The Canvasser Diaries

Written & Performed by rahim (RM) ladha. Copyright (C) 2025 by rahim ladha. All Rights Reserved.

A few years ago, I had the pleasure & the privilege to be a door-to-door canvasser in the city of Toronto. I say ‘pleasure’ as it afforded me the opportunity to meet so many of you (Some of you are still here; a lot of you are gone)

‘Privilege’ in that you were kind enough to share many of your stories with me, in confidence.

I wanted you to know that I will not be telling any of your secrets. As a lot of the conversations were around matters too sensitive to share without consent, I think it would be in bad taste to use your confessions as material for whatever you would call this.

I would say it’s more about speaking to the spirit of what this city has been. In every season, for three years, from the early afternoon to our late nights, I knocked on every single door in this town several times over & though on the odd occasion it was slammed in my face before I could utter a few words, a lot of you paused to hear me out & then you chose to listen further. Some of you were even kind enough to invite me in & it became a conversation.And whether it was with a contribution or in words, you were so very generous.

I wouldn’t say I’m the best person to speak to the soul of this town. Hardly that.

I haven’t served in public office, I’m not someone who’s had a tangible impact upon a specific community (though I suppose some would argue with me on this point)

I am merely a solitary brick or stone in a couple of places rebuilt into something better & I am content with knowing the ‘where,’ without having to share.

I would say that I held many an observation of us, close to me & during my shifts, I kept a journal of my experiences.

Three years of journalling for a man who likes to talk, is a lot of words to parse through. But parse through, we have.

I do not want to ruin the surprise of what this is or give it too much of context as to what we’re doing, in the sharing.

I am only asking you to trust me, kindly, with your attention. And if this merits further investigation, I’ll take questions as to the ‘why,’ sometime down the line.

If you have missed, what this city has been, if there is absence, if you are fearful in the nostalgia, perhaps this reminder will find you in agreement, that there is still, possibility.

We are more than what we appear to be; a promise that we still have the ability to keep.

I present to you, The Canvasser Diaries.