John Tory,
Deputy Mayor Ana Bailão
Mike Layton & Gord Perks (because you’re audiophiles)
Janie Romoff, General Manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation
Mary Ann Bedard, Shelter Support Housing Administration
As musicians and music workers who’ve been hosted by Toronto’s vibrant - yet on hiatus- music community, we know as well as anyone how vulnerable this global pandemic and public health crisis has made many of us. Most of us, however, have a roof over our heads.
We are writing to you today in solidarity with our unhoused neighbours surviving through the pandemic and bitter cold in the encampments around Toronto. We demand the city declare a moratorium on encampment evictions, and stop the seizure of basic survival equipment, including Tiny Shelters, Foam Domes, tents.
Throughout a global pandemic, the City of Toronto has refused unhoused people access to water, basic sanitation and survival gear, and instead made life increasingly difficult for people living in encampments. We know that the city’s winter plan offers only 560 indoor spots for people living outside, yet over 1000 people are currently unhoused. The shelter system is at capacity, and yet more people are being evicted from their housing every day.
Now the city is asking some people to make an impossible choice: Go inside and risk dying of COVID in an unsafe emergency shelter or stay outside and freeze to death. While confiscating the only winter shelters the community has come together to provide to the encampments.
Clearing life saving shelters which provide warmth is not a solution. Tiny shelters and tents are people’s property. People depend on their social ties and community bonds to survive. This is an abuse of power and direct act of violence. Shelters are full. This means that the city does not have enough spots inside right now for all the people living outside.
We fund the city’s housing workers, Parks Ambassadors, and shelter programs. The city cannot commit these acts of violence on our behalf. We want to see the clearings stopped until we have safe shelter developed in consultation with the residents and their advocates.
Even the CDC still recommends that encampments not be cleared: "Unless individual housing units are available, do not clear encampments during community spread of COVID-19. Clearing encampments can cause people to disperse throughout the community and break connections with service providers. This increases the potential for infectious disease spread."
Most importantly, Toronto is built on stolen Indigenous land, on Dish With One Spoon territory. Many of the people surviving outside are Indigenous people, and forcibly displacing them from their land is part of an ongoing legacy of colonial violence. They have an inherent right to live where they feel best.
The undersigned,
Simone Schmidt, Fiver
Simone TB, Partner
Skye Wallace
Nathan Doucet, EDDY, Aquakultre, Scott Hardware, Tica Holiday, Heaven For Real
Nico Elliot-Armstrong
Sara Frank, Lavender Bruisers
Kritty Uranowski, Lavender Bruisers
Inez Genereux, Nezzy
Jill Harris, The O’Pears, Dwayne Gretzky, Illyin Pipes
Nick Dourado, Budi, EDDY, Aquakultre
Steven Foster, Omhouse
Sameer Cash
Jesse Crowe
Julia Whitmann
Robert Grieve, Blastronaut
Teagan Johnston, (fka Little Coyote)
Charlotte Smith
Scott Harwood, Scott Hardware
Charles Tilden, Delta Will
Brendan Canning, Broken Social Scene
