Podcasts about vancouver tenants union

"The Tenant Class is Here" and they are a force to be reckoned with.Vancouver Tenants Union organizers Asura Enkhbayar and Ben Ger provide insight into their work building power from below, some of it in neighbourhoods with the highest concentration of renters on the continent. The variety of campaigns they've got going on doesn't just speak to the complexity of issues facing tenants, but also to the value of a decentralized organization that's able to respond locally, as needed.They also share the journey their organization has gone on over the past decade, and how tough lessons led them to a Basis of Unity and a new way forward.Hosted and Produced by: Jessa McLeanCall to Action: Donate to the Park Beach Tenants Legal FundRelated Episodes: Shifting Gears is a discussion w/Climate Justice Toronto on their own transition from an environmentalist grassroots org to one focused on supporting tenant organizing in the City. Voices for Unhoused Liberation is an interview with unhoused organizers and activists in Toronto.Tenant Power: a playlist of episodes that would have landlords shaking in their boots.All of our content is free - made possible by the generous sponsorships of our Patrons. If you would like to support our work through monthly contributions: PatreonFollow us on Instagram or on BlueskyMore Resources: CBC: Power to the renter: Vancouver Tenants Union hopes to put rep in every buildingVancouver Tenants Union: Basic of Unity

This is a report based on recordings that I did at Spartacus books in Vancouver surrounding a gathering focused on building connections between housing justice activists in Montreal and Vancouver. Airing on Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 10am Pacific time at https://www.citr.ca This gathering builds on my involvement in a report titled "From Crisis to Consensus: A survey of 60 housing groups from across Canada," which you can read in PDF format here: https://www.solidarityeconomy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/housing-design-draft-v4-EN-online.pdf The accompanying photo was taken at Spartacus books. I recorded the voices of Mariah Gillis of the Vancouver Tenants Union speaking about their work. Filmmaker Imtiaz Popat on displacement in Vancouver that is impacting socially engaged artists and Lina a community worker with the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre. I produced this segment for broadcast on CiTR 101.9FM in Vancouver. Thank you for listening! - Stefan.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in Vancouver this week, and he's promising a ‘renters' bill of rights.' We dig into the housing measures and how they will help people in B.C. with guest Rebecca Love, volunteer of Vancouver Tenants Union, and your calls. Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen joins us ahead of his 2025 trip to the moon to talk about life as an astronaut and to answer your questions about space.

Liam is a PhD researcher in Geography at the University of Toronto and a volunteer tenant organizer in Vancouver. He's interested in labor, community, and movement organizing strategy, and the politics of reproduction under capitalism. In this episode, we sit with Liam Fox to discuss the extractivist paradigm of pipelines ripping through Indigenous land in so-called Canada. Specifically, we discuss the regulatory regime in which oil and gas extraction (and the infrastructures required to move it) is articulated and applied. This inevitably entails the engagement with ‘Canada' as a settler-colonial, extractivist state, bringing to the fore an engagement with the expropriation and dispossession of Indigenous peoples as well as Indigenous resistance.  We also discuss Liam's PhD research, which focuses on the history and future of political and class consciousness in and around Alberta's tar sands. Projects like Liam's are incredibly important for those of you who are thinking about things like the Just Transition, Climate Justice, and/or a Green New Deal.  We land in a space of thinking about solidarity and class consciousness; specifically, building unlikely alliances as an essential strategy for anti-capitalist futures.  From there, we conclude with some thoughts on organizing/mobilizing in our immediate communities as a means of achieving said solidarity across difference. This is where Liam's role as community organizer with the Vancouver Tenants Union comes in.  Main pieces discussed/mentioned in this episode: Liam Fox's paper: Pipelines in the “Public Interest”? The Jurisdictional Work of a Concept in Canadian Pipeline Assessment Naomi Klein's interview with Leanne Simpson: Dancing the World into Being: A Conversation with Idle No More's Leanne Simpson Further recommendations: Pollution is Colonialism by Max Liboirin  Red Skin, White Masks by Glen Coulthard

This week, the Portland Tenants Union obtained a major – but temporary – victory in securing the immediate repair of the elevator in their building: the Portland Hotel at 20 West Hastings Street, owned and operated by PHS Community Services Society. Guest: Ben Ger - Organizer with the Vancouver Tenants Union & the Our Homes Can't Wait coalition. Guest: Mark Tobiasson - Tenant at The Portland Hotel & Member of the Portland Tenants Union.

