The ThunderBlogs

Jack (the Bear) Latek seated himself at his spot along the boardwalk beneath the glowing red Granville Island sign. His left hand clutched a stack of white pamphlets that detailed his efforts as a social worker to turn discarded pins, watches and jewellery into construction projects for the city’s disadvantaged.

“I collect things that people throw out to help the poor people in society,” Latek said.

It’s a long way from the life he had 22 years ago: a GI security guard who stopped photographers from taking pictures of a suicide victim, saved turtles straying across from the nearby pond from becoming roadkill and chased away potential boat thieves. He also competed at Simon Fraser University as a varsity javelin thrower and wrestler.

“Tourist! Here-tell everyone that you met a champion Canadian wrestler,” he said as he forced a pamphlet into the hand of an elderly tourist.

His faded New York Giants cap hid an explosion of greying hair from view. A wheeled suitcase, McDonald’s coffee cup, and scattering of re-sealable plastic bags bracketed him on either side.

He fished a blue coil of wire wrapped into a circle out of the pile of plastic freezer bags bundled to his left.

“This will relax you. It’s not a needle you stick yourself with, it’s not smoke that poisons your lungs, this is one hundred per cent natural,” he said as he stroked the circular wire back and forth along the length of a tourist’s outstretched index finger.

“I teach people life skills through making things,” he said after winding a yellow and black sprig of plastic wire around the zipper of a passerby’s backpack.

“That’ll help you find your bag at the airport,” Latek said as he slouched into his black folding chair and crossed his ankles.

Most passersby ignored his outstretched arm. Those who stopped and talked quickly began shuffling their feet and sneaking glances towards the public market ahead in the midst of his lengthy spiel.

He spoke with a rumble in his voice that overcame the noise from the trucks downshifting along Anderson Street.

“Come back any time and if they ask what you’re doing here, tell them you’re just keeping Jack’s office warm – they know me around here.”