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
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.