Kwantlen Park Manor tenants speak at public hearing against redevelopment and displacement.
Surrey, BC – Kwantlen Park Manor tenants appealed to Surrey City Council urging them to halt the redevelopment proposal that could displace them. Council ignored concerns raised by Surrey families and granted third-reading approval of the project after last night’s public hearing. The proposal for two 6-storey condo and market-rental towers would replace the 31-unit apartment building that is home to dozens of families.
Seven of the affected tenants spoke on behalf of their families and their neighbors. They cited lack of affordable rental options to turn to and how displacement would affect their families, as well as residents with special needs and children attending nearby schools.
“I have lived here for over two years. We haven’t been told anything about what is happening to us tenants. I have three young children and am the only one who works in my family. Two of my kids go to the nearby school. When I told my daughter we may need to move, she burst out crying. She doesn’t want to be the new kid in school again. Having to move will traumatize my kids and will affect all of us,” said Abdul Arabzad, a tenant at Kwantlen Park Manor.
Council did not address concerns raised about the developer’s non-compliance with the city’s rental housing redevelopment policy. Nor did they answer questions about the city’s failure to properly inform tenants about the public hearing.
“The owner hasn’t given us information about their plan or what that means for us. This proposal will create chaos for our family. We also have children in school who will be affected. How do we find a 2-bedroom to rent for what we pay now? We don’t have the income to afford higher rent, so this creates misery for us. The building owner should give us options. Either offer us a place at the same rent or provide us with financial assistance to find a place to live. We need time to make decisions for our families,” said Suh Ngwa, another tenant at Kwantlen Park Manor.
The building owner’s application raises serious red flags. The proposed plan for tenants does not comply with the city’s rental housing redevelopment policy. Neither the city nor the developer has properly informed tenants about development timelines or processes.
Most of the current residents are families who stand to lose not only direly needed affordable rental housing for low-income residents, but many would have to uproot children attending nearby elementary and secondary schools. Some have children with special needs or are seniors who cannot afford to move. Many of them are immigrants; some are relative newcomers to Canada who experience language barriers.
The disruption posed to families as currently proposed undermines the city’s mission to increase affordable housing for Surrey residents. Among the top concerns are:
The developer’s proposal for tenants ignores the tenant profile.
The developer is proposing to replace Kwantlen Park Manor, a 31-unit apartment building, with two 6-storey towers with 138 strata condo and market-rate rental units. However, the proposal includes only 10 below-market rental units to offer existing tenants. Under city policy, the developer should be providing tenants the right to return to 31 affordable rental units.
Approximately 65% of apartments in Kwantlen Park Manor are 2-bedroom units that predominantly house families who have lived there for years. Under the developer’s proposal, 9 out of the 10 below-market rental units would be 1-bedroom units. The proposal does not accommodate the current family mix at Kwantlen Park Manor.
Tenants say they have low incomes and pay below market-rate rents at Kwantlen Park Manor. The average market rent for a 2-bedroom in Surrey is $2,400, which tenants say they cannot afford.
Tenants have not been provided with a copy of the developer’s occupancy summary, communications plan, or tenant relocation plan that the city requires developers to submit as part of their development application. Without an opportunity to review these plans, tenants have no way of knowing whether the developer has provided accurate information to city staff.
Failure of communication runs afoul of city policy.
Tenants are ill-informed about the building owner’s redevelopment plan. They have not been informed about key dates in the development timeline or told what the tenant relocation plan is or how it may impact their families. Under the city’s rental housing and redevelopment policy, the developer is required to communicate clearly and regularly about their plans.
Tenants have not received notice from the City of Surrey about the public hearing as required by the Community Charter and city policy. Tenants were unaware of the upcoming public hearing at City Hall until UNITE HERE Local 40 informed them about the meeting.
Tenants report receiving only one letter from their property manager by email on November 29. However, the letter failed to disclose any key dates, such as when the proposed application would be introduced to Council. Tenants were not alerted that the date of first and second reading was on December 2 or that the developer amended the plan by expanding the size of the project in a proposal submitted to Council on December 16. The city also failed to send notices about the amended proposal to stakeholders as typically required.
