Sunnybrook Residential Care Home for Long Term Psychiatric Care

My ‘Special Project’ during year one of photojournalism became the first story I worked on that I’m truly proud of. I still include my photo of Allison Shin in my portfolio. While on break week last year in October, I decided to try and do my project at one of the psychiatric facilities in Jackson’s Point (I believe there’s two... I ended up proposing my story at two different facilities, anyway). I remember getting denied access to the first home I proposed my idea to... and, being in first year and feeling rather discouraged, knocking on the front door of Sunnybrook and not expecting a positive response. The coordinator of Sunnybrook at the time, Cindy Dowdall was, contrarily, quite welcoming to me. This experience was the first lesson of many that I’d learn in photojournalism... not to give up hope on your first rejection! (Or second, third, and so on). Have I ever grown since then.

JACKSON’S POINT, Ont.- Charlie Harrington, the oldest resident living at Sunnybrook Residential Care Home for Long Term Psychiatric Care sits at the dinner table and thinks about eating his meal on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2008. Photo by Leah Myers.

JACKSON’S POINT, Ont.- David Tickle briefly comes out of his art orientated bedroom to have a cigarette outside on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2008. David lives with the effects of paranoid schizophrenia. Photo by Leah Myers.

JACKSON’S POINT, Ont.- Charlie Harrington, the oldest resident living at Sunnybrook Residential Care Home for Long Term Psychiatric Care takes an afternoon nap in the television room on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2008. Photo by Leah Myers.

JACKSON’S POINT, Ont.- Alison Shin waits for her dinner on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2008. Alison is a lower-functioning resident and her glazed eyes indicate she needs to be heavier medicated than most of the others. Photo by Leah Myers.