Defenseless by design: crime lurks in the shadows, but systems support its existence

I’m sharing my story to raise awareness and push for change. This is a real-life account of housing injustice in Mississauga, Ontario. After my home was demolished without visible permits — despite urgent pleas to police, city officials, and elected representatives — I am continuing to speak out to expose serious accountability failures and systemic neglect impacting vulnerable tenants, especially people living with disabilities. For years, I fought to save my rented home in Streetsville, from what I believed was an unlawful eviction. Some of what I went through was made public during a campaign in 2020–21. The full story is long, but in the ongoing chaos a pending court action was brought against the City of Mississauga and a landlord for alleged failures to disclose important facts in a lease dispute, allegedly causing my home loss.  

Why this Fight Matters

Renters are being pushed to the edge—singles, people with disabilities, and seniors who may not have an option to share rent. In the GTA, a one-bedroom can cost up to $2,300 or more. There’s often nowhere to go, homelessness has doubled since 2021 and seniors are ending up in tents. Renters face insurmountable difficulties. Tenant protections are also very weak. Some city leaders can’t afford to live where they serve—a Waterloo mayor earning $90,000 still lives with her parents. This isn’t just about my story. It’s about a system that’s failing too many, while those in power look the other way. Municipal decisions should not be based on oppression or deception. Those entrusted with power to enforce change are not doing much about it, so real change is unlikely.

What Happened

In August 2019, after I spoke out at a City meeting about a proposed development, NYX Tannery LP—filed a no-fault eviction (N13) against me at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB). I believed I had every right to stay in my home and tried to defend my tenancy. But speaking up came at a cost. I became the target of ongoing harassment. I also filed a human rights complaint, for what I believed was chronic harassment and illegal discrimination—linked to a City by-law that unfairly restricted who I could live with.

What I Faced

There were legal reasons my eviction could have been denied—but they were ignored. It felt like those behind the application and others were determined to strip away any chance I had to remain securely housed. At the same time, NYX and the LTB knew I needed serious surgery. Instead of support and accommodation, I was forced into an impossible choice: fight to stay housed or focus on my health, made worse by the environment. I couldn’t even schedule the procedure, and my life became unbearable. Some details are shared on the video/photo page of this site. What happened to me was part of a larger pattern—a blitzkrieg-style assault on housing rights that goes far beyond this summary.

• Refusals to provide official rent receipts since 2017, non-disclosure of landowner, secret sale(s) prevented accountability

• Constant unannounced streams of people knocking and ringing the doorbell, wandering on property despite posted sign(s) and written requests not to, vehicles driving onto property at all hours of the day or night

• Making property ugly such as tree hacking, failing to maintain, loss of services/facilities, cement blockades

• Verbal and psychological abuse, trauma, long-term silencing - connected to City and landlord non-disclosure, condition of land/chemicals before leasing/occupancy enabled non-compliance with environmental law, apparently required for permit(s) 

• Intimidation, bullying, threats, coercion, illegal entries, home seizure, theft, stalking, all contrary to provincial statutory laws

Denied Fairness, Denied Dignity?

NYX Tannery LP never filed the required evidence to support their claim at the LTB—and to this day, no replacement building permits exist. Yet, the LTB moved forward anyway. Much of my evidence was restricted or made inaccessible. I also faced what looked like a punitive denial of relocation funds through the LTB process. I repeatedly asked at both the LTB and the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO) for disclosure of who the real landlord was, since ownership had allegedly changed hands. I was kept in the dark. Courts and tribunals are not supposed to rule in favour of an unnamed party. But on November 7, 2022, the LTB issued an eviction order anyway. At that time, I still hadn’t been able to receive a life-saving surgery. I was warned that delays could cost me an organ—or worse. Policy decisions and legal processes that knowingly endanger lives—especially when targeting those seen as “less important” or inconvenient—are cruel, coercive, and in my view, an abomination. CTV news reported the City of Toronto told Montcrest residential properties cannot be demolished without replacement building permits.

Terrorizing Residents: A Profitable Business

After the LTB issued an order things escalated. Between November 7–10, 2022, security cameras caught people coming to the house—checking if I was home. Then, on November 10, while I was out, my security system alerted me someone broke in. When I rushed back, I found Mr. Anthony Forgione, connected to Apex Property Management, waiting at the property. He told me he had disabled all the locks and seized the house. He ordered another man to stay inside to block me from re-entering. He demanded I move all of my belongings into storage that same day. I told him what was happening was illegal and called the police for help.