Viral video shows Vancouver neighbours fighting over parking spot – Who is in the right? Parking wars in Vancouver! Can you legally block space in front of your house to park? Are you entitled to a spot on your street?  Plus, your calls! We hear all of your parking issues! Premier Horgan encouraging people ‘to think before you hop in the car' amid record-breaking gas prices Keith Baldrey, Global News Legislative Bureau Chief discusses Premier John Horgan's comments around high gas prices.  Vancouver mayor promises protection for renters potentially displaced by Broadway Plan Kennedy Stewart, Mayor of Vancouver joins Jas Johal to discuss the Broadway Plan  Vancouver Tenants Union launch a resistance movement “Renters Plan” against Broadway Plan Mazdak Gharibnavaz, Vancouver Tenants Union representative discusses the Broadway Plan.  Plus, your calls! How affordable is Vancouver?  Dan Russell to release new book, “Pleasant Good Evening: A Memoir” on May 20th Legendary SportsTalk host, from 1984-2014, Dan Russell joins the show to talk about his days on CKNW covering the Vancouver sports scene and his new book -  “Pleasant Good Evening: A Memoir” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mazdak Gharibnavaz, Vancouver Tenants Union representative discusses the Broadway Plan.  Plus, your calls! How affordable is Vancouver?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Megan Milton, Volunteer Media Contact for the Vancouver Tenants Union discusses how to solve Metro Vancouver's housing crisis. 

CP Rail strike could be ‘detrimental' to Canada's economy according to experts Michael Levy, CKNW Business Analyst describes how bad the CP Rail strike could be for Canada's economy. Plus, your calls! How have you adjusted to rising costs of groceries?  Frustrations still reported as BC's new camping reservation website goes live George Heyman, BC NDP MLA for Vancouver-Fairview, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy discusses the launch of the new BC camping reservation website.  Vancouver and Victoria rents jump 20% in 6 months as thousands move to BC David Hutniak, CEO of LandlordBC discusses the rising rent prices throughout Vancouver and Victoria  Vancouver Tenants Union responds to Metro Vancouver housing crunch Megan Milton, Volunteer Media Contact for the Vancouver Tenants Union discusses how to solve Metro Vancouver's housing crisis.  COVID-19: BA.2 outbreak surges in South Korea and Hong Kong – What can BC learn from this? Keith Baldrey, Global BC's Legislative Bureau Chief discusses rising world covid cases 

Today on the show: Megan Milton, a volunteer with the Vancouver Tenants Union, tells us about the new province legislation that took effect on July 1st and is designed to limit landlords' ability to renovict a tenant for their apartment. We look at the pros and cons of the legislation and what protections the Vancouver Tenants Union says are really needed for Vancouver apartment dwellers.

Tenants are artists. What makes some forms of culture attractive to real estate and developer interests? Does the support of art by real estate make Vancouver a culturally vibrant city? First, we hear from Alice, an artist and tenant at The Belvedere building in Vancouver's Mount Pleasant neighbourhood, who organized with her neighbours to fight round after round of profit motivated evictions. If you live or work in Mount Pleasant, you've probably noticed the large amount of murals going up around the neighbourhood — there's even one on the Belvedere. Mural Fest is one of many art projects backed by developers. Helena and Sydney talk a little bit about the organization and some other protests that artists and anti-displacement activists have had against Mural Fest donor and large scale developer Westbank. We then play footage from a radio segment that aired on Coop Radio 100.5 FM covering the Rave Against Renovictions, where artists held a rally outside Mural Fest donor, developer and Lululemon founder Chip Wilson's house. These were in response to recent evictions of artist spaces by Wilson's company Low Tide Properties. Helena speaks with artist and organizer Tascha Speck about the event. Episode Credits: Produced by Helena Krobath and Sydney Ball. “Rave Against Renovictions” originally aired on Vancouver Co-op Radio. Thanks to VIVO Media Arts Centre, BC Arts Council, Vancouver Tenants Union organizers, and tenants who shared their stories

Moonhee is a low-income tenant who received subsidized rent from BC Housing in a building owned by a large non-profit. But when she finds toxic mold in her apartment, getting anyone to care about her safety becomes an impossible task. The first segment of the episode, titled “I Cannot Die in My Apartment,” is focused on Moonhee's story and the particular difficulties of tenants living in social housing in British Columbia. The second segment, produced by Yijia Zhang is titled “Leaving is Not an Option.” What can a tenant do when their home is falling into disrepair but they are scared of landlord retaliation that will leave them at the whims of an inflated rental market? Afterwards, Sydney Ball at the Vancouver Tenants Union updates us on some tenants in social housing here in Vancouver who are fighting to get their elevator fixed after being down for more than six months. This episode underscores that poorly maintained housing is not 'good enough' for anyone, and great social housing can be for everyone! Transcript [in progress] at docs.google.com/document/d/1WhuBs…/edit?usp=sharing This project was part of a mentorship and skills development program. Thank you to the Vancouver Tenants Union for oral history support, Sydney Ball for supplemental scripts and commentary, and VIVO Media Arts Centre/BC Arts Council for equipment and financial support. Segment Credits: “I Cannot Die in My Apartment” produced by Helena Krobath with extra writing and commentary by Sydney Ball. “Leaving is not an Option” produced by Yijia Zhang. Thanks to VIVO Media Arts Centre, BC Arts Council, Vancouver Tenants Union organizers, and tenants who shared their stories Episode links/resources: “Class Struggle in Chinatown: Ethnic Tourism, Planned Gentrification, and Organizing for Tenant Power” by Nat Lowe themainlander.com/2019/07/16/class…or-tenant-power/ “If Landlords Renovate, Must You Vacate?” by Sean Condon in The Tyee (all the way back in 2008) thetyee.ca/News/2008/09/25/Evictions/

