An Ontario man is recovering from surgery in the Foothills Hospital after he was brutally attacked while sleeping under a bush downtown the morning of March 24.

The 46-year-old homeless man, who’d recently arrived in Calgary, was sleeping near 14th St. and Ninth Ave. S.W. when he was badly beaten on his upper body and head. Police say there was “no apparent provocation” on the victim’s part, as he was asleep. After the attack, the man staggered to the Greyhound bus depot, where someone called 911. He fell into a coma soon afterwards.

Homeless advocate Susan Brandt says the assault is indicative of a larger problem. “I don’t think this incident is isolated,” she says. “I think the fact that it was as severe as it is has made it newsworthy…. There are incidents of violence perpetrated against the most vulnerable in our community — those who are houseless, as well as those who have mental illness, those with addictions — on a daily basis. There’s an awful lot we don’t hear about.”

Police hope to get more information about the attack from the man once he’s recovered enough to speak with them. His name hasn’t been released.

Brandt, meanwhile, is co-leading a workshop on women and homelessness with author Susan Scott on Saturday, March 29, at Central United Church downtown. The workshop will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and costs $30 (lunch is included). Session topics include mental health, violence, and the societal and political causes of homelessness. (JK)