Ottawa ACORN

100 tenants being mass evicted in Aspen Towers = 100 reasons why Ottawa NEEDS a renoviction bylaw now!

Issuing N13s for renovictions has become a common tactic employed by corporate landlords to evict long term tenants paying rents below market rates. Most renovictions are for unnecessary cosmetic upgrades or are renovations that can be done while the tenant remains in the unit! A renoviction bylaw can help stop renovictions from happening.

Want to fight for a renoviction bylaw?

Send a message to your councillor to support a renoviction bylaw TODAY!
https://acorncanada.org/take_action/sign-to-stop-the-renoviction-of-100-households-at-aspen-towers/

AND

Join ACORN's citywide protest to demand a renoviction bylaw on Tues, Sept 10th @ 6pm @ City Hall (110 Laurier Ave W)!

We had a wonderful time at ACORN's West End Chapter Meeting! It was fantastic to see members from three different buildings coming together to discuss important issues like renovictions and safety concerns. We're having a sign-making party planned for Aspen Towers Acorn Tenant Union; let's turn their building into a "We will not move!" billboard! We’re also organizing and canvas day in Accora Village and Somerset Towers to build power in our members’ buildings. Huge thanks to this month's West-End meeting leaders Grace Almoite and Brian Doyle for running such a successful meeting! Let's keep fighting for our community!

Vanier ACORN Chapter members got together last Thursday and discussed neighbourhood issues. Top of mind was renovictions with three members living in separate buildings who are currently facing renoviction. Members decided Vanier tenants need to be informed of the rise of renovictions in Vanier and Ottawa and their rights! They plan a table to inform tenants of our rights, collect petitions, and flyer the area to get the word out.

Ottawa City Council is considering a renoviction bylaw! Swipe through the images to see what ACORN members say need to be included in the bylaw to make sure it's as STRONG as possible to protect tenants!

Want to help fight for a renoviction bylaw in the city?

Send a message to your councillor to support a renoviction bylaw TODAY by signing our online action: https://acorncanada.org/take_action/sign-to-stop-the-renoviction-of-100-households-at-aspen-towers/

AND

ACORN's citywide protest to demand a renoviction bylaw to stop corporate landlords from destroying affordable housing and protect tenants on Tues, Sept 10th @ 6pm @ City Hall (110 Laurier Ave W)!

🤖Have you noticed that your landlord is using AI software such as "Yieldstar/RealPage" to set rent prices? Let us know.🗣
DM us or say Yes and we will contact you.

Big shoutout to the Aspen Towers ACORN Tenant Union for standing their ground and demanding their new landlord to meet with tenants and stop the mass renoviction! ACORN members marched to mail their demand letter to the landlord Rex Brondial in Toronto, chanted "No Fear, No doubt, we won't move out," and followed up with a phone blitz to make sure Rex Brondial knows that the Aspen Towers ACORN Tenant Union won’t back down. Kudos to ACORN member and Aspen Towers tenant Nelda Giroux for getting through and pushing for a meeting with the landlord. Members also reached out to city councillors for support on ACORN’s campaign for a Renoviction bylaw. Amazing leadership from Brian Doyle and Ricky Albano!

Tell their landlord, Rex Brondial to end the renovictions by following the link here: https://acorncanada.org/take_action/sign-to-stop-the-renoviction-of-100-households-at-aspen-towers/

Throwback to an ACORN renoviction victory for tenants living at 249 and 253 Des Pères-Blancs: after a long campaign of online and direct actions, the new corporate owners of the buildings (OPG Holdings) conceded defeat and rescinded all outstanding N11 and N13 eviction notices so all remaining tenants could stay in their homes!

But now, 3 years later, Des Pères-Blancs Ave tenants are facing another renoviction, this time at 265 and 269 Des Pères-Blancs Ave.

ACORN members are fired up to fight back and WIN against this renoviction like we did back in 2021, but why is the onus on tenants to work so hard to protect their own housing from their landlords?

