sign up for the event on Facebook here.

Tom out!

Recently, there has been a spate of articles written in the YRMG on the subject of poverty, homelessness and housing by various writers. It never ceases to amaze me how they spin things at times and write stories - at least locally - that don't include much critical input and often pander to the "help" organizations and not the actual affected people - like many PACC members.

This street is owned on one side, rented on the other, tell which?

The article I was quoted in, however, was fairly accurate and surprisingly enough, mentioned some controversial subjects I didn't think they would frankly. Sometimes I just throw things out there to see what sticks and I guess this did - that being the fact that a neighbourhood park with nearby kids banned from using it because they are not technically from that neighborhood - yet some live on the same street!

The side by side neighbours have a unique set up with one side of the street owned houses and the other side rentals with mixed income and some low income units thereby creating a real diverse mix of residents - except only one side of that street can use the good kids park. I guess the association doesn't embrace diversity. Does this policy encourage friendship and camaraderie between the two side by side hoods that one has to look hard to distinguish between, despite what one person quoted as a "leader" in local poverty work ( I read the quote but couldn't find it so his name shall remain out for now) said about renters not having "ownership pride" in keeping their properties (in one of the recent columns)? Biased attitudes like this that feed the stereotype of low income or renting residents are likely part of the reason we have so little rentals in York Region - 12% of all our housing stock according to the article (actually 11.7%) which is the lowest ratio in CANADA - not highlighted in the article while availability sits around 1%.

Kids from Mulock Village live on this street but cannot play here

In one column the writer quotes a Y.R. Habitat for Humanity Director as a local expert on housing needs - having been in the job a few months - and they of course used the opportunity to promote themselves as a viable builder of affordable housing, yet the American based franchise boasts on their website of having more assets than

This empty space once housed a park for M.V. kids on same street

Starbucks and has built 0 houses in Newmarket in a number of years despite paying out millions in operational costs" last year for the Y.R. Habitat for Humanity Re-Store. To even be lucky enough to be chosen for one of their homes, you seemingly must often first be a visible minority or have come here from another country, as well you also must agree to become a face for them to the public to tell the world how wonderful they are. These are degrading and esteem killing conditions and you cannot sell your home either should you ever wish to move.

They also label the residents they place in homes as 'hardworking", as if anyone else caught in the trap of poverty may not be, which helps perpetuate the myth of some poor being more deserving than others. It also divides not unites people. A person with an illness for example that does not enable them to do labor does not mean they should be labelled as "not hard working" or lazy, nor someone unemployed. These private owned corporate charities should not be quoted within serious discussions of providing affordable housing as they only confuse the issue and do very little actual building anyway.
                     kids must play on the streets when no playground allowed as in above video

2nd suites being shopped as a "solution" also are not "affordable housing" either as they average over $1200 per month in York Region, whereas a single person on low income cannot afford this. The problem is the region 's official definition of' "affordable housing" does not comply with the reality for those on low income as they cannot afford this 'affordable" solution - not to mention they are unsafe - especially if operated by a "slumlord".

The Star actually reported that more private developers in Toronto are adding condos to the affordable housing mix via proposals, which P.A.C.C. has tried to do here as well for years having brought a group in on Oct 17, Int Day for the Eradication of Poverty to speak on the very subject. One politician, Newmarket Regional Councillor John Taylor showed up. Newmarket's Mayor Tony Van Bynen was no where to be found nor any other regional or town councilors or mayors who all seem to take their directional cues from the Region which in turn is getting its direction from the provincial and federal governments and not its residents. But this is what we get when buying into the Russia originated, relatively new to N.A.'s, regional government model - decisions about what we do made centrally, such as building up (people density), water, access to green areas(through "protectionism") and adding transit lines we don't need or didn't ask for while be assured we need it..

More and more decisions affecting our towns are made by  governing bodies not even living in the areas affected.

Mildred, 93, lost her housing and lives in limbo ever since

Speaking of the Toronto Star, the media outlet reported that seniors had been evicted at an alarming rate and that Toronto Community Housing Corp had not been using it as a last means as mandated, but rather as a way to open up some spots.

I know a fair bit about how they operated, through knowing a former TCHC contracted paralegal whose job was to evict delinquent and difficult tenants and set-up arrears collections and who was contracted there during the time in question examined by the Toronto Ombudsman. Although the person did not come out and say it to me, I got the feeling she was pressured to back off evicting gang members (mostly minorities), by encouraging the entry of incomplete paperwork knowing it could then result in the case being tossed and concentrate on others, for which the paralegal felt conflicted. This conflict lead to them eventually leaving. So in essence T.C.H.C. was asking them to illegally file - knowing the info was not complete.

