Barber Jason Gauthier was thrilled to return to the streets of Moose Jaw to offer free haircuts to less-fortunate residents after the pandemic shut down his charitable efforts for four months.
Gauthier, 45, operates a non-profit endeavour called StreetCuts Barber, which provides haircuts for homeless people, those facing homelessness, and those with mental health issues and addictions.
This is the third year he has offered this service in Moose Jaw. He had given free haircuts at St. Aidan Anglican Church every second Sunday, but then the pandemic struck and forced the closure of churches and personal service-related services.
That hiatus changed on July 12, when Gauthier and his team set up in the SARCAN parking lot, erecting two tents and three foldable chairs; seven people eventually stopped by for a trim.
The team also offered a free barbecue.
“I’m excited, but apprehensive obviously. I just want to be safe and keep my crew safe and for my StreetCuts Barber family to be safe … ,” Gauthier said.
“I just really miss (the clients). A lot of guys have reached out to me because their mental health has been strained,” he continued. “We were kind of like their only outlet to come and share stuff. So they had been trapped for two to three months, and they’ve reached out to me. A couple want to hang out with me on the side. This is important, not only to me and them, but to everybody.
“It really helps your mental health to have a haircut, having something to eat, to have community (and) to break bread with people that you can trust.”
Gauthier is familiar with homelessness and addictions. He was homeless from ages 17 to 23 and was a drug user. It was when a woman cut his hair and showed him compassion that his life turned around. He became a mental health counsellor and worked in that field from 2001 to 2015. He then changed professions and has worked as a barber for the last five years.
Life has been good, Gauthier said. He completed hairdressing school last year, will soon receive his journeyman ticket, and recently opened the Straightedge Barbershop — which features chairs that are nearly 90 years old — at 22 Fairford Street West. He and his team held a grand opening later that evening.
“It’s been awesome … it’s fantastic,” he added.
Instead of a GoFundMe campaign, Gauthier plans to use revenue from his business to purchase a motorhome to take StreetCuts on the road. According to barbershop manager Amanda (M) McClean, the business has been busy since it opened on July 6. It accepts walk-ins, while front-line workers, military personnel and seniors can receive a cut for $20.
Resident Nick Lyon was excited that Gauthier had returned with the free haircuts. Lyon, 72, has been coming to Gauthier for almost two years. He was nearly homeless at one point but managed to find new accommodations. However, he had not seen Gauthier since last November due to health problems.
“He’s a very good barber. He gives very good cuts. I’m a former barber with Vidal Sassoon (so) I can critique him … ,” Lyon said. “He’s cutting edge. It’s not a guessing game (with him).”
What Lyon appreciated about Gauthier is how much fun the barber is while cutting hair — along with the fact the cuts are free.
“We get along just fine in that chair … so I just keep coming back,” he added.
That camaraderie was evident both before and after Lyon sat down in the barber chair. As Gauthier trimmed Lyon’s hair and beard, their conversation flowed easily and they teased each other as friends do. Gauthier joked that Lyon looked like Moses, while afterward, Lyon suggested he looked more like Amadeus.
“That’s looking good. That’s a big, big difference,” Lyon said while looking at the mirror. “Very good; excellent.”
Afterward, the two men embraced and posed for a picture.
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