Ottawa needs a renoviction bylaw NOW to stop these mass evictions dead in their tracks!

City council votes on a renoviction bylaw this fall! We need to put pressure on them so they vote YES in favour of a renoviction bylaw.

Email your councillor by signing our online action TODAY: https://acorncanada.org/take_action/sign-to-stop-the-renoviction-of-100-households-at-aspen-towers/

Also, be sure to join ACORN's citywide protest to demand a renoviction bylaw to stop corporate landlords from destroying affordable housing and protect tenants on Tues, Sept 10th @ 6pm @ City Hall (110 Laurier Ave W)!

Aspen Towers ACORN Tenant Union held a tenant meeting to plan the next steps in their fight against 100+ unit mass renoviction. Members brainstormed potential next steps then planned their next Action to put the pressure on their landlord to withdraw the notices! After the meeting, Aspen Towers ACORN Tenant Union Members car pooled to Orleans for “The Mayors BBQ!”, the goal to secure a meeting with the Mayor to discuss Ottawa’s Renoviction Bylaw. After a great talk, ACORN members won a meeting!!! Not only with the Mayor but Catherine Kitts and Laura Dudas as well! What an action packed day for Aspen Towers ACORN Members! Keep an eye out for the results of the meeting and the next call for support to join Aspen Towers ACORN Tenant Union’s fight against mass renoviction! Big thanks to the new ACORN leaders Paul Burns and Nelda Giroux for running their tenant meeting!

Tenants of 265 & 269 Peres-Blancs Ave formed an ACORN tenant Union after receiving renoviction notices from their new landlord. SHAME! They quickly planned a speakout to fight against their renovictions affecting the two buildings of 12 tenants in Vanier; that they and other members attended today August 8th. Tenants shared their stories on why they aren't leaving and are fighting back to stay in their homes, some of whom have lived there for over 20+ years. A big thank you to all those that came out in support and to ACORN member Debbie Staples for doing an amazing job leading the action. The fight is only the beginning! 

Come out to our HUGE citywide protest to fight for renoviction protections in front of city hall (110 Laurier Ave W) on Tuesday, September 10th at 6PM. RSVP on our Facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/share/DbbbsAtuuEYD3UXR/ 

Sign the online action here and demand city council pass a renoviction bylaw similar to Hamilton’s: https://acorncanada.org/take_action/stop-renovictions-in-ottawa-2/ 

Check out the their article in the Ottawa Citizen: https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ottawa-contemplating-anti-renoviction-bylaw

At the last Central Ottawa Chapter Meeting ACORN neighbours heard about how member Amanda Lind has been dealing with some issues in her building such as a heavy gate that presents an accessibility issue, bogus eviction notices and interference in her attempt to organize. ACORN isn’t afraid of illegal interference from landlords! That’s why Central Ottawa ACORN members rallied around Amanda for a great outreach on August 10th where we collected signatures to form an ACORN Tenant Union in her building to create positive change! Neighbours had faced a lot of the same issues and were ready to organize! Thanks to Edward Roue and Amanda Lind for leading the outreach event! Go ACORN!

Ottawa city staff report back on feasibility of a renoviction bylaw this fall!

Join ACORN's citywide protest to demand a renoviction bylaw to stop corporate landlords from destroying affordable housing and protect tenants on Tues, Sept 10th @ 6pm @ city hall (110 Laurier Ave W)!

RSVP here: https://www.facebook.com/share/DbbbsAtuuEYD3UXR/

Send an email to your city council in support of a renoviction bylaw here: https://acorncanada.org/take_action/stop-renovictions-in-ottawa-2/

😲⁉️Wonder which cities have bylaws to prevent renovictions/demovictions? Very FEW! That's why ACORN supports the NDP announcement in London today to call on the feds to use prog like Housing Accelerator Fund to ensure cities have such protections.

