In the Company of Men
Who We Are And How We Become
by Patricia Carlson

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When Patricia Carlson walked through the doors of a men’s homeless shelter in Fredericton, New Brunswick, in 1995, she had no idea how profoundly her life—and the lives of countless others—would be changed. As the first female director of a shelter that catered to men, she entered a world of loss, laughter, faith, and survival, where the boundaries between helper and helped began to blur. Over twelve transformative years, Patricia bore witness to the human spirit in all its rawness and resilience, from moments of chaos and heartbreak to acts of astonishing tenderness and grace. Alongside men whom society had cast aside, she discovered the deeper meaning of service, that to truly help others is to be remade by them in return. Told with unflinching honesty, humour, and compassion, In the Company of Men pulls back the curtain on non-profit work—its bureaucratic battles, its moral contradictions, and its small, hard-won triumphs. Through vivid stories of friendship, grief, and redemption, Patricia illuminates what it means to be fully human in a world too often blind to its own brokenness. For anyone who has ever worked in the trenches of social service, volunteered in a shelter, or simply wondered what happens to those our systems forget, this book offers a searing exposé and a hymn to hope.

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Born and raised in rural New Brunswick, Patricia Carlson has dedicated her life to advocacy, compassion, and community service. Named Woman of the Year in 2003, by Beta Sigma Phi for her pioneering work establishing a second women’s shelter and a community health clinic in partnership with the University of New Brunswick’s Faculty of Nursing, she has been a tireless voice for the homeless and disenfranchised. A former columnist for The Daily Gleaner, where she wrote about addiction, mental health, and social policy, Patricia has also shared her expertise through numerous appearances on local, provincial, and national radio and television. Patricia is a seasoned public speaker and university lecturer, and she continues to inspire others through her commitment to social justice and human dignity.

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Contributors

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Patricia Carlson