On the Edge: Hostility, Hardship, and the Humour that Saved Me

For fourteen years, Jim Morgan was one of Vancouver's most despised figures.

In On the Hostility, Hardship, and the Humour that Saved Me, he delivers a raw, darkly funny memoir about life on the frontlines of public service—and the invisible toll it takes on those who show up anyway.

As a Vancouver Parking Enforcement Officer, Jim endured daily abuse, threats, and dehumanization—all while navigating personal loss, unresolved trauma, and PTSD. With razor-sharp wit and unflinching honesty, he exposes the realities behind a job most people never think twice about.

Inside, readers will

A first-hand account of public hostility and workplace abuseThe emotional cost of frontline enforcement workHow dark humour became a survival toolAn honest reckoning with grief, PTSD, and recoveryMoments of humanity that arrive when least expected
Perfect for readers of The Night the Lights Went Out by Drew Magary, Educated by Tara Westover, and What My Bones Know by Stephanie Foo, On the Edge sits at the intersection of memoir, mental health, and public service reality.

This is not a redemption story.
It’s a survival story.
And sometimes, survival is the only victory that matters