Perhaps by OUTSOURCING paralegal work the city could make substantial inroads, save $ thousands in wasted court costs. and save lives.

A Newmarket Paralegal who has represented some of Canada's largest landlords including T.C.H.C., was quoted in the York Region Media Group article as saying, "Gang members must be housed somewhere", referring to the dilemma Housing Authorities have when dealing with them as residents, yet time and again innocent residents are corrupted by such practices and denied their right to live in peace. There are no easy solutions, but one thing is for sure, more youth and education opportunities need be entered into the mix because these kids - and I mean under 10 - exposed to guns and violent ways will come to think it's the "norm" which it is not. This all being said, York Region Housing's stock is not full of gangs or modeled like Toronto's although many, if not most of its residents, somehow come from Toronto or elsewhere and not from York Region - and again this is a regional system dilemma.

The Paralegal also suggested to me that there needs to be legislation put in place to protect seniors and others from housing authority evictions, because Housing Tribunals supersede Landlord and Tenant Board decisions and allow for the delivery of C-4 notices (eviction) to be served based on allegations only - whereas the L&T Board requires more tangible proof before evicting.
For example someone accused of having another person not on their lease living at their residence can currently be evicted based on just that - an allegation - which is exactly what happened to this senior.

When a senior wedged in our system tells me she wished she'd just hurry up and die, I'm pretty sure we're doing something wrong. She can't watch t.v. since her hearing device went missing shortly after being moved into the Newmarket long term care located centre, and her eyes are bad so reading is tough, and the food is lousy she says. She's dying of boredom perhaps although they suspect cancer now too.

" It's worse than being in the joint Tom" the once feisty 93 year old told me.

Until Next time.

Tom out

Imagine having Christmas, wherein you have to rely on others to decide what your kids or even grand kids will get through charity because all of your income goes to keeping a phone for Xmas or the heat on, and when you look at what's left you find nothing but a lump of coal. Now imagine that's for a person considered lucky. Each year at this time I always get a number of calls or requests or pleas that are out of my range of actual influence - although by using different methods we can still keep the pressure on year round.

One of the recent concerns raised was the upcoming cancellation / shifting of distribution of Community Start Up funds which was available under the provincial government for those seeking 1st and last months rent and unable to afford it. The homeless used this fund to get into a place from the streets or a shelter. Another long time running fund up for review by regional council now was made available to home owners to upkeep their homes to liveable levels, and these funds literally help keep thousands off the streets.

One single woman I know of is being evicted, and aggressively so, by a group that is supposed to care for our disadvantaged - the ones with addictions or mental health issues - and seem to believe they can control these 'wards' or kick them out. These religious landlords/programs such as Cross Links - no matter how they try to hide it - should not be the only options for these people. "Landlords" as such become complacent when they are essentially the only game in town for people in this predicament and begin to feel they can impose rules as they please and muddy the rights of these tenants, who often are unaware, if they steer off their decided path. It seems the only help these charges get - the free legal clinics - are reluctant to tackle or challenge these groups to the degree they need to keep people in their homes without constant threat of removal should they not fit a particular mold being sought. They are assured programs are voluntary when they start out living in these places, but should people opt out the heat gets turned up it seems.


Another person lived in a Cross-links building infested with bedbugs - yet they billed him only for removal costs while the rest of the building's tenants weren't. When he balked they pounced. He moved out eventually frustrated by their persistence to oust him. These points of concern regarding the areas 'help" devises for the 'poor" came up during our in-depth social audit, Behind the Masks - testimonials from those marginalized by circumstance of a few years back, but as yet it seems the Region drafted it in name only as it seems to collect dust whilst they fund various forums to find out the same info, such as the United Way's recent series of 'community input" forums..Of course they too were criticized in the audit.


What we have done in regards to the Community Start-up funds is drafted some suggestions and forwarded them to the Region of York wherein we were invited into the discussion that regional council is now embarking on regarding these funds and the upcoming downloading of O.D.S.P. to the municipalities to distribute. I have no plans to attend but used the detailed draft letter complete with itemized suggestions to put them on notice. Prior these funds as well as O.D.S.P. - Ontario Disabilty Support Program - has been distributed by the Ontario government. Our main objection, in addition to wanting a guarantee the emergency funds will remain intact, is that municipalities are less educated to the root issues of poverty and more inclined to think in stereotypical terms - that these people are just lazy or can be dealt with through hand-out systems - like food-banks. The fact that a regional councilor also has a father with ties to many of the local homeless connected charities, often deemed part of the "solution" here, worries me frankly.

Some prefer the streets to these luxurious accomodations

For instance did you know everyone staying in the YR shelters pays to! That's right they are fast tracked into welfare but must sign off their rights to the cash to the shelters as a condition of staying - leaving what incentive to create housing as opposed to more temporary stay warehouses for people? Not that they're building any for the 90% street homeless which are men in York Region. Remember them? The ones who die on the streets?

