ACORN Members in Kitchener Beat Renoviction

KITCHENER, ON – After two long years of organizing, fighting, and refusing to back down, tenants at 267 Traynor Ave. have won the right to stay in their homes. The threat of renoviction hanging over their heads has finally been lifted.

On Monday, the Landlord and Tenant Board officially found that the landlord’s application to evict tenants for renovations had been abandoned — a hard-fought victory for the tenant group led by ACORN member Maribel Jagorin. “This is an example to other tenants — that organizing works and standing up for your rights is absolutely worth it,” said Jagorin, who lives in the building and helped lead the organizing efforts.

Back in 2022, the landlord — Mike Beer Investments — attempted to push out long-term tenants paying under $1,000/month, claiming they needed to vacate the building for major renovations. But the landlord couldn’t even provide the required building permit. Tenants knew the truth: this was a renoviction attempt in disguise, part of a growing trend where landlords evict tenants, slap on some renovations, and jack up the rent for new tenants.

With support from ACORN and legal representation from paralegal Mitchell Kent, tenants pushed back hard. They demanded a group hearing and stayed organized, despite delay after delay. This week, their perseverance paid off. The landlord didn’t even show up to the hearing. The adjudicator declared the case abandoned — meaning the tenants are legally entitled to stay in their homes.

This is more than just a win for the Traynor Ave. tenants — it’s a powerful reminder that tenants can fight back and win. “Tenants should always fight their renovictions — you never know what can happen,” said Kent.

Jagorin summed it up best: “We’ve built friendship and solidarity in this building. We hope for a landlord who treats housing as a necessity, not a commodity.”

Want to organize your building or fight back against a renoviction?
Join ACORN today: www.acorncanada.org/join