National Conference on Peer Support Pat Capponi Keynote Speaker Pat Capponi has survived childhood abuse, mental illness, frequent hospitalizations, and poverty. Since 1978, when she was discharged from a psychiatric ward to a large, for- profit boarding home for de-institutionalized… Continue Reading
Open letter to Mayor Tory: Listen to voices of the poor and marginalized Toronto’s new mayor has an opportunity to let the voices of the city’s homeless and marginalized people be heard, says activist Pat Capponi. Pat Capponi Oct 27… Continue Reading
Shut out of medicare by shame: Goar Carol Goar Sep 02 2014 Life on the streets takes a punishing toll. It’s not just the elements, the hit-and-miss meals or the nights spent on park benches and heating grates. It’s the… Continue Reading
Bronwen’s Story Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Bronwen Sims says her job as a CAMH peer support worker keeps her healthy. “I still have my up and down days, but having the regularity of the job and the consistency… Continue Reading
Ousted housing board betrayed the public trust Pat Capponi Mar 07 2011 The former chair of Toronto Community Housing Corp. has tried to blame Mayor Rob Ford for the board’s resignation, miffed there was no courtesy phone call before the… Continue Reading
Porter: Painful stories shed light on downside of ‘Canadian experience’ Catherine Porter Apr 26 2011 When Judy Cong immigrated to Canada a decade ago, she promised her parents she’d sponsor them soon. She was an electronic engineer with 11 year’s… Continue Reading
Ethnic voices at City Hall Share News April 21 2011 Amidst the ongoing debate about political pandering to the “ethnic” and “very ethnic” vote, 16 immigrants and refugees will take the microphone at Toronto’s City Hall on April 27 to… Continue Reading
Ex-addict puts poverty behind her Laurie Monsebraaten Jul 18 2010 Theresa Schrader was a terrible loser. But it wasn’t losing her home, her family or her dignity to a life of addiction and the streets that tore her apart. It… Continue Reading
Agents of change rise from the streets Carol Goar June 19, 2009 The four-month interlude between the announcement of Ontario’s poverty reduction plan and the release of the provincial budget was a tough time for Children’s Minister Deb Matthews. The… Continue Reading
Giving a voice to the vulnerable Laurie Monsebraaten July 12 2008 Connie Harrison and Stacey Bowen were more than faces in the crowd when about 500 social justice activists packed a Queen’s Park meeting room in April to tell the… Continue Reading