Kwantlen Park Manor is owned by an affiliate of Surrey-based RBI Group and their development arm, Jayen Properties. RBI Group is the applicant behind the rezoning and development permit proposal before Council.
UNITE HERE Local 40 represents hospitality workers across the province, including many who live in Surrey. Local 40 also represents workers who are on strike at Radisson Blu Vancouver Airport, which is majority owned by an affiliate of RBI Group.
http://www.uniteherelocal40.org/wp-content/uploads/local40logo-300x155.png00Michelle Travishttp://www.uniteherelocal40.org/wp-content/uploads/local40logo-300x155.pngMichelle Travis2025-01-14 11:27:052025-01-14 11:28:57Press Release: Surrey City Council has no response for Surrey families
Dease Lake, BC – Workers at Red Chris Mine, unionized with UNITE HERE Local 40, have overwhelmingly ratified a groundbreaking new contract with 99% support. This agreement establishes a new benchmark for camp workers’ wages and working conditions in British Columbia.
Workers will see their wages rise by over 40% over the next 18 months, marking one of the most significant gains for camp workers in BC. By the end of the contract, housekeepers at Red Chris Mine can expect to earn over $30 per hour, reflecting the essential nature of their work. Enhanced provisions will address workload concerns, ensuring more manageable and equitable work schedules for employees.
The road to this achievement began when workers at Red Chris Mine unionized with UNITE HERE Local 40 in April. Following months of negotiations, workers demonstrated their solidarity and determination with a strike vote in October, sending a clear message to management about their priorities.
The agreement sets a new standard for wages and working conditions across the province’s camp-based industries and underscores the growing momentum of worker organizing in resource and hospitality sectors.
Located in the “Golden Triangle” of Northwestern British Columbia, the Red Chris Mine is owned by Newmont, one of the largest gold mining companies globally.
UNITE HERE Local 40 represents about 1,000 camp hospitality workers. Camp workers continue to organize for better standards across the province. Most recently, workers at three Horizon North camps around the Fort St John area joined Local 40.
http://www.uniteherelocal40.org/wp-content/uploads/local40logo-300x155.png00Michelle Travishttp://www.uniteherelocal40.org/wp-content/uploads/local40logo-300x155.pngMichelle Travis2024-12-09 11:28:152024-12-09 11:28:15Press Release: Local 40 camp workers at Red Chris Mine vote 99% to approve first union contract, setting new standard for BC camp workers
WHAT: On the eve of the heavily anticipated final shows of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in Vancouver, striking workers at Radisson Blu Vancouver Airport will hold a demonstration on Thursday, December 5. Protestors are urging Swifties to use alternative accommodations to avoid encountering noisy demonstrations, reduced services, and skeletal staffing.
WHO: Striking Radisson Blu Vancouver Airport workers and community allies.
WHEN:Thursday, December 5, at 5PM.
WHERE: Radisson Blu Vancouver Airport, 3500 Cessna Drive, Richmond, BC.
WHY: The strikers, predominantly women who have worked at the hotel for decades, have been on strike for over 1,300 days. They went on strike after 143 of their co-workers were terminated during the pandemic. Workers are striking for secure jobs to return to and for family-supporting wages and working conditions. The BC Federation of Labour and the Canadian Labour Congress have issued a boycott against Radisson Blu Vancouver Airport and The Deck at Radisson Blu.
Swifties are urged to use FairHotel.org to find a hotel that is not behind picket lines.
VISUALS: Striking hotel workers and their supporters banging drums, chanting and marching, carrying banners, and signs.
MEDIA CONTACTS: Michelle Travis, [email protected], 778-960-9785, or
http://www.uniteherelocal40.org/wp-content/uploads/local40logo-300x155.png00Michelle Travishttp://www.uniteherelocal40.org/wp-content/uploads/local40logo-300x155.pngMichelle Travis2024-12-03 13:50:302024-12-03 13:50:30Media Advisory: Hotel workers to Hold Rally Urging Swifties to Honour the Picket Line amid Taylor Swift’s Final Eras Tour Shows!
