Cathy Crowe to receive Order of Canada

Street Nurse, and Ryerson Distinguished Visiting Practitioner, Cathy Crowe (photo credit: Toronto Star (external link, opens in new window) ).

His Excellency, the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, has announced that Cathy Crowe (opens in new window) , a Distinguished Visiting Practitioner in Ryerson's Department of Politics and Public Administration, will become a Member of the Order of Canada. The honour recognises a life work as a street nurse and social justice advocate helping homeless people on a local and national level.

From the Toronto Star (external link, opens in new window)  story:

“To me, it’s a sign of progress,” she said. “Somewhere, people at that level are honouring and respecting me, but really, for me, it’s all about the issues.”

Crowe has written extensively about homelessness in Canada, been involved in multiple documentary films and teaches classes at Ryerson University. She is the co-founder of the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee, an organization that promulgated homelessness to be a national disaster in 1998.

“It’s monumental and historic, hopeful,” said Crowe.

The 64-year-old was born in Cobourg, Ont., moving to Toronto in 1970 to become a nurse — a position she’s held for 45 years, she said.

Crowe added that if she had one wish, it would be for the reimplementation of a national housing program for seniors, students and people with disabilities.

“We’re getting close to getting it,” she said. “The Prime Minister is developing a national housing strategy.”