of The Encampment Support Network
With:
Leslie Feist, Feist
Kevin Hearn, Barenaked Ladies
Jon Gallant, Billy Talent
Ben Kowalewicz, Billy Talent
Ian D'Sa, Billy Talent
Aaron Solowoniuk, Billy Talent
Chris Murphy, Sloan, TUNS
Jay Ferguson, Sloan
Andrew Scott, Sloan
Patrick Pentland, Sloan
Kevin Drew, Broken Social Scene
Jim Cuddy, Blue Rodeo
Brian Murphy, Alvvays
Alec O'Hanley, Alvvays
Molly Rankin, Alvvays
Peter Sagar, Homeshake
Chippynonstop
Liz Ball, Dilly Dally
Benjamin Reinhartz, Dilly Dally
Kathleen Monks, DIlly Dally
Jimmy Tony, Dilly Dally
Mike O’Neill, TUNS
Steven Lambke, You've Changed Records/Constantines
Moe Berg, The Pursuit of Happiness
Alaska B, YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN
Joanna Delos Reyes, Pantayo and Yamantaka// Sonic Titan
Mike Skwark, smrtdeath
Joshua Wells, Lightning Dust, Destroyer, Autogramm
Ron Hawkins, Lowest of the Low
Lawrence Nichols, Lowest of the Low
Owen Pallett
Jose Contreras, By Divine Right
Geordie Dynes, By Divine Right
Hayden Menzies, METZ
Maylee Todd
Steven Sladkowsi, PUP
Stefan Babcock, PUP
Nestor Chumak, PUP
Zack Mykula, PUP
Jay Schwarzer, Cancer Bats
Liam Cormier, Cancer Bats
Lido Pimienta
Andy Shauf
Bria Salmena, Orville Peck/Frigs/Sigil
Kyle Connolly, Orville Peck/The Highest Order
Torquil Campbell, Stars
Cameron Reed, Arts and Crafts
Serena Ryder
Jason Collett
Tim Darcy, Ought
Tim D’Eon, Wintersleep
Loel Campbell, Wintersleep
Matt Mays
Haviah Mighty
Hannah Georgas, Beetle Bomb Music Inc
Mitch DeRosier, Born Ruffians
Emmett O’Reilly, Pkew Pkew Pkew
Doug MacGregor, City and Colour/Constantines
Marta Cikojevic, Tops
Marta Cikovic, TOPS
David Cariere, Tops
Justin Small, Do Make Say Think
Meg Remy, U.S. Girls
Peter Dreimanis, July Talk
Leah Fay Goldstein, July Talk
Katie Stelmanis, Austra
Anthony Carone, Arkells
Mike Haliechuk, Fucked Up
Sandy Miranda, Fucked Up
Jonah Falco, Fucked Up
Josh Zucker, Fucked Up
Damian Abraham, Fucked Up
Ben Cook, Fucked Up
Ashanti Mutinta, Backxwash
Hayden Desser, Hayden
Ian Docherty, July Talk
Dave Bidini, Rheostatics
Basia Bulat
Chad VanGaalen
Lucy Niles, Partner
Josee Caron, Partner
Kyle Peters, Father Christmas
Mark Grundy, Heaven For Real
Jenn Nucum
Julian Taylor
Robb Johannes, Paint
Niko Stratis, Switchblade Music Group
Joshua Salter, Nap Eyes
Evan Elliot, Penhorn Summer
Sara Frank, Lavender Bruisers
Jon Schouten, Telephone Explosion Records
Joseph Elaschuk, Sahara
Andrew Wilson, Sahara
Edan Scime Stokell, Sahara
Matt Learoyd, Motorists
Meg Contini, The O’Pears
Lydia Persaud
Nick Rose, Dwayne Gretzky, Teen Ravine
Tyler Kyte, Dwayne Gretzky
Densil McFarlane, The OBGMs
Brighid Fry, Moscow Apartment
Nigel Chapman, Nap Eyes
Mick Hutchinson, The Bare Minimum
Stefanie Purificati, Agent, APA Canada
Jenna Strautman, Tanblonde, Skye Wallace
Gina Kennedy, Altered By Mom
Devon Lougheed, Altered By Mom
Jonathan Pappo, Hooded Fang, Scott Hardware
Scott Grundy, Heaven For Real
Steve Sidoli, Teenanger
Carlyn Bezic, Ice Cream, Jane Inc
Amanda Crist, US Girls, Ice Cream
Joelle, Ten Moon
Kat Burns, KASHKA
Kat Estacio, Pantayo
Halina Katz, HEX
Julie Mackinnon, Sahara
Kris Rose, El / ☽Ag47, nêhiyawak / House Of Trade
Dorothea Paas
Michael Rancic, Journalist/New Feeling Co-op
Colin Medley, Long Winter
Phil Hamilton, Beard Closet
Denholm Whale, Odonis Odonis
Dusty Lee Norsworthy, Slash Need
Kieran Adams, Diana / New Nails
Paul Erlichman, Elrichman
