This article appears in Dec 6-12, 2007.
Bogus Boulevard Bum
To the Conniving Bastard trolling the Bayers Road-Connaught Avenue boulevard looking for spare change. You’re been outed, you twat, by a caller to Q104 on Tuesday morning, who claims that you not only have a car but also $11 grand in cash. I am sick of
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There should be a law banning people from soliciting money on our roadways. However, judging from this issue’s grade of city councillors, it’ll just be another issue to ignore.
that is sooo fucking funny. i live in this area, and i see this guy on a regular basis. i always wonder about pan handlers, if they are really poor. i remember once years ago i heard about some broad who panhandled daily, had a car, had a house and made over 40k/year. makes ya think twice before handing over money..
I’m tempted to yell at him: “Hey, buddy, got any change?” just to see his reaction.
I encounter too many “Panhandlers” on my way to and from work. Who is ligit and who isn’t? I use to give, but it got to a point that there was ridiculous amount of beggars (Barrington & SGR)…I gave up. I use to say “Sorry”, now it’s getting to the point I’ll ignore them. If only I knew the complete truth and conditions of their plight, only then I may show a change of heart.I especially like the panhandlers with cell phones.
I remember one Sunday morning, some time ago, there were seven of them between Tims and CIBC on SGR. Seven.BTW, the guy who panhandles at Wyse/Nantucket – he only walks all bent over when he sees people around. Faking a disability? As low as it gets.
during my university time here i saw one lady begging by the library on spring garden the next time i saw her she had a bottle of wine, one other time i saw ‘mike’ who is really sick and a bit slow but he uses the money to go to bingo. he plays guitar and smokes butts. well i could have a bottle of wine too or go to bingo if i keep my money and he gets a taxi even! go figure…bingoooooooo!
i think there should be a panhandler manual. step one: wear clothes that cost less then my rent. step 2: don’t talk on a razer cell phone, they’re like 500 bucks a pop. step 3: make an effort..i have all the respect in the world for the squeege kids, they are doing something to earn their money. step 4: quit the habit that forced you into poverty on the streets in the frist place. step 5: get into the salvation army and ymca for skills training and then placements…and then maybe people will trust you and give you a job so you can earn your own money. step 6: while i understand you right to be an individual, the 5 different coloured hair and the 60 earrings, cammo from head to toe makes people recoil in fear. no one will take you seriously. some street kids have to be heard and taken serioulsy, poverty is an epidemic plauging this country and swarming the core of the city. if people want to help the impoverished, vote for the law makes who give a shit and if you’re going to donate anything, donate it to the canadian red cross, ymca and salvation army, they are better equpped to deal with it. and all you kids who are on the streets becasue mommy and daddy couldn’t handle your attitude anymore. grow up the world owes you nothing. the fact your parents cared enough to search your room for drugs then give you hell for it and cared enough to give you a curfew so they knew where you were, you had to stand out against all that you had and now you are asking me for my money becasue when you lost you youth to the drugs your parents warned you about, you dictated your future. if your own parents no longer want to help you, what maked you thing i do. i would have killed for my mother to give a shit.