Activist seeks support for bench to commemorate homeless man’s passing

By Adam Peterson –

The tragic death of Al Gosling last October opened the eyes of many Torontonians to a very serious problem with the social housing system.

The 82 year old man was evicted from his bachelor apartment at 11 Arleta Ave. by the Toronto Community Housing Corp. in June 2009. The reason? Gosling had failed to keep up with the paperwork that verified his status as a low-income resident.

It is TCHC policy that low-income residents declare their income annually; if they do not, their rent is no longer based on their income and is subsequently adjusted to market rates. With no relatives to speak of and no where else to go, Gosling spent the week following his eviction in the stairwell of the building before police were finally called in. He was taken to hospital and eventually ended up at the Good Shepherd homeless shelter where his health rapidly deteriorated. He was taken to Toronto General with a severe infection that resulted in his death in October.

Since his passing, local residents have undertaken efforts to have Gosling properly memorialized by having a commemorative park bench installed at either Sherbourne Common or Allan Gardens.

Leslieville resident Peter Crawford is a 71 year old local activist and has been at the forefront of the initiative.

“I began to wonder, what if I were to find myself in this situation?” said Crawford in a recent phone conversation. “I’m not doing it for me, I’m trying to get people to show compassion and pay tribute to a man that could not do for himself.”

For him, the commemorative bench will serve to honour all of the Al Goslings in Toronto, and to teach the children in the city to be more aware of the society in which they live. “I want to see school children stop and discuss Gosling at the bench with their teachers; to teach them to remember and respect the past.”

The idea is for residents to be more involved, and to identify with their streetscape. “If you can’t connect with what’s around you, all you have is buildings. Be more creative and expressive.” Crawford continues, “public space should belong to the people, why not Gosling? The poor and neglected are a part of Toronto as well.”

The road to getting the bench installed has not been an easy one. The bench will cost $2200 according to the Parks, Forestry & Recreation Commemorative Tree and Bench program. As of yet the funds have not been raised.

In addition to more support from the city, the Gosling project requires more support from inclined citizens and organizations to raise money.

Thus far, mayoral candidate Rob Ford has expressed interest, but has made no commitments. Crawford has been going back and forth with city council and the TCHC in an attempt to find a solution, but the buck continues to be passed.

Crawford says, “Everyone agrees on the idea: the compassion is there but the action is not.”