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) are large investment companies that own, and in most cases operate, rental apartment buildings. Housing activists say REITs result in the loss of affordable rental units and drive gentrification, in order to make the highest profit for their investors. On February 9, Vancouver city councillor Jean Swanson is bringing a motion to the council meeting that is designed to protect affordable rental housing in Vancouver. We talk with Sara Sagaii of the Vancouver Tenants Union.

Chapter 1: Veterans rejoining society On Remembrance Day, let's take a look at what it's like for veterans to come back and be part of society again - what challenges do they face? GUEST: Tim Laidler, Executive Director, Institute for Veterans Education and Transition Chapter 2: Lottery winners at Royal Columbian Hospital! A group of four co-workers at Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster just won $6 million dollars in the lottery! GUEST: Gregory Pang, Lawyer, RedFrame Law Chapter 3: Pfizer Inc - 90% effective Pfizer Inc. said Monday that its COVID-19 vaccine may be 90% effective, based on early test results.  If this vaccine turns out to be the one, what will be the challenges in manufacturing and distributing it? GUEST: Dr. Horacio Bach, UBC Adjunct Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases - expert in vaccines Chapter 4: BC rent freeze - not going far enough The BC government has extended its rent freeze through to July 2021 effective immediately - but the Vancouver Tenants Union think this isn't going far enough. GUEST: Mazdak Gharibnavaz, Member of Vancouver Tenants Union steering committee

BC NDP leader John Horgan promised this week that if his party wins the upcoming provincial election, they would freeze rent increases until the end of 2021. Show contributor Jawn Jang spoke with Mazdak Gharibnavaz from the Vancouver Tenants Union to hear their official response.

Along with the latest news, today David talks with Vince Tao, of the Vancouver Tenants Union, about the looming eviction crisis caused by B.C. NDP ending the pandemic evictions moratorium, and about their election demands. Plus their new website for renters to report evictions at www.bcrentcrisis.ca.

Today, David talks with Vince Tao, of the Vancouver Tenants Union, about the looming eviction crisis caused by B.C. NDP ending the pandemic evictions moratorium, and about their election demands. Plus their new website for renters to report evictions at www.bcrentcrisis.ca.

Chapter 1: Protesters and police faced off in Portland over the weekend.  The Black Lives Matter protesters have been active for almost two months, CBS law enforcement and security analyst joins us to talk about this latest clash.  Guest: Paul Viollis, Law Enforcement and Security Analyst with CBS. Chapter 2: Even though we are in Phase 3, the government's messaging on taking personal safety precautions has not changed. As Dr Bonnie Henry said in her Friday press conference, we should still be wearing masks, particularly in situations where there is an increased risk of exposure. Chapter 3: Both landlords and tenants are concerned about the future as eviction protections and rent deferrals start winding down.  This of course despite the fact unemployment is at 13% and people in tourism and hospitality still don't know what the coming months and years will mean for their industries. Guest: Mazdak Gharibnavaz, steering committee member of the Vancouver Tenants Union. Chapter 4: “Few faces in large spaces” has been one of the catchphrases Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has been using for months, but there's some places where you can't do that - like public transit.  Guest:  Ben Murphy, TransLink spokesperson. Chapter 5: We've been talking about how people don't seem to be following the physical distancing and other preventative measures prescribed by health authorities, even though we've seen a devastating outbreak in Kelowna recently.  Guest: Steven Taylor, UBC professor in the department of psychiatry, author of The Psychology of Pandemics: Preparing for the Next Global Outbreak of Infectious Disease Chapter 6: Lets catch up now with a woman we previously spoke to on our program. Do you remember Val Brandt? She started a petition to have the Jubilee Fountain in Lost Lagoon renamed after Dr. Bonnie Henry. She said that after her interview aired on CKNW, she saw an increase in support for her petition. So where does the idea stand now? Well our Niki Reitmayer caught up with Val, who started the conversation by reminding us what first inspired this idea. Chapter 7: Promising results for a COVID-19 vaccine developed in the UK.  Jason Tetro has worked to combat infectious disease before, including the SARS epidemic. He joins us to talk about what we can learn from the results of this vaccine trial that were just announced this morning.  Guest: Jason Tetro, infectious disease expert and host of the Super Awesome Science Show podcast.

