“Service is the best thing for me now. I want to give back.”

I’m indigenous from Manitoba. I was the baby in my family. I come from a family of 16.

When I was younger, they used to abuse me, hurt me, beat me up, kick me, blacken my eyes. I started drinking at the age of 10. And smoking cigarettes, yeah. I always got blamed for everything. That’s why I left. I moved away from my reserve when I was 15, never been back.

I’ve been in Toronto since I was 20 years old. I really struggled, living on the streets. When I found out about Good Shepherd  and I was coming here, it just made me happy. This place kept me fed.

I also got my first job when I was 20. I worked for my buddy. I worked for 31 years with him, he was like  a brother to me.

He dropped dead in front of me in 2018. I think of him every day.

When that happened, I quit drinking cold turkey. But I was  still smoking crack. I had no work. My life was a shambles.

I left downtown Toronto. I lived in a tent for six years at Black Creek and Eglinton. I would have died if I stayed another year. I got frostbite, my toes were bending over.

All those years I was up there, I never went back downtown. But then in 2025, I came back here and Good Shepherd is still the same. I love it. And being here is the best thing for me.

I’ve been sober from drinking since 2018, and I’ve been sober from crack for a year now. I came into the DARE Program in February 2025.

I’ve been to two treatment centres. I went to St. Mike’s for two months. After that, I went to an Indigenous treatment centre in Six Nations. I got my spirit name. I’m a fire keeper, I keep the sacred fire burning. I’m proud of that.

The DARE Program can get you off the street and stop using drugs. It works for me. If I can do it, everybody can do it.

I love this place. It’s a miracle. I was in the hospital for five days in January. The DARE staff kept my bed. As soon as I said, “I’m in the hospital,” they said, “You don’t worry, your bed’s safe.”

I try to give back what they gave to me. I’m doing a lot of service for other people. That’s the best thing in my life now.

I want to get my own housing. I’ve never had my own home, my own place. I’ve lived with other people, but it did not last. I was using drugs back then and it made it hard to keep a place.

I really miss work, but I can’t go back to work. My hip—I’m waiting for a replacement. I’m 58, I’m not young no more.

Service is the best thing for me now. I want to give back. People helped me out. This year, I’m helping other people.

Would YOU like to support Good Shepherd?

Donate: Just $3.20 provides a nutritious meal for a Neighbour in need.

👉 Visit www.goodshepherd.ca/donate to make a donation.

Volunteer: Help us serve meals and smiles.

👉 Visit www.goodshepherd.ca/volunteer to sign up to volunteer.

Organize a Food Drive: Collect non-perishable items like canned vegetables, tuna, peanut butter, rice, and cereal.

👉 Visit www.goodshepherd.ca/ways-to-give to see our donation Wishlist.

Let’s come together to provide warmth, dignity, and hope to our neighbours in need.