Intersections of Identity: A Powerful Documentary Sparks Province-Wide Dialogue on Homelessness and Systemic Change
The new documentary Intersections of Identity and its companion report traveled through Alberta — from Lethbridge and Calgary to Grande Prairie, Wetaskiwin and Edmonton — bringing to light personal stories of homelessness and resilience. Created by filmmaker Damian Abrahams of Indigital Media and funded by Canadian Heritage and the Johansen Larsen Foundation, the project drew over 152 attendees and offered more than just film screenings; it sparked urgent community conversations about dignity, belonging and justice. Audiences were moved as the film “amplifie[d] [the unhoused community’s] voices to inform and influence decision-makers.” Viewers saw familiar faces and heard neighbors’ words, and many admitted the stories felt like a mirror: homelessness, the film argued, is “a crisis that affects us all,” entwined with issues of poverty, race and dignity. Across these screenings, the central themes were clear; every person deserves respect and the chance to be heard.
In Calgary and Lethbridge, local organizers praised the film for opening eyes. Nexi Alarcon, a JHC staff member who supported both the Lethbridge and Calgary beading workshops, said she felt “a profound connection” to the stories on screen. She spoke of stepping “outside my comfort zone” to learn about struggles faced by Indigenous peoples and newcomers alike, noting how a good job doesn’t always secure a home when “inflation and recession” bite. Her reflections highlighted a powerful idea: the documentary made it real that homelessness can happen to anyone and that understanding grows when people share their experiences. Post-film discussions emphasized that the solutions are often right in the community’s hands, such as things like bus passes for appointments, yet leaders “often fail to consult those most impacted.” In other words, dignity comes from listening to those living these realities.
In Edmonton and Wetaskiwin, the response was equally charged with emotion. An Elder from the beading sessions spoke of witnessing “stories of vulnerable individuals” told with honesty and empathy. He lamented that agencies often lack “the necessary compassion and humanity” toward the unhoused and he hoped that hearing these voices would “change how society perceives homelessness.” His words echoed throughout the room as viewers nodded: the film’s most lasting impact was its storytelling. By preserving participants’ own words, the project reminds us that “every individual deserves to live with dignity” regardless of their circumstances. People at the Edmonton screening spoke of feeling humbled and said they would carry these conversations home, spurring further dialogue with friends, family and local officials.
Even in Grande Prairie, where the dynamics differ, community members recognized the same core message. Viewers noted how the movie validated rural experiences of poverty and called out stereotypes. Throughout the tour, speakers kept returning to the idea that local people know their challenges best echoing that “the community already knows what would work best for them.” They pushed back on solutions imposed from above, instead asking how policymakers can partner with communities. In every town, the screenings sparked questions about justice, from why shelters are hard to access to how public spaces can be reclaimed for safety. These honest conversations underscored that the film is not just entertainment but a catalyst: one reviewer called it “a moving and urgent call to action” that challenges us to rethink our approach to poverty.
Importantly, the documentary was accompanied by a community-based report which attendees saw as a powerful tool for change. Compiled from dozens of interviews during the workshops, the report ties these personal stories to concrete recommendations. As the John Humphrey Centre notes, the research provides “in-depth insights and data-driven recommendations to drive systemic change,” and will serve as “a critical resource for policymakers.” In post-film chats, people often mentioned that they plan to share the report with elected officials because it translates each voice into policy ideas about housing, healthcare, justice and public space. Many participants felt that raising these issues publicly, and seeing them documented, makes it harder for decision-makers to ignore.
In every community, the screenings wove together themes of storytelling, dignity and grassroots power. Audience members left feeling that they had joined a larger community of listeners and allies. More than statistics, the film put human faces on complex problems and the report offered a roadmap for fixing them. These events proved that when people with lived experience speak, others are ready to listen, learn and act. In the words of one organizer, this project reminds us that real solutions start by trusting community voices and giving everyone the chance to tell their story. Together, Alberta’s rural and urban communities are now asking how to turn those stories into the systemic change the film demands.
