A fresh haircut can brighten anyone’s day, but for unhoused men in Victoria, it can restore a sense of dignity and humanity, said John Petersen, a participant at Handsome Day on June 14.
Petersen, who has traveled from Ottawa to Alberta before settling outside a church in Victoria’s main street, said the haircut and free pizza meant more than just grooming—they changed how people see him.
“It changes the way people look at you,” he explained. “And people do look at you.”
Handsome Day, which paused during the COVID-19 pandemic, resumed last year and this time included free drinks alongside haircuts and food. Erin Stott, an organizer, emphasized that all the items were donated and made possible by community support.
The event aimed to boost positivity and help men feel valued, said Jennifer Caldwell, volunteer coordinator at Our Place Society.
“They deserve to be treated just like everybody else,” Caldwell said.
Stott initially launched Beauty Day for women to get free nails, hair, and makeup services. Handsome Day grew naturally from that idea.
Stylists from The Natural Hair Salon offered their skills at no cost to about 20 men seeking new haircuts. Stylists Emma Bargh, Chiara Cannataro, and Erin Chief Water provided a variety of styles.
The event lasted from 10 a.m. to noon, with another haircut day planned for June 28.
For many men, family or support networks are missing, making this haircut often the only close contact they’ve had in a long time, Stott said.
“It is important because it reminds people they are cared for,” he added.