Mr. Forgione told me he was instructed to carry out this plan by NYX Capital Corporation, a developer. Their name was recently changed to Montcrest Asset Management. Montcrest as well as others with non-disclosed interests obviously hoped to stop me appealing. I waited for the police but was told they were delayed. Stuck outside, Mr. Forgione spoke in a threatening manner saying, "You fu_k_d it all up..." He joked in a sinister way about previous times I had to call police for harassment, insinuating they would not do much. He taunted me saying things like, “Take us to court!" Most distressing was when he revealed, "You have several government agencies watching you." I believed what was happening was unconstitutional. I got my place back when police arrived the next day. One officer said he was going to lay a criminal charge on Mr. Forgione as video evidence was available to prove what occurred-but did not. Police only processed an arrest for a man who stayed overnight for theft. Other people brought inside by Mr. Forgione left before police arrived.

Mr. Yashar Fatehi, President and CEO of Montcrest, also attended the residence with Mr. Armin Fatehi, Chief Development Officer, Mr. Tim Jessop, Vice-President of Developments, and Mr. Anthony Forgione to speak to police. Police decided after discussion with Montcrest I had to bring an application to the LTB to remedy illegal activities. I never heard anything more about the theft. There is no police investigation of Montcrest's or Mr. Forgione's actions, but should have been.

Due to an implicit threat of death during LTB proceedings I could not trust the LTB or endure more adverse treatment. Alleged prior mishandling of related human rights issues also convinced me there was little hope of a remedy at the LTB. I began an appeal staying eviction temporarily and finally able to schedule surgery. The appeal was heard March 5, 2024 and a decision in favor of NYX Tannery LP released Aug. 1, 2024.

The HRTO scheduled a hearing after long delay. I believed if I'd been allowed to be heard sooner the "heist" may not have occurred and I'd still have my home. I was also severely distressed about an email leak at the HRTO on April 24, 2023 for a Notice of Hearing. Despite the Registrar instructing me, the City of Mississauga, and NYX Tannery LP to delete the email in question, I could not unsee what I had seen. The email suggested my case appeared to have been unfairly pre-discussed, categorized and sent to someone in government. Circumstances seemed like they were right out of a movie.

The subject line in the HRTO email leak described my case as a "Code Red." I interpreted the email to mean my application had to be disposed of. Chillingly it appeared to confirm what Mr. Forgione said on the night of the break-in. I was being “watched by government agencies” while apparently forced to tolerate crime and human rights abuses. My application was dismissed shortly after. All housing and human rights have remained unenforceable and inaccessible to date. I believed if this were happening to me then likely many people were experiencing similar. I have barely been able to withstand a lengthy assault on my life, but still standing. It seems there is no motivation for systemic change and nothing to deter its abuses.

Justice Delayed is Justice Denied

Then prior development plans used to secure eviction and other decisions were abandoned. Montcrest's website showed new, previously non-disclosed information for 51-57 Tannery St. and 208 Emby Drive in 2024:

"...the Region of Peel has designated the property as a future Major Transit Station Area...The new proposal is to construct two 15-storey mid-rise residential buildings..."

If the public had known about the proposed towers there likely would have been significant opposition as there was in another proposal for eight towers. Other updates on 51 Tannery St., leading up to a fire on Jan. 25, 2025 were described by some as suspicious. Big losses I sustained will need to be part of another update. A petition link below contains more recent info. on 51 Tannery St. The ongoing crisis with affordable rental housing in Ontario remains unsolved and there appears a lack of political will to redress what's causing or contributing to it.

Why I’m Still Speaking Out

From my experience, it’s clear that abuses of power and what appears to be corruption can unfairly shape outcomes and silence people. On March 3, 2025, my house at 51 Tannery was allegedly demolished without permits—an act I believe was unlawful. No permits were posted onsite. I informed police, City Council, and City officials—yet no action was taken. A truck driver on-site even refused to show a permit when asked. These events are not just personal—they’re part of a larger pattern that affects us all. Sharing this story matters because it’s about making sure this doesn’t keep happening—to me, or to anyone else. I lost everything, and I’m not alone. Government failures—when left unchecked—are destroying lives. Everyone needs a safe place to call home. My hope is to use my experience to help others even though I have not recovered or been able to rebuild my life yet after employment and health was damaged. Thank you for your support.

View/share a petition to help demand change: https://www.change.org/StreetsvilleStory

To donate to a recovery fund, email: streetsvillestory@outlook.com