Chapter 1: A reduction in marine traffic due to COVID-19 has given researchers a unique opportunity to observe marine wildlife.  Dr. Richard Dewey is the associate director of science at Ocean Networks Canada, and he joins us to talk about what they've seen.  Guest: Dr. Richard Dewey, Associate Director of Science at Ocean Networks Canada. Chapter 2: It's the resurgence we keep being warned about here in BC, several US states are now taking measures to curb a spike in cases of COVID-19 that resulted from premature reopening.  We're joined by Global News Washington Correspondent Reggie Cecchini for more on what's happening south of the border.  Guest: Reggie Cecchini, Global News Washington Correspondent. Chapter 3: Two seniors are about to lose their homes in the West End as the deadline for their eviction approaches.  Berkeley Tower is the green residential building that overlooks English Bay, and the owners have been pushing out residents so they can renovate the aging structure.  Guest: Sue Robinet, Vancouver Tenants Union advocate. Chapter 4: A region of Calgary is under watch after an increase in the number of cases of COVID-19.  We're joined by Matthew Conrod with Global News Calgary for more Chapter 5: Public swimming pools in Surrey are open again!  A huge relief for residents of Surrey looking for recreation options. A number of public swimming pools reopened this weekend, and we're joined by community and recreation services manager Jeff Holland for more on where you can go to beat the heat!  Splash pads in Vancouver are also open! Guest: Jeff Holland, Community & Recreation Services Manager. Chapter 6: We still don't know when we'll be able to travel to the US, or even take a vacation in another province, but there's plenty of options for BC residents this summer right here at home. We're joined by Maya Lange with Destination BC for more on the opportunities for vacation in our own backyard.   Guest: Maya Lange, VP of Global Marketing for Destination BC. Chapter 7: The province had a mammoth task to accomplish when elective surgeries resumed, with tens of thousands of patients waiting for procedures that were postponed because of the pandemic.  Well that's required a lot of hospital and healthcare providers to find creative solutions to streamline the process. We're joined by the patient care manager at Mount St Joseph Hospital Kirsty Carpenter to talk about how an idea she had is changing the way they provide care.  Coping with the demands of the pandemic has required innovation, and St Josephs is now using nerve blocks for breast surgery that allow patients to return home and recover more quickly. Guest: Kirsty Carpenter, Patient Care Manager, Mount St Joseph Hospital. Chapter 8: A new poll suggests that most Canadians support the PM's refusal to swap Huawei executive for imprisoned Canadians. Guest: Shachi Kurl, Angus Reid Institute Executive Director.

Today we're speaking with Sue Robinet, a steering committee member of the Vancouver Tenants' Union, on the impact of the pandemic on Vancouver's renters.

It’s been just over a month since the BC NDP unrolled a handful of new supports for renters and landlords impacted by COVID-19. 45,000 applications have been submitted for the province's temporary rental supplement, but only a third of applicants have received money. The Vancouver Tenants Union says this $300-$500 supplement isn't enough and LandlordBC is now calling for it to be doubled. In this episodes of the Vancouver COVID-19 Update, Alex de Boer speaks with VTU Steering Committee member Mazdak Gharibnavaz about LandlordBC's recent call to increase the province's rental supplement and how renters are faring as May 1st approaches.

With millions of Canadians unemployed and no end to social distancing measures in sight, the COVID-19 crisis presents endless opportunities for tenant solidarity, and incredible barriers to typical organizing. How do you get thousands of households to work together when you can’t meet in person, when simply touching the same surface could be deadly? David Hendry is on the Steering Committee of the Vancouver Tenants Union, a tenant advocacy organization. Due to the growing number of Vancouverites who cannot afford to pay rent, the union has had to quickly adapt in order to meet their needs. We talk about how social distancing has changed work at the VTU, who falls through the cracks of the CERB benefit package, the eviction moratorium, and how tenants can emerge from this crisis debt-free. Click here for the full podcast. Learn more about the Vancouver Tenants Union at vancouvertenantsunion.ca

Tenants are artists. What makes some forms of culture attractive to real estate and developer interests? Does the support of art by real estate make Vancouver a culturally vibrant city? First, we hear from Alice, an artist and tenant at The Belvedere building in Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant neighbourhood, who organized with her neighbours to fight round after round of profit motivated evictions. If you live or work in Mount Pleasant, you’ve probably noticed the large amount of murals going up around the neighbourhood — there’s even one on the Belvedere. Mural Fest is one of many art projects backed by developers. Helena and Sydney talk a little bit about the organization and some other protests that artists and anti-displacement activists have had against Mural Fest donor and large scale developer Westbank. We then play footage from a radio segment that aired on Coop Radio 100.5 FM covering the Rave Against Renovictions, where artists held a rally outside Mural Fest donor, developer and Lululemon founder Chip Wilson’s house. These were in response to recent evictions of artist spaces by Wilson’s company Low Tide Properties. Helena speaks with artist and organizer Tascha Speck about the event. Episode Credits: Produced by Helena Krobath and Sydney Ball. “Rave Against Renovictions” originally aired on Vancouver Co-op Radio. Thanks to VIVO Media Arts Centre, BC Arts Council, Vancouver Tenants Union organizers, and tenants who shared their stories