The one's no one has written about but me.

Anyway low income women are not getting an easy run for Xmas either as one person who caught up to me reminded. They are trying to take her grand kids away from her because one of them is ' difficult' and has a number of ' diagnosis" apparently. I know the kid. He's not a bad kid at all and in fact very polite. He may have these so called diagnosis but this is no reason to remove a child from family. Once again a family unable to afford all the "help" they apparently "need" for their child will result in a REMOVAL?! Merry Xmas to you too!

The woman was at her end to hold back from crying as she was out shopping at the dollar store with them, for Xmas no doubt.This is becoming epidemic with kids being removed or parents - often single moms - controlled by being ordered by C.A.S. to participate in outrageous often unwarranted "programs" because they say so..or else...what if they can't afford the transportation or program cost? It's like living under glass jar! One person who attended a "mandatory" anger management "program" told me they watched movies every 'class".  
Someone's making a killing and its not the students! Another woman I know is going through the same thing with her daughter removed in front of the whole neighbourhood - based on statements made by a neighbour not in her household - and for 10 months has now fought for her child back! Still another had the baby taken at birth! All have one thing in common- low income.


Today I met a woman at a volunteers thanks lunch put on by the York Region Food Network. She manages to volunteer, where she is allowed to, even though she lives in her car! She grew up in an aboriginal household looking after her siblings having a severely alcoholic mother. It was her the taxi companies would deal with when a child had to go to the hospital from their rural location. "Which one is it this time?", they'd ask her, the mom too fall down to deal with anything. Recently she was stopped from volunteering based on new rules asking for "food handling certification". To wrap sandwiches? Give us a break! Wear gloves! People just want to be involved not controlled and needless "programs" waste resources and alienate. Christmas to her is a terrible memory - when the drinking would be at its worst. I Invited this lady to the Deli House Catering Xmas - Bread & Jam party and vowed to give her at least some fun this year!

People sometimes are born of circumstance as well. One person I know who's spent many a year in shelters, rooming houses, and even jail - often where the down end up when there's "no room at the inn".. He was sexually abused as a child, beaten by his father and brothers. He was ostracized at school for being unkempt and for what he wore and because they were poor. The father drank heavily. Recently, this same guy while drunk, was jumped and beaten when leaving a community dinner by some men coming out of the Habitat for Humanity store back warehouse area. So even eating is a danger now to him, let alone have to hit a shelter if it came to that. You get the picture..

Another I ran into, a family man with both parents working full time in factories and concerned they'll not have anything for presents for their kids after bills are paid out. You can read such stress in their faces like lines in a book, and that it breaks their hearts not to be able to despite apparently doing everything expected from society, yet still with minimal overhead comparatively, they struggle. Year round.



One guy had never had a friend. He never stayed in one place long enough to gain any, basically got wasted everywhere he went, and when things got too bad he packed up and left to the next town or city. Until one day he made a friend who believed in him, and encouraged him, and guess what? That was all he needed...along with some other supports, was another soul out there that gave enough of a fuck to say,

"Hey man how you doing?" and mean it. 

Can it all be so tough for people to do? Goodwill to men and women?

Merry Xmas and Happy Holidays!

PS there is a Xmas Party - FRI DEC 21 6 - 8:30pm The 1st Annual Bread & Jam Xmas party at Deli House Catering Hall 1220 Stellar lane Newmarket for those who might have it tough this year and also those who assist in that plight when they can. PACC will be on-hand and some presents for the kids and award(s) given out.

Entry is $1 for a gourmet buffet dinner or $10 if you can afford it. Entertainers for Open Stage welcome!

Mcguinty Mannequin cross Ontario tour in Aurora

Recently I traveled to Toronto in anticipation of the screening of the Put Food in the Budget campaign's "Premier Mcguinty mannequin tour". The campaign, of which I'd been an attending and participating member of, is a cross Ontario group lead by educated and experienced leaders and involving those with lived low income experience. The thing I'd liked about the group, besides the fact the ideas we
came up with were usually well executed, was that they included those with experience and actually used their input - unlike other groups or forums or participation events I've been to where they go through the motions but never actually use participants' viewpoints or input, just the appearances of doing so. Something like the Ontario government did with its poverty reduction strategy hearings. I call it pandering. Then they use those who they are purported to be helping as their mouthpieces to attract attention and / or to show worthiness for continued funding from associated groups - like charities do to vulnerable people when they get them to do their bidding through 'testimonials' after which they get rewarded usually.

