{{More citations needed|date=May 2026}}{{short description|Canadian homeless advocate}}
{{infobox person | name = Cathy Crowe | honorific_suffix = {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|CM|size=100%}} | image = Cathy Crowe Street Nurse.gif | image_size = | alt = | caption = Cathy Crowe in Toronto c. 2007 | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1952}} | birth_place = Cobourg, Ontario, Canada | other_names = | education = BAA, M.Ed. | alma_mater = Ryerson Polytechnical Institute <br/> Ontario Institute for Studies in Education | occupation = "street nurse" / educator | years_active = | employer = | known_for = community work / anti-poverty activism | title = | term = | predecessor = | successor = | party = | opponents = | boards = | spouse = | partner = | children = | parents = | callsign = | awards = Order of Canada, Economic Justice Award, the Atkinson Charitable Foundation | website = | signature = | signature_alt = | footnotes = | relations = }}
'''Cathy Crowe''', {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|CM}} (born 1952) is a Canadian "street nurse", educator, author, social justice activist and filmmaker, specializing in advocacy for the homeless in Canada. She is a frequent commentator on issues related to health, homelessness and affordable housing. She is currently a visiting practitioner at Toronto Metropolitan University.
==Early life and education==
Born in Cobourg, Ontario, but raised in Kingston, Ontario, Cathy Crowe moved to Toronto to work and study at the Toronto General Hospital, where she received a diploma in nursing in 1972.<ref name="ontario nursing">{{Cite web | title = Cathy Crowe | work = Nursing in Ontario Profiles | publisher = Ontario Nursing Connection | date = c. 2007 | url = http://www.ontario-nursing.ca/nursing-in-ontario/profiles/Cathy-crowe-bio | access-date = 2010-01-09 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090615133044/http://www.ontario-nursing.ca/nursing-in-ontario/profiles/cathy-crowe-bio | archive-date = 2009-06-15 | url-status = dead }}</ref> In 1985, she received a Bachelor of Applied Arts in nursing from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute (now Toronto Metropolitan University).<ref name="ontario nursing"/> In 1992, she received her Master of Education in Sociology, from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE).<ref name="ontario nursing"/>
She was married twice; with her last marriage, to former Metro Toronto Councillor Roger Hollander, ending in divorce in 1995.<ref name = "marriages">{{Cite news | url = https://www.thestar.com/comment/columnists/article/576390 | title = Street nurse fights so we can all have homes | newspaper = The Toronto Star | date = 2009-01-24 | first = David | last = Hayes}}</ref> She has a daughter and three grandsons.{{Citation needed|date=May 2026}}
==Community work== Crowe became known as a "street nurse", a term coined in the early 1990s by a homeless man in the impoverished downtown Toronto area where she worked.<ref name="Atkinson"/> She is noted for her work with the homeless and poor populations in Toronto, Canada's largest city.<ref name="Atkinson"/> She is an activist for affordable housing, public health and social justice. In 1998, along with other social justice activists and academics, she co-founded the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee (TDRC).<ref name="Atkinson"/><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.northumberlandnews.com/community-story/9570788-cobourg-born-street-nurse-and-advocate-against-homelessness-details-her-life-and-career-path/|title=Cobourg-born street nurse and advocate against homelessness details her life and career path|last=Heeger|first=Sean|date=2019-08-30|website=NorthumberlandNews.com|language=en-CA|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref> They brought public attention to homelessness, declaring it to be a man-made disaster, which in their view, qualified as a social welfare disaster requiring the same kind of response that governments give to natural disasters. This human-disaster was the basis for the name of the group and many of its ideas.<ref name="Atkinson"/> The TDRC and Crowe promoted the idea of a "One Percent Solution" to end homelessness. The one percent solution calls for each level of government to commit an additional one percent of their budget towards affordable, social housing.<ref name="Atkinson"/>
