The small joys of sleeping rough on the streets of Toronto

A brighter side to Canada’s housing crisis — Gladys Peltier’s documentary ‘Alex’ explores an inspiring perspective on homelessness.

Toronto is a metropolis of modern culture – a vibrant hub of business, art and creativity. But there’s a dark side to the city of towering skyscrapers: very few places in Canada reflect the divide between the rich and the poor quite like Toronto.

Toronto’s homeless population is around 5,000 people – and that number is steadily increasing. High rental prices and low wages are too often forcing people into shelters or worse, onto the streets.

Yet amid this bleak reality, a more positive sentiment is felt by one member of the homeless community. Beneath a busy underpass sits 58-year-old Alex, an ‘urban camper’ as he refers to himself. He smiles at passersby, who admire the growing book collection perched beside him.

image003 image005

The former submariner was the inspiration for Parisian filmmaker Gladys Peltier’s documentary Alex, which explores a new perspective on sleeping rough. “He was reading, surrounded by books, it appeared that he was living there,” says Peltier, “he was so at peace. He was magnetic.”

After an initial introduction, Alex accepted Peltier’s invitation to take his portrait. “I simply couldn’t stop staring at him,” Peltier admits, “I wanted to know him, listen and learn more about him, understand him, watch him, photograph him and film him.”

Alex features a soundtrack by wordsmith and beatmaker duo Ed Scissor & Lamplighter from Brighton indie hip hop label High Focus, who collaborated on the film with Peltier.

image006 image004

Peltier’s eight-minute film documents a day in the life of a man who, at least outwardly, has found contentment living on the streets. His fate was his own doing, choosing a simpler life that allowed him to feel more immersed in Toronto society. “I’m a lucky guy,” he confesses in the film. “I’ve had a lot of good opportunities in my life.”

No one can deny the struggles faced by those sleeping rough, but a love for people resonates from Alex and his outlook on living on the streets is one to be admired. “If I’m not happy doing it, I’m not doing it,” he says. “I’m not here to be sad or miserable.”

image007 image008

Ed Scissor & Lamplighter’s Tell Them It’s Winter is out now on High Focus records.

Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.


You might like

Close-up view of a woman in a vintage pose, with flowing hair and an outstretched hand, set against a hazy, scenic background.
© Peter Palladino, courtesy of the Peter Palladino Archive.
Culture

Remembering Holly Woodlawn, Andy Warhol muse and trans trailblazer

Love You Madly — A new book explores the actress’s rollercoaster life and story, who helped inspire Lou Reed’s ‘Walk on the Wild Side’.

Written by: Miss Rosen

Three individuals in swimming attire holding surfboards, standing in a field with cacti in the background.
Sport

A new documentary spotlights Ecuador’s women surfers fighting climate change

Ceibo — Co-directed by Maddie Meddings and Lucy Small, the film focuses on the work and story of Pacha Light, a wave rider who lived off-grid before reconnecting with her country’s activist heritage.

Written by: Hannah Bentley

Two people in colourful costume against a vibrant pink background.
Culture

In 1971, Pink Narcissus redefined queer eroticism

Camp classic — A new restoration of James Bidgood’s cult film is showing in US theatres this spring. We revisit its boundary pushing aesthetics, as well as its enduring legacy.

Written by: Miss Rosen

Silhouette of person on horseback against orange sunset sky, with electricity pylon in foreground.
Culture

The inner-city riding club serving Newcastle’s youth

Stepney Western — Harry Lawson’s new experimental documentary sets up a Western film in the English North East, by focusing on a stables that also functions as a charity for disadvantaged young people.

Written by: Isaac Muk

Two individuals, a woman with long brown hair and a man with dark skin, standing close together against a plain white background.
Sport

The forgotten women’s football film banned in Brazil

Onda Nova — With cross-dressing footballers, lesbian sex and the dawn of women’s football, the cult movie was first released in 1983, before being censored by the country’s military dictatorship. Now restored and re-released, it’s being shown in London at this year’s BFI Flare film festival.

Written by: Jake Hall

Crowded urban street at night, people gathered on platforms of train station, silhouettes and shadows cast, focus on central figure in motion.
© Murai Tokuji, Courtesy of Murai Eri
Culture

A new documentary explores Japan’s radical post-war photography and arts scene

Avant-Garde Pioneers — Focusing on the likes of Daidō Moriyama, Nobuyoshi Araki, Eikoh Hosoe and many more, the film highlights the swell of creativity in the ’60s, at a time of huge economic change coupled with cultural tensions.

Written by: Isaac Muk

Huck is supported by our readers, subscribers and Club Huck members. It is also made possible by sponsorship from:

Accessibility Settings

Text

Applies the Open Dyslexic font, designed to improve readability for individuals with dyslexia.

Applies a more readable font throughout the website, improving readability.

Underlines links throughout the website, making them easier to distinguish.

Adjusts the font size for improved readability.

Visuals

Reduces animations and disables autoplaying videos across the website, reducing distractions and improving focus.

Reduces the colour saturation throughout the website to create a more soothing visual experience.

Increases the contrast of elements on the website, making text and interface elements easier to distinguish.