Hamilton
Kayla Leet
Chair, East End Chapter
Kayla Leet joined ACORN in 2025 to fight for repairs in her building and quickly became a passionate advocate for tenant rights. Since then, she has taken on major leadership roles in both provincial and municipal campaigns. Kayla is a firm believer in nonprofit building acquisition as a path to housing justice and long-term affordability.
Stewart Klazinga
Co-Chair, East End Chapter
Stewart Klazinga has been an ACORN member in the East End for several years. After a couple years of advocating for something to be done about extreme heat in apartments they proposed adding a maximum heat bylaw to ACORN Hamilton's citywide campaigns, & has been involved with the campaign at every step along the way. Stewart joined ACORN to fight for tenant rights in Hamilton & beyond, & is passionate about fighting for our most vulnerable neighbours & for the good of all.
Christine Horning
Secretary, East End Chapter
Christine joined ACORN in 2024 and has quickly become a dedicated and steadfast attendee of monthly chapter meetings and local actions. She's a passionate supporter of building community support right in her own backyard, and is the first to raise her hand for tabling and petitioning.
Liz Scott
Chair, Stoney Creek Chapter
Liz joined ACORN in 2021 after an organizer knocked on her door in her Riverdale apartment building. Since joining ACORN she has led Stoney Creek chapter meetings, canvassing parties, and actions at her building and MP and MPP constituency offices. She believes that basic human needs like housing, utilities, and food should never be unaffordable for anyone. Liz has also been heavily involved in moving forward ACORN's campaign on protecting tenants from extreme heat.
Hojay Byfield
Co-Chair, Stoney Creek Chapter
Hojay joined ACORN recently, and is passionate about organizing his community - and beyond. A fierce advocate for social and economic justice, he truly believes in the power of collective action. He is committed to bringing the Stoney Creek chapter to new heights; every meeting, every action, every petition signature brings power to the community, and people power is how change happens!
Taylor Korolenchuk
Secretary, Stoney Creek Chapter
Taylor joined as a member following a conversation with an organizer in their building’s partially-flooded parking lot. They immediately jumped into organizing their neighbourhood headfirst, and are passionate about organizing for better conditions in subsidized housing. They have taken on a leadership role in advocating for climate justice for tenants and beyond, particularly for Hamilton’s extreme heat campaign. They firmly believe that no one should be made to live in unsafe conditions, no matter their income level.
Bijan Shahir
Chair, Mountain Chapter
Bijan is a new member to ACORN, joining in September 2024. He is a strong believer in housing as a human right and the protection and expansion of social services. He is hoping to do more outreach and raise awareness of the issues faced by the people of Hamilton Mountain, and get more people in his community involved.
Nicole Myre
Co-Chair, Mountain Chapter
Nicole Myre joined ACORN in 2024 during the re-organizing drive in Hamilton Mountain. A long-time believer in community, fairness, and standing up for those who need it most, Nicole brings decades of life and work experience to the fight for tenant rights and social justice. She retired at age 70 after a 31-year career that included roles as a secretary, store manager, and building superintendent. Now, she volunteers her time with The Legion Branch 163 and is an active and engaged member of ACORN.
Marnie Schurter
Secretary, Mountain Chapter
Marnie has been a member of ACORN for five years. She retired from the Hamilton Public Library in January 2020, where she worked as an Information Clerk. She earned a degree in Sociology from McMaster University in 2012. Her main concerns include how society treats elderly and disabled people, and she wants to see fair and equal treatment for everyone, regardless of perceived ability. Through her involvement with ACORN, she works to support stronger protections and more inclusive policies for people in her community.
Christina Erie
Chair, Downtown Chapter
Alex Ballagh
Co-Chair, Downtown Chapter
Alex Ballagh joined ACORN on May Day 2023 after his family and friends had their homes renovicted for the profit of their landlords. When he discovered the community of ACORN fights to protect its community members from being exploited by the rich and powerful, he joined the downtown chapter and took to work rallying support, coordinating with other chapters, and delegating to city council to protect tenant rights and the dignity of his fellow Hamiltonians. Within a year, he was able to delegate on behalf of the province’s first anti-renoviction bylaw; which, through overwhelming support, was able to be passed into law in 2024. Alex believes that through solidarity, democracy, and a strong sense of community, localized organizations like ACORN can make the voices of their members matter to lawmakers. Together, we can make the change we want to see in the world!
Pauline Roberts
Secretary, Downtown Chapter
Pauline has been a proud ACORN member for five years, first joining when an organizer knocked on her door in the downtown core. Hearing about ACORN’s tenant-led fight for housing justice was exactly what she needed at the time. Since then, she has become a powerful voice in the movement—delegating at Queen’s Park, City Hall, and at actions across Hamilton. She is passionate about uplifting the voices of those who are too often unheard, and about building relationships that help push ACORN’s mission forward. Pauline is also the founder of Pauline’s Potpourri, a small business she launched in 2024, and a dedicated animal lover. As a long-time volunteer with Pantry for Paws and a cat foster parent, she brings the same compassion to her activism that she brings to the animals in her care. Pauline’s media presence and strong relationships with allies like Matthew Green and Sarah Jama have helped ACORN connect with the wider community and grow stronger together.