👉Take action: https://acorncanada.org/take_action/supply-is-not-the-only-solution-to-the-housing-crisis/

ACORN has championed strong anti-renoviction/demoviction bylaws in many cities. Cities have the POWER to act! They must use it to protect tenants.

✊📣 The Aspen Towers ACORN Tenant Union organized a MASSIVE Tenant Speakout in response to the threat of a mass renoviction affecting over 100 units at Aspen Towers; 2935 Richmond Rd. Over 50 ACORN members protested to demand the immediate stop to the mass renovictions and for the city to adopt a renoviction bylaw similar to Hamilton’s. The speakout featured heartfelt speeches from ACORN members including Nelda Giroux, Tamirat Gameda, Ricky Albano, Paul Burns, Grace Almoite, Analyn Quinto, and Karen Ashton, who spoke on behalf of her father Dave Warehan. ✊📣

Members decided to confront their superintendent who has been harassing and pressuring tenants to leave their units for $5000. John refused to speak with the tenants and was running away like a coward. SHAME! The superintendent’s buddy who was with him the whole time ended up threatening members and eventually assaulted an ACORN member with a walker! But this didn’t shake the tenants, they continued on and ended the rally with a strong interview with CTV making sure that every ounce of their appalling behaviour is exposed. 😡📣😤

ACORN members spoke to the media and made it clear that they aren’t leaving, even saying they would die before moving out! The tenant union stood strong and chanted “No Fear, No Doubt, We Won’t Move Out” to make it known they weren’t backing down at any time! 💪💢✊

HUGE shout out to the fearless leadership of ACORN members Tamirat Gameda and Ricky Albano for leading this protest. Keep an eye out for the Aspen Towers ACORN Tenant Union, this is only the beginning of this fight. 📣

BIG thank you to MPP Chandra Pasma for her support against the mass renoviction. 📣

Check out the media coverage of the action here:

CTV: https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/video/c2966985-rallying-against-renovictions?binId=1.1164511

Le Droit: https://www.ledroit.com/actualites/actualites-locales/ottawa/2024/07/27/manifestation-contre-un-avis-de-renoviction-partir-davance-de-son-logement-pour-5000-OD35I5NNSFERFDVTA5UOREXZXM/

CFRA: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/962-580-cfra-top-sound-bites-159281372/episode/cfra-live-urgently-waiting-for-200206547/

Question 1: Has mould ever belonged in an apartment unit?
Question 2: Whose responsibility is it when repair and maintenance needs to be done?

If you answered "No" and "The landlord", you're right!

But tenants are often faced with three dreadful scenarios when making service requests:

1. A shoddy job that doesn’t actually fix the original problem
2. Their requests are ignored completely by the landlord
3. Or the landlord neglects repairs for so long, they then claim there's nothing they can do but renovate the entire building and renovict tenants to take advantage of Ontario's rent control loopholes that allow landlords to jack up rents on vacant units!

This is absolutely SHAMEFUL! Tenants’ rent checks aren’t to simply line the pockets of landlords. They’re supposed to go back into the building when the building needs upkeep!

That’s why tenants are forming ACORN tenant unions across the city to FORCE their landlord to DO THEIR JOBS, tend to the needs of tenants AND stop renovictions!

If you’re interested in organizing your building to get the treatment you DESERVE from your landlord, reach out to ACORN at [email protected] or call us at (613) 746-5999 ext. 2!

FIGHT FOR A RENOVICTION BYLAW BY SIGNING THIS ONLINE ACTION: https://acorncanada.org/take_action/ontario-cities-need-renoviction-protections-now/

✊📣 The Aspen Towers ACORN Tenant Union organized a MASSIVE Tenant Speakout in response to the threat of a mass renoviction affecting over 100 units at Aspen Towers; 2935 Richmond Rd. Over 50 ACORN members protested to demand the immediate stop to the mass renovictions and for the city to adopt a renoviction bylaw similar to Hamilton’s. The speakout featured heartfelt speeches from ACORN members including Nelda Giroux, Tamirat Gameda, Ricky Albano, Paul Burns, Grace Almoite, Analyn Quinto, and Karen Ashton, who spoke on behalf of her father Dave Warehan. ✊📣