Workers ratify new contract with 98% voting in favour
Vancouver, BC – Downtown Vancouver workers just secured the highest wages for hotel workers in Canada. In a ratification vote yesterday, Hyatt Regency, Westin Bayshore, and Pinnacle Waterfront workers overwhelmingly voted in favour of this historic new collective agreement.
The workers, represented by UNITE HERE Local 40, will earn cumulative increases of 34% over the contract term. Under the new agreement, a room attendant will earn nearly $32.50 per hour on January 1 and will make over $37 per hour in 2027.
“This contract is a game-changer for us. We are proud of what our union won in this contract fight,” said Naden Abenes, a Hyatt room attendant. “The new wage increases will help us afford to live in Vancouver, and other gains we made, like year-around health benefits for everyone, means we can take better care of our families without constant worry.”
The Union pushed back against a cap on health care and other concessions proposed by employers. Tipped and non-tipped workers will be able to access the new year-round benefits once they come into effect. The companies also agreed to contribute more toward workers’ pensions to improve retirement security.
Under the new agreement, workers will have enhanced workplace protections, including a reduction in housekeeping workload, an increase in wage premiums for those doing overnight and training work, and stronger gratuity protections. Workers also secured extended recall protections in the event of another pandemic, as well as unlimited recall rights for renovations and natural and man-made emergencies, ensuring workers’ seniority and job security are protected.
Hundreds of Hyatt, Westin Bayshore and Pinnacle workers took action in this round of bargaining, participating in rallies, delegations, petitions, work stoppages and a one-day strike by Hyatt workers this July, to press for fair wages and working standards in Canada’s priciest hotel market.
“Vancouver’s hotel workers have set a new standard for Canada’s hospitality industry,” said Zailda Chan, President of UNITE HERE Local 40. “The achievements in this agreement are a testament to the power of workers and the critical role Local 40 members play in the success of Vancouver’s tourism sector.”
http://www.uniteherelocal40.org/wp-content/uploads/local40logo-300x155.png00Michelle Travishttp://www.uniteherelocal40.org/wp-content/uploads/local40logo-300x155.pngMichelle Travis2024-11-21 10:24:102024-11-21 10:24:10BREAKING: Downtown Vancouver Hotel Workers Secure Highest Hotel Wages in Canada
Website for prospective pre-sale buyers of homes developed by Jayen Properties
Vancouver, BC — UNITE HERE Local 40, the hospitality workers union, has launched a new website for prospective home buyers considering pre-sales purchases of condominiums and townhouses developed by Jayen Properties.
JayenPropertiesMonitor.org is for prospective investors undertaking due diligence when considering an investment in Jayen Properties’ residential developments and real estate professionals involved in pre-sales. Jayen Properties is currently in pre-sales for the LEVEL condominium development in Coquitlam and Park & Maven in Surrey.
According to the Real Estate Development Marketing Act (REDMA), developers should disclose material facts that could affect a purchaser’s decision about a project. Buyers take financial risks when buying a home and ought to have more information made available to them about the developers behind the glossy marketing.
The website provides details about a lawsuit filed last year against the president of Jayen Properties, Sukhminder Rai, and ten of his affiliated companies. Rai recently reached a settlement for undisclosed terms with affiliates of the Siksika Nation over allegations of fraud and misappropriation of nearly $16 million in funds. Jayen Properties was not named in the lawsuit but Jayen Homes, a related residential construction contractor, was one of the ten companies sued. Rai denied the allegations.
Jayen Properties’ president co-owns Westin Calgary Airport through a joint venture with Siksika Nation affiliates. Funds that were allegedly supposed to go to Westin Calgary Airport were transferred to companies controlled by Jayen’s president, including Jayen Homes, or directed to offshore accounts.
