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Our dear friends Cynthia and River have been fighting to stay in their home for the past 3 years. They were involved in a landmark court case that set precedent in support of queer and disability housing rights in B.C. This court case drained Cynthia’s retirement savings and health. While the judge ruled in their favour, the legal process forced our friend to deplete any savings set aside for her old age and ongoing medical care. This has left Cynthia – who lives on a disability pension – in a dangerously precarious financial situation, not to mention the effects of the emotional and physical exhaustion that came with this painful case – SO THEY NEED OUR HELP! As of right now Cynthia and River don’t have the money to pay the latest bill from the lawyer’s office, and they don't have the funds to finish the legal process that is estimated to be an additional $40,000.
Let’s come together as a community to help them cover the immediate costs and get back some of what they have lost. If it’s within your ability, please chip-in with as little or as much as you can. Every little bit matters.
In solidarity – Cynthia’s friends and chosen fam.
(PS: Want to know more? read below to get more details)
Who are Cynthia and River?
Cynthia Brooke has spent her life dedicated to social justice, and working in the service of others. At only 14 she ran a soup kitchen, and co-founded a food bank. She has been a volunteer for disability access for many years, and has volunteered for the Vancouver Folk Music Festival in this role for the past 30 odd years. She spent many years working in the Downtown Eastside in low income social housing. In the 90s Cynthia was the co-owner of the much beloved Bookmantel, a queer bookstore on Commercial Drive, which was a hub for queer activism before the days of social media. In 2004, Cynthia became a proud longshore worker with ILWU, devoted herself to volunteering on the executive, and became a certified human rights officer. Since being medically retired, Cynthia continues to volunteer as a human rights advocate in her many communities, much of which she does quietly.
River Tucker, formerly a journalist in Germany, moved to Canada 13 years ago and has been a competitive boxer and coach since. She has been running Queer Box Camp Vancouver for over a decade, with a commitment to make boxing and fitness more accessible for queer and trans folks and people living with chronic illness - QBC would not exist today without this house and Cynthia’s support. River volunteered as the female athlete rep on the board of BC Boxing for years, helped coach womens training camps and is currently helping to shape a new policy that will enable trans boxers to compete in BC and Canada. She also teaches a gender expansive, trans-positive boxing class for kids at a Vancouver community centre.
For the last two elections River has been able to combine her dedication for queer and trans rights with disability justice by training election workers, with an emphasis on voting access.
Cynthia’s and River’s home has always been a space to create connection, foster community, and provide sanctuary for friends of friends and cats in need of a safe harbour. Their home has been a second home to many and a place of respite for friends, family, and community to gather, share food, rest and organize.
Want to know more about what happened?
In 2001, four queer, working-class people, who at the time were close friends, scraped together funds to purchase a derelict, side-by-side duplex in Vancouver. None of them had ever imagined that they would be able to realize the dream of buying a home, and this was made possible by the former owners offering them the home at a significantly discounted rate.
Over the years, circumstances changed. Two friends have since died, and the remaining two parted friendship; each has their own home, separate from one another. Around 3 years ago, one of them decided they wanted to leave and started legal action against Cynthia, which would have involved Cynthia and River having to leave their home. This process has, and continues to be, holistically depleting.
In March 2022, the judge decided in Cynthia’s favour, saying she can stay in her home. Cynthia has used up all of her savings, which were her disability fund, as she is expected to supplement medical care when retired.
A precedent in support of queer & disability rights
Justice Crerar determined in a groundbreaking, and precedent-setting ruling that a disabled person has the right to stay in their home, and a queer person has the right to stay in the safety of their queer neighbourhood. Furthermore, he ruled that while a person has a right to realize a profit in this outrageous real estate market, it is not a right to maximize profit at the expense of forcing others from their home. These precedents will have positive implications across Canada for disabled, queer, and financially marginalized folks for years to come.
Unfortunately, all of this has come at great physical, emotional, and financial cost for our dear friends. While Cynthia and River maintain the right to stay in their home, it has exhausted monies that were set aside for medical expenses as Cynthia ages and tends to her health needs. That money also falls short of what is needed to complete the process of legally separating the properties.
Why is this an issue of health?
Cynthia was catastrophically injured at work in 2008, and shortly after she was rehabilitated from the accident Cynthia contracted a virus that has left her chronically ill. Her doctor medically retired her from work 6 years ago. While her home has increased substantially in value over the years, she is unable to access that value as she is permanently disabled, and therefore unable to pay back any potential loans or mortgages. The true value in her house is that it is her forever home that will allow her to tend to her complex health needs.
What will money raised be used for?
Money raised will be used to pay the lawyers until this process is completed. Any additional funds will be used to restore some of Cynthia’s depleted savings, which were anticipated to supplement her medical costs at retirement age. The law in B/C. has changed: Cynthia will only get back 20% of the $100,000 that she spent on legal costs because she won the case.
