News from the Niagara-based High Heels to Moccasins group
Posted May 20th, 2025 on Niagara At Large
Fire Keepers Taylor Cronkwright, Lesroy Walcott, and Fred Bowering
St. CATHARINES, Ontario – Indigenous activists led by Ashley Cronkwright, Fred Bowering, Lesroy Walcott, and Brandi Johnson lit a Healing Fire at Richard Pierpoint Park in St. Catharines, Ontario to hold a safe space from the St. Catharines anti-encampment by-law for the unhoused.
The fire was held from 1-4pm on Sunday, May 18th, and will be held every Sunday onwards.
Indigenous activists served food and water to the unhoused at the fire and accepted clothing donations for children and adults. The Healing Fire space is also in memory of loved ones lost and in support of families and friends of loved ones lost to mental health, addictions, and homelessness, or living through it.
Ashley Cronkwright said, “I’m happy to be out here and to give people a safe place to gather and bridge them to resources they could use.”
Ashley Cronkwright serves water and food at Healing Fire
Ashley is an organizer of the High Heels to Moccasins group which serves food and clothing to the unhoused targeted by the by-law. Ashley says she is targeted by the by-law herself as section 8.2 says directors of an organization which “knowingly concurs” with the violation of the by-law are also “guilty” of an offense.
Brandi Johnson said, “We’re determined to let those in our community know we are here to support them and remind the city of how to treat humans with humanity.”
Fred Bowering added, “I’m happy to be here and give people hope and safe space.”
Lesroy Walcott explained, “I feel great to be back out here and happy to see all the people come out and access resources and I’m looking forward to future fires.”
A January 7, 2025 memo from Niagara Region’s Homelessness Services Manager on the Homelessness Point-in-Time Count noted, “The Indigenous population…accounted for 28% of the population experiencing homelessness in Niagara. This highlights the need for culturally sensitive, community-driven solutions to homelessness within these communities.”
Drummers at Healing Fire
The City of St. Catharines anti-encampment by-law, called the “Public Space Use By-law,” includes fines for not just each day, but each part of a day unhoused people have temporary shelters in certain parts of the City.
For more information from High Heels to Moccasins, click on their Facebook page at – https://www.facebook.com/groups/1909402639245946/
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