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Toronto Homeless Memorial

This is the third part of this series on the Toronto Housing Crisis.

Part I

Part II

Part III

Part IV

The Church of the Holy Trinity and the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee have put together a Homeless Memorial board outside the church, which is right next to the Eaton’s Centre shopping mall.

The Mission Statement of the Toronto Homeless Memorial is: “We remember all those homeless people who have lived in the streets of Toronto, and died as a direct result of homelessness.”

Since the memorial was first put up in October 2000, the list has steadily grown to over 500 names.

Nancy Baker at the Homeless Memorial at the Church of the Holy Trinity near the Eaton Centre.  Here she sits in front of a sign that reminds us that that we best not forget that any one of us could find ourselves loosing control over our lives. Her boyfriend was one of the hundreds of people who have died on the streets of Toronto.

Nancy Baker at the Homeless Memorial at the Church of the Holy Trinity near the Eaton Centre. Here she sits in front of a sign that reminds us that that we best not forget that any one of us could find ourselves loosing control over our lives. Her boyfriend was one of the hundreds of people who have died on the streets of Toronto.

Members and supporters of the Women Against Poverty Coalition (WAPC) leave flowers just outside the entrance to the Yonge-Bloor subway station in the memory of 33-year-old Bly Markis.  Bly was brutally beaten and killed nearby.  Bly had worked as a massage therapist in California before moving back home to Toronto.  Back in Toronto, she was unable to get the proper paperwork together to allow her to continue her profession.  With mounting personal and professional problems, Bly found herself living on the streets where she eventually met her killer.  Bly, affectionately known as "California," was well-known and well-liked in the community and was working hard to put her life back together.

Members and supporters of the Women Against Poverty Coalition (WAPC) leave flowers just outside the entrance to the Yonge-Bloor subway station in the memory of 33-year-old Bly Markis. Bly was brutally beaten and killed nearby. Bly had worked as a massage therapist in California before moving back home to Toronto. Back in Toronto, she was unable to get the proper paperwork together to allow her to continue her profession. With mounting personal and professional problems, Bly found herself living on the streets where she eventually met her killer. Bly, affectionately known as "California," was well-known and well-liked in the community and was working hard to put her life back together.

Candles are lit in the memory of those who have died on the streets of Toronto.  The Church of the Holy Trinity and the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee have put together a Homeless Memorial board outside the church, which is right next to the Eaton's Centre chopping mall.   The Mission Statement of the Memorial is: “We remember all those homeless people who have lived in the streets of Toronto, and died as a direct result of homelessness.”  Since the memorial was first put up in October 2000, the list has steadily grown to over 550 names.

Candles are lit in the memory of those who have died on the streets of Toronto.

About 20 to 30 people spent the night on the doorsteps of Toronto's City Hall in solidarity with the homeless men, women, and children across the city.  Participants were demanding that the City make a clear plan to end the housing crisis in Toronto.

About 20 to 30 people spent the night on the doorsteps of Toronto's City Hall in solidarity with the homeless men, women, and children across the city. Participants were demanding that the City make a clear plan to end the housing crisis in Toronto.

Find out more about the Toronto Homeless Memorial here.

See the full list of 500+ names of the people who have died on the streets of Toronto here.

Toronto Housing Crisis:

Part I

Part II

Part III

Part IV

4 Responses Subscribe to comments


  1. Dilara

    yoooo sick pics

    Mar 30, 2009 @ 12:44


  2. dsfa

    those are sad photos

    May 25, 2009 @ 18:48


  3. KrisBelucci

    Hi, good post. I have been wondering about this issue,so thanks for posting. I’ll definitely be coming back to your site.

    Jun 01, 2009 @ 19:39


  4. Lauren's Blog » Seeing Toronto from a Different Perspective…

    [...] http://allan.lissner.net/toronto-homeless-memorial/ [...]

    Nov 23, 2010 @ 14:15

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