Siksika Nation affiliates successfully petitioned a court to appoint an Interim Receiver to take over financial and operational control of the hotel from Jayen’s hotel management affiliate, PHI Hotel Group. The court also issued a freezing order affecting several bank accounts linked to Jayen’s president and Jayen Homes. The freeze was later reduced in scope. The receivership began August 2023 and continued into November 2024.
Information related to the recent lawsuit, the interim receivership, and settlement involving Jayen’s president that prospective home buyers should consider when weighing a pre-sales investment.
Links to news and legal documents, court orders, reports by the Interim Receiver, and affidavits, including several provided by Raj Khangura, Chief Financial Officer of Jayen Properties, related to the lawsuit and receivership.
A fact check on developments purported to be “coming soon” in Jayen Properties’ marketing materials at 3500 Cessna Drive in Richmond, 9711 137 Street in Surrey, and 927 Main Street and The Cobalt Hotel in Vancouver, but have not received necessary approvals.
UNITE HERE Local 40 is monitoring business developments related to Jayen Properties and its affiliated companies. Local 40 represents workers at Radisson Blu Vancouver Airport and The Deck at Radisson Blu which is majority owned and managed by affiliates of PHI Hotel Group and controlled by the president of Jayen Properties. The Radisson Blu workers have been on strike for three and a half years.
http://www.uniteherelocal40.org/wp-content/uploads/local40logo-300x155.png00Michelle Travishttp://www.uniteherelocal40.org/wp-content/uploads/local40logo-300x155.pngMichelle Travis2024-11-19 10:59:042024-11-19 10:59:04Media Release: UNITE HERE Local 40 Launches Website for Cautious Home Buyers
Press Release: Surrey City Council has no response for Surrey families
Kwantlen Park Manor tenants speak at public hearing against redevelopment and displacement.
Surrey, BC – Kwantlen Park Manor tenants appealed to Surrey City Council urging them to halt the redevelopment proposal that could displace them. Council ignored concerns raised by Surrey families and granted third-reading approval of the project after last night’s public hearing. The proposal for two 6-storey condo and market-rental towers would replace the 31-unit apartment building that is home to dozens of families.
Seven of the affected tenants spoke on behalf of their families and their neighbors. They cited lack of affordable rental options to turn to and how displacement would affect their families, as well as residents with special needs and children attending nearby schools.
“I have lived here for over two years. We haven’t been told anything about what is happening to us tenants. I have three young children and am the only one who works in my family. Two of my kids go to the nearby school. When I told my daughter we may need to move, she burst out crying. She doesn’t want to be the new kid in school again. Having to move will traumatize my kids and will affect all of us,” said Abdul Arabzad, a tenant at Kwantlen Park Manor.
Council did not address concerns raised about the developer’s non-compliance with the city’s rental housing redevelopment policy. Nor did they answer questions about the city’s failure to properly inform tenants about the public hearing.
“The owner hasn’t given us information about their plan or what that means for us. This proposal will create chaos for our family. We also have children in school who will be affected. How do we find a 2-bedroom to rent for what we pay now? We don’t have the income to afford higher rent, so this creates misery for us. The building owner should give us options. Either offer us a place at the same rent or provide us with financial assistance to find a place to live. We need time to make decisions for our families,” said Suh Ngwa, another tenant at Kwantlen Park Manor.
The building owner’s application raises serious red flags. The proposed plan for tenants does not comply with the city’s rental housing redevelopment policy. Neither the city nor the developer has properly informed tenants about development timelines or processes.
Most of the current residents are families who stand to lose not only direly needed affordable rental housing for low-income residents, but many would have to uproot children attending nearby elementary and secondary schools. Some have children with special needs or are seniors who cannot afford to move. Many of them are immigrants; some are relative newcomers to Canada who experience language barriers.
The disruption posed to families as currently proposed undermines the city’s mission to increase affordable housing for Surrey residents. Among the top concerns are:
The developer’s proposal for tenants ignores the tenant profile.
Failure of communication runs afoul of city policy.
