Toronto woman faces eviction after 36 years in same home because mother dies
A Toronto woman is calling on her landlord to show human compassion and not evict her out of the place she’s lived for the past 36 years because her mother died.
“I haven’t got a chance to mourn, like really mourn, because I have to think about where I’m going to live, what are these people going to do?,” an emotional Janice Walker said in an interview with CTV News Toronto.
The 55-year-old came to Canada from Jamaica in 1987. They moved into a one-bedroom apartment in Parkdale and have lived there ever since.
But at the end of December, at the age of 91, Walker’s mother died. When Walker informed the building of her passing she was shocked to learn she was listed as an occupant and not a tenant.
That conversation was followed up with a letter over her ‘unauthorized occupancy’. It states she has to pay about 50 per cent more to live in the apartment come February, respond in two days or else the eviction process would be started. A date that has now passed.
“My mom is not even buried and you’re kicking me out?,” she said.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
To make matters worse, Walker said she approached a building supervisor several years ago so that she would be listed as a tenant, and was under the impression the change had been made.
Walker was her mothers caregiver and works in retail. The rent is $1,084.20. Walker said she can’t afford to pay more and worries about being homeless.
“On Jan. 25, we offered Ms. Walker the very best lease rate for a one-bedroom apartment in the area and one that reflects her particular circumstances – which would allow her to remain in the apartment," said The Myriad Group in a statement emailed to CTV News Toronto.
The company also said it is still waiting for Walker’s response to the offer and that they invite her to respond to resolve the matter swiftly .
“We are committed to working with Ms. Walker to explore the best resolution possible. We assure you our actions (and offer) are in full accordance with landlord rights granted to us under the Residential Tenancies Act.”
A photograph of Janice Walker's building is seen here.
This isn’t the first time Walker has faced eviction. In June, Walker, her mother and dozens of other tenants from the same building were threatened with eviction after years of having air conditioning units and not paying extra to power them suddenly appeared to be getting enforced.
Walker complied with the landlord, pulled out the air conditioning, got fans and dealt with the sweltering heat.
“I panicked,” she said. “Because you see eviction notice and I have a mom in a bed that can’t move.”
The company told CTV News Toronto it has since reached a resolution about the AC units with tenants.
Parkdale Organize which supports tenants said those threats never materialized because the landlord didn’t take the eviction notices to hearings. It said the tactics used by the company which owns the building are part of a pattern in the GTA.
“All over the city, landlords are displacing tenants for profit, they want as much money as they can get out of the units, they think it’s their right to get market rent,” said spokesperson Emina Gamulin.
Walkers wants her name on lease and doesn’t want to pay more in rent. She said she has been a good tenant, paid the rent and has not caused any issues.
“I keep saying where is the human compassion?,” she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Bouchard lifts Edmonton Oilers to 4-3 overtime win over Canucks in Game 2
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.