I read an article that was posted on CTV Regina in late April about an emergency homeless shelter opening up in Yorkton. The name of the shelter is going to be ”Bruno’s Place”. As soon as I read the name, a smile came across my face and a feeling of all is right in world went through my body.
Local organization set to bring emergency homelss shelter to Yorkton
Growing up in Kamsack SK in the late 1970’s, there were things as a kid that I looked forward to in the summer. Trips to Percy’s for ice cream treats, the excitement of hearing the town siren that signaled there was a fire and seeing Bruno walking into town.
My parent’s house is situated right next to the boulevard in town, the main thoroughfare through town. Our street is also the shortest way for someone to walk to Main Street from the boulevard. We were always outside playing as kids either in our yard, at the triangle field across the road (no longer there) or in the field across the boulevard (now the RCMP detachment). All great vantage points to witness Bruno strolling into town.
I remember him being quite a tall man. He had a beard and long scraggly hair tied back with a headband of sorts.. His clothes were baggy and I recall him always being barefoot. He was dirty and unkempt but that was Bruno. Of course, as children, when you see someone famous, you try to get their attention. We would shout ”Hey Bruno!” and wave; he would return the gesture.
Bruno was a true homeless person that wandered about in the Yorkton and Kamsack areas. My older brothers would talk about him living in a ram shackle shack somewhere near the tracks. I only saw him in the summer infrequently although he may have come to town at other times of the year while I was in school.
I recall him visiting our church one Sunday. He sat in the back pew. When he went up for communion he emptied the wine chalice; he was probably thirsty. He looked a lot like Jesus and, from a child’s point of view, you had to question whether he was actually Jesus. A gentle soul living a life of poverty.
I was visiting Kamsack one summer with my husband and kids. There was a silent auction fundraiser of school desks which had been painted, local artists work and this photograph of Bruno. I was inexplicably drawn to it. I had bid on the photograph but it went at a much higher bid than I was able to spend at the time.
My brother Russell decided to paint this photograph in 2014 for a fundraiser in Fort McMurray for The Center of Hope, a homeless shelter there.
I would encourage you to read his blog posts on the middleageblog.com about his memories of Bruno and how the painting came about.
and
On this past Wednesday, Russell Thomas Art posted on facebook that his donated print of this painting had arrived in Yorkton to be hung in ”Bruno’s Place”.
Somehow reading that post and seeing the painting again, tears just started streaming down my face.
Bruno had a simple nomad’s life.
He had no real home but left such an impact on so many of the people who knew of him.
Now, others wanting to live life like he did, will have a place to go to if they so choose.