http://www.lightstalkers.org/galleries/contact_sheet/1871 In the spring of 1996, I ventured into Edmonton’s inner city. I was nearing twenty-six at the time and my world was in chaos. Everything in my life had changed. Years earlier, I remember hearing a schizophrenic man describe the onset of his illness as “the day the earth shifted a quarter of a turn and stayed that way.â€* Everything was out of kilter but still recognisable. The change in my life appeared in a similar way, fed by a growing awareness of the social inequities that exist in an otherwise affluent society. I had just emerged from the protected world of university, disoriented and ill-prepared for life’s uncertainties. In the course of this confusion, I decided to channel my feelings into a constructive outlet, namely a photographic documentary of homelessness in Edmonton’s inner city. A visual examination of our messy backyard, turned into a decade-long exploration of a world that exists at the margins of mainstream society. In the course of this journey, I witnessed first hand the structural inequalities present in Edmonton. I have worked with troubled street youth, counselled young prostitutes, and produced Our Voice Magazine—a street paper that not only provides an income opportunity for people coping with poverty but also gives them a chance to express their concerns to a society from which they often feel excluded. In the summer of 2002, I completed a Master’s degree in Population Health, after nearly two years of ethnographic fieldwork in Edmonton’s inner city. My research looked at the social, political and economic factors that shape the lives of homeless individuals — and ultimately influence their notions of individual agency, selfhood and personal health. At times the juxtapositions of wealth and poverty were sadly comical. One glaring example is the newly constructed Winspear Centre for Music, which is built on the site formerly occupied by the Boyle Street Community Co-operative, an agency that provides for the homeless. In the pursuit of urban renewal, those with the least resources have been pushed from the downtown area to the poorest regions of Edmonton — further evidence that they are unwelcome in the capital city. Economic and political marginalisation has been followed by geographical marginalisation. Other examples of the symbolic and material disenfranchisement of the poor are numerous.Terms such as “skid rowâ€* and “ghettoâ€* are constant reminders that our notions of the inner city are influenced by profoundly negative emotions. The inner city is part of our urban mythology. It’s a kind of geographical boogieman. To the casual observer or the uninformed, it’s hostile territory — a place where our fears of failure are personified in the cast-offs of society. In a sense, the inner city is a metaphor. It’s a city within a city, but it’s also part of our collective consciousness. For some, it represents a stern warning against sloth and other perceived failures of character; for others, it’s the ultimate expression of human avarice, with small subsets of society hoarding the majority of the resources. For me, the inner city is a place that has transformed me. It is a place where I have discovered, as Garrison Keillor says, that “even in a time of elephantine vanity and greed, one never has to look far to see the campfires of gentle people.â€* http://www.lightstalkers.org en-us http://images.lightstalkers.org/avatars/5317/small_mugshot__devos__small.jpg http://www.lightstalkers.org/Pieter de Vos <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403645/de_Vos_homeless_1_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403645'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403645 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:45:32 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403645 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403645/de_Vos_homeless_1_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403645'>view full-size image</a> Pieter de Vos <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403651/de_Vos_homeless_18_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403651'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403651 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:45:44 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403651 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403651/de_Vos_homeless_18_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403651'>view full-size image</a> Pieter de Vos <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403656/de_Vos_homeless_20_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403656'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403656 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:45:57 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403656 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403656/de_Vos_homeless_20_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403656'>view full-size image</a> Pieter de Vos <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403661/de_Vos_homeless_15_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403661'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403661 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:46:11 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403661 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403661/de_Vos_homeless_15_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403661'>view full-size image</a> Pieter de Vos <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403667/de_Vos_homeless_5_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403667'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403667 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:46:23 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403667 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403667/de_Vos_homeless_5_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403667'>view full-size image</a> Pieter de Vos <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403673/de_Vos_homeless_16_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403673'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403673 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:46:34 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403673 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403673/de_Vos_homeless_16_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403673'>view full-size image</a> Pieter de Vos <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403677/de_Vos_homeless_2_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403677'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403677 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:46:41 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403677 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403677/de_Vos_homeless_2_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403677'>view full-size image</a> Pieter de Vos <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403680/de_Vos_homeless_21_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403680'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403680 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:46:46 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403680 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403680/de_Vos_homeless_21_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403680'>view full-size image</a> Pieter de Vos <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403685/de_Vos_homeless_10_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403685'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403685 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:46:53 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403685 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403685/de_Vos_homeless_10_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403685'>view full-size image</a> Pieter de Vos <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403689/de_Vos_homeless_19_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403689'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403689 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:46:59 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403689 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403689/de_Vos_homeless_19_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403689'>view full-size image</a> Pieter de Vos <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403693/de_Vos_homeless_24_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403693'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403693 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:47:06 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403693 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403693/de_Vos_homeless_24_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403693'>view full-size image</a> Pieter de Vos <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403698/de_Vos_homeless_7_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403698'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403698 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:47:16 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403698 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403698/de_Vos_homeless_7_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403698'>view full-size image</a> Pieter de Vos <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403701/de_Vos_homeless_8_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403701'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403701 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:47:28 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403701 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403701/de_Vos_homeless_8_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403701'>view full-size image</a> Pieter de Vos <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403706/de_Vos_homeless_11_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403706'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403706 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:47:40 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403706 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403706/de_Vos_homeless_11_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403706'>view full-size image</a> Pieter de Vos <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403710/de_Vos_homeless_22_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403710'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403710 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:47:50 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403710 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403710/de_Vos_homeless_22_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403710'>view full-size image</a> Pieter de Vos <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403714/de_Vos_homeless_17_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403714'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403714 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:48:02 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403714 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403714/de_Vos_homeless_17_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403714'>view full-size image</a> Pieter de Vos <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403719/de_Vos_homeless_4_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403719'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403719 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:48:15 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403719 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403719/de_Vos_homeless_4_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403719'>view full-size image</a> Pieter de Vos <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403724/de_Vos_homeless_9_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403724'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403724 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:48:28 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403724 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403724/de_Vos_homeless_9_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403724'>view full-size image</a> Pieter de Vos <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403728/de_Vos_homeless_13_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403728'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403728 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:48:40 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403728 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403728/de_Vos_homeless_13_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403728'>view full-size image</a> Pieter de Vos <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403734/de_Vos_homeless_3_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403734'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403734 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:48:53 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403734 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403734/de_Vos_homeless_3_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403734'>view full-size image</a> Pieter de Vos <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403737/de_Vos_homeless_23_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403737'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403737 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:49:06 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403737 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403737/de_Vos_homeless_23_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403737'>view full-size image</a> Pieter de Vos <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403741/de_Vos_homeless_6_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403741'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403741 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:49:18 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403741 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403741/de_Vos_homeless_6_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403741'>view full-size image</a> Pieter de Vos <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403746/de_Vos_homeless_12_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403746'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403746 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:49:27 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403746 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403746/de_Vos_homeless_12_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403746'>view full-size image</a> Pieter de Vos <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403751/de_Vos_homeless_14_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403751'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403751 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:49:36 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403751 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/403751/de_Vos_homeless_14_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/403751'>view full-size image</a> Pieter de Vos