A WALK IN MCLENNAN PARK WITH DAVID ALTON

Community facilitator David Alton was easy to spot when I arrived for our walk in McLennan Park. They were dressed head-to-toe in bright colours, contrasting with the grey March day.  

“Lately I’ve been calling myself a paladin of joy,” Alton said. “I have this commitment to this idea that life and existence is fundamentally meaningful, and I want to use my big, buff body to try and make it possible for people to experience the joy.” 

Alton guided us along the park paths before we tackled the big hill, known locally and affectionately as Mount Trashmore, to enjoy the view from the top. 

“A paladin is like a husky knight who’s got a responsibility complex to some kind of divine calling…which I feel is pretty representative of myself,” Alton said. “I chase joy, but then I’m also putting myself in constant suffering [so] other people have space for joy.” 

Joy is a driving force in Alton’s life. For them, joy is not merely the pursuit of happiness, but rather a more nuanced expression of the human condition. 

“[J]oy is the experience of being valued,” they said. “Joy is actually a much more all-encompassing emotion that’s everywhere.” 

Alton grew up in Elmira and Baden, spent some time in Toronto, then returned to Waterloo Region just before the pandemic to reconnect with community and pursue activism work. They started Ground Up Waterloo Region with some friends to connect with people and fill in perceived gaps. 

“Being in community and having relationships with lots of people, that’s kind of my constant,” Alton said. “[Asking], ‘What’s going on? What do people need? What’s the vibe in community?’.” 

In 2022, Alton began working with the Social Development Centre Waterloo Region as a lived experience consultancy facilitator and in 2024 their role expanded to include grants and program development. Much of their work revolves around the housing crisis in the region, as well as advocating newcomer rights. In 2025, they were the recipient of the Lynn Macaulay, Exceptional Housing and Homelessness Community Educator Award given by the Region of Waterloo. 

With a master’s degree in urban development and education in conflict management and mediation, Alton understands the intersection of structures and people that exist in cities. However, they believe Kitchener needs to embrace being a growing and diverse city to deal with current issues. 

“I think it’s the moment now for Kitchener to embrace its own sovereignty and its own people,” Alton said. “If we are not asserting everyone’s basic rights, then we are at risk of having our own rights stripped away…it’s time for Kitchener residents to own what we are doing.” 

For Alton, the path of activism needs everyone to use their voices and contribute as they can, which often means sitting in the discomfort and anxiety that this kind of work can produce. 

“There’s a lot of failing forward in activism,” they said. “There’s tons of conflict because everyone is processing their own shit at the same time…it’s going to be messy, [so] embrace the fact that it’s going to be messy…it’s time to just raise your hand and see where it goes.” 

Activism work is Alton’s calling and allows them to find meaning even within conflict, but it also comes with a cost, and they have had to make choices that impact their life. 

“Holding the level of both interpersonal and political conflicts that I hold definitely has impacted me,” Alton said. “I don’t do friendship anymore. I’ve really pulled back. I do acquaintanceships which I love…the life outside of work is doing what I need to do to sustain myself, to stay in community.” 

Alton pursues activism and community building through a study and practice of theology. While working at church camp, Alton built their philosophy about finding joy and meaning through value. 

“I’m not a Christian…but I often spend time in Christian spaces because they’re really the only spaces that have infrastructure I can work with,” Alton said. “Most of what I do in Christian spaces is just remind everyone that the Bible is gay and horny. Which it is…but my real passion is about making the experience of faith and spirituality and meaning accessible for where we are right now.” 

As we ascended to the top of the hill, Alton reflected on the role of parks in the city and advocating  them as sites of survival for the unhoused. 

While there are many challenges that Alton sees in their work and in the community, they take solace in spending time with their coworkers, board games, reality television and going for walks. 

“The world may be hard, but I’m not,” they said. “There’s lightness everywhere.” 

We paused at the top of the hill to take in the view of Kitchener.  

“How can you not just fall in love with the city when you’re able to see all its little nooks and crevices?” Alton asked. “I’m constantly trying and searching and yearning for ways to do justice to the meaning around me, and I think that will be a lifelong journey.” 

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