Maggie Helwig
@maggiehelwig.bsky.social
She/they. Sometimes I do conceptual art. Sometimes I don't. Gangster pastor, allegedly.
"The only way that we, the small and the ordinary, might survive in any decent way, is if we learn to take care of each other."
"The only way that we, the small and the ordinary, might survive in any decent way, is if we learn to take care of each other."
Today someone asked one of the security guards, as he happened to walk past the church, what he was guarding. He replied, "Nothing."
December 5, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Today someone asked one of the security guards, as he happened to walk past the church, what he was guarding. He replied, "Nothing."
Reposted by Maggie Helwig
Encampment by @maggiehelwig.bsky.social and Messy Cities (ed. Zahra Ebrahim, Leslie Woo, @dylanreid.bsky.social, and @johnlorinc.bsky.social) are top sellers by Canadian-owned publishers! (#16 and #23, respectively.)
click here for both the 25 top-selling Canadian titles and the 25 top-selling Canadian publishers of 2025 (And a downloadable pdf of both charts, too) https://bit.ly/4pi3woO
December 4, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Encampment by @maggiehelwig.bsky.social and Messy Cities (ed. Zahra Ebrahim, Leslie Woo, @dylanreid.bsky.social, and @johnlorinc.bsky.social) are top sellers by Canadian-owned publishers! (#16 and #23, respectively.)
Today's conversation with the Encampment Office:
Me: I would like to know how long you're going to go on paying for private security to watch the church 24/7.
EO: That's not my call at this time, but they're there for fire safety.
Me: The fire safety of the concrete blocks?
EO: Correct. (1/2)
Me: I would like to know how long you're going to go on paying for private security to watch the church 24/7.
EO: That's not my call at this time, but they're there for fire safety.
Me: The fire safety of the concrete blocks?
EO: Correct. (1/2)
December 2, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Today's conversation with the Encampment Office:
Me: I would like to know how long you're going to go on paying for private security to watch the church 24/7.
EO: That's not my call at this time, but they're there for fire safety.
Me: The fire safety of the concrete blocks?
EO: Correct. (1/2)
Me: I would like to know how long you're going to go on paying for private security to watch the church 24/7.
EO: That's not my call at this time, but they're there for fire safety.
Me: The fire safety of the concrete blocks?
EO: Correct. (1/2)
It's not like this is an original thought, but I miss the days when Google worked. I'm thinking this because some years ago I managed to locate some information about a very obscure children's musical play, but failed to save it, and now Google just gives me dumb approximation answers.
November 22, 2025 at 7:43 PM
It's not like this is an original thought, but I miss the days when Google worked. I'm thinking this because some years ago I managed to locate some information about a very obscure children's musical play, but failed to save it, and now Google just gives me dumb approximation answers.
The warming centres which opened yesterday at 5 pm are now closed. It is currently snowing.
November 11, 2025 at 1:03 PM
The warming centres which opened yesterday at 5 pm are now closed. It is currently snowing.
Stop praying!
“Federal authorities told demonstrators Friday that there would be ‘no more prayer’ in front of or inside the Broadview ICE facility, in a move that mystified local leaders and raised legal questions.” blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/07/f...
Feds Tell Faith Leaders 'No More Prayer' Outside Broadview Facility
In a possible violation of the First Amendment, federal officials instructed demonstrators to stop holding religious gatherings outside the immigration processing facility in suburban Broadview after ...
blockclubchicago.org
November 8, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Stop praying!
Church inside the fence.
On All Souls, we held a memorial service inside the fence the City erected to block people from seeking sanctuary in the yard, for some of those we have lost in the last few years. People on the street die preventable deaths, too young.
We will not forget.
On All Souls, we held a memorial service inside the fence the City erected to block people from seeking sanctuary in the yard, for some of those we have lost in the last few years. People on the street die preventable deaths, too young.
We will not forget.
November 3, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Church inside the fence.
On All Souls, we held a memorial service inside the fence the City erected to block people from seeking sanctuary in the yard, for some of those we have lost in the last few years. People on the street die preventable deaths, too young.
We will not forget.
On All Souls, we held a memorial service inside the fence the City erected to block people from seeking sanctuary in the yard, for some of those we have lost in the last few years. People on the street die preventable deaths, too young.
We will not forget.
I think this is paywalled, but at least for Star subscribers, it's an update on the state of the concrete blocks and the City's statements about them.
www.thestar.com/news/gta/the...
www.thestar.com/news/gta/the...
