LOWERTOWN FOOD BANK, HOSTAGE OF MONTFORT-RENAISSANCE / THE PATRO
By the Board of Directors of the LCRC
The Echo has received a request to print this letter to the community from the Lowertown Community Resource Centre (LCRC). Any questions regarding this should be sent directly to the LCRC.
More than a year ago, the Board of Directors of the Lowertown Community Resource Centre (LCRC) published a letter in the Echo exhorting the city to take back management of the 2nd floor of its building at 40 Cobourg Street, and that its community and recreational spaces be returned to the Lowertown community. Well, over the past fifteen months, there have been many developments, including the City of Ottawa regaining control of its own infrastructure. However, it’s frustrating to note that, at the time of writing, our food bank still hasn’t been able to move there. And it’s hard to understand why. We wonder why the Patro, which owns part of the 40 Cobourg complex, and Montfort-Renaissance (these two organizations have joined forces and now have the same executive director) are refusing access to the door leading to the ramp on the 2nd floor, thus preventing the city from offering us a lease.
What has happened since the summer of 2023?
- July 2023: The city gives Patro d’Ottawa six months’ notice that it will take over management of the 2nd floor of its own building at 40 Cobourg St.
- Nov/Dec 2023: Motion tabled by Councillor Plante and approved by city council asking the city to find a way to allow the food bank to move from the Lowertown Community Resource Centre to 40 Cobourg Street.
- January 2024: The city regains control of the 2nd floor
- February to June 2024: Existing contracts for certain tenant groups are maintained on the 2nd floor / Inspection and renovation of certain parts of the 2nd floor
- February to September 2024: The food bank has still not been relocated because, although the city controls its own building, it does not own the door leading to the ramp on the 2nd floor. For legal reasons, the city is unable to offer the LCRC an agreement for the food bank.
We can understand the Patro’s disappointment at having to close its doors, as it’s an organization of which many hold fond memories. However, the neighbourhood’s history teaches us not only that the past is important, but also that decisions made should first and foremost benefit the Lowertown community. They often haven’t. The City of Ottawa finally made the right decision in taking over the management of its spaces at 40 Cobourg St, because, for far too long, they had been either empty, under-utilized, or used for purposes other than meeting the needs of the local community. Montfort-Renaissance and the Patro, by preventing the city from renting out the spaces on the 2nd floor of the building by blocking access to the ramp, are holding the residents of Lowertown hostage and preventing the spaces that belong to them from finally being used to their full potential.
It is incomprehensible that these two organizations, whose mission is to help people, should cling to a position that is detrimental to the residents of Lowertown. We appeal to the common sense and compassion of the leaders of Montfort-Renaissance and the Patro to put an end to this shameful position. Make the only decision that is consistent with your values and your mandate: unbolt the door and let the food bank move into City premises.
– LCRC Board members: Jolane T Lauzon, Marty Mudie, Désiré Kabore, Nadia Baro, Kendra Hughes, Lisa Ker, Jean-Paul Gagnon, Guylaine Gratton, Martha Labarge, Janhabi Nandy, Herman Ntawe, Dalia Tejeda Alix
