A Burnaby resident is fuming that the landlord that is in charge of his condo building won’t let him put up a tiny little sign showing support for Ukraine after it was invaded by Russia.
Anthony S., who doesn’t want his last name used, is begging for building managers, landlords and strata councils to bend their rules for anyone who wants to show support for people who are suffering right now.
Anthony asked his landlord ahead of time about wanting to put up a small sign, assuming it was just a formality.
But he got a stern response saying that there are no exceptions against flags and signs. He was even threatened with a fine over it.
“No, it won’t end the invasion, but we need to show our support so our politicians understand that they need to do more,” he said. “I get that there are rules, but come on, this is a terrible thing and all people want to do is show their support.”
There are so many stories like this happening as people get shut down by those who run these buildings.
Adam Easterbrook is a Richmond condo resident who did two handmade flags using computer paper, to hang on his street-facing window. He tried to buy a flag but the shop was sold out.
"I think it is important because the symbols that people see every day matters to them,” he says. "By putting up these sorts of symbols, we are showing solidarity.”
The two small flags went up Sunday night; by Monday morning, management at the condominium building called Easterbrook, telling him to take the signs down.
In an email, shared with Glacier Media, a building manager tells Easterbrook "we cannot open this box as everyone will then want to display flags, signs, etc. for everything. If you allow this, we must allow everyone to do the same, which is against our bylaws and [would] create tension.”
In response, Easterbrook got yellow and blue lights to illuminate his home – a solution that the managers can’t stop.
Going forward, he hopes the building will reconsider the bylaw and be more flexible.
- With additional reporting by Alanna Kelly, Glacier Media
