A brother lost to addiction, a new play to memorialize him

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When Erik D’Haene died from a drug overdose four years ago at age 54, he left behind hundreds of writings and pieces of art, most of which he produced while living in and out of homelessness over the course of four decades.

His work is scribbled on napkins and scraps of paper – materials he found while living on the margins of society starting when he was 15 years old. Now, D’Haene’s three older siblings are showcasing his work to shift public perceptions of homeless and “displaced” citizens.

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“Most people don’t think of displaced people as talented artists and writers,” said brother Donald D’Haene. “We judge them for panhandling, for being in the way . . . for being a nuisance.

Added Donald: “We often blame them. We go, ‘well, they did something that caused that to happen.’”

By sharing his brother’s story in an upcoming theatrical performance and documentary, Donald D’Haene hopes to raise public empathy for people like his brother.

A writer himself, Donald wrote a script based on his brother’s work – a collection consisting of more than 900 letters, poems and stories, along with nearly 200 paintings and drawings.

“They tell (Erik’s) story,” he said of the collection. “The unbelievable character and passion . . . (his) dreams and intelligence . . . that this person was trapped by circumstances out of his control.”

This month, the three siblings will take part in a staged reading of the script at the Manor Park Memorial Hall, 11 Briscoe St. W., where their brother’s work will also be on display.

Describing the upcoming performance, Donald said: “It’s as if the three of us surviving siblings are talking to our dead brother . . . and he’s responding from the other side.

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“It’s like having the ghost of Erik.”

The theatrical performance, titled Interpreting Erik: through words & art, will be filmed as part of a forthcoming documentary of the same name, also produced by Donald D’Haene.

Erik D’Haene died of a methamphetamine overdose in August 2020 after battling addiction for many years. Often homeless over a span of more than 40 years, he relocated from London to Montreal to Vancouver, where he died, his brother said.

At one point, Erik D’Haene expressed that he used drugs to manage pain stemming from abuse he experienced as a child, his brother said.

Solutions to address homelessness and addiction have become contested issues in London.

In 2023, there were 1,700 to 2,100 homeless Londoners being served by various organizations in the city, according to a report prepared by city hall staff. About 600 of these were considered high acuity, needing help for complex medical, addiction, mental health and housing needs, the report stated.

London Mayor Josh Morgan recently joined calls for the creation of a singular provincial office to tackle the crisis in housing and addiction in Ontario. The calls came as part of a joint effort by municipalities pushing Ontario’s public services to be funded and delivered more effectively.

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In one of Erik D’Haene’s poems, he wrote: “I need an interpreter in my own skin. Friend, help me to find and keep a place here.”

Asked what his brother meant by this, Donald D’Haene said: “He’s asking for someone to interpret his life and help him find a place in this world . . . even after he’s gone.”

D’Haene’s sold-out theatrical performance is set for Sept. 14 at 2 p.m. at the Manor Park Memorial Hall.

Interpreting Erik : through words & art, the theatrical performance and documentary, are supported by funds received from the London Arts Council. The projects involve a list of London-area talent, including actor Tyler Lionel Parr, musician Tyrone Traher and editor Tammy Heisel.

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