'We're coming for them': On 2nd anniversary of Winters Hotel fire, former tenants continue to fight for justice
Wendy Gaspard recalls the terrifying moment she had to run for her life, escaping an inferno that destroyed her home and killed her neighbours Mary Ann Garlow and Dennis Guay.
“I look back, and it was horrifying what was behind me,” said Gaspard, who lived on the third floor of the Winters Hotel single-room occupancy (SRO) building.
“I didn’t have time to even go knock on their doors and I heard screaming, and it was horrifying, and it still haunts me today.”
Dozens gathered at the former site of the now torn-down building, and marched through downtown holding signs and chanting slogans demanding justice and better living conditions at SROs.
Earlier this year, a coroner’s inquest found several safety flaws in the building that contributed to the tragedy.
One year ago, former tenant Jennifer Hansma filed a class-action lawsuit as the lead plaintiff against the non-profit property management company Atira, the City of Vancouver and Winters Residence Ltd.
“They need to accept responsibility for what they’ve done,” said Hansma, who says she expects the case to make it to court by September.
“Justice, to me, means that my cat didn’t die in vain. It means Mary and Dennis didn’t die in vain.”
Atira interim CEO Catherine Roome said in a statement: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Ms. Garlow and Mr. Guay, as well as the former tenants and the community, who continue to remember and grieve for those lost. This tragedy has left its mark on the tenants, the community and the entire team at Atira who support them.”
The statement continues by saying Atira fully supports the 25 recommendations made by the jury in the coroner’s inquest and has already made several improvements to fire safety protocols.
Hansma did not provide a figure, but says she and the group are seeking financial compensation for items lost in the fire and emotional suffering.
“We’re coming for them. We’re going to get them,” said Hansma.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Serial sexual offender linked to unsolved 1970s homicides of four Calgary girls, women
An investigation into unsolved historical homicides from the 1970s has linked the deaths of two girls and two young women in and around Calgary to a now-deceased serial offender.
Woman with liver failure rejected for a transplant after medical review highlights alcohol use
For nearly three months, Amanda Huska has been in an Ontario hospital, part of it on life support, because of severe liver failure. Her history of alcohol use is getting in the way of her only potential treatment: a liver transplant.
Video appears to show Sean 'Diddy' Combs beating singer Cassie in hotel hallway in 2016
Security video aired by CNN appears to show Sean 'Diddy' Combs physically assaulting singer Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel hallway in 2016.
Scottie Scheffler isn't the first pro golfer to be arrested during a tournament
Scottie Scheffler's arrest hours before his second-round tee time at the PGA Championship in Louisville, Kentucky, will go down as one of the most shocking in professional golf history. It certainly wasn't the first, though.
B.C. man 'attacked suddenly' by adult grizzly near Alberta border: RCMP
A B.C. man is recovering from multiple injuries after he was "attacked suddenly" by an adult grizzly bear near Elkford Thursday afternoon.
Anglers reel in 3.5-metre-long tiger shark off coast of Florida: 'She found my bait'
A group of fishers said it took roughly 20 minutes to reel in this 3.5-metre-long tiger shark off the coast of Florida.
Australia's richest woman seeks removal of her portrait from exhibition
Art is subjective. And while many artists long to share their work with the world, there's no guarantee that the audience will understand it, or even like it.
Canadian convicted of attacking Nancy Pelosi's husband with a hammer sentenced to 30 years
The man convicted of attempting to kidnap then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and attacking her husband with a hammer was sentenced Friday to 30 years in prison.
Israeli military finds bodies of 3 Gaza hostages killed at music festival
Israeli military says its troops in Gaza found the bodies of three Israeli hostages taken by Hamas during its Oct. 7 attack, including German-Israeli Shani Louk.