Eyes on Toronto

Programs and ideas are best generated from the community on out, and particularly when dealing with a community barely surviving. They will know barriers for people as they themselves have often experienced it or know someone who has. That's why their input is THE MOST critical part of any plan and is exactly why the Put Food in the Budget campaign completely missed the mark by producing a movie that excluded using excerpts from all the communiteis who submitted video footage. They used people to further their cause( and name) by doing the bidding in communities to promote the mannequin campaign and went around with "him" introducing him to community members and taping interactions with "him". In our case we gave video footage of everything from Mcguinty visiting a community dinner to seniors telling him off, to a kid with mental health issues speaking off camera with the mannequin "listening" to a community movie. We even had footgage of him helping at a foodbank as well as bike riding all of which could have been played with music layed underneath but nothing.

PFIB campaign fights for more social assistance from the Ontario budget

" Mike," I'd said to the movements director Balkwill, " This is embarrassing. You're supposed to be about inclusiveness, surely you could have and should have included at least 5 or 10 seconds from everyone!". I wasn't the only one, some had traveled from as far as Thunderbay to see no northern inclusion. Very disappointing. Mike was understanding and said he'd bring it to the "committee" and that some technical issues had been involved.

"Committee?" I thought I was going to be part of the editing process? Did this committee have anyone of experience on it? Because if they had, this never would have happened." In addition I have produced and hosted a number of shows for TV and some film work too, as well as went to school for tv and film production so figured my professional experience could be utilized too. Guess not. I left without watching it and disillusioned.Was I being bamboozled again by another pandering do-gooder outfit that really didn't care about the "cause"?

"Do The Math" one of the actions we helped PFIB campaign implement

For 4 years I chaired a program (and helped start) called Operation Sparrow  It is likely the most user friendly and dignified model of programs distribution out there having now distributed 10's of thousands of dollars worth of karate, theatre school, art and other activities alongside "regular" kids with no special labels or "programs".

It was so successfully set up BECAUSE it contained some members of the COMMITTEE with lived experience, and they had to be listened too as I was chair. It runs today with its constitution firmly in place and hundreds of kids take part annually. Recently access to skates became part of it, allowing kids to skate and maybe play hockey.


To the credit of the Put Food in The Budget Campaign - they are going to revise the advocacy video to include York Region and some other suggested changes.  Also a time factor had come into play and they needed to have something to show that day.  They've always been a good group in the past and we have open discussions where they actually seek out input from those coming from lived experience and seemingly use it.

Let this be a lesson learned - to err is human - once per.

Help spread the word on Oct 17, International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

Dan Philion receives award for community service...but not good enough to have his daughter they say

This year's underlying theme for "Quest for Youth" is mental health. Mental health rears its ugly head more often than we know.School educators hope to inform and educate through this forum to better identify those in need earlier and to understand better how to handle kids with certain conditions, but what about when someone is mishandled as an adult?

Dan's daughter taken - his crime? Being disabled

My friend Dan solemnly informed me the other day that it has now been two years since he and Ashleigh had the control and care of their child taken away from them at birth. Yup, Children's Aid decided they were a risk to harm their child and not only took their daughter but have kept control ever since.

Drug addicts you ask? No. Alcoholics? Child abusers? No and no. Try disabled.

Children's Aid Society first got involved in their lives through a regional 'care-worker" they confided in who contacted childrens aid early in the pregnancy to "help them prepare for having their baby". Ha. Some help. Ashleigh was told they wouldn't take her baby then as well. Double ha.

At the time both were in wheelchairs - although Ashleigh had limited mobility with frequent seizures- and Dan with M.D. had previously raised two kids ( mostly alone) successfully. In fact he took pride in the fact that his son never (and daughter rarely) missed a day of school when they lived with him his oldest graduated now with honours. He has a world of knowledge and experience, having raised them mostly alone too, but that was all cast aside with the insertion of Children's Aid in their lives. Dan, who also has a parenting course certificate, saw no reason why he need jump their other hoops not related to his illness, like making him take " anger management", counselling, etc and after some months of their "visits", asked them to leave his house and not come back. Who wouldn't be mad if they took your child away and gave control to strangers? They also expected him (them), with limited mobility, to go visit their daughter at the Children's Aid's offices. He / they were treated like drug addict child abusers - as Dan put it,

"They even let drug addicts have their kids Tom, what's that all about? We just want our daughter".

After the birth of the baby where Ashleigh was denied the RIGHT to hold her baby in the hospital bed like all the other moms ( baby was removed without supervision) she understandably got depressed. Likely postpartum as well, and because she communicated that aloud - depressed - that was held against her and ordered to see more psychiatrists, take parenting classes, medications and and and on...Add a (Dan's) mother in- law with self motives and you have yourself a real kettle of fish.

