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The City of St. Thomas is honored to share with the community a recently installed monument located behind the St. Thomas-Elgin Social Services office located at 230 Talbot St. This monument honors and remembers lives lost of people experiencing homelessness.
The project was first identified through the St. Thomas-Elgin Housing Stability Alliance. The Alliance recognized that a dedicated space for remembering lost loved ones who experienced homelessness did not currently exist, and that having one could provide healing for grieving hearts while also increasing public awareness of the possible risks and vulnerabilities associated with experiencing homelessness.
Through these conversations, an opportunity to partner with a local artist, Medlyn Studios, emerged. Medlyn Studios, working in partnership with St. Thomas-Elgin Social Services, then hosted focus groups with people with lived and living experience, to help inform the thoughtful design and detail of the monument. Through these focus groups and additional consultations, the design and details seen below emerged.
The lighthouse topped by a lantern signifies hope and safety, and incorporates the culture of our surrounding Elgin County area, specifically the local Ports that are home to lighthouses. The engravings, also known as hoboglyphics, signify communication and information sharing with transient people during the era when train travel was popular, and it incorporates the relevance of train culture and its history within St. Thomas.
The hoboglyphics chosen for this monument include:
%20(1).png "Examples of hoboglyphics")
In addition, and possibly one of the most notable features of this monument, is a space to leave memories or letters to loved ones, which can be seen on the front of the monument on the lower half. This feature and this monument are intended for anyone and everyone who has been touched by the loss of a loved one who was experiencing homelessness, and we are pleased that it is now a permanent part of our community.
The City of St. Thomas would like to thank:
- Medlyn Studios for its excellent craftsmanship, and for genuinely capturing the voice and heart of our community.
- The nameless and STASH for lending the important voice of our community members who have or who are experiencing homelessness.
- The St. Thomas Public Art Committee for lending their collective guidance, wisdom and vision to the project.
- The City’s Parks and Recreation and Social Services departments for working together and with community partners to create a foundation and monument that will stand the test of time.