==Electoral politics== In January 2010, Crowe entered electoral politics by offering to run for the Ontario New Democratic Party (ONDP) as their candidate in the February 4 by-election in the riding of Toronto Centre.<ref name="2010 by-election">{{Cite news | last =The Canadian Press | title = McGuinty calls Toronto Centre byelection | newspaper = CBC.ca | location = Toronto | publisher = Canadian Broadcasting Corporation | date = 2010-01-06 | url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/mcguinty-calls-toronto-centre-byelection-1.971561 | access-date = 2016-05-15}}</ref> At the ONDP's January 10 nomination meeting, her candidacy went uncontested. She faced Ontario Liberal Party candidate Glen Murray and Pamela Taylor for the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party.<ref name="Benzie 2010 by-election">{{Cite news |last = Benzie |first = Robert |title = Murray front and centre |newspaper = Toronto Star |location = Toronto |publisher = Torstar |date = 2010-01-07 |url = https://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/747287--glen-murray-front-and-centre |access-date = 2010-01-08 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100111090231/http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/747287--glen-murray-front-and-centre# |archive-date = 2010-01-11 |url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name="wins nomination"> {{Cite news | last = The Canadian Press | title = Crowe to run for NDP in Toronto Centre | newspaper = The Globe and Mail | location = Toronto | publisher = CTVglobemedia | date = 2010-01-10 | url = https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/crowe-to-run-for-ndp-in-toronto-centre/article1425979/ | access-date = 2010-01-11}}</ref> Crowe finished a strong second, doubling the NDP's vote totals by taking 33 percent of the popular vote.<ref name="Ferguson 2010 by-election"> {{Cite news | last = Ferguson | first = Rob |author2=Robert Benzie | title = Murray hangs on to Toronto Centre for Liberals | newspaper = Toronto Star | location = Toronto | publisher = Torstar | date = 2010-02-05 | url = https://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/760874--glen-murray-hangs-on-to-toronto-centre-for-liberals?bn=1 | access-date = 2010-02-05}}</ref> She ran a second time in the 2011 provincial general election but lost to incumbent Murray. For many years she worked closely with former Toronto City Councillor and leader of the federal NDP Jack Layton. She wrote the foreword to his book ''Homelessness. How to End the National Crisis'' which he co-authored with Michael Shapcott.{{Citation needed|date=May 2026}}
== Publications == Crowe's book, ''Dying for a Home: Homeless Activists Speak Out'', is a first-hand account of Canadian homelessness and also discusses the practical steps needed to address the problem.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/dyingforhomehome00crow|title=Dying for a home : homeless activists speak out|last=Crowe, Cathy, 1952-|date=2007|publisher=Between the Lines|others=Baker, Nancy.|isbn=9781897071229|location=Toronto|oclc=79256073|url-access=registration}}</ref>
Crowe published her memoirs, ''A Knapsack Full of Dreams: Memoirs of a Street Nurse'' in 2019.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.straight.com/life/1292626/cathy-crowes-knapsack-full-dreams-recounts-lifetime-crossroads-nursing-and-activism|title=Cathy Crowe's A Knapsack Full of Dreams recounts a lifetime at the crossroads of nursing and activism|last=Lupick|first=Travis|date=2019-08-31|website=Georgia Straight Vancouver's News & Entertainment Weekly|language=en|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Knapsack Full of Dreams : memoirs of a street nurse.|last=Crowe|first=Cathy|date=2019|publisher=FRIESENPRESS|isbn=978-1525534539|location=[S.l.]|oclc=1107588580}}</ref> In it, she reflects on her life as a street nurse and advocate for the homeless; the role characterized by some journalists of a "relentless accuser" advocating for policy change that addresses the causes of social injustice, rather than dealing simply with the symptoms.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://socialistproject.ca/2019/08/nightmare-of-homelessness-knapsack-full-of-dreams/|title=A Nightmare of Homelessness: A Knapsack Full of Dreams - The Bullet|last=Clarke|first=John|date=2019-08-21|website=Socialist Project|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref>
Crowe co-edited ''Displacement City. Fighting for Health and Homes in a Pandemic.{{Citation needed|date=May 2026}}''
== Films == Crowe has been involved in multiple documentary films about homelessness:{{Citation needed|date=May 2026}}
*''Home Safe Hamilton'' (2010), Development research with filmmaker Laura Sky, Skyworks Charitable Foundation.<ref>[http://www.skyworksfoundation.org Skyworks Charitable Foundation]</ref> *''Home Safe Toronto'' (2009). Executive Producer. Filmmaker – Laura Sky, Skyworks Charitable Foundation. *''Home Safe Calgary'' (2008). Executive Producer. Filmmaker – Laura Sky, Skyworks Charitable Foundation. *''Street Nurse'' (2002). Subject participant. Filmmaker – Shelley Saywell, Bishari Film Productions. *''Shelter From The Storm'' (2001). Development research. A profile of Toronto Disaster Relief Committee and Tent City Toronto. Filmmaker – Michael Connolly.