Members decided to confront their superintendent who has been harassing and pressuring tenants to leave their units for $5000. John refused to speak with the tenants and was running away like a coward. SHAME! The superintendent’s buddy who was with him the whole time ended up threatening members and eventually assaulted an ACORN member with a walker! But this didn’t shake the tenants, they continued on and ended the rally with a strong interview with CTV making sure that every ounce of their appalling behaviour is exposed. 😡📣😤

ACORN members spoke to the media and made it clear that they aren’t leaving, even saying they would die before moving out! The tenant union stood strong and chanted “No Fear, No Doubt, We Won’t Move Out” to make it known they weren’t backing down at any time! 💪💢✊

HUGE shout out to the fearless leadership of ACORN members Tamirat Gameda and Ricky Albano for leading this protest. Keep an eye out for the Aspen Towers ACORN Tenant Union, this is only the beginning of this fight. 📣

BIG thank you to MPP Chandra Pasma for her support against the mass renoviction. 📣

Check out the media coverage of the action here:

CTV: https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/if-i-have-no-choice-i-m-going-to-have-to-live-in-my-car-tenants-fight-to-stay-in-ottawa-apartment-building-1.6980351

Le Droit: https://www.ledroit.com/actualites/actualites-locales/ottawa/2024/07/27/manifestation-contre-un-avis-de-renoviction-partir-davance-de-son-logement-pour-5000-OD35I5NNSFERFDVTA5UOREXZXM/

CFRA: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/962-cfra-live-sound-bites-160676369/episode/cfra-live-urgently-waiting-for-200206695/

100+ tenants in Aspen Towers are being MASS RENOVICTED by their brand new landlord who just want to triple the rent for the new tenants! That's why they formed the Aspen Towers ACORN tenant union and planned a Tenant Speakout to fight back against these ridiculous renovictions.

Tenants have been told false information and threats to get them to sign their rights away. SHAME!

Wider ACORN member support is crucial because there's POWER in NUMBERS. Come to the Speakout to help your neighbours fight against being renovicted!

When: Sat July 27 at 11:00am
Where: Aspen Towers (2935 Richmond Rd)

See you there!

ACORN members from across Ottawa are coming together for a citywide meeting to talk strategy!

In every building, neighbourhood and chapter that ACORN is organizing in, the issues are the same across the city - slumlords refusing to do repairs, displacing long-term tenants and raising rents, suffering from extreme heat, and the list goes on.

So how do we win protections against renovictions, slumlords, and extreme heat?

While ACORN members are organizing on these issues and have made big progress, there's still work to be done - that's where we need you.

JOIN US for the Strategy Talk Meeting to:
-Learn about municipal campaigns to improve tenant rights,
-How City Hall works,
-How to push those fence sitters onto the side of tenants,
-And MORE!

WHEN: Thurs, July 25th at 6:30PM
WHERE: McNabb Community Centre (180 Percy St)

See you there!

📣 ACORN’s West-end Chapter meeting saw 45 ACORN members and tenants, with a big representation from Aspen Towers, 2935 Richmond Rd. Everyone came together with determination to organize and stand up against the mass renoviction in their building, affecting over 100 units! 😡

The tenants of Aspen Towers voted to start an ACORN tenant union to put the pressure on their new landlord who is hiding behind the name of Rex Brondial. Together, they planned a tenant speak out to name and shame their landlord to stop the renoviction! This is just the start of Aspen Towers ACORN Tenant Union's collective action to fight back! ✊

Thank you to the chapter meeting leaders Carissa Chicot, Tuong Nguyen and Norma Jean Quibell. Let's fight! 💪💢📣

Have you read ACORN’s NEW Eco-Tenant Report called 'Engaging Tenants in Climate Action'?

