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Roy Anderson was a long time resident of Vanier who became involved with ACORN at the second meeting that was ever head after the founding of Ottawa ACORN.
Many members know Roy for his hard work on a number of campaigns, but most notably his leadership on the campaign to regulate payday lending. After being taken advantage of an unscrupulous payday lender, Roy became a powerful advocate for reform of the industry.
He helped organize rallies, was a spokesperson to the press and worked to develop ACORN’s policies on the campaign. During the midst of the campaign to see the province regulate payday lending Roy was fond of saying that “Before ACORN, no one was talking about payday lending. Now, we're winning change”.
When Ottawa launched a tax site to help low income families with their income tax filling Roy was among the first to sign up to help. He wanted the community to know that his organization wasn’t only out there opposing predatory financial practices; it was part of the solution. With working families facing setback after setback because of the recession, Roy urged his neighbours to take advantage of the services, billing the tax site as a “mini-economic stimulus package for Vanier”.
On Oct. 22, 2009 Roy Anderson passed away. He will be missed and remembered.
Like so many ACORN members, Tom Page first got involved as a member when a community organizer knocked on the door of his apartment in the Vancouver suburb of New Westminster.
The message of ACORN as an organization out there standing up for working families immediately resonated with Tom who has struggled for years living on BC’s Provincial Disability Program that has been frozen for years despite the skyrocketing cost of living.
Tom came to his first ACORN meeting shortly afterwards in the Whaley Chapter where members talked and planned action around tenants issues and other community concerns. Since those first encounters with an ACORN organizer Tom has become one of BC ACORN’s leading members and has worked on the campaigns for tenants’ rights, a national affordable housing strategy and fair remittance rates for working families. “I enjoy working with active and positive people who are committed to improving our communities and our world. Most of the challenges that face us would be overwhelming if we tried to engage them alone, but with teamwork we can make a difference” he said.
As an active leader in BC ACORN Tom is now taking leadership in starting to get a Living Wage Campaign up and running in New Westminster. By working with allies, helping build support for the campaign, and meeting with elected officials Tom has become a model of leadership in his community. Something he attributes to that first knock on his door from an ACORN organizer – signing up as a member “Then and there”.