Martha M Ramsay, For Esmé
Kristina Ileana Koski, Blonde Elvis, CHANDRA, Praises
Carmel Farahbakhsh, EVERYSEEKER Festival, Director
Nik Basset, EVERYSEEKER Festival, Director
Mar Sellars, Mar On Music
Henri Fabergé, Hank the Kid
James Bunton, Producer
Stacey Howchin, STACEY
Will Hunter, Nutrients
Jesse Northey, Victory Pool Music
Adrienne LaBelle, Mint Records
Ryan Dyck, Mint Records
Randy Iwata, Mint Records
Michael le Riche, Fake Palms/Sauna
Vish Khanna, Kreative Kontrol
Paul Mortimer, The Highest Order
Andy Scott, Biblical
Else Gabermichael, Wild Black
Lexi Jay, Featurette
Jon Fedorson, Featurette
Carl Didur, Zacht Automaat/ECH Repairs
Aerin Fogel, Venus Fest/Queen of Swords
Andrew McGill, Glass Sliper/Tess Parks/Bad River
Ed Squires, US Girls, Badge Epoque Ensemble
Trevor Blumas, DoomSquad/ PORCH Media
Steven Lind, Freak Heat Waves
Michelle Cruz, Pantayo
Maggie Smith, Slash Need
Bry Webb, Constantines/Bry Webb
Cindy Li, Ciel
Colin Morgan, Vallens/Cellphone
Rachel Weldon, DEBASER
All members, HEX/No Mean City
Liam Betson, Titus Andronicus
Jane Penny, TOPS
Grant Danyluk, Black Cloud
Max Pittet, Broken Egg
Jensen Fridfinnson, Yes We Mystic
Jill Krajewski, Journalist
Robin Dann, Bernice
Nyssa White-Patterson, NYSSA
Sam Coffey, Sam Coffey & The Iron Lungs
Liam Doyle, Sam Coffey & The Iron Lungs
Connor Glen, Sam Coffey & The Iron Lungs
Richard Thomas Stanley, Sam Coffey & The Iron Lungs
Joel French, Sam Coffey & The Iron Lungs
Dave Tyson, Sam Coffey & The Iron Lungs
Cale Elliott-Armstrong, Lucy Jinx
Julia Wittmann, For Jane
Alex Durlak, Idée Fixe Records
Lysh Haugen, Long Winter Music and Arts Festival
Amy Gottung, Long Winter Music and Arts Festival
Linda Paolucci, Long Winter Music and Arts Festival
William Andrew Finlay Stewart Long Winter Music and Arts Festival
Mikhail Chernov, Long Winter Music and Arts Festival
Emilia Kayko, Long Winter Music and Arts Festival
Sameen Mahboubi, Long Winter Music and Arts Festival
Maya Skarzenski, Long Winter Music and Arts Festival
Tristan Sauer, Long Winter Music and Arts Festival
Marie Sotto, Long Winter Music and Arts Festival
BRETT ZADRAVETZ, BLOB RECORDS/MR.JOY
Adam seward, Musician / Filmmaker
Maximilian Turnbull, Badge Époque Ensemble
Karen Ng
Rane Elliott-Armstrong, LITTLE JUNIOR
Chai Elliott-Armstrong, LITTLE JUNIOR
Zoe Grossman, LITTLE JUNIOR
Jackson Beyer, LITTLE JUNIOR
Anni Spadafora, New Fries
Jay Anderson, BadgeEpoqueEnsemble/Biblical/Lammping/Stonegrass
Katelyn Molgard, Bad Waitress
Nicole Cain, Bad Waitress
Eva Moon, Bad Waitress
Kali-Ann Butala, Bad Waitress
Katie Munshaw, Dizzy
Charles Spencer, Dizzy
Alexander Spencer, Dizzy
Mackenzie Spencer, Dizzy
Francesco Figliomeni, The Elwins
Shaun Brodie, Queer Songbook Orchestra
Jonathan Shedletzky, Arts & Crafts Productions; Boiled Records
Avalon Tassonyi, Inland Island
Noah Reid
Matt Bobkin, Exclaim!
Brooke Morgan, Graceless Lady Management
Cam Laurie, Stuck Out Here
Chris Chin, Edmund Stay,
Liam Cole, LiLi
Alia O'Brien, Blood Ceremony
Dan Fortin, Bernice
Linnea Siggelkow, Ellis
Brandon Williams, Chastity
Jonathan Adjemian, Jennifer Castle Band
Hannah Kim, Luna Li
Josh Korody, Owner, Candle Recording/Beliefs/Nailbiter
Dave Thiel, FOH/Sound
Alex Low, Slash Need
Madeline Link, PACKS
Derek Downham
Peter Elkas
Lance Sampson, Aquakultre
Anna Gutmanis, Ban-Anna Records/Artists 4 Racial Equality
Charlotte Cornfield