Swipe through the images to read over key findings from the report and what ACORN recommends all levels of government do to protect tenants’ health and safety during the climate crisis.

Click the link to read the FULL report: https://acorncanada.org/resources/engaging-tenants-in-climate-action/

Listen to this AWESOME interview with ACORN board member Eddy Roue talking about Ottawa ACORN's Eco-Tenant Platform and the need for prioritizing tenants in Climate Justice on CKCUFM with Angela Keller-Herzog from CAFES: https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/43/65961.html

Thank you to CKCU and Angela Keller-Herzog from CAFES Ottawa for having us!

Read our demands for all levels of government: https://acorncanada.org/resources/engaging-tenants-in-climate-action/

ACORN held actions in 5 cities across the province today to fight for FULL rent control. Over 20 ACORN members came out to support the Bronson Place Tenant Union where Manor Park has given tenants an Above Guideline Increase in rent (AGI) and for some, this is their second! ✊💪📣

Bronson Place ACORN members shared the financial impacts and mental stress caused by these rent increases. Then ACORN members plastered the lobby of 440 Gloucester St with demand letters addressed to Manor Park to drop the increase and meet with ACORN! The rental office closed early and they were nowhere to be found - SHAME! 😡😤

ACORN members weren’t done there. We flyered both towers and got lots of petition signatures from the Bronson Place tenants to continue to build power and fight back. This isn’t the first, and won’t be the last time that Manor Park will be hearing from ACORN.

HUGE shoutout to ACORN leaders Sharon Katz, Evan Bury, and Nugs Lackey for leading a powerful demonstration. Big thank you to MPP Joel Harden who joined us and spoke in support of fighting for FULL rent control in Ontario! 💪📣

❗️❗️❗️ Last night, over 50 ACORN members gathered to listen to Ottawa ACORN’s Eco-Tenant Platform Launch! We heard the results of our massive eco-tenant survey that nearly 300 tenants filled out on climate change issues such as extreme heat in apartments and neglected repairs that result in tenant discomfort, higher utility bills, negative health impacts and greater emissions. Then we shared our new Eco-Tenant Platform filled with policy recommendations and demands for ALL levels of government. 💪✊📣

HUGE shoutout to ACORN leaders Marie-Lourdes Garnier, Patricia Larocque, Dorian Santoir, and Norma Jean Quibell for running a successful launch. Thank you to our guest speakers Angela Keller-Herzog from CAFES, and Sarah Marquis from Climate Justice Ottawa! ✊👏

Sign the online action: https://acorncanada.org/take_action/tell-ottawa-city-council-to-take-action-on-climate-change-housing/

Read the Report here: https://acorncanada.org/resources/engaging-tenants-in-climate-action/

Concerned about climate change & affordable housing?🌎🏡 Then JOIN US tomorrow for the launch of Ottawa ACORN's new report 'Engaging Tenants in Climate Action!'

Event Details:
Tomorrow, Wed July 3rd at 6:30PM at the McNabb Community Centre (180 Percy St)

More info here: https://fb.me/e/4zLL8JcSk

🚫 Rally to Stop Rheal's Renoviction 🚫 ACORN member Rheal Brady is facing renoviction from his home of 20 years. The rally, held on June 25th, was a powerful display of community solidarity and support. ✊😡💪

Vanier ACORN members gathered at Rheal's house for a powerful speak-out led by Rheal himself, followed by the reading of a supportive letter from his health practitioner advocating for Rheal to stay in his current unit. We marched and engaged with passersby, spreading awareness about the importance of supporting Ottawa ACORN's campaign for a Renoviction Bylaw.

This would not have been possible without the strong leadership of ACORN members Rheal Brady, Evan Bury, and our very own Chair of ACORN's Vanier Chapter, Bader Abu-Zahra! 💪✊👏🏠

TUNE IN TODAY to CTV Ottawa at 6PM to see both ACORN members Rheal Brady and Bader Abu-Zahra discussing the need for a renoviction bylaw in Ottawa ‼️