Gentrification ultimately means the displacement of the people who build a neighbourhood. In this episode, Susan Lu reflects on how changing property values impact the character of places she’s lived. She asks people in her neighbourhood of the West End what they think about the real estate market. Tiffany Muñoz then provides a history of the changing city, from the influx of cash during Expo 86 to 2010 when Vancouver hosted the Winter Olympics. How did these events help turn Vancouver into a city that belonged to international capital instead of a home for its residents? To learn more about the project and participants, click our SoundCloud profile. Episode Credits: “Meet the Changing City” produced by Susan Lu. “Vancouver’s Postmodern Displacement” by Tiffany Muñoz Additional scripts and commentary by Sydney Ball and Helena Krobath. Thanks to VIVO Media Arts Centre, BC Arts Council, Vancouver Tenants Union organizers, and tenants who shared their stories

You are now able to apply for rental support from the Province. We chat with David Hendry, Steering Member with the Vancouver Tenants Union. 

We chat with Mazdak Gharibnavaz, Member of the Steering Committee at the Vancouver Tenants Union

Interview from the weekday Co-op Radio News Hour Covid19 Report, daily 7-8am 100.5fmHost: David P. Ball. Produced by Vancouver Co-op Radio CFRO/Laurence Gatinel/David P. BallTheme music: Hannah Epperson, 'Iodine' used with generous permission of the artist

Today B.C.'s provincial government announced temporary measures to protect renters and landlords. In addition to implementing a rent freeze and a province-wide moratorium on evictions, the government promised up to $500/month for renters who have lost work due to COVID-19. Mazdak, a steering committee member of the Vancouver Tenants Union, gives comment on the supplement package and explains why it may not be accessible for many vulnerable renters.

This episode of Vancouver Housing Stories centres around the life we can build with our neighbours, if we want it. [Partial Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/18qh88bexFZL3TJZ-ZSpvwPUI3AIuKEZAcDLy9o0HYQ8/edit?usp=sharing] Jamie Leigh Gonzales uses interviews, audio essay and poetry to create a piece about her shift in priorities that came after becoming a mother and the difficulty of finding housing to suit her growing family, as well as the urban planning considerations that make neighbourhoods possible, or impossible, for families with children. Then we zoom in to a group of seniors at the Alice Saunders building in Vancouver’s Hastings-Sunrise neighbourhood and how a proposed development might uproot their tight-knit community. These stories drive home that no model of housing can succeed without really listening to the residents themselves. This project was part of a mentorship and skills development program. Thank you to the Vancouver Tenants Union for oral history support, Sydney Ball for supplemental scripts and commentary, and VIVO Media Arts Centre/BC Arts Council for equipment and financial support. Special thanks to the tenants who shared their stories. To learn more about the project and participants, check out our SoundCloud profile for more links. Stay tuned after for some extra context from VTU Steering Committee member, Sydney Ball Segment Credits: First Segment written and produced by Jamie Leigh Gonzales; music production by Davis Steele. Second Segment written and produced by Helena Krobath, with additional scripts by Sydney Ball; live music at the Alice Saunders tenants’ barbeque was by Dutch Robinson and band. Episode Produced by Helena Krobath. Additional scripts and commentary by Sydney Ball. Episode links/resources: Demoviction: Hastings-Sunrise Seniors Fighting To Stay https://www.vancouvertenantsunion.ca/alice_saunders_building

Tenants in Burnaby have fought hard against renoviction and demoviction. They saw their campaign rewarded in December when the City of Burnaby enacted some of strongest tenant protection legislation seen in the region. Now housing activists say Vancouver needs to follow suit. We talk with Sara Sagaii of the Vancouver Tenants Union.

Tenants in Burnaby have fought hard against renoviction and demoviction. They saw their campaign rewarded in December when the City of Burnaby enacted some of strongest tenant protection legislation seen in the region. Now housing activists say Vancouver needs to follow suit. We talk with Sara Sagaii of the Vancouver Tenants Union.

