To Josh and Lorne's family:

Lorne became a beloved member of KC Tenants over the past year. We first met Lorne while knocking doors last March when he and his neighbors did not have hot water for two weeks. He was hesitant to join the union at first, but after several months he came to a meeting. It was at that meeting he and his neighbors voted to organize towards a rent strike. From that moment on, Lorne was committed and kept showing up. He voted to go on strike, he was at every strike action, and he even got on the mic and spoke at a rally this past February. You may have seen some of what he said:

"Our rent is our power, our community is our power; we have NOTHING to fear if we do this together. The strike continues until we get a seat at the table and a collectively bargained lease agreement – when it comes to selling this building, WE are part of the package; negotiation with our union is part of the deal."

When we learned of his passing, we wrote the following remembrance as part of a memorial post on Instagram. We share it with you now to honor his memory. 

Lorne was a fighter. Lorne joined up with the tenant union and spoke with clarity, anger, and love for his community. Lorne went on rent strike with his neighbors. He demanded repairs and a seat at the table.

Lorne was a winner. After eight months on rent strike— the longest and largest in regional history— the Independence Towers Tenant Union won a collectively bargained lease agreement that will make their building a better, more dignified place to live.

At KC Tenants, we run an evaluation at the end of every meeting. A part of this practice is to go around the room and ask each participant to share a feeling word. Every time it was Lorne's turn to share, he would get a big smile on his face and say, “Happy."

We’re grateful for Lorne’s life, and for the part of it he shared with our union. Our thoughts are with you as you mourn his passing. May his memory inspire many to fight, to win, and to smile along the way.