Brad Loughead, Nap Eyes/Homeshake/Penhorn Summer
Richard Cureton, Revolver Films
Nathan Lawr, Minotaurs
Akosua Adasi, Club Quarantine
Carena Siera, Club Quarantine
Brad Allen, Club Quarantine
Casey MQ, Club Quarantine
Cheryl Hann, Heaven For Real
Aleda DeRoche, Sound Engineer
Felicity Williams, Bahamas/Bernice
Jenn Kitagawa, Eyeballs
Lukas Cheung, Mothertongues/Hollowfest
Jon Bartlett, Kelp Management/Megaphono Fest
Adam Hanrahan, Retired
Laura Barrett
David Oswald, Bad Hoo
Nick Schofield, Saxyndrum
Krystal Jax, Brigitte Bardon't
Tica Holiday
Paul Saulnier, PS I Love You
Erin Caroll, Manager
Joel Harrower, Highs/Joel in Blue
David Newberry
Sage Kim, Laquer Channel Mastering
Matthew Doc Dunn, The Cosmic Range
Peter Carruthers, Art and Crafts
Heather Kelly, Valeo Arts Management
Joshua Howe, Valeo Arts Management
Aaron Goldstein, Baldwin Street Sound
Zeul Mordasiewicz, Vember
Guillermo Subauste, Producer
Taylor Knox
Sam Bielanski, PONY
David Dacks, The Music Gallery
Trevor Turple, Trevor Turple
Zach Bines, Weaves/Sauna
Jenn Pressey, Manager
Geordie Dynes, By Divine Right
Menno Versteeg, Royal Mountain Records
Adam "Bix" Berger, Royal Mountain Records
Marc Cremonese ,Royal Mountain Records
Dina Young, Royal Mountain Records
Conor Mackie, Royal Mountain Records
Brianna Harris, Royal Mountain Records
Christina Zalec, Royal Mountain Records
Tom Avis, Royal Mountain Records
Luka Kuplowsky
Alex McKenzie, Petraglynt
Patrick Grant, Rogue Tenant/Sportsfan/Twist
Meagan Davidson, Tiny Kingdom Music Inc.
Rachael Cardiello, ZINNIA
Paul Ramirez, The Flatliners
Wes Marskell, The Darcys
Jason Couse, The Darcys
Raffa Weyman, RALPH
Jenn Pressy, Bernie Breen Management
John Crossingham, Not Of
Derek Westerholm, Psychic Weapons
Psychic Weapons, Producer/Engineer
Phoenix Pagliacci, TRP.P
Matt McLaren, Biblical/The Big Sound
Niki Prekop, Freelance Sound Engineer
Jaina Tharakan, Madame Psychosis
Leanne Simpson
Anna Edwards, Dusted
Anna Mayberry, Anamai
Pascal Padilla, Moscow Apartment
Ian Daniel Kehoe, The Weather Station/Ian Daniel Kehoe
Graeme Langdon, The Pink Noise
Matt Bod, The Lizard Queens
Kris Haig, The Lizard Queens
Joey McGrath, The Lizard Queens
Dale Semple, The Lizard Queens
Micajah Sturgess, Queer Songbook Orchestra
Brooke Manning, LOOM
Victoria Cheong, New Chance, Healing Power Records
Thom Gill, Queer Songbook Orchestra/Bernice/Thom Gill
Haxan
Graham Van Pelt
Christine Bougie, Bahamas
Tara Kannangara
Katie McBride
Jeremie Albino
Micah Erenberg
Ben Kunder
Dylan Frankland, Tallies
Louis Percival, Onakabazien / The Worst
Graham Walsh, Holy F*ck, Etiquette, Baskitball 4 Life
Evan Cartwright
Arianna Rueda
Ansley Simpson
Tim Westberg
Andrea Ramolo
Sophia Katz, Ferrari Garden
Daniel Lee, Hooded Fang/Phedre/Lee Paradise
Yvonne Matsell, Promoter
Thalia Coryn, Prancer
Cass Beau
Johnny Spence, Queer Songbook Orchestra/Composer
Kiwi Jr
Adam Hindle
Mingjia Chen, Mingjia
Alex Martenstyn
Rodrigo-Fernandez Stoll, Fog and Lasers, Actor/Comedian
Carleigh Aikins, Dwayne Gretzky, La Force, Ben Kunder, Jeremie Albino
Mike Duffield, Beams
Anna Mērnieks, Beams
Brian Borcherdt, Holy Fuck/Dusted
Tamara Lindeman, The Weather Station
Jamie Kacor, Mindful MCs
Josh Finlayson, The Skydiggers
Brian Cuddy
Shawn William Clark
Romy Lightman, Tasseomancy
Sari Lightman, Tasseomancy
Yves Jarvis
Anna Horvath, Merival
Nicholas McKinlay, Fast Romantics
Dave Plowman, Patchwork Sound
Simon Outhit
