If this isn’t a hot topic then I don’t know what is, I’ve noticed that the people of Toronto have a very negative opinion towards the police for many different reasons, some of which are totally valid while others seem uncalled for usually due to choices of lifestyle. I, with my military experience have a surprisingly positive opinion towards the police and have actually built a unique relationship with the Metro cops especially those of 52 division.(The division covering most of downtown Toronto, west of Yonge st.) With a lot of cops, I am now on a first or nickname basis and have even forged a few friendships… although without my good manners and respectful understanding of mandate and never forgetting that cops are people just doing their job, this never would have been possible. I notice that most who have never been in uniform or earned a rank of any sort seem too often forget (or hardly remember) that cops are just regular people like the rest of us…. I know some get greedy and tend to usually abuse their power just to be assholes, but it happens with any other business as well, in fact even more so because the penalties are far less, but now that you have a better understanding of my respectful relationship with the police, let me move on to my issue…..
I have been warned by the good sargent I usually deal with, that the business owners of Yonge st. have been overwhelming him with letters and emails, some even with my pictures explaining that they feel it is unjust that I can sell my art on Yonge st while they try to run their businesses, and I can somewhat understand because they are paying rent, wages, utilities and taxes, but at the same time, my “permitted” sidewalk sales depend on the weather and I get ripped off all the time do to having neither walls nor a register, I cannot obtain a business address, hydro, water or even a roof for that matter “on the sidewalk”. So even though my costs are far less if even recognized, I have no commodity let alone luxury to properly run a business but still, I pay for my permit to do what I do allowing me to busk and share my art anywhere I wish to downtown, so why has this proven difficult???
My goal is to open a street art gallery to host more than just my own work and I believe that as I came close to my goal and people started talking positively about me, the local business owners got jealous and as I became more professional and reliable they became scared probably thinking that the more money people spend on my art then the less they’ll have to spend in the stores, and we all know that the local souvenir shops got pissed that tourists would rather buy one of my skyline paintings then their stupid die cast or plastic nick nacks, but if that’s the case then does Toronto really need proprietors of such childish nature, so does this mean that I’ll get a refund on my permit or be reimbursed for my time wasted being wrongfully moved around….NO! So, because I chose to work harder than the business owners of Yonge st. I am forced to suffer while a few greedy voices hinder my rightful success that I am still working my ass off for, now this my friends, this is what is truly “UNJUST”
So To my beloved Medz fanz, remember this while shopping on Yonge st. and feel free to act in any manner on my behalf for I no longer have a reputation to maintain with the proprietors of Yonge st. South of Bloor, for now I will try a few suggested locations and possibly expand my fan base by increasing my exposer and coming to those who never make it downtown, this in turn could be good, it just means though, I will be a lot harder to find, so if you come looking for me, I might not be found although I will do my best to update my locations on MEDZ.ca and my Facebook page daily but without a phone things are that much harder. Lately I have been bouncing between Yonge and St.Claire and Yonge and Bloor but it might not last for greed runs rampant in Toronto, especially within the corporate population.
So, To those not retarded by ignorance, since it is nothing more than ones choice to be stupid….Try to help others when possible and never be the one to hinder, don’t hold back and always, always, always remember to SPARE A SMILE!!!!
Yours Truly…. Ryan Chamberlain