Amid ongoing concerns over unpaid bills, fire code violations and possible evictions, Thunder Bay, Ont., city councillors are expected to meet this week to discuss what — if anything — the city can do to help tenants at a privately-owned seniors’ building in town.
The remaining residents of Vickers Manor, formerly called McKellar Place, are no longer receiving the meal plan included in their lease agreement, and they have been notified that some utilities could be shut off and told by the city’s commissioner of community services they should consider looking for alternate accommodations before Aug. 18.
The property, owned by SMS Property Trust Inc., provides housing for seniors who are able to live independently; however, they are enrolled in a meal program as part of their tenancy. The six-storey building at 325 Archibald St. S. on the city’s south side includes 109 residential units and 10 commercial units.
The building was listed for sale earlier this year for $18.9 million. It has since been relisted for $1.
“What’s happening here is the travesty against the tenants of being displaced, not getting what their lease agreements have called for, no services, things not getting fixed,” said Michelle Hamilton, whose son John has lived at Vickers Manor for 12 years.
As a quadriplegic with a traumatic brain injury, John has experienced many challenges finding suitable housing, Hamilton said. He lived in a hospital in Thunder Bay for years before securing a space at Vickers Manor. Now, with the building’s future up in the air, Hamilton says his only choice is to move back to the hospital until an accessible housing unit is available in town.
“It’s very emotional because it’s a family, it’s a community in here, and now they’re being torn apart,” she said.
Synergy North and Enbridge Gas had planned to disconnect electrical power and natural gas services at the building on Aug. 18 “due to significant unpaid utility accounts associated with the property,” according to a letter written by Kelly Robertson, the city’s commissioner of community services, which has been taped to the building’s entrance.
“Given the condition of the building, the financial issues facing the property which are becoming irreparable, and the anticipated continued loss of essential services, the city strongly encourages all tenants to secure alternate accommodations prior to Aug. 18,” Robertson wrote.
“The city is aware that the building is for sale. However, there is no certainty that a sale will be completed before the utility disconnections occur. Residents should not rely on a potential sale as a solution and should continue making plans to relocate.”
During a visit to the building on Friday, CBC News observed a notice posted on the building’s entrance which said “it is anticipated that the residence will be under new ownership effective Aug. 1, 2026.”
Another notice was observed from Synergy North, which said “the previously posted notice regarding potential electricity service disconnection is no longer in effect, and electricity service to this building will remain connected.”
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CBC News has reached out to the building’s management for comment on the status of unpaid bills, whether outstanding fire code violations have been addressed and what is being done to help tenants find alternative housing. No response has been received.
However, in a previous response provided to CBC News in May, Vickers Manor’s executive director Venisha Jay said that “should there be any future updates directly impacting residents, those communications would be provided to residents and families first.”
Vickers Manor’s website and Facebook page are no longer available.
Lori Robertson is a former staff member at Vickers Manor who has kept in contact with some of the tenants there. Last month, she learned that the building’s food supplier was no longer providing enough food for staff to properly deliver the hot meal program.
“With the owners not being able to pay their bills, a lot of different companies will not do any work or support them in any way when they haven’t been paid in months,” Robertson explained.
Robertson and other former staff members launched a crowdfunding campaign last week to help buy food for the tenants. More than $15,000 had been raised by publication time.
“We’ve co-ordinated with a bunch of local agencies to help us get the food, cook the food. We’ll get volunteers to help transfer the food to this location so they could be served a nice hot meal,” Robertson said.
“The community has pulled together, opened up their hearts to them. Hopefully we can help them in any way we can.”
CBC News also asked the building’s management about the hot meal program and did not receive a response.
Kasey Etreni, an at-large councillor for the city, posted a statement about the situation on Thursday.
“Although McKeller Place is a privately-owned residence and the city’s authority is limited, the city is not sitting on the sidelines. City staff are working with community partners, including DSSAB [Thunder Bay District Social Services Administration Board] and other agencies, to be as proactive as possible and to help ensure supports are in place should they be needed,” Etreni wrote on Facebook.
She says council expects an update this week, and that the priority is “the well-being of the residents and ensuring that the appropriate partners are working together to support them.”
A closed-session, special committee of the whole meeting is scheduled for Wednesday at 5 p.m. ET, followed by a special session of city council at 6:30 p.m. ET.
CBC News reached out to Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Kevin Holland for comment on what can be done provincially and received an emailed statement on Thursday.
“My office is aware of the situation at Vickers Manor and is in constant communication with the City of Thunder Bay to support a swift and safe resolution for everyone who lives and works there,” the statement says.
Holland said he has also been in contact with the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing about the situation.
That said, since it is a privately-owned seniors’ apartment, “it does not fall under the regulatory framework that governs licensed retirement homes in Ontario.”
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Hamilton said her son will be OK because “he’s got me.”
However, she said those without family support in town are facing even greater uncertainty.
“What is missing and lacking right now is, in my opinion, the accessibility, housing, the senior homes that you’re having to wait five years to get into,” Hamilton said.