The city dropped concrete blocks, fencing at the site of a Kensington encampment. The nearby church wants them gone
The city says they’re temporary, but the church, which supported the encampment, says more blocks and fencing remain from a clearing two years ago.
www.thestar.com
October 24, 2025 at 1:49 PM
I think this is paywalled, but at least for Star subscribers, it's an update on the state of the concrete blocks and the City's statements about them.
www.thestar.com/news/gta/the...
www.thestar.com/news/gta/the...
This is a very good, comprehensive article.
Sharing this article again because it's the culmination of a few months of work from me - and people should be reading about it.
Ontario Cities Are Clearing Homeless Encampments. Where Are People Supposed to Go?
Amidst a housing crisis with no end in sight, municipalities across the province have been cracking down on the unhoused
pressprogress.ca
October 24, 2025 at 12:02 PM
This is a very good, comprehensive article.
This is our churchyard now.
October 17, 2025 at 12:23 PM
This is our churchyard now.
We have just been informed that the encampment at St Stephen's will be cleared TOMORROW (Thursday). If you can be here in support of the residents, please come. We anticipate that things will start around 9 am and probably go on for some time.
October 15, 2025 at 4:43 PM
We have just been informed that the encampment at St Stephen's will be cleared TOMORROW (Thursday). If you can be here in support of the residents, please come. We anticipate that things will start around 9 am and probably go on for some time.
Full text. I'm not a Roman Catholic, but I'm on board with all the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church considering themselves exhorted.
October 9, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Full text. I'm not a Roman Catholic, but I'm on board with all the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church considering themselves exhorted.
Things Pope Leo actually said just now, which are in fact better than the inspirational quotes being falsely attributed to him. Identifying the sacrificial economy. Identifying structural issues. Calling on people to work "alongside the poor, instead of on their behalf." Leo's a smart dude.
October 9, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Things Pope Leo actually said just now, which are in fact better than the inspirational quotes being falsely attributed to him. Identifying the sacrificial economy. Identifying structural issues. Calling on people to work "alongside the poor, instead of on their behalf." Leo's a smart dude.
Pete Hegseth has honest to God called the US top command from around the world to Washington so he can tell them they look fat.
September 30, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Pete Hegseth has honest to God called the US top command from around the world to Washington so he can tell them they look fat.
Reposted by Maggie Helwig
Sky full of gannets declared terrorist organization.
September 18, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Sky full of gannets declared terrorist organization.
Lack of child care means I can't be at Dufferin Grove today, as the City tries for a second day to evict the encampment there, but if you can get there, please do. They are trying to destroy homes and a community.
September 17, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Lack of child care means I can't be at Dufferin Grove today, as the City tries for a second day to evict the encampment there, but if you can get there, please do. They are trying to destroy homes and a community.
Reposted by Maggie Helwig
@maggiehelwig.bsky.social 's ENCAMPMENT has been shortlisted for the 2025 Toronto Book Awards!
Established by Toronto City Council in 1974, the Toronto Book Awards honour books of literary merit that are evocative of Toronto. View the full shortlist here: www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/tba/
Established by Toronto City Council in 1974, the Toronto Book Awards honour books of literary merit that are evocative of Toronto. View the full shortlist here: www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/tba/
September 2, 2025 at 6:30 PM
@maggiehelwig.bsky.social 's ENCAMPMENT has been shortlisted for the 2025 Toronto Book Awards!
Established by Toronto City Council in 1974, the Toronto Book Awards honour books of literary merit that are evocative of Toronto. View the full shortlist here: www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/tba/
Established by Toronto City Council in 1974, the Toronto Book Awards honour books of literary merit that are evocative of Toronto. View the full shortlist here: www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/tba/
Photos don't capture the extent to which the City turned today's garbage pick-up into a show of force; I didn't photograph the dozen or more uniformed City staff forming a phalanx on the sidewalk. Shown: the Claw seizing garbage bins for disposal, so they can't be used to throw away garbage ...
August 15, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Photos don't capture the extent to which the City turned today's garbage pick-up into a show of force; I didn't photograph the dozen or more uniformed City staff forming a phalanx on the sidewalk. Shown: the Claw seizing garbage bins for disposal, so they can't be used to throw away garbage ...