Then one day a miracle happened - after 6 YEARS being diagnosed as epileptic and MADE to take anti-seizure medication that caused her such severe convulsions up to 12 a day - so much so that she had to be in a wheelchair- she was told by a new doctor that she was wrongly diagnosed and took her off it! Her new Doctor then told her to get ready to walk again! Ashleigh now is able enough she plays goalie in street hockey for the neighbourhood kids!

It's now been 8 months without a single convulsion and Ashleigh is walking like a champ! Unbelievable.

Dan & wheelchairbound Ashleigh with Lois Brown as BBQ Volunteers in 2009

In trying to get answers from the Doctor who misdiagnosed her he now claims to have had a break- in and all the files belonging to Ashleigh gone! What a sham! With no money, people like Ashleigh and Dan get what they get!

So this is where the happy ever after part usually comes in like in all those Era Banner news stories that tell those fantastic wondrous happy ending stories on behalf of those great funders and help programs. Ha. Like the "help organization" who set this couple up with Childrens Aid? Ha. Sorry, no happy ending here, as even though Ashleigh has no more physical limitations, Dan does they say. And Ashleigh's mental health is an issue . Really? Well I don't think any women should have anything she says held against her post partum - especially one treated as she was and separated from her baby. Her (support) "worker" told her " The reason you don't have your baby is because you can't afford her." Outrageous.

As Dan told me, "I love my daughter and would never ever do anything to harm her. I don't need to prove that to anyone. We just want our daughter back and to be left alone like everyone else. We haven't done nothing wrong"

I saw Dan's son and other daughter the other day playing with the baby as they were lucky enough to be around when she was brought for a short visit and couldn't help but think "what is wrong with this picture", as they all waved goodbye to their own flesh and blood, Dan and Ashleigh quiet.

I watched Dan over the years raise those two and they were always clean and helping with chores and had a school record any able bodied parent would envy.

When I press them on why they haven't gotten better representation for custody they say their lawyer says nothing and goes along with them it seems, 

"It's what they want, the easy way out and cheapest for the system and seems no matter what we do we feel they aren't going to give us custody. In two years of this we never saw a judge NOT ONCE!". They skipped the last formality day of the process as it has been preordained that daughter April would be given to someone else's care.... and they couldn't bare witnessing that.

This is nothing short of discrimination and an assault on human rights in my eyes.

Want to meet Dan & Ashleigh and show them your support? Come out Wed Oct 17 - International Day for the Eradication of Poverty at Newmarket's Riverwalk Commons - 200 Duncan St from 3-8pm.

Seen  outside the YRDSB building before the meeting.

  Today I attended a meeting at the York Region District School Board building for the Quest for Youth initiative, as part of the planning for the November forum.

  When I first got involved, I wasn't sure exactly what it was to be honest but I think I have a much better understanding now. It is a 3 day event that acts as both an educator and a learning tool for some of the worlds educators in the quest for improved student achievement. The Quest for Youth is an educators forum wherein not only Canadians but teachers from around the world come to take part in the various workshops and educational events that are organized.

  There are underlying themes each year, such as last year a focus was on gay and lesbian students and tied to that bullying. The art work depicted for last years event, in which the performance piece included youth artists completing their artwork in a shadow-like form onstage, contained various images - from men embracing to someone hanging himself. Heavy stuff, and not the "usual" one would see everyday in a regular classroom presentation by students I'm sure. But it gives/gave a voice to kids/youth affected by these themes where it would often else-wise be no more than the white elephant in the room, and perhaps some insight for educators on how to identify and more effectively deal with this should they face it in their schools.  

  The purposes of today's meeting however was two-fold. First we were to discuss one part of the event which is a workshop that's to be a real life maze of what a young person may face when accessing the social services and agencies via a scenario we will present them with.  For example we can make one group a homeless family and they have to then go access the needs they may have such as contacting a shelter, welfare, housing etc and the process that it entails. As the "Quest" event takes place at Toronto's Sheraton Hotel I believe, we talked about being able to set up locations in and around the building allowing us to run people around a little as they try to access the various available resources.

  The maze thing has been done before and I'm not convinced of it's value towards really giving someone that feeling of vulnerability and embarrassment that goes with being vulnerable or destitute, but nevertheless I'll do my best to add some elements that give some 'punch" to it.  Hmmm...but what? Perhaps have them call a real agency or shelter to get the feeling?

    A few years ago I tried to push some of the collaborative partners to do a real maze wherein we dress up a real politician and have them apply for food banks etc but to no avail - with someone citing that we shouldn't embarrass them. I don't agree, but whatever! Ha.

