That St. James Park spirit lives on in a makeshift shelter in the heart of Kensington Market.
On the patios of Ideal Coffee and Ronnie’s Local 069 in Kensington market, it’s never too cold for coffee, beer and loafing.
But this past week, the sidewalk at the popular hangout corner has also been home to the last straggling remnant of Occupy Toronto: a small trailer, not even tall enough for a person to stand in. A cord leads to some Christmas lights on a tiny adjacent tree, and writing on the side of the trailer reads: “Occupy Toronto Movement” and “Ask me how to make one.”
Built by 36-year-old self-described “traveler and wanderer” Michael Vessery out of Conservative election signs, a reclaimed futon frame, bicycle wheels and $40 worth of screws, it was one of the makeshift shelters at St. James Park during Occupy Toronto’s encampment there. It’s now used as a “mobile homeless shelter,” lived in by artist Gregory Alan Elliot. The wheels collapsed after Occupy’s eviction.
Last Friday afternoon, just-graying hair pulled back into a ponytail, Vessery explained the concept. He’d like to use it as a mobile outreach station, giving out blankets, hats and coats to the needy. It’s intended as the first of a fleet, for which he has big plans. “Youth work crews will go out in trailers on bicycles with shared tools,” said Vessery. “They’ll do volunteer work for senior citizens, people that need their leaves raked and stuff like that…. We’ll accept donations in order to give these kids a living wage for the work that they do.”
Vessery isn’t short on ambition either: “This will replace the small car,” he predicted. “We’re going to sell a million to India by next year.”
