Toronto's Most Notorious Hobo

This man is quite arguably Toronto's most notrious hobo. I first encountered him at Bathurst Station, while waiting for the 7 bus to arrive. I was accompanied by Joey Lightstone, a man who while not a genuine hobo, occasionally appears as one when he frolicks barefoot and longhaired through public parks and downtown streetscapes.

The hobo pictured above has a few signature traits. They are as follows:

- He always carries a white patio chair with him
- He always has a zany beard
- He is never dressed appropriately for the weather (a heavy coat in the summer, and a t-shirt in the late fall)
- He is articulate, and delights in telling tall tales

As Joey and I stood waiting for our bus to arrive, Hobo was seated comfortably in his patio chair. He did not carry a look of smug satisfaction on his face; Just comfort.
Upon boarding the bus, our homeless hero began to spin tales about his life as an RCMP officer. He was no ordinary mountie, but a secret one. He was part of covert operations of some sort - so secret that he could not really share (or remember). One month later, I would spy him again. This time he was enjoying his patio chair at Queen's Park station. I don't think he noticed me.

Jump ahead one and a half years to the present day. I was about to board a bus at Glencairn and Bathurst when I looked across the street and noticed a humble hobo pushing a cart. It was hot outside, but he wore a jacket. He was talking on a public phone, telling a wild tale about his journey to the corner. Inside the shopping cart lay a white patio chair. It was the hobo!
If you ever spot him, give him a hearty hello. If you are generous enough to offer him a sandwich and a kind word, he will repay you with a story. I hope you enjoy it as much as he does.