Luther Hansraj

  The second part of the meeting was to discuss the performance piece, which as I understand typically happens on the Wednesday of the education forum. This is where art and performance combine to present messages to the attendees en mass.  For this part, I was to meet the performance Producer/Director, Luther Hansraj, a social activist of sorts and a man with 30 years theatre background who also produced last year's well received performance. I'm a creative guy too and actually taught a theatre school class some years back for Spotlight Theatre School as well as performed/produced The Canadian Improv Showcase and have acted lead on-stage in a musical among some things, so I at least have some knowledge as well to add to the live mix, and am excited to work with an experienced stage visionary like Luther on this.

  As we relayed some York Region stories, including about a homeless family and a father and son who'd been homeless and living in the forest in winter, about a youth with mental health issues unable to leave his house but still able to design our road hockey tourney logo, and that our York Region Anti-homelessness programs actually require applicants to make $30,000 a year, he appeared stunned. Eureka! Finally someone who gets it I thought!

  I'm quite enthused about this performance part of the forum, as I feel it could become something very powerful. We've talked of having visuals via pictures and video in addition, and I already have plenty of that, but as a youth angle I'd also like to tie in the annual youth road hockey drive/event we do. Some may know we have run this 9 years now and give an award to a community leader at the same time. We charge kids nothing to play in the all day tourney, and provide hot chocolate & hot dogs for the players free too. We have always had a hard time getting any kind of sustained cooperation with the schools or Board to attract more participants (let alone the media), as we always felt that to be a natural conduit for the event to be announced or even school teams entered representing if on their on time even as this is a March break held affair. This is something we do hope to change via the performance piece through showing the good it instills to these kids.

  I was quite impressed with the  quiet yet motivated Mr. Hansraj who wants to come out into the communities as well, and I look forward to showing him firsthand some of the challenges these kids face and how through road hockey we build foundations for friendships, leadership and self esteem.

  I'll be honest, in the neighbourhood the event was first started, road hockey had become stagnant the last few years with many of the kids moving on out or growing to old to play. All it seems to have taken is another interested dad to instill more interest and suddenly this year a number of new kids are taking to it - but younger. That's okay too, because the last few years we created a mini event for the younger ones too so we welcome it!

  One day recently a little girl(see video above) showed up carrying a branch from a tree as a hockey stick. She stood among the boys who were playing road hockey, which included her older brother and others, so I approached and asked if she'd like to play. She turned shyly from me and indicated no and at that time someone informed me they spoke no English.



  We're looking for people who have artwork or ( background)music to be part of the performance, or to act as work station assistants- so if you can help or would like to know more about the Quest For Youth contact us!

Tom out!

John Taylor and myself Int Day for Eradication of Poverty - I approached him in 2010 on low income home ownership. He showed no interest at the time.  I was surprised to get a call from Era Banner about "Taylor's' initiative.

  Era Banner scribe Chris Traber and I have an odd understanding between each other. I wouldn't go as far as to say it's a friendship or even a relationship of any sort, but I guess at times we offer each other something each finds valuable. Still, I respect that he continues to call when I've sometimes criticized stories he's written, as well as the paper itself, but still he allows a bone every now and then for P.A.C.C., unlike it seems many other areas in our local mainstream media family. And besides, he does write the odd effective piece, even if he does slightly misquote me on occasion. Ha. His recent article regarding affordable owned housing options is one of those. Aside from him quoting me as saying the region would qualify potential home owners( it's actually the developer who sets that up) there were only a few other minor discrepancies in what he wrote this time.

I raised the idea of owned condos for low income earners, contained in Y.R.'s social audit , with the Newmarket Mayor - not with the Town of Newmarket as reported by Era - Banners Reporter Chris Traber

   For Traber it's been pretty good though I think. The first time we hooked up, P.A.C.C. offered up some great participants in a series on poverty he wrote called "Below the Line" I believe, and it won a (national?) community newspapers press award with that series or so I read about later after the awards presentations and dinner.  Thing was, I wasn't completely pleased with the focus of that series or the way some people's lives were exposed, as giving their names has always been part of the deal. But I learned an early lesson - that being they don't really care about you or your cause - it's just another story to them.  So I try to protect that now (before sacrificing lambs) by being more protective and aware of people's integrity and dignity within a story and trying to safeguard what's revealed accordingly. I also try to advise people not to say too much (like I tend to!) as reporters will pick bullet points and quotes that relate to their story - and not necessarily your subject's focus of need. The more you say the more disjointed your 'quotes". Now I always ask first off about a story's directed focus before going further.

2011 Fairy Lake, Newmarket - that's not two rocks.

   I was certainly not completely pleased after I served up a homeless father and son on a plate for him - mind you they'd requested it in desperation - for a story resulting with the homeless duo then being thrust out into the public limelight with unrealistic bestowed upon expectations. I had wanted its focus to be on the fact that they needed an affordable place to live together - after which they could concentrate on even thinking about a job - and that our system's shelters keep homeless families apart when their kids reach 18.   