Cynthia and River would like to thank their lawyer Morgan Camley, and her amazing team. Morgan has done all her work pro bono, but it takes a village and the villagers must be paid (the associates and court costs are not pro bono).
Let’s come together as a community to help them cover the immediate costs and get back some of what they have lost. If it’s within your ability, please chip-in with as little or as much as you can. Every little bit matters.
In solidarity – Cynthia’s friends and chosen fam.
(PS: Want to know more? read below to get more details)
Who are Cynthia and River?
Cynthia Brooke has spent her life dedicated to social justice, and working in the service of others. At only 14 she ran a soup kitchen, and co-founded a food bank. She has been a volunteer for disability access for many years, and has volunteered for the Vancouver Folk Music Festival in this role for the past 30 odd years. She spent many years working in the Downtown Eastside in low income social housing. In the 90s Cynthia was the co-owner of the much beloved Bookmantel, a queer bookstore on Commercial Drive, which was a hub for queer activism before the days of social media. In 2004, Cynthia became a proud longshore worker with ILWU, devoted herself to volunteering on the executive, and became a certified human rights officer. Since being medically retired, Cynthia continues to volunteer as a human rights advocate in her many communities, much of which she does quietly.
River Tucker, formerly a journalist in Germany, moved to Canada 13 years ago and has been a competitive boxer and coach since. She has been running Queer Box Camp Vancouver for over a decade, with a commitment to make boxing and fitness more accessible for queer and trans folks and people living with chronic illness - QBC would not exist today without this house and Cynthia’s support. River volunteered as the female athlete rep on the board of BC Boxing for years, helped coach womens training camps and is currently helping to shape a new policy that will enable trans boxers to compete in BC and Canada. She also teaches a gender expansive, trans-positive boxing class for kids at a Vancouver community centre.
For the last two elections River has been able to combine her dedication for queer and trans rights with disability justice by training election workers, with an emphasis on voting access.
Cynthia’s and River’s home has always been a space to create connection, foster community, and provide sanctuary for friends of friends and cats in need of a safe harbour. Their home has been a second home to many and a place of respite for friends, family, and community to gather, share food, rest and organize.
Want to know more about what happened?
In 2001, four queer, working-class people, who at the time were close friends, scraped together funds to purchase a derelict, side-by-side duplex in Vancouver. None of them had ever imagined that they would be able to realize the dream of buying a home, and this was made possible by the former owners offering them the home at a significantly discounted rate.
Over the years, circumstances changed. Two friends have since died, and the remaining two parted friendship; each has their own home, separate from one another. Around 3 years ago, one of them decided they wanted to leave and started legal action against Cynthia, which would have involved Cynthia and River having to leave their home. This process has, and continues to be, holistically depleting.
In March 2022, the judge decided in Cynthia’s favour, saying she can stay in her home. Cynthia has used up all of her savings, which were her disability fund, as she is expected to supplement medical care when retired.
A precedent in support of queer & disability rights
Justice Crerar determined in a groundbreaking, and precedent-setting ruling that a disabled person has the right to stay in their home, and a queer person has the right to stay in the safety of their queer neighbourhood. Furthermore, he ruled that while a person has a right to realize a profit in this outrageous real estate market, it is not a right to maximize profit at the expense of forcing others from their home. These precedents will have positive implications across Canada for disabled, queer, and financially marginalized folks for years to come.
Unfortunately, all of this has come at great physical, emotional, and financial cost for our dear friends. While Cynthia and River maintain the right to stay in their home, it has exhausted monies that were set aside for medical expenses as Cynthia ages and tends to her health needs. That money also falls short of what is needed to complete the process of legally separating the properties.
Why is this an issue of health?
Cynthia was catastrophically injured at work in 2008, and shortly after she was rehabilitated from the accident Cynthia contracted a virus that has left her chronically ill. Her doctor medically retired her from work 6 years ago. While her home has increased substantially in value over the years, she is unable to access that value as she is permanently disabled, and therefore unable to pay back any potential loans or mortgages. The true value in her house is that it is her forever home that will allow her to tend to her complex health needs.
What will money raised be used for?
Money raised will be used to pay the lawyers until this process is completed. Any additional funds will be used to restore some of Cynthia’s depleted savings, which were anticipated to supplement her medical costs at retirement age. The law in B/C. has changed: Cynthia will only get back 20% of the $100,000 that she spent on legal costs because she won the case.
Cynthia and River would like to thank their lawyer Morgan Camley, and her amazing team. Morgan has done all her work pro bono, but it takes a village and the villagers must be paid (the associates and court costs are not pro bono).
Organizer and beneficiary
Cynthia Brooke
Beneficiary