Housing
Justice
Archive


Reading ListOral History Project
Toronto Disaster Relief Committee
1998 - 2012
City of Toronto Archives
The Ontario Coalition Against Poverty
1990 - 2020
Ontario Provincial Archives
Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU)
1998 - Present
VANDU Archive / SFU Special Collections
Toronto Homeless Memorial
2000 - Present    
City of Toronto Archives / Personal Collection / Rebecca Houston
Bob Rose’s Writing
[199- - 20--]
Bob Rose Personal Collection
Oral History Interview Transcripts
(in process)
2025 - Present
timothy martin


timothy martin, Postdoctoral Fellow, Simon Fraser University
timothy_martin [at] sfu [dot] ca
The Ontario Coalition Against Poverty was an early and significant mobilization of poor people from across the provice. Their complete archive can be found in the Ontario Provincial Archives. For signififcant historical detail and insight, see:

Palmer, B. D., & Héroux, G. (2016). Toronto’s Poor: A rebellious history.
Between the Lines.

Withers, A. J. (2021). Fight to win: Inside poor people’s organizing.
Fernwood Publishing.    




Toronto Star article featuring OCAP organizer Dusty Fiske (1998), in response to Councillor Kyle Rae’s closure of the Salvation Army shelter in the downtown east.  

James, Natalie. [Dusty Fiske. From “Business Complaints Shut down Salvation Army’s 50-Bed Hostel,” by From Natalie James. The Toronto Star, 27 May 1998]. City of Toronto Archives, (Fonds 335, Series 1779, File 405).

John Clarke, founder and longtime organizer with the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty.

Bacque, Graeme. (2005). John Clarke. City of Toronto Archives (Box 543966, Fonds 335, Series 1780, File 11).
OCAP organizer Brian Debourdieu.  

Toronto Disaster Relief Committee. (2006). [National housing day car rally photograph 44: Brian Debourdieu]. City of Toronto Archives (Box 543966, Fonds 335, Series 1780, File 11).

Koyama, D. (2004). Straw Bales. City of Toronto Archives (Box 543935, Fonds 335, Series 1779, File 405).
In the summer of 2002, coincident with Pope John Paul II’s visit to Toronto, OCAP squatted a house in Parkdale (1510 Queen St West) in an action to draw attention to longterm vacancies in Parkdale and the moves the city and province were making toward the gentrification of this neighbourhood. The “Pope Squat” was supported by public figures like Jack Layton and Naomi Klein.  

Bognat, C. (2002). The Pope Squat, from Homelessness: A Message for Working Canadians. Thistle Printing Ltd. City of Toronto Archives (Box 543949, Fonds 335, Series 1779, File 673).
Bognat, C. (2002). Queen’s Park March, from Homelessness: A Message for Working Canadians. Thistle Printing Ltd. City of Toronto Archives (Box 543949, Fonds 335, Series 1779, File 673).

A precursor to today’s 230Fightback movement, OCAP led a campaign to turn 294/296/298 Sherbourne St into Social Housing. This was during the Tent City years, with support from several other groups.

TDRC Files. (2004). “Give it or Guard it!” [Media Release]. City of Toronto Archives (Box 543935, Fonds 335, Series 1779, File Unknown).