Well, Encampment would have made it into the top ten if it weren't for the unslakeable desire of Canadians for Herman Classics ...
With the help of BookNet Canada's #librarydata, here're the 50 books from indie lit publishers Cdns. borrowed most in July 2025. Feat. a top 10 from: @arsenalpulp.bsky.social, @ecwpress.bsky.social, @coachhousebooks.bsky.social, @cormorantbooks.bsky.social, and @biblioasis.bsky.social.
August 12, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Well, Encampment would have made it into the top ten if it weren't for the unslakeable desire of Canadians for Herman Classics ...
The "pollinator garden" idea having apparently been mocked to death, the new idea floated by a City staffer today was that the encampment could be evicted to make room for ... outdoor ping-pong tables.
I guess mocking outdoor ping-pong is your new assignment.
I guess mocking outdoor ping-pong is your new assignment.
July 29, 2025 at 9:59 PM
The "pollinator garden" idea having apparently been mocked to death, the new idea floated by a City staffer today was that the encampment could be evicted to make room for ... outdoor ping-pong tables.
I guess mocking outdoor ping-pong is your new assignment.
I guess mocking outdoor ping-pong is your new assignment.
Someone in our encampment voluntarily requested a residential rehab program. Of course there are none. When a partner agency tried to connect them with one of the new "HART Hubs", they were told that you can't get HART Hub services of any kind if you don't have ID. It's going great, folks!
July 29, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Someone in our encampment voluntarily requested a residential rehab program. Of course there are none. When a partner agency tried to connect them with one of the new "HART Hubs", they were told that you can't get HART Hub services of any kind if you don't have ID. It's going great, folks!
Reposted by Maggie Helwig
So after some ill-advised interaction with this group (likely person), it became clear to me that they had used an AI summary of the zoning by-law, and were upset that the city wasn't following the hallucinated zoning by-law and not the real one which they have never read.
Saw that this ad is circulating (HT @chanface.bsky.social) and I just want to once again point out how often these groups are lying about extremely basic facts. Shelters are allowed in RM. It's one of the 3 things allowed with no exceptions. There is no way to miss this if you are trying to read it.
July 29, 2025 at 12:23 PM
So after some ill-advised interaction with this group (likely person), it became clear to me that they had used an AI summary of the zoning by-law, and were upset that the city wasn't following the hallucinated zoning by-law and not the real one which they have never read.
Hello, I'm an Anglican priest in a movie. I conduct weddings, usually in ways which defy both church custom and legal requirements. Also I do funerals. Usually I wear the wrong vestments for both tasks. That's basically it. When not marrying or burying, I disappear.
Hello, I'm an environmentalist working for the government. I'm well-meaning but naive, and am usually found in hiking boots and goretex in the forest, studying dangerous but charismatic predators.
Sometimes I'm an ecoterrorist or murderer.
Sometimes I'm an ecoterrorist or murderer.
Hello, I'm an epidemiologist in film. I'm a socially awkward loner working obsessively to collect & analyse data that will prove why 'the government' or some other 'experts' are wrong about a new disease.
There's a 90% chance that I will catch the disease & die before everyone realises I'm right.
There's a 90% chance that I will catch the disease & die before everyone realises I'm right.
July 27, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Hello, I'm an Anglican priest in a movie. I conduct weddings, usually in ways which defy both church custom and legal requirements. Also I do funerals. Usually I wear the wrong vestments for both tasks. That's basically it. When not marrying or burying, I disappear.
It was drawn to my attention today by a CBC reporter that Sylvia Jones has apparently issued a statement claiming that there has been a 41% decrease in overdose deaths since the safe consumption sites were closed. I found this hard to believe, so I looked at the figures from the Chief Coroner.
July 23, 2025 at 7:56 PM
It was drawn to my attention today by a CBC reporter that Sylvia Jones has apparently issued a statement claiming that there has been a 41% decrease in overdose deaths since the safe consumption sites were closed. I found this hard to believe, so I looked at the figures from the Chief Coroner.
Today two different people decided to take time out of their day to tell me the church is "a disgrace" for letting homeless people live in the yard. One of my volunteers has been told that we are all "going to hell." I mean, whatever, but can you not use your energy in better ways, people?
July 19, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Today two different people decided to take time out of their day to tell me the church is "a disgrace" for letting homeless people live in the yard. One of my volunteers has been told that we are all "going to hell." I mean, whatever, but can you not use your energy in better ways, people?