GUEST BLOGGER POST: In the Spirit of the Holiday Season – an Open Letter to Brian and Chloe
My parents were evicted the night before Christmas Eve. With 24 hours notice.
I know. I can’t believe it either.
My parents, sixty years old, responsible, quiet, professionally employed, property owners and their sweet and quiet terrier, were evicted under the banner of “the Spirit of Love and Peace”.
The day before Christmas.
This action was taken by Brian – someone I thought was my friend, with no discussion, no given opportunity for my parents to tell their side of the story and no compensation other than the return of their rent for the month of December. Illegal, yes, but my parents chose to leave rather than fight. He made this decision based on unfounded accusations by his other roommate, Chloe.
All of the above characters who made this ridiculous decision spend their days looking for “truth, peace and love” – talking about “what IT is”. None of that love was evident when my parents were asked to leave with no clear indication of why other than Chloe felt “uncomfortable” with my parents. IÂ should perhaps note that this is a 29 year old woman who rarely leaves her room unless it is to discuss her “feelings”. All I have ever seen her do is make tea and complain about her sorry lot in life.
Without going into family history, like most people that make it to their senior years, my parents have been through a lot. Very rarely have I ever seen my father so down as he was on this Christmas Eve. Putting down a mattress on my living room floor with everything he owns in Vancouver piled around him.
My parents had moved out here for one of their golden adventures. My Mom, a seasonal flight attendant got posted to Vancouver for the winter. Two weeks ago the two of us drove from Ontario across country. My Dad flew out this week. They were really excited at the prospect of being in the same town as their little girl once again. Fiercely independent, they were not interested in shacking up with her.
I am posting here because while I am hurt and angered with the above scene, I also wanted tell you about the wonderful aftermath.
Brent, a rowing friend took in my parents dog, willfully and happily without question or complaint. Jon, my friend and ex-boyfriend, lives in a small apartment off of Commercial Drive and he was also willing to take in Bucky, despite having a dog already sharing his tiny space.
My friend Tyler, was on the msn horn in minutes providing my parents with contacts to dog friendly apartments in Vancouver. They actually saw one good prospect that was willing to take them in on Christmas Day and are visiting two more solid prospects today. As of now they feel pretty confident that they will be out of my living room by tomorrow.
What I really want to say is that people can talk about “Peace and Love and Truth” until you are blue in the face. But it is the actions that we are defined by. I have been really touched this holiday season, once again, by the people in my life that come out of the woodwork to help out when I need them the most. In an often jaded and sometimes lonely city it is nice to know that angels still exist and that they are looking out for all of us. For it is the angels that can best help us to define “Peace, Love and Truth” – perhaps Brian and Chloe can take a lesson from them.
xoxox
Lara
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When you told me this story, I just couldn’t believe it. That’s the ugliest thing I’ve heard anyone do in a long time.
Please give your parents a hug for me… I know they’ll find something fantastic. (Even better than what they had, I’m sure!)
And, like you, I find it completely incredible the lengths my friends will go when disaster strikes. We’re both so lucky.
My heart goes out to your parents Lara. Part of my training in law takes me into the murky depths of the BC Residential Tenancy Act: and what a murky place that is. Your parents are very lucky to find a place, even leads to a place on such short notice–this time of year in Vancouver. Like money and love (sexual in nature), rented space in the Lower Mainland is the crux of evil in many circles. I have seen good people become so obsessed with property value, that life long friendships have ended over Real Estate.
Over the last two years, I have fought some twelve battles in the RTB as a facilitator, arguing in front of arbitrators the stories, one similar to yours, and I am amazed at how inconsistent they are in their rulings. The laws in our jurisdiction are ambiguous at best–done so deliberately–as our current government has slowly changed the focus from the tenant, to the land lord.
In my world, one case so far has been appealed to Provincial Court, while the other’s were some what predicable. Money arguments are easy to argue, and are handled with summary conviction. Everything else in the Act, well, that is the ambiguous part…. To Argue the part about enjoying the peace and enjoyment of one’s land is almost going to land in Provincial Court because the government has so far refused to rewrite the Act to reflect this growing social trend. So, if you are a Land Lord, this part of the legislation can be a very useful tool for evictions, especially when rent increases are pass due.
Our Right Winged Government has made the choice to stay the side of property owners, as in money, investment and value now play the dominate rule in Arbitration. Non-property owners are reduced to lesser status, and are treated accordingly.
This is a very difficult situation to be in, especially during the holiday season. It is amazing that no matter how hard the Bull-%&$# seems to fly, when you have family, friends and hope, nothing can stop you, (or it). Perhaps this is what true justice is–family values and friends? Never underestimate them, they don’t judge.
ok, that’s just wrong. i hope your parents find something supremely perfect for them and their little dog.
michele sent me.