Cathy Crowe
Cathy Crowe is a Street Nurse in Toronto. She has worked in the area of homelessness since 1988. In January, 2004 she received the Atkinson Charitable Foundation’s Economic Justice Award which will last for up to three years. During this period of time she is “housed” at the Sherbourne Health Centre.
She prefers to be called a Street Nurse – a term coined about 17 years ago by a homeless man at the corner of Sherbourne and Dundas in downtown Toronto. She points out that at that time there were only 4 or 5 street nurses in Toronto, perhaps even Canada, compared to probably 100 now, from Victoria to Halifax. That, in itself, makes a powerful statement about the extent of homelessness.
Cathy obtained her diploma in nursing from Toronto General Hospital in 1972, her Bachelor of Applied Arts in Nursing from Ryerson in 1985, and her Masters of Education (Sociology) from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education in 1992. In June 2001 she received an Honorary Doctor of Science in Nursing from the University of Victoria in British Columbia.
Cathy follows the pulse of health issues affecting homeless people including shelter conditions and inadequate housing, the return of tuberculosis and even bedbugs. Along with remarkable colleagues, homeless activists and
friends she has fostered numerous coalitions and advocacy initiatives.
and housing crisis. Its signature 1% slogan refers to the demand that all levels of government commit 1% of their budgets to an affordable housing.and housing crisis. Its signature 1% slogan refers to the demand that all levels of government commit 1% of their budgets to an affordable housing.
Cathy is a frequent commentator and writer on issues related to homelessness. She has taught a course at Ryerson called Homelessness in Canadian Society. She is currently a member of the City of Toronto’s Board of Health. A documentary film on her work titled ‘Street Nurse’ directed by Emmy and Gemini winner Shelley Saywell aired on the Women’s channel in the fall of 2002. In the fall of 2003, Cathy received an International Human Rights Award in Nursing in Amsterdam from the International Centre for Nursing Ethics. In June, 2005 she received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from McMaster University in Hamilton.
Cathy’s home page:
http://tdrc.net/index.php?page=cathy-crowe
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She prefers to be called a Street Nurse – a term coined about 17 years ago by a homeless man at the corner of Sherbourne and Dundas in downtown Toronto. She points out that at that time there were only 4 or 5 street nurses in Toronto, perhaps even Canada, compared to probably 100 now, from Victoria to Halifax. That, in itself, makes a powerful statement about the extent of homelessness.
Cathy obtained her diploma in nursing from Toronto General Hospital in 1972, her Bachelor of Applied Arts in Nursing from Ryerson in 1985, and her Masters of Education (Sociology) from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education in 1992. In June 2001 she received an Honorary Doctor of Science in Nursing from the University of Victoria in British Columbia.
Cathy follows the pulse of health issues affecting homeless people including shelter conditions and inadequate housing, the return of tuberculosis and even bedbugs. Along with remarkable colleagues, homeless activists and
friends she has fostered numerous coalitions and advocacy initiatives.
and housing crisis. Its signature 1% slogan refers to the demand that all levels of government commit 1% of their budgets to an affordable housing.and housing crisis. Its signature 1% slogan refers to the demand that all levels of government commit 1% of their budgets to an affordable housing.
Cathy is a frequent commentator and writer on issues related to homelessness. She has taught a course at Ryerson called Homelessness in Canadian Society. She is currently a member of the City of Toronto’s Board of Health. A documentary film on her work titled ‘Street Nurse’ directed by Emmy and Gemini winner Shelley Saywell aired on the Women’s channel in the fall of 2002. In the fall of 2003, Cathy received an International Human Rights Award in Nursing in Amsterdam from the International Centre for Nursing Ethics. In June, 2005 she received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from McMaster University in Hamilton.
Cathy’s home page:
http://tdrc.net/index.php?page=cathy-crowe
<< Back to the interview