The "kid' asked me then, "I don't want to be the kid that doesn't shower, and where would I do my homework?" as he and his father then lived on the streets - or forest rather - and yes, it was winter.

                                 "Just Get A Job!"

   At the time I'd attempted to get Chris to focus on the critical lack of affordable places to live for single adults (as they were now considered by our social safety net system as opposed to a family) in York Region and that expecting people to work before they have a stable place to lay their heads down was just not feasible.

Homeless dad sits in "living room" of friend who died homeless in 2011

   The results of the story brought a bigger reaction to any they'd (Era Banner) ever done on poverty Chris later revealed when contacting me for a follow up, but it's a shame essential points got missed whilst the attention swirled. There was no real focus on housing in the articles nor on the lack of real men's programs or their instilled revolving streets-to-shelter-to-streets system, and secondly it painted a rosy picture of the twosome's future after invoking an unprecedented outpouring of emotional responses from people wanting to help them out. It was touching, no doubt, but much like food bank donating mentality, these were are not dignified solutions, but rather feel-good gestures that help only short term. People felt moved to do something but didn't know what, so it was a perfect time to tell them, and instead they heard about the wonderful so called job offers etc, when what they really needed to hear about the need for immediate longer term help from our safety-net system for guys in their position. But for the Era-Banner and Chris Traber  it was presented as another happy ending. The photos were great too, with the two smiling alongside piles of reader-donated winter wear,  tents, and food - as they were then living outdoor in winter!  I tried to explain to Chris - through all that love and offers, at the end, they still don't have a place to live together - the reason they were homeless to begin with - and until they get a home cannot follow up anything really so write about that I'd urged.


   Offers of a room for the kid alone in another town, or for both in an obscure out of town rural location where they'd not be able to work or school, or of so-called job offers - one being a solar lights installation course you had to pay to take, but was represented in the article as a job offer - another offer required the dad to be bonded for which he was not able to be and another for a job starting months away with a fourth "job offer" - supposedly from a Tim Horton's of which I was never given a contact name for. So really he had no offers but now instantly, the dad would look to be unwilling to work if he wasn't immediately, his face a familiar sight now from the articles written - and the son too for not opting for room in another town away from his dad for free for awhile. Nice, but not solutions for a desperate family clinging to any shred of togetherness left.
   In the end I was able to 1st get the dad a room to rent and then an almost full time job - enough for a room only type- income. The kid was not able to stay in the rental room as the only one was "allowed", but he sneaked him in on occasion for awhile. I did manage some memorable docu-style video footage in parts though that I feel covered most of the ground I mentioned here - and they have received hundreds of viewings to date.

Writer Chris Traber, left,  visits a homeless camp with Tom Pearson in 2011

   Slowly since, over the past two years now, the streets have hardened and swallowed up this kid. His once vibrant and hopeful eyes now replaced with bitterness and the cloud of substance. His frustrated and ailing father, after initially succeeding and loving his new life with his job cleaning buildings with the hopes of obtaining a home for his son, increasingly slipped to drink again as he anguished over the boy's now ingrained habit of hanging amongst younger shelter dwellers, and in alleys he'd hoped to keep him out of.

   So when Chris called this time I asked what the focus was and it was for my opinion as P.A.C.C. chair on the models for owned affordable housing that Newmarket Regional Councilor John Taylor had co-chaired, I just shook my head in dismay. At first I felt a little embarrassed, not even knowing about such a symposium and then hearing one of the very developers I'd spoke to them about, Michel Labbe of Options for Homes which had apparently been developing successful models of mixed income condos, was part of their presentation. It irked me that not only was P.A.C.C. or the social audit getting any mention in this "innovative idea" but seemingly did not rate an even an invite for input as the Region's Grassroots voice for those in low income positions. Time and time again this region makes the mistake of leaving out the grassroots voice of these issues who can help shape systems that work and are more dignified and realistic.

                                     Above Video PACC's Multicultural Road Hockey Program

    I attended a Canada-wide poverty conference a few years back in Montreal where I heard that the best programs that actually worked were the ones that had grassroots origins. Who betters knows what a community needs than the people in those communities they asked? A presenter cited a poor neighbourhood (possibly St Dennis) in Montreal, where within its boundaries lay a warehouse where Cirque Du Soleil made their stage sets. Working from that, they approached the Cirque people about a work program for locals which turned into great careers for some building show sets, enabled hope for the community and provided good jobs close to their homes

   Here at home, one needs only to look at P.A.C.C.'s influence and model in helping form Operation Sparrow which places kids into mainstream activities - without parents going through embarrassing face to face meetings, eliminating any unneeded private info sharing, and included transportation options for all the kids - all P.A.C.C. influences - which I personally chaired the non- profit for 4 years, and PACCer co-chair Kristine Carbis also sat for several years on the board. Anyone who applied then will tell you that program was designed as the best and most dignified of any out there - bar none.Or our road hockey program free to all kids and now running 10 years!