This episode looks into the isolation many tenants face while living in Vancouver. First up, Victoria Spooner relays the potential benefits -- and housing obstacles -- of having a pet in British Columbia. She hears from aspirational pet owners, as well as Pets OK BC organizer Elliot Galan, about what it means when tenants are unable to live with a four-legged family member. Afterwards, Yijia Zhang presents her soundscape composition that takes a sensory journey through the daunting task of searching for a new apartment. We recommend wearing your headphones for this one. This project was part of a mentorship and skills development program. Thank you to the Vancouver Tenants Union for oral history support, Sydney Ball for supplemental scripts and commentary, and VIVO Media Arts Centre for hosting and equipment, as well as BC Arts Council for financial support. [Link to Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1r3qesImKokBJV1dRMsw_PqkMXi9WREgnwJ9DfuCX_zY/edit?usp=sharing] To learn more about the project and participants, click our main SoundCloud profile. Stay tuned after for some extra context from VTU Steering Committee member, Sydney Ball. Episode Credits: “In the Doghouse” produced by Victoria Spooner, featuring the song 'Rover' by Necking. “My Night Shift After Work: Looking For A Place to Live in Vancouver” produced by Yijia Zhang. Episode produced by Helena Krobath. Additional scripts and commentary by Sydney Ball. Episode links/resources: Pets OK BC http://petsok.ca/ BC’s Rental Housing Task Force (RHTF) report https://engage.gov.bc.ca/app/uploads/sites/121/2018/12/RHTF-Recommendations-and-WWH-Report_Dec2018_FINAL.pdf Vancouver Tenants Union’s RHTF analysis https://www.vancouvertenantsunion.ca/rhtf_analysis

Moonhee is a low-income tenant who received subsidized rent from BC Housing in a building owned by a large non-profit. But when she finds toxic mold in her apartment, getting anyone to care about her safety becomes an impossible task. The first segment of the episode, titled “I Cannot Die in My Apartment”, is focused on Moonhee’s story and the particular difficulties of tenants living in social housing in British Columbia. The second segment, produced by Yijia Zhang is titled “Leaving is Not an Option.” What can a tenant do when their home is falling into disrepair but they are scared of landlord retaliation that will leave them at the whims of an inflated rental market? Afterwards, Sydney Ball at the Vancouver Tenants Union updates us on some tenants in social housing here in Vancouver who are fighting to get their elevator fixed after being down for more than six months. This episode underscores that poorly maintained housing is not 'good enough' for anyone, and great social housing can be for everyone! Transcript [in progress] at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WhuBsmKuo8QInizARcf9buBbKfSxsARMw39rERcIYro/edit?usp=sharing This project was part of a mentorship and skills development program. Thank you to the Vancouver Tenants Union for oral history support, Sydney Ball for supplemental scripts and commentary, and VIVO Media Arts Centre/BC Arts Council for equipment and financial support. To learn more about the project and participants, check out our SoundCloud profile for more links. Segment Credits: “I Cannot Die in My Apartment” produced by Helena Krobath with extra writing and commentary by Sydney Ball. “Leaving is not an Option” produced by Yijia Zhang. Episode Produced by Helena Krobath with extra scripts, editing, and commentary by Sydney Ball Thanks to VIVO Media Arts Centre, BC Arts Council, Vancouver Tenants Union organizers, and tenants who shared their stories Episode links/resources: “Class Struggle in Chinatown: Ethnic Tourism, Planned Gentrification, and Organizing for Tenant Power” by Nat Lowe themainlander.com/2019/07/16/class…or-tenant-power/ “If Landlords Renovate, Must You Vacate?” by Sean Condon in The Tyee (all the way back in 2008) thetyee.ca/News/2008/09/25/Evictions/

Could changes in Vancouver’s municipal housing policy make a difference in a city of people battling skyrocketing rents and constant evictions? In this episode hosts Maddi Dellplain and Melissa Roach feature stories of tenants who stuck together to fight against evictions and landlord harassment in an audio documentary titled, ‘Who’s Got the Power?’ We hear from members of the Vancouver Tenants Union and follow the organization’s work to strengthen the City’s Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy (TRPP), aimed at helping to keep tenants in their homes. click for TRANSCRIPT: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_z6HA6tzHYhixZk6mF0n2q5CbfsuiXUmrifoidVOyK0/edit?usp=sharing Artists/credits: Main segment produced by Maddi Dellplain and Melissa Roach; Music by Nicolas Camacho-Logan Episode Produced by Helena Krobath Additional scripts and commentary by Sydney Ball Thanks to VIVO Media Arts Centre, BC Arts Council, Vancouver Tenants Union organizers, and tenants who shared their stories Further Resources: “Project and Mentors” https://www.vivomediaarts.com/programming/mentorship/altspacecontrol-vancouver-housing-stories “Vancouver City Council Expands Tenant Relocation Policy” Vancouver Tenants Union https://www.vancouvertenantsunion.ca/trpp_expansion "Does the TRPP Have Teeth?” Seeking Office (podcast) https://www.citr.ca/radio/seeking-office/episode/20190919/ Maddi Dellplain is a freelance journalist who moved to Vancouver from Maui in 2011 to study International Relations and Spanish at UBC. Nowadays, Maddi writes for Megaphone Magazine, where she typically reports on the work of community members in Vancouver's downtown eastside, First Nations issues, and local art and activism. When not writing, Maddi enjoys obsessively binging political podcasts, mapping out future travel plans, and checking out live music shows. Melissa Roach is a mediamaker, communicator, and freelance writer and editor based in Vancouver — unceded Coast Salish territories — who is interested in social justice, urban issues, non-profits, and community-building. She holds a B.A. in English from Simon Fraser University, and completed an extended minor in linguistics. When Melissa’s not creating content, she enjoys puzzling, crafting, and thrifting up a storm.