==Awards== Crowe received an International Nursing Ethics Award in 2003 in Amsterdam.<ref name="ontario nursing"/> She was also the recipient of the Economic Justice Fellowship Award, from the Atkinson Charitable Foundation, in 2004<ref name="Atkinson">{{Cite news | last = Simmie | first = Scott | title = Street nurse earns prestigious honour | newspaper = Toronto Star | location = Toronto | pages= A1, A17 | publisher = Torstar | date = 2004-01-22 }}</ref> which was twice renewed. She was named Person of the Year by the ''Toronto Sun'' (2000) and Toronto's Best Homelessness advocate by ''NOW'' magazine (2005). In January 2018, Crowe was appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://globalnews.ca/video/3985572/cathy-crowe-invested-into-order-of-canada | title = Cathy Crowe invested into Order of Canada | publisher = Global News | date = January 24, 2018 }}</ref> She is a recipient of numerous honorary doctorates (University of Victoria, McMaster University, University of Ottawa, York University, University of Windsor, Law Union of Ontario) and an honorary Bachelor of Applied Sciences (Humber College).{{Citation needed|date=May 2026}}
==Electoral record== {{CANelec/top|ON|2011|Toronto Centre (provincial electoral district)|percent=yes|change=yes}} {{CANelec|ON|Liberal|Glen Murray | 25,236| 54.94| +7.77}} {{CANelec|ON|NDP|Cathy Crowe| 11,571| 25.19| -8.22}} {{CANelec|ON|PC|Martin Abell | 7,186| 15.64| +0.34}} {{CANelec|ON|Green|Mark Daye | 1,123| 2.44| -0.57}} {{CANelec|ON|Libertarian|Judi Falardeau| 441| 0.96| +0.57}} {{CANelec|ON|Communist|Cathy Holliday| 146| 0.32| }} {{CANelec|CA|Independent|Harvey Rotenberg | 93| 0.20| }} {{CANelec|ON|Freedom|Christopher Goodwin| 92| 0.20| -0.03}} {{CANelec|ON|The People|Phil Sarazen| 29| 0.06| }} {{CANelec|CA|Independent|Bahman Yazdanfar| 19| 0.04| }} {{CANelec|CA|Independent|Anne Abbott|<small>''withdrawn''</small>| | }} {{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|45,936|99.38| | }} {{CANelec/total|Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots|286|0.62}} {{CANelec/total|Turnout|46,222|48.42}} {{CANelec/total|Eligible voters|95,466}} {{CANelec/hold|ON|Liberal|+8.00}} {{CANelec/source|Source: Elections Ontario<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wemakevotingeasy.ca/media/EO_Site/official_GE/ED094-F0244.pdf|publisher=Elections Ontario|date=2011|title=Official return from the records / Rapport des registres officiels - Toronto Centre|access-date=6 June 2014}}</ref>}} {{end}} {{CANelec/top|ON|February 4, 2010|Toronto Centre (provincial electoral district)|reason=Resignation of George Smitherman<ref>[https://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/746809--byelection-to-replace-smitherman-called-for-feb-4?bn=1 "Byelection to replace Smitherman called for Feb. 4"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019162348/http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/746809--byelection-to-replace-smitherman-called-for-feb-4?bn=1 |date=2012-10-19 }}. ''Toronto Star'', January 6, 2010.</ref>|percent=yes|change=yes|by=yes}} {{CANelec|ON|Liberal|Glen Murray | 12,289| 47.17| -0.58}} {{CANelec|ON|NDP|Cathy Crowe | 8,705| 33.41| +14.55}} {{CANelec|ON|PC|Pamela Taylor | 3,985| 15.30| -5.11}} {{CANelec|ON|Green|Stefan Premdas| 783| 3.01| -6.65}} {{CANelec|ON|Libertarian|Heath Thomas | 101| 0.39| -1.10}} {{CANelec|CA|Independent|John Turmel| 66| 0.25| }} {{CANelec|CA|Independent|Raj Rama| 63| 0.24| }} {{CANelec|ON|Freedom|Wayne Simmons | 61| 0.23| }} {{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|26,204 |100.00 | | }} {{end}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
===Bibliography=== *{{Citation | last = Crowe | first = Cathy | last2 = Baker | first2 = Nancy | title = Dying for a home : homeless activists speak out | place = Toronto | publisher = Between the Lines | year = 2007 | url = http://catalogue2.torontopubliclibrary.ca/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/5/3?searchdata1=328929{CKEY}&searchfield1=GENERAL^SUBJECT^GENERAL^^ | isbn = 978-1-897071-22-9}} *{{Cite book|title=Knapsack Full of Dreams: Memoirs of a Street Nurse|last=Crowe|first=Cathy|publisher=Friesenpress|year=2019|isbn=978-1525534539|oclc=1107588580}}
==External links== *[http://cathycrowe.ca/ Official website] *[https://www.tdrc.net/ Toronto Disaster Relief Committee]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Crowe, Cathy}} Category:1952 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century Canadian women writers Category:Activists from Toronto Category:Canadian homelessness activists Category:Canadian documentary film producers Category:Canadian educators Category:Canadian women educators Category:Canadian people of Irish descent Category:Canadian health activists Category:Canadian women activists Category:Housing reformers Category:Canadian housing rights activists Category:Members of the Order of Canada Category:Ontario New Democratic Party candidates in Ontario provincial elections Category:People from Cobourg Category:Politicians from Toronto Category:Toronto Metropolitan University alumni Category:Canadian social justice activists Category:University of Toronto alumni Category:Canadian women film producers Category:Film producers from Ontario