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Six names. Six homeless men. Six deaths.

Three were staying at the Seaton House shelter. Another was found in an alley. A fifth was standing outside the Good Shepherd Centre, on the sidewalk having a cigarette, when he was accidentally struck and killed by an SUV. The sixth was beaten to death in a park near Wellesley and Parliament streets. 

“If anyone knows any of these people and would like to say a word, I’m going to give a few minutes for that,” said Greg Cook, an outreach worker at Sanctuary Ministries.

A lingering five seconds of silence. 

It was a sparse crowd at Tuesday’s monthly homeless memorial. No one stepped forward to remember these men. No one there to talk about their lives lived. Who they were. Or how they became homeless. What they stood for. Why they’re gone too soon.

Only their names, followed by a moment of silence.

John Bonnar

John Bonnar is an independent journalist producing print, photo, video and audio stories about social justice issues in and around Toronto.