   When I'd discussed the idea of owned mixed housing condos in York Region with Michel Labbe the Executive from non-profit group "options for Homes I'd communicated with about presenting here if I could arrange it he told me at that time the problem was getting the regional governments to part with the land for it. Labbe was one of the presenters at the 'affordable housing symposium" Taylor hosted.

   I subsequently mentioned this and the idea verbally to John Taylor during that 2010 social audit as he participated in the politicians portion, and again in November 2011 during the "Poverty Free Ontario" launch from The York Region Food Network and at least once to Mayor Van Bynen - but not to the town of Newmarket as Chris Traber wrote that I'd said. Neither party responded at the time at all nor showed any interest in pursuing it. The idea for affordable owned condos in a mixed income community that includes qualifying those who would not other wise qualify for a mortgage through the nonprofit developers was then inked into the social audit - which by the way I speak of is of course"Behind the Masks" testimonials from those marginalized by income a comprehensive, in depth cross section look, at York Region's low income issues, which took months to prepare a ( I co-authored it) report from the data, after which the Regional Council adopted its recommendations as representative of the Region to the Ontario government.

    I assumed if Regional Council read it and believed in it, as they endorsed it, and that we'd hear from them to discuss some of the mentioned solutions and ideas but other than a few obscure path crossings P.A.C.C. has pretty much been left out of any processes since. Whatever happened to all that fancy " collaboration" talk we heard so much about with fanfare last year? Oh, that's right, I had to crash that event too to hear that message Ha. No problem, plod on we go.

   But for Taylor to act as "lead" in this innovative idea ( that I personally first raised with him and Newmarket Mayor Tony Van Bynen in 2010 and which its literally contained as my quote contained on page 64 of the 2010 York Region ONLY EVER Social Audit - Behind the Masks testimonials from those marginalized by income - that they both endorsed as regional council members.
  Here's is a quote from my recommendations in the social audit report as received by the Region in 2012 under


"Social housing is not the only solution. New housing that includes rental town homes and apartments and low income ownership models can also be pursued and included in any town / regional planning. A developer offering low income condo units mixed regular cost units approached me with this idea, yet to date, I can't seem to garner any interest from politicians or land owners. They recently successfully launched a similar model in Ottawa, making a percentage of units available to those who would not normally qualify financially for ownership.With developers who are willing to take this kind of approach, innovative solutions such as these can be implemented. Should the regional or municipal governments have an interest, a presentation can be arranged."Tom Pearson

  Obviously it was eventually. But without us..

 I suggest Councilor Taylor and company actually read that audit as it contains some more solutions - like the Talk2one messaging system for homeless people putting them in homes and jobs - another service we first introduced here once including Taylor's Neighbourhood Network / Habitat for Humanity attached dad - having brought the company reps here to present twice, but there was no interest they had said. I pitched the idea to the Region of York too not just via deputation of the social audit entry to council, but personally recommended it to Commissioner Adelina Urbanski during a meeting with her after the Comissioner had newly arrived to the post as PACC had been offering the service on a limited basis and were trying to get them on-board. Now, as I understand, Talk2One is to be launched via the regionally funded " Housing Help Program".I Heard about that through the grapevine too.
  One of my biggest fears of helping collaborate on the social audit, was that there was no guarantee that people opening up to strangers would have an affect and they partcipated because they believed in us. I don't want that unspoken promise to be broken to them, and to that end will be launching a documentary soon to commemorate the social audit. It contains live excerpts from participants including politicians, workers, and those with lived experience including powerful testimonials.

  To date, we hear little on any of the great ideas and initiatives contained in the Y.R. Social Audit and when we do it's second hand - like when Reporter Traber calling me to ask what I thought of "Taylors idea". Ha.

  I'll invite Councilor Taylor to Oct 17 International Day for The Eradication of Poverty at a forum to discuss this idea and other audit contained ideas that they have yet to discover, but I'll tell you what, we weren't paid one penny for the hundreds of hours PACCERS put out into helping produce York Region's social audit and frankly the people represented expect action , not lip service, and so do we.  Our time is valuable.

   Next time out there will be a consultants fee if they want our help, as frankly we're tired of being treated with disrespect, when our track record of community diligence and success suggests we should be valued and listened to.

You can work with us, or work against us all, it's your choice.

Tom Pearson