Banner Making and Drop-In Event:

Socially Distanced of Course!

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The UVic Tenant Action Group and Victoria Tenant Action Group invite you to gather for an afternoon sign-making and drop-in event. We are coming together to build community, discuss issues directly affecting renters, and make signs and banners in support of housing justice.

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This is an outdoor event, so we will postpone if the weather is bad. There will be single-serving food, bus tickets, social distancing, masks and sanitizer, and great people of course! All sign-making and other supplies will be provided. If you have specific requests to participate (such as special transportation fare), please reach out to us at tenants.victoria@gmail.com

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When: Saturday October 3 2020, 11 am-2 pm

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Where: Centennial Square

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Why a Teach-In? Why now?

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In response to the ongoing housing crisis and the lifting of B.C.'s pandemic-related eviction moratorium, VTAG and UVicTAG are taking a stand with the following demands:

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1. No evictions during COVID

The COVID crisis has exacerbated the already uneven power dynamic between tenants and landlords. BC’s eviction moratorium stopped some evictions from happening, but failed to protect all those at risk of eviction. Now, the eviction moratorium is lifting while COVID numbers are rapidly rising and the economy remains in crisis. VTAG is demanding a ban on all evictions during the COVID economic crisis.

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2. Cancel rent & erase rent debt

The inability to pay rent during this crisis should not be understood as a collection of individual failures, but as a result of the crises of capitalist speculation and government deregulation - the housing crisis is just one of many intersecting layers of crises that this pandemic has pushed to a breaking point. We demand that the cost of this pandemic not be borne by people in poverty while landlords profiteer from our monthly payments, and the government offers billions in corporate bailouts.

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3. Shelter in place, now and always

VTAG demands that all people, whether they are housed, or living in a tent or a vehicle, must be able to shelter in place, at all times of day, without penalty. Addressing homelessness means making affordable housing available - and this housing must not simply warehouse people, but offer autonomy, self-determination and dignity.

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4. Landlord accountability

Recognizing housing as a human necessity, a common good, and a fundamental right means democratizing housing and bringing it under public control. This is a process that can begin by implementing greater accountability for those who are landlords under the current system.

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We demand real housing justice for all. Not just during the pandemic, but always.

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We hope to see you there on October 3!

 

R.S.V.P. on Facebook

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For questions or more information, e-mail tenants.victoria@gmail.com

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Notes on accessibility for this event at Centennial Square

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For more information you can contact us or try contacting the City of Victoria.

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This event is in an open-air, public event. The sensory environment cannot be controlled. While attendees will be expected to socially distance and practice good COVID-19 hygiene protocol, the actions of others sharing this public space cannot be controlled.

 

Children are welcome but no organized childcare is provided.

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There is a pay phone on Fisgard Ave. east of Government St.

 

There are some small areas that are designated no-smoking, near the Government/ Fisgard corner of the square.

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Centennial Parkade has elevator access to Centennial Square. A vehicle could stop temporarily for a drop-off on Government St. (northbound lane) between Fisgard and Pandora, where there is a ramped curb providing access to the sloped walkway that leads to the square. There is also a passenger 2-minute drop-off zone on Pandora just east of Government, but the 2-lane bike lane is between the drop-off spot and the ramped curb that leads to the sidewalk. Pay

parking is available on the streets around the square.

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More parking info: https://www.victoria.ca/EN/main/residents/parking/parkades.html

The square has numerous benches as seating. There are some covered outdoor spaces in the square, but they do not have seating and the ground is concrete.

 

There is public transit access on Douglas Street, and an access ramp to get to the square from Douglas Street, about half a block's walk into the square.

 

There is a public outdoor sink with soap and potable water in the square, but this may not be accessible from a wheelchair.

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There are bike racks in various locations around the square.

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There are security guards on site.

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There are public washrooms available, but no gender-neutral washrooms. The washrooms are accessed by ramps but they are in slightly narrow hallways. There are grab rails on the way to the "men's" washroom but not to the "women's". The washroom doors are heavy, open with a handle that has to

turn, and do not open automatically. The washrooms have safe needle disposal sites. Washrooms are brightly lit, and have a large stall for wheelchair access. The sinks are high, with room for wheelchairs underneath. The "women's" washroom has a porthole on the door so people can see into the washroom

space. The "women's" washroom has a baby changing table. There is no hand sanitizer available in the washroom but there is soap and water.