THUNDER BAY — Police used a Taser-like conducted energy device to subdue an armed man in a senior citizens' apartment building earlier this month.
Residents of Paterson Court, a 10-storey, 111-unit building on North May Street, say the incident shows why additional security measures need to be implemented by the District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board.
The board, however, says it has taken appropriate steps to deal with issues as they arise, and is denying some assertions that are being made about conditions in the high-rise.
According to a spokesperson for the tenants, a resident was attacked on Feb. 10 by a drug-induced individual carrying a knife with a 10-inch blade.
"He got to her floor after tearing the common area apart," Linda Gambee said.
"She happened to walk out of her apartment, and he went after her with the knife. Here's a woman who's over 80, who has to try to get back to her apartment to try to close the door. Thank God she made it . . . No one should have to live with that."
Thunder Bay Police confirmed to TBnewswatch that a 49-year-old man was arrested that day on a charge of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
Gambee, secretary of the Paterson Court Tenants Association, said "tenants are fed up with our building, our homes, being invaded by drug addicts. The purchasing and selling of drugs at all hours, day and night, has to stop."
She said security needs to be stepped up before a resident is severely injured or killed.
"We consistently wake up to people sleeping or doing drugs in our common areas or under stairwells. They urinate and defecate wherever they choose," Gambee said.
The problems have worsened over the past three years, she said, to the point that residents are afraid to leave their apartments.
"There are people in the building who are dealing in drugs, and they let [non-tenants] in. They buzz them in or they go down and let them in to bring them to their apartments and sell whatever it is they're selling. We also have some very creative people who are scamming seniors, like 'We're from Shoppers Drug Mart' or 'We have a parcel for you from UPS,' those types of things."
Gambee said the tenants association expressed their concerns last week at a meeting with representatives of the social services board.
"They came to hear what we had to say, and said they would pass it on to higher management. They didn't say they could do anything."
A group of tenants held a demonstration outside Paterson Court during the noon hour on Wednesday, holding up placards with messages such as I Live in Fear, No Drugs, and Take Back our Building.
Bill Bradica, chief administrative officer of the District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board, issued an initial statement in response to an inquiry from TBnewswatch about the residents' complaints.
He said the board works with Thunder Bay Police to address criminal or inappropriate activity at its properties as situations arise.
"Our housing team works with tenants to identify ways to help mitigate any issues and offer support. TBDSSAB has added cameras at its properties and footage is shared with police as required."
But Bradica said there are many misconceptions about what landlords are allowed to do under the Residential Tenancies Act in these situations.
"For example, we often hear that tenants should be screened, and visitors should be limited. It would be discriminatory to screen tenants based on their substance-use health, and we cannot stop tenants from having visitors."
Bradica said the increase in criminal activity impacts residents of private market and community housing alike.
"We are grateful to the police services for their support when incidents take place in our properties," he added.
In a followup statement, Bradica refuted some of the allegations made about recent incidents at Paterson Court.
"Based on our camera footage, the common room was not damaged. There have not been multiple incidents of feces in halls or stairways as reported. There was only one occurrence in the last six months that was dealt with promptly the same day."
He added that there's a full-time custodian in the building who walks through halls and stairwells, "and has never reported any individuals found sleeping or using drugs, nor is that evident from our camera footage."
There are 90 cameras in the building, throughout the interior and exterior of the property.
Bradica also said tenants have been made aware of the after-hours emergency contact line to call for security personnel or administration to attend as needed, and that this has been in place for many years.
"We share the tenants' concerns about the two very serious incidents that were reported to police," he said, "and security actions have been taken at this property."
NOTE: A previous version of this story has been updated with additional comments provided by the District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board