The City of Vancouver’s Rental 100 program offers substantial financial rewards for developers who build affordable rental housing. The problem is, the City’s definition of affordable puts the apartments out of the reach of anyone earning less than $80,000 a year. Sara Sagaii is with the Vancouver Tenants Union. She joins us to discuss the Rental 100 program and the measures needed to ensure real affordability.

The City of Vancouver’s Rental 100 program offers substantial financial rewards for developers who build affordable rental housing. The problem is, the City’s definition of affordable puts the apartments out of the reach of anyone earning less than $80,000 a year. Sara Sagaii is with the Vancouver Tenants Union. She joins us to discuss the Rental 100 program and the measures needed to ensure real affordability.

The show begins with local data analyst and census mapper, Jens Von Bergmann, who explains what Vancouver's individual ballots data tells us about October's 2018 municipal election. We then turn to reporting from Wednesday's public hearing on a mixed-housing and detox centre proposed to be built at 1636 Clark Drive and 1321-1395 East 1st Avenue. Perspectives for and against the project are given by members of the Grandview Woodland Area Council, the Vancouver Tenants Union, the Live Big Society and the Carnegie Community Action Plan.

From CiTR's News Collective, this is season two of Seeking Office—At-Large. Bringing you innovative storytelling from Metro Vancouver.Since the 1960s, the development of rental housing in Vancouver has been in decline. Vancouver's Rental 100 policy is a response to that decline. Since its implementation in 2012 there has been a notable increase in purpose-build rental housing in the City. But renter advocates are divided on its effectiveness at making Vancouver more livable for tenants. Sara Sagii of the Vancouver Tenants Union and Karen Sawatzky, former Chair of the City's Renter Advisory Committee, both give perspective on the policy.*** Correction: City Council has referred discussion and decision on Councillor Carr's motion to change Vancouver’s housing by-laws to February 26. It has not yet passed***

This is an extended edition of Democracy Watch. The show begins with a feature on BC’s first Open Mosque Day. Reporter Hina Imam speaks live with Mosque Day Program Manager Adnan Akiel about the significance of this cultural event. We then turn to the City's Rental 100 program, which has Vancouver's housing advocates divided. The News Collective speaks with Karen Sawatzky, former Chair of a Vancouver Renter Advisory Committee and member of Abundant Housing and Sara Sagii, a Steering Committee member of the Vancouver Tenants Union.

On today’s show we begin by learning about logging in Vancouver Island's old growth forests. News Collective reporter Ande Laidman speaks with Western Canada Wilderness Committee canvaser James Davey about the intricacies of logging in the area of Carmanah Walbran. We then debunk accusations of sexism launched against various UBC groups/organizations, by the UBC Men’s Rights Association—a rejected AMS club.Lastly we asses a January 15th motion to rezone two developments at 2230 Harrison Drive and 3532 East Hastings under a Rental 100 policy. Both Sara Sagaii of the Vancouver Tenants Union and City Councilor Adriane Carr give their perspective on whether the new Council should continue incentivizing the construction of rental developments under the previous Council's Rental 100 policy.

From CiTR's News Collective, this is season two of Seeking Office — At-Large. Bringing you innovative storytelling from Metro Vancouver.On January 15th, Vancouver City Council passed two new developments at 2230 Harrison Drive and 3532 East Hastings. The project at 3532, was passed under a housing policy known as "Rental 100." Rental 100 incentivizes the creation of rental housing — as opposed to condos — but does not specify how much rent should be considered "affordable." In this episode, both Sara Sagaii of the Vancouver Tenants Union and City Councilor Adriane Carr give their perspective on whether the new Council should continue assessing rental developments under the Rental 100 policy.

Vancouver renters celebrated a major victory on December 4 when key parts of a motion to protect tenants from renovictions passed unanimously at city council. Derrick O’Keefe joins us to discuss the overall picture for renters in Vancouver and other municipalities following the recent recommendations of the BC Rental Housing Task Force. Derrick O’Keefe ran for COPE along with Pat Roberts and Jean Swanson in the recent municipal election. Jean Swanson was elected and brought the renoviction motion before council. Derrick O’Keefe is also a founding member of the Vancouver Tenants Union.

Vancouver renters celebrated a major victory on December 4 when key parts of a motion to protect tenants from renovictions passed unanimously at city council. Derrick O’Keefe joins us to discuss the overall picture for renters in Vancouver and other municipalities following the recent recommendations of the BC Rental Housing Task Force. Derrick O’Keefe ran for COPE along with Pat Roberts and Jean Swanson in the recent municipal election. Jean Swanson was elected and brought the renoviction motion before council. Derrick O’Keefe is also a founding member of the Vancouver Tenants Union.