Kwantlen Park Manor is owned by an affiliate of Surrey-based RBI Group and their development arm, Jayen Properties. RBI Group is the applicant behind the rezoning and development permit proposal before Council.
Media Contact: Michelle Travis, [email protected], or 778-960-9785.
UNITE HERE Local 40 represents hospitality workers across the province, including many who live in Surrey. Local 40 also represents workers who are on strike at Radisson Blu Vancouver Airport, which is majority owned by an affiliate of RBI Group.
Press Release: Local 40 camp workers at Red Chris Mine vote 99% to approve first union contract, setting new standard for BC camp workers
Dease Lake, BC – Workers at Red Chris Mine, unionized with UNITE HERE Local 40, have overwhelmingly ratified a groundbreaking new contract with 99% support. This agreement establishes a new benchmark for camp workers’ wages and working conditions in British Columbia.
Workers will see their wages rise by over 40% over the next 18 months, marking one of the most significant gains for camp workers in BC. By the end of the contract, housekeepers at Red Chris Mine can expect to earn over $30 per hour, reflecting the essential nature of their work. Enhanced provisions will address workload concerns, ensuring more manageable and equitable work schedules for employees.
The road to this achievement began when workers at Red Chris Mine unionized with UNITE HERE Local 40 in April. Following months of negotiations, workers demonstrated their solidarity and determination with a strike vote in October, sending a clear message to management about their priorities.
The agreement sets a new standard for wages and working conditions across the province’s camp-based industries and underscores the growing momentum of worker organizing in resource and hospitality sectors.
Located in the “Golden Triangle” of Northwestern British Columbia, the Red Chris Mine is owned by Newmont, one of the largest gold mining companies globally.
UNITE HERE Local 40 represents about 1,000 camp hospitality workers. Camp workers continue to organize for better standards across the province. Most recently, workers at three Horizon North camps around the Fort St John area joined Local 40.
Contact: Michelle Travis, [email protected], 778-960-9785 or Rifat Islam, [email protected], 604-619-0798
Media Advisory: Hotel workers to Hold Rally Urging Swifties to Honour the Picket Line amid Taylor Swift’s Final Eras Tour Shows!
WHAT: On the eve of the heavily anticipated final shows of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in Vancouver, striking workers at Radisson Blu Vancouver Airport will hold a demonstration on Thursday, December 5. Protestors are urging Swifties to use alternative accommodations to avoid encountering noisy demonstrations, reduced services, and skeletal staffing.
WHO: Striking Radisson Blu Vancouver Airport workers and community allies.
WHEN: Thursday, December 5, at 5PM.
WHERE: Radisson Blu Vancouver Airport, 3500 Cessna Drive, Richmond, BC.
WHY: The strikers, predominantly women who have worked at the hotel for decades, have been on strike for over 1,300 days. They went on strike after 143 of their co-workers were terminated during the pandemic. Workers are striking for secure jobs to return to and for family-supporting wages and working conditions. The BC Federation of Labour and the Canadian Labour Congress have issued a boycott against Radisson Blu Vancouver Airport and The Deck at Radisson Blu.
Swifties are urged to use FairHotel.org to find a hotel that is not behind picket lines.
VISUALS: Striking hotel workers and their supporters banging drums, chanting and marching, carrying banners, and signs.
MEDIA CONTACTS: Michelle Travis, [email protected], 778-960-9785, or
Rifat Islam, [email protected], 604-619-0798
BREAKING: Downtown Vancouver Hotel Workers Secure Highest Hotel Wages in Canada
Workers ratify new contract with 98% voting in favour
Vancouver, BC – Downtown Vancouver workers just secured the highest wages for hotel workers in Canada. In a ratification vote yesterday, Hyatt Regency, Westin Bayshore, and Pinnacle Waterfront workers overwhelmingly voted in favour of this historic new collective agreement.
The workers, represented by UNITE HERE Local 40, will earn cumulative increases of 34% over the contract term. Under the new agreement, a room attendant will earn nearly $32.50 per hour on January 1 and will make over $37 per hour in 2027.
