35 Tobermory Work Order Blitz Builds Momentum for York West Repairs Campaign

York West ACORN members and tenants at 35 Tobermory stepped up to the plate this week in a show of collective action. Tenants and ACORN members came together for a work order blitz – eighteen of them submitted detailed work orders, delivered straight to their property manager, Sterling Karamar.

Countless tenants in the building have dealt with problems that affect their daily lives: heaters broken for months throughout winter, water damage and persistent leaks, mold and mildew, pest issues, elevators that break down again and again, and basic repair requests that get ignored or half-fixed until they threaten to call the city. Too often, these issues are treated as if they’re just part of apartment living, when in reality they make homes unsafe and uncomfortable.

By submitting work orders together, tenants made sure their voices would be heard, the problems were documented clearly, and follow-up is now trackable. If these repair issues aren’t addressed within the week, ACORN is prepared to take the next step and bring their cases to the City so that bylaw enforcement through RentSafe and 311 can take over follow-up – a process that’s proven to be far more effective than dealing with problems one-by-one.

Beyond the paperwork, the work order blitz showed what tenants can do when they act together. A few people who came out signed up as new ACORN members after seeing what collective pressure looks like in practice. A number of residents left feeling energised and hopeful, talking about how good it felt to be supported and to see real organising in action. One key phrase that kept being said proved exactly why this kind of tenant movement is so important: “I thought I was dealing with this alone!”

Importantly, nobody in York West needs to be dealing with these issues alone. With this momentum, tenants are now looking ahead to the larger Tenants’ Assembly for Repairs on Saturday, February 21 at 3:00 p.m. at the York Woods Library (Program Room). That meeting will be the chance for neighbours to launch a broader campaign to push for repairs, accountability, and better living conditions across York West and North York. Want to join in? Call 416 461 9233 or email [email protected]!