From CiTR's News Collective, this is At-Large — innovative storytelling from Metro Vancouver.On Tuesday, December 4th, Vancouver City Council voted on a motion put forward by COPE City Councillor Jean Swanson. The motion — which aimed to enhance renter rights — passed unanimously, but with significant amendments. The passed motion was interpreted as both a victory and a compromise by Swanson and Vancouver Tenants Union activists.

After back-to-work legislation ends a postal strike in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal, we discuss the legalities around the "right to strike" in B.C. After that we feature original reporting on a motion put forward by Councillor Jean Swanson, titled “Protecting tenants from renovictions and aggressive buyouts.” The motion — which aims to enhance renter rights — passed unanimously on Tuesday, December 4th, but with significant amendments. The passed motion was interpreted as both a victory and a compromise by Swanson and Vancouver Tenants Union activists.

This is the last show before B.C.'s municipal elections! With two days to go, Democracy Watch interviews the two UBC students who are running for Vancouver City Council as independents. The show also presents a continued report on Vancouver's expanded mobile voting services and a new look the Vancouver Tenants Union's newly published Renter Report Card. As a special addition to our Vancouver coverage, Democracy Watch also presents an overview of Richmond's big municipal election issues, with perspective from Malcolm Brodie, Judie Schneider and Kerry Starchuk.

Fearless Cities is a growing movement across the globe aiming to democratize municipal politics. A month ago, the first ever Fearless Cities summit in North America was held in New York City. Derrick O’Keefe is co-founder of the Vancouver Tenants’ Union and a COPE candidate in Vancouver’s upcoming municipal election. He was in New York for the summit.

Fearless Cities is a growing movement across the globe aiming to democratize municipal politics. A month ago, the first ever Fearless Cities summit in North America was held in New York City. Derrick O’Keefe is co-founder of the Vancouver Tenants’ Union and a COPE candidate in Vancouver’s upcoming municipal election. He was in New York for the summit.

After headlines, the News Collective remembers the life of Anthony Bourdain through the eyes of Vancouver's celebrity celebrity chef, Vikram Vij. News Collective member Zubin Shroff-Mehrabadi interviews Sydney Ball of the Vancouver Tenants Union about the province's new Rental Housing Task Force, and the set of 50 recommendations presented by the VTU in Victoria last week. Then, News Collective members Zoe Power and Sammy Smart present original reporting from Jean Swanson's campaign launch over the weekend, where, surrounded by some of Vancouver's priciest mansions, she announced that she'll be seeking a seat on city council as a candidate for COPE this year. After that we receive an update on COPE's confirmed candidates for Council, School and Park board before turning to an interview with Nate, one of over 200 people who are awaiting sentencing next week after being arrested for protesting the pipeline expansion at Kinder Morgan's Burnaby facility.

In episode #252 of Talking Radical Radio (January 9, 2017), Scott Neigh interviews Kell Gerlings and Neil Vokey about the work of the Vancouver Tenants Union. Kell is an organizer with an anti-poverty group called Raise the Rates and is a member of the steering committee of the Vancouver Tenants Union, while Neil is an independent filmmaker and one of the founding members of the group. They talk about the harsh realities facing tenants in Vancouver and about what the tenants union is doing to fight back. For a more detailed description of this episode, go here: http://talkingradical.ca/2018/01/09/trr-vancouver_tenants_union/

It's the first episode of Democracy Watch from 2018! Welcome to a new year of adversarial, local news coverage! In this episode we feature an original report on an ant-eviction protest that took place at the Belvedere Court apartment earlier in the week. This protest was put on by the Vancouver Tenants Union and the Belvedere Residents Association in response to the pending eviction of a long-time tenant. The protest was meant to highlight the city's growing trend of evictions through coercion, especially targeting seniors and vulnerable tenants. After this report, the News Collective reflects on the best of our original reporting from 2017!

The Vancouver Tenants Union seeks to build a base of tenants throughout the city to establish political power to create change. Over 50% of Vancouver households are rentals, yet tenants continue to be disempowered and disconnected. In an effort to address this, the Vancouver Tenants Union is committed to educating renters on their rights and standing up to landlords and developers who persistently compromise our security and livelihood. We are fighting for the rights of tenants and the preservation of affordable housing. Everyone, regardless of class, lifestyle, ability, age, gender, race, sexuality, or citizenship deserves a safe, secure, and affordable home. The BC Humanist Association was formed in 1984 and many of our members are not on Meetup. We have a regular attendance of about 30 people at our Sunday meetings (rather than the small number who RSVP on Meetup). Keep up to date with our current topics at http://bchumanist.ca