Photovoice Continued ...

My Bike is My Car
Genevieve Jones*, 2006

I cycle from about April to October as the weather allows and when I feel well enough to do so. I walk often, but this also takes better shoes that I cannot afford. Bus money is very limited. I hope Saskatoon soon passes at least a trial bus pass for a minimal amount for people in poverty, like Regina this past year.

A Heavy Load
Elaine Gamble, 2006

I saw this couple struggling with their stuff from the Food Bank. I really felt for these people. I have a vehicle. I can drive where I need to go. But there is a strength for them. Even though they don’t have a vehicle and they’re in poverty, they’re doing something. They are going to the Food Bank. They are walking to bring their stuff back. And this gentleman stopped four or five times in that little stretch, so you know that what he was carrying was heavy.

As photographers in this project, we made a commitment to treat people with respect, and not use their pictures without permission. We have blurred the images of the people to protect their privacy, but we wanted to share this picture of poverty in our city.

A Safe Place to Live
Smith*, 2006

I live in the Saskatoon Housing Coalition which has three apartments and a group home for people who have mental illness. I am fortunate living at the Housing Coalition. I’ve been there sixteen years. They need lots of buildings because there is a long waiting list for people with psychiatric problems who want to live there.

We are dead centre in the inner city where there’s crime, because that’s all we could afford. Guys have been beaten up because it’s not a safe area. Inside the buildings we’re very safe. They shouldn’t put them all in the high-crime area.

http://www.pwhce.ca/photovoice/saskatoon_intro.html