Christenson Bailey has been living in Vancouver’s Stanley Park since 1990, initially surviving on just $300 a year by doing sign-writing jobs around the city for cash. He lived in a tiny campsite hidden in the forest, living by candlelight for the first 17 years. Bailey taught himself how to catch wild geese and ducks for food, and enjoyed the peace and isolation of his surroundings, spending his days meditating, studying plants and animals, and making art. Later on, he learned how to build websites and used his bike to travel around the city.
Even though he lived in isolation in the park, Bailey remained determined to be self-sufficient, declining offers of clothing or food vouchers and never taking anything from others. He was resourceful, using old inner tubes from bike tires to tie bags for carrying things. Bailey’s quiet forest lifestyle allowed him to reset his life, free from outside responsibilities and commitments. He spent his days studying nature and drawing inspiration for his art from the natural world around him.
In 2017, Bailey’s life took a turn when he developed a skin condition from bathing in a contaminated stream near his campsite. Without any identification, he was referred to the Canadian Mental Health Association, where he was paired with a caseworker, Geoff Bodnerak. Bodnerak helped Bailey secure a bank account and initiate the process for a pension, leading to an increase in Bailey’s income from $300 a year to $600 a month. Bailey was able to purchase groceries, better clothing, and a phone to start an Instagram account for his art.
Despite these changes, Bailey remained living in Stanley Park, where he had spent 27 years in isolation with no electricity or heating. Bodnerak recognized the need to prepare for the possibility of Bailey changing his mind about living in the park and began the process of obtaining a passport for him. However, in 2019, Bodnerak left his job and the pandemic caused Bailey’s case to no longer be a priority. Bailey waited for the process to be completed, as he continued to live in Stanley Park, where he found inspiration and peace in the natural world around him.
Bailey’s story of living in Stanley Park for over three decades is a testament to his resilience, resourcefulness, and connection to nature. Despite the challenges he faced, he remained committed to his minimalist lifestyle, finding joy and inspiration in the simplicity of his surroundings. As he navigated changes in his life and the support he received from others, Bailey stayed true to his desire for solitude and self-sufficiency, living a life that was uniquely his own. The final part of his story will reveal what the future holds for Bailey as he continues his journey in Stanley Park.
