Crazzy Dave
Crazzy Dave has been the subject of significant media attention since 2008, during which time he has come to be celebrated as the “iconic street poet” of the Ottawa homeless community, known to be found in the Byward Market. Too proud to accept charity, Dave transforms his experiences on the street into observations in the noumenal space between the city’s privileged working classes and the “invisible” homeless. His poetry offers a reflection of the intelligent and aware existence of a homeless man who considers himself a successful busker rather than a pan-handler, charging a $2 creativity fee in addition to the amount per the buyer’s perceived value of every poem he sells. Dave has been writing prolifically since 2006 and has recently been published in a collaborative volume with an Ottawa photographer. The proceeds from this popular book of poetry, now provides sufficient funds for permanent accommodations in the Byward Market.
