Jo-Ann Oosterman is an Ottawa-based businesswoman and author known for her advocacy on behalf of marginalized individuals. She gained attention in 2007 when she criticized an Ottawa bylaw that prohibited scavenging recyclables, defending her friend Marcel Foucault, a homeless man who collected bottles from curbside bins to earn a modest income.
In 2023, Oosterman published “Tom’s Story: My 16 Year Friendship with a Homeless Man,” detailing her relationship with Tom Hogan, an Ojibwa artist who experienced homelessness in Ottawa. The book offers insights into the challenges faced by individuals dealing with addiction, mental illness, and generational trauma, and underscores the importance of hope, friendship, and art in promoting healing.
Oosterman is a graduate of The Humber School for Writers, where she studied under David Adams Richards and received a Letter of Distinction for “superior writing merit” after completing the first draft of “Tom’s Story.” She also graduated from the Adult Enrichment Program at the University of Ottawa. Her work includes two documentary films about homeless individuals who choose life on the streets over shelters.
In her advocacy, Oosterman has emphasized the importance of not further marginalizing vulnerable populations through restrictive laws. Regarding the bylaw affecting Foucault, she stated, “It’s a marginalized population who picks these bottles out of the bins, and by making these kinds of laws you marginalize them even more.
Oosterman’s work highlights the complexities of homelessness and the significance of compassionate support and understanding for those affected.
