 Last Sunday I spent a couple of hours writing in one of my favourite corners of the Toronto Reference Library. Right after I got settled a young man in his 20s showed up with a large and well-organized backpack. He took out several small bags, one containing comfy flip flops, and a laptop, and settled into the seat across from me. I asked if he was traveling and he said ‘no.’ Then he told me he was homeless, and added he was doing okay. It was clear he didn’t come to talk to me, and I was okay with that. We both went on with our business. Sitting behind him in a comfy black leather chair in a sheltered corner was a young woman in her 20s. All her devices were plugged into an outlet, and a big backpack was leaning against her legs. She was sound asleep. I wondered about her situation, too. I know nothing about their stories. Plenty of employed people making minimum wage can’t afford city rent. But I was glad we all landed in a cool, quiet, safe place with electrical outlets and washrooms. Studying, reading, and writing are just a few of the community services a library performs. The building’s architect, Raymond Moriyama said, "I must instill the idea of using architecture to express a potential hope for all of us." This is love letter number two for the Toronto Reference Library. Number one is here if you missed it. If you have a little extra, here’s a link to donate. Or give to a local youth program or shelter. *** My librarian friend, Jennifer, put me up to this. She’s the mom of two teens I like a lot, and she worries about how outrageously high youth unemployment is in Canada — there were 54,000 applicants for jobs at the CNE this year. I hope youth training is a cornerstone in every development project on the Canadian horizon. I came of age — seventeen years old in 1980 — during a period of national youth investment that landed me in Katimavik, a program that took me to communities across the country to volunteer on local projects. Then in 1990, when I went to cooking school as an apprentice, my education was paid for through national investment in the skilled trades. I felt developmentally supported as a young person in this country. I was set up for success. Every generation deserves the same. *** The performance by Marvin Gaye is superb. I love seeing the band behind him. 1973 |
