About Tim
Born and raised in Toronto, Tim has traveled throughout Canada, the United States and Europe, 
researching, networking with and training others in creative and compassionate responses to domestic poverty and homelessness.
Tim studied classic animation at Sheridan College and later graduated from Humber College as a “Developmental Service Worker”.
He has been the lead singer of two rock bands, and performs to this day with the band Outrider in youth detention centers, prisons, at street festivals and for charity events.
For two decades, Tim has worked fulltime among poor and marginalized youth in the Greater Toronto Area through Youth Unlimited, where he founded Frontlines Youth Centre and pioneered Youth Unlimited’s Light Patrol street outreach.
His work on the streets among homeless youth and adults leads him into alleyways, under bridges and off-ramps, and other dark corners of the city.
As a highly sought-after speaker across Canada, Tim advocates for a holistic social-justice response to homelessness, encouraging a balanced approach that includes prevention, relief, transition, community-building and advocacy. He is a member of Street Level: the National Roundtable on Poverty and Homelessness, Chaired the 2006 Street Level Conference and is co-chair of the 2009 Street Level Conference. He also sits on the Board of Directors of the Daily Bread Food Bank in Toro
nto.
After several years of participation with Hockey for the Homeless in Toronto, at the start of 2009, Tim accepted an official position on the newly restructured National Executive. Hockey for the Homeless is now active in four of Canada’s NHL cities, with the goal of being in all six within the next two years. What exactly is Hockey for the Homeless? Have a look at this video to find out what this exciting national initiative is all about!
He has made TV appearances on all of Canada’s major networks, done radio interviews on stations across North America, and has been featured in domestic and international newspapers and magazines.
Tim, married to Diane, is the father of two children – Sarah Jane and Jake.
I recently heard you speak at my Markham Mastermind Product Knowledge night last week.
I had read and bought your book at work previously and was greatly moved by it but hearing you speak brought me to tears.
I am the mother of three teenagers and at present have two extra teens living with me as their father (a drug addict) has been evicted from their home once again. They had no place to live but the street.
As a former R.N. and Mom , I have always been interested in and cared about todays youth and their problems in this world.
There is no place in the Markham area for our kids to go and “play”, be safe and get help if they need it.
I am interested in starting such a place here but am asking for some guidance from you if possible.
I have just begin my research into this project. I believe in destiny. Having the two “extra” boys in my home was one sign and hearing you speak I think was my biggest.
I thank the Levy’s for bring you to speak with us.
Thank you for your time.
Deanne Belo
42 Standish Cres.
Markham,On. L3P 4A3.
Thanks Tim, merry Christmas.
An impressive web site! A great ministry. We rejoice with you in the opportunities you fill so well. Enjoyed being at the book launch in Toronto earlier in the year. The book is a great presentation our prayers go with it as it seeks to awaken young people to that other part of the world where you have such an effective ministry.
I am in Quesnel with Alister my son and Janette is in Sydney Australia. In these different locations we are seeking to reach out to members of our families in special need. Alister has lost close contact with his 3 children as Chandra has left and relocated in Alberta near her family home. Janette has gone to the wedding of a grand neice grandaughter of her long deceased brother. She is the only living Cowan of that generation in the family now.
The Church we attend shares in a ministry Night Shift that provides meals in Surrey for the people on the street. They have a vision fueled by contact with a group in LA Dream??? which has effectively motivated these kinds of people to help one another. Prayer is being made for something similar in needy Surrey beset as it is with this challenge along with drug related violence and cultural clash.
Our thoughts and prayers with you and your family as they continue sharing and supporting you .
With warm regards
Colin and Janette Blair
Dear Tim,
Thank you so much for writing Bent Hope! I recommended it to my book club, and everyone loved it, and it brought some splendid discussion. It is the kind of book that can touch anyone’s life, as we all have our own personal experiences meeting the people of the street. I wrote down some of the comments at the meeting for you:
The participants started the book with some trepidation, because they didn’t know what to expect. What they found was that it opened our eyes to life on the streets, was sad, scary, yet had lots of hope. It causes us to make our own motives accountable. The book is Canadian – yay- and offers lots of ideas on how to personally deal with our feelings on the subject. Many passages were quoted, including the line that many people are homeless before they are houseless. The chapter about “There but for the Grace of God, go I” was something I have struggled with myself.
The hug story was a favourite, and the money in the jar at home idea is a good one! There were tears and yet a lot of giggles in the stories.
Tim, you are an amazing writer – your descriptions are so real we can practically taste it – especially the description at the beginning of Iris’ chapter. As for yourself, from the photo on the cover, you were described as a “scruffy looking Billy Ray Cyrus”.
I totally recommend this book to anyone who has issues with their attitude and how to “wrap their head around” the concept of homelessness. Now we need to put what we have learned into action.
God bless you!!
I would like to discuss how we might collaborate. We are a Christian Mission to all of Brampton. We basically have a drop in facility but are trying to get on the street. We offer a safe harbour and now are getting our feet wet on the street slowly. A sister in the Lord runs a 2 night a week feeding program we try to help. We are though not her support, we support her when we can. Mainly we reach out.
I am not sure exactly as to the overlap, but would like to explore what we might partner/struggle on. We run on a budget typically of 20k per year.