Penticton, B.C. – In the hallowed halls of the First Baptist Church in Penticton, British Columbia, the resonant notes of a grand piano echo with the transformative story of Bernard Cloutier. For hours each day, the 67-year-old, his hands weathered by time, weaves a tapestry of melody and memory, reclaiming his musical prowess and rebuilding his life.
A mere three years ago, Cloutier faced the harsh realities of homelessness after a cascade of misfortunes led him from wealth and privilege to the precipice of despair. As he reflects on that tumultuous period, Cloutier shares a poignant image captured just before Christmas in 2021 — a moment when he questioned his place in the world.
“I feel like I want to cry because I know where I was, and it’s not too long ago. It was pretty bleak,” he recalls, staring at a photo of his unshaven and tired face during one of his lowest moments.
His journey into homelessness was fueled by a series of poor financial decisions that evaporated his fortune. A dark abyss of depression followed, exacerbated by the disintegration of a 17-year relationship. Facing eviction in early 2021 from his highrise apartment in Vancouver, Cloutier found himself on the precipice of homelessness.
“It was very somber. I was suicidal,” he admits, recounting the depths of despair.
However, a glimmer of hope emerged when an acquaintance offered him a chance at a new beginning on a rural property in the Similkameen Valley. To make this transition, Cloutier had to part with his grand piano, severing his connection to music and collaboration with fellow artists.
Living on ranch land proved to be a stark departure from the luxury he once knew. From a tent under a small, open-sided shed to a small cottage in the woods, Cloutier experienced a rollercoaster of challenges. A chimney fire in late 2021 destroyed the cottage and with it, all of Cloutier’s musical creations.
Homeless and with only $50 in his pocket, Cloutier navigated temporary housing and even lived out of his car at a campsite along the Ashnola River. Salvation came in the summer of 2022 when he secured a spot at a supportive housing building in Penticton, marking a turning point in his journey.
In his humble one-bedroom apartment, stability returned. Government assistance covered rent and basic necessities, allowing Cloutier to rekindle his faith and rediscover the piano at the First Baptist Church. Bill Rooke, care pastor at the church, witnessed Cloutier’s transformation and attests to the beauty of his journey.
“It is just something beautiful that’s difficult to put into words. But I can see that the Lord is working in his life,” Rooke observes.
As Cloutier spends hours at the piano, it becomes a lifeline, reshaping his future with excitement and optimism. “I’ve lived my best life ever in 2023. It is incredible that I could say this after all that happened,” he exclaims.
Connecting with fellow musicians, Cloutier now embraces opportunities to perform, turning his life’s trials into something beautiful. Through his music, he shares a “Christmas miracle” with others, a testament to the transformative power of hope and resilience.