“This contract is a game-changer for us. We are proud of what our union won in this contract fight,” said Naden Abenes, a Hyatt room attendant. “The new wage increases will help us afford to live in Vancouver, and other gains we made, like year-around health benefits for everyone, means we can take better care of our families without constant worry.”
The Union pushed back against a cap on health care and other concessions proposed by employers. Tipped and non-tipped workers will be able to access the new year-round benefits once they come into effect. The companies also agreed to contribute more toward workers’ pensions to improve retirement security.
Under the new agreement, workers will have enhanced workplace protections, including a reduction in housekeeping workload, an increase in wage premiums for those doing overnight and training work, and stronger gratuity protections. Workers also secured extended recall protections in the event of another pandemic, as well as unlimited recall rights for renovations and natural and man-made emergencies, ensuring workers’ seniority and job security are protected.
Hundreds of Hyatt, Westin Bayshore and Pinnacle workers took action in this round of bargaining, participating in rallies, delegations, petitions, work stoppages and a one-day strike by Hyatt workers this July, to press for fair wages and working standards in Canada’s priciest hotel market.
“Vancouver’s hotel workers have set a new standard for Canada’s hospitality industry,” said Zailda Chan, President of UNITE HERE Local 40. “The achievements in this agreement are a testament to the power of workers and the critical role Local 40 members play in the success of Vancouver’s tourism sector.”
For media inquiries, please contact:
Michelle Travis, [email protected], 778-960-9785 or
Rifat Islam, [email protected], 604-619-0798
Media Release: UNITE HERE Local 40 Launches Website for Cautious Home Buyers
Website for prospective pre-sale buyers of homes developed by Jayen Properties
Vancouver, BC — UNITE HERE Local 40, the hospitality workers union, has launched a new website for prospective home buyers considering pre-sales purchases of condominiums and townhouses developed by Jayen Properties.
JayenPropertiesMonitor.org is for prospective investors undertaking due diligence when considering an investment in Jayen Properties’ residential developments and real estate professionals involved in pre-sales. Jayen Properties is currently in pre-sales for the LEVEL condominium development in Coquitlam and Park & Maven in Surrey.
According to the Real Estate Development Marketing Act (REDMA), developers should disclose material facts that could affect a purchaser’s decision about a project. Buyers take financial risks when buying a home and ought to have more information made available to them about the developers behind the glossy marketing.
The website provides details about a lawsuit filed last year against the president of Jayen Properties, Sukhminder Rai, and ten of his affiliated companies. Rai recently reached a settlement for undisclosed terms with affiliates of the Siksika Nation over allegations of fraud and misappropriation of nearly $16 million in funds. Jayen Properties was not named in the lawsuit but Jayen Homes, a related residential construction contractor, was one of the ten companies sued. Rai denied the allegations.
Jayen Properties’ president co-owns Westin Calgary Airport through a joint venture with Siksika Nation affiliates. Funds that were allegedly supposed to go to Westin Calgary Airport were transferred to companies controlled by Jayen’s president, including Jayen Homes, or directed to offshore accounts.
Siksika Nation affiliates successfully petitioned a court to appoint an Interim Receiver to take over financial and operational control of the hotel from Jayen’s hotel management affiliate, PHI Hotel Group. The court also issued a freezing order affecting several bank accounts linked to Jayen’s president and Jayen Homes. The freeze was later reduced in scope. The receivership began August 2023 and continued into November 2024.
The new website www.JayenPropertiesMonitor.org includes:
UNITE HERE Local 40 is monitoring business developments related to Jayen Properties and its affiliated companies. Local 40 represents workers at Radisson Blu Vancouver Airport and The Deck at Radisson Blu which is majority owned and managed by affiliates of PHI Hotel Group and controlled by the president of Jayen Properties. The Radisson Blu workers have been on strike for three and a half years.
Contact: Michelle Travis, [email protected], 778-960-9785
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