Achi news desk-
The names and faces of dozens of people who lived and lost their lives on the streets of Moncton are currently commemorated in a mural in the city.
Sabrina Robichaud has struggled with homelessness and substance use disorder for a decade.
Originally from Nova Scotia, Robichaud wanted to build a tribute to the Moncton area friends she has lost over the years.
According to Robichaud, many of the 128 people on the wall did not have obituaries or funerals.
“That’s not right,” Robichaud said. “They are human. They are people. We may have gone down the wrong roads that people didn’t want us to follow, but we all have our struggles. We all have our traumas and we all have different paths.”
It started modestly about a week ago, but within a few days the memorial has grown with more and more tributes.
“Someone came up and looked at a picture and said, ‘He’s gone?’ He didn’t know his best friend was gone,” said Robichaud.
“I had a mother who didn’t even know her child was gone because he was on the streets.”
Charlie Burrell is the founder of the Humanity Project, an organization that helps to feed, clothe, rehabilitate and give homeless people another chance in life.
The mural is next to its location in the city.
“It’s a vivid memory, even for me. I know 95 percent of those names on the list and to see all those names drawn up on a list, it’s sad. Especially when I see those who wanted help. They don’t deserve to be on that list. They wanted a better life,” Burrell said.
According to the Greater Moncton Homelessness Steering Committee, 21 members of the city’s homeless population have died so far in 2024. Thirteen of those have been by overdose.
Homelessness advocate John Renton also recognized many of the faces on the wall. He hopes the mural will bring more attention to the city’s homelessness and drug crisis.
“I mostly see a smile and I remember funny little details about how I knew that person and a bit of silliness. That’s what I try to focus on, but there’s a lot of sadness there as well,” Renton said.
Robichaud’s friend Lee Banfield had a hard time describing what the mural meant to her.
“There are no words for her to be honest. Our friends, our loved ones we have all lost. It’s hard,” Banfield said. “It’s not getting better.”
Robichaud has been on the streets for about six months now, but is looking for affordable housing.
The 29-year-old started the mural to create a space where people can sit and talk and share memories.
She doesn’t want to see more of her friends end up on the fence.
“I just worry about who’s going to be next on the list and it scares me every day,” said Robichaud.
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