Steve Lavery
Jasper Smith
Rich DaSilva
Stefanie McCarrol, Brave Shores, BART
Michael Peter Olsen, Our Founders
Kris Ulrich
Mara Nesrallah, Decoration Day, Anna
Kaïa Kater
Jason Jang, The Beachmen
Bryn Jennings, Green Girl
Ben VanBuskirk, Blackout Orchestra
Iulia ciobanu, Cherry Blaster
Julie Arsenault
Alex Samaras, Tryal/Grex/Queer Songbook Orchestra
David Wall, The Bourbon Tabernacle Choir, The Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band
Yoshi Maclear Wall
Michael C. Duguay
Melanie St-Pierre, Casper Skulls
Neil Bednis, Casper Skulls
Aurora Bangarth, Casper Skulls
Fraser McClean, Casper Skulls
Christina Bell, Chrissy
David Macintosh, Kashew Butter
Sydanie
Holly Hudson, Valeo Arts Management
Alisa Gayle
Sharon Nutzati, Caren
Hilary Fong, cutsleeve
Amanda Rheaume
Nirmala Basnayake, controller.controller
Kalyn Fantasia, Somewherelse
Lee Rose, Ace of Wands
Rollie Pemberton, Cadence Weapon
Lana Mauro
Pat O'Brien, Jaunt
Thomas Helliwell, Jaunt
Caitlin Woelfle O'Brien, Jaunt
Duncan Hood, Jaunt
Nick Nausbaum, Jaunt
Daniel Reardon, Jaunt
Dondrea Erauw, Instinct Entertainment
Belinda Corpuz
Ruhee Dewji
Kate Palumbo
Adam Baldwin
Michael Barclay
Matt Rideout, A&B Sound Studios and Stream Tune
Kevin Black, Fast Romantics
Max Mertens
Thomas Kelly, Tired Kid
Taylor Nelles-McGee
Chris Pruden, Tara Kannangara, ZINNIA, Future Machines
Joshua Cockerill, Animal Parts, Runaway Twain
Lenny Bull
Diana Chan McNally, Automaticamore
Claire Doyle, Claire Davis, YUKA
Tafari Anthony
Maryam Said, Poolblood
Sarah Ford, Leather Jacuzzi
Aimée Claxton
Chaka V. Grier, Journalist (Bandcamp, SOCAN, Musicworks, NOW)
Jacob Morgan
Heather Mazhar, Beams, Fern Tips
Megan Bonnell
Saffron Aldred, Saffron A
Harrison Forman, Mr. Joy, Hieronymus Harry
Jamie Drake, TorQ Percussion Quartet
Adrian C.N. Barry, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Gauche
Stefan Hegerat
Lisa Conway, L CON
Parmida Kakavand, Päter
Jonas Bonnetta, Evening Hymns, Port William Sound
Kenny Boothby, Little Kid
Amy Fort
Sally Shaar, MONOWHALES
Jordan Circosta, MONOWHALES
Zach Zanardo, MONOWHALES
Alex Baigent, Westelaken
Rob McLay, Westelaken
Jordan Seccareccia, Westelaken
Lucas Temor, Westelaken
Alexa Dirks, Begonia
Jordaan Mason
Danika Vandersteen
Kate Killet - POSI VIBEZ
Richard Haubrich
Cayley Thomas
Adrienne McLaren, Silver Pools
Todd Macdonald, Silver Pools
Miranda Crabtree, Silver Pools
Jaron Freeman-Fox
Alex Southey
Thom Varey, Varey Sound, Illyin Pipes
Nick Harris, First Base
Fraser Wynne, First Base
Mike Simpson, First Base
Patrick McCormack, First Base
Brad Kilpatrick
Julie Fader
Julie Title
Steve Chahley, engineer, mixer, producer
Mack Longpre, Tara Kannangara, ZINNIA
Sarah Cripps
Devon Pelley
Laura C. Bates, Völur
Gavin Gardner, Wooden Sky, All Day Coconut
Rayna Elizabeth, Imperial Ashes
Andrew Lauzon, Imperial Ashes
Drew Hallenbeck, Imperial Ashes
Greg Olsen, Imperial Ashes
Nick Chiarore, Imperial Ashes
Rob Dickson
Sarah Burke, SiriusXM
Sara Bortolon-Vettor, Bonnie Trash
Emma Bortolon-Vettor, Bonnie Trash
Jessy Bell Smith, Skydiggers
Casey Mecija
Aaron Comeau, Skydiggers, The Trailer
Wolf Saga
Eirene Cola, Pantayo
Claire Whitehead
Dustin Seabrook
Pat Sloan, Cassius Sounds, Good People
Jude Coombe, Starfish Entertainment
Michael Barclay, music writer and author, The Never-Ending Present
Laura Hermiston, Twist
Nick Grottick
Kyla Charter
Dynesti Williams
Mike Nelson, manager
