This is My City festival shines spotlight on Calgary's homeless

This is My City festival, an annual arts and music celebration notable for including homeless artists and performers, kicked off in Calgary last night.

This year's edition features a special focus on last year's devastating flood.

Perry Wilson has avoiceshaped by a life on the streets, butthe 50-year-old was able to share his passion for musiconstage at one of the various festival venues around the city.

"When I decided to give up my crack addiction I just woke up one day and said, you know, I think I can have a better life without it," he said.

Wilson is still without a home, butsays the festival is making him a better musician and helping him make moneyfrom busking.

"I can tell you it can happen to anybody at any time. And there's a lot of people out there right now onepaychequeaway from being where I am," he said.

Organizershope the festival isalso giving audiences a better understanding of those whodon't havea home in the city.

Festival president Linda Hawksays homeless Calgarianstaught her about resilience in the flood.

"I think the homeless kind oftook it in stride," she said. "They don't have control over a lot of things in their lives, and this is one more thing, so perhaps they're more prepared than any of us to deal with that."