Cambridge man uses video to tell stories of homelessness and addiction
Drug debris at local camps sparked his determination to act
While debate on topics of drug addiction and homelessness has become a popular trend for armchair analysts, there are a rare few willing to put their words and worries into motion to make a change.
Cambridge husband and father Ryan Coles is one of those rare change-makers.
When he’s not scaling local rooftops to repair crumbling chimneys for a living, he’s putting his curiosity and goodwill to good use behind the lens of a camera as a multimedia storyteller — all in hopes of exposing the reality of controversial issues through his inquisitive eyes.
And his narrated videos — which incorporate photos, GoPro and drone video footage — are garnering a lot of local attention on his YouTube channel, Tree Camps.
The YouTube account was originally created as an outlet to showcase his love for the outdoors, for cycling and hiking, by harnessing his self-taught multimedia skills as a tool to share his stories.
Coles’ experimental filming projects soon took a more serious turn, however, as his wandering lens repeatedly stumbled upon homeless camps in local parks and wooded areas, each scene littered with potentially dangerous drug debris.
Coles couldn’t ignore the disturbing discoveries and decided to employ his storytelling abilities to form a call for action.
“It was something that just kept coming up, the needles and the homeless issue,” he said. “I just decided to do something about it.”
Early videos posted to his account included interviews with homeless individuals, panhandlers and drug addicts, as well as footage of camps left abandoned.
In short order, his videography and storytelling ventures developed, as did his need to raise awareness about the growing issues of drug addiction and poverty.
The Cambridge man was particularly impacted after coming across an abandoned camp in the area of Dundas Street South and Myers Road, and decided to film efforts to clean up the scattered mess, which included countless used syringes.
Thanks to his published videos, Coles soon discovered volunteers were willing to step up and lend a hand.
The Tree Camp YouTube channel has steadily built a following of subscribers who expressed appreciation for his positive attitude and willingness to tackle a problem some would rather not acknowledge.
Although his efforts scream of social activism, Coles hesitates to describe himself as an activist, instead preferring to simply serve as the lens by which residents can see a side of the community they might never see.
“I am documenting and just bringing some awareness,” explained Coles, who conducted an interview while sitting on a roof, working on a chimney.
“That’s the great power of video and photography. You can show people what you’ve seen.”
While his sense of curiosity may come naturally, his comfort in front of the camera did not. However, Coles is feeling more empowered, in front of and behind the camera, fuelled by positive feedback he’s received from viewers, as well as from volunteers who have come out to support his cleanup efforts.
His first-hand experience has also provided a unique perspective, proving there is often a story behind a story.
On one visit to a cleanup site, Coles encountered a homeless man who was, at first, concerned about his intentions.
Coles offered the man his breakfast, which he had been saving for later, and engaged in some conversation to explain his efforts were genuine.
“Having some communication with them was really good for me, and hopefully I put out the message that we just want to help.”