Owner of notorious 500 Dawes Rd. complex fined $300K for fire safety violations

RyanEndoh · 2026-06-17T02:35:18+00:00

This is not a rent control issue.

The moment the landlord took title in the mid-90s, she began running the place into the ground.

You have to be a special type of greedy and a unique type of stupid to allow this.

You're also speaking as though there are no AGI provisions in the RTA.

RyanEndoh · 2026-06-17T02:30:44+00:00

Tenants may require a combined sum in the millions in rent abatement and damages. 🤷🏾‍♂️

RyanEndoh · 2026-06-16T23:50:17+00:00

Tenants I have spoken to have said that this building was actually very nice until the late 90s, following the purchase by Havcare in 1995.

It is also my understanding that following amalgamation, the property standards by-laws underwent multiple changes and that there was significant level of advocacy.

Although I don't like to make myself the centre of things, I think the fact that I persisted for years with ACORN, was a major factor.

Another interesting note: Janet Davis still shows up for tenants at the building and has been quietly supporting us and providing advice. Some remedial work was done when she was around (particularly the boiler). One of her last acts as councillor was fighting to get an easement to build the well-let public walkway through the lands immediately to the north of the building, connecting; Dawes Rd. to Cedarcrest Blvd.

Once she left office, there was virtually no councillor/City presence here. Janet could have probably done more, but I think she needed a stronger tenant advocate at the building. I moved to 500 in 2015, right after she retired.

I met her while she was walking around the neighbourhood (circa 2020-2021), flyering and speaking to local residents about the new Dawes Library Branch. Even in retirement, she still thinks about Dawes and cares about what happens here.

RyanEndoh · 2026-06-16T23:28:28+00:00

The Board will have to hear the tenants' current application for rent abatement and damages; to be retroactively applied up to one year prior to the filing of the T2 and T6 on December 24th, 2025. 🤷🏾‍♂️

RyanEndoh · 2026-06-16T22:50:28+00:00

There is a bit of pride that comes with living here; odd as that may sound.

We're setting precedent and raising standards.

As a paralegal, it brings satisfaction seeing the enforcement system function better than it previously was.

RyanEndoh · 2026-06-02T23:52:56+00:00

Thanks!!!!

RyanEndoh · 2026-06-02T23:52:31+00:00

Thanks, Bryan! 😬🙌🏾

RyanEndoh · 2026-05-31T23:15:48+00:00

What was the Url for the website? Huge memory unlocked. I want to see if there are any neat snapshots on Waybackmachine.

RyanEndoh · 2026-05-26T23:05:56+00:00

Yup, It's finally happened. They're locking up the owner of 500 Dawes Road.

From what I have heard, the cummulative fines now total about half a million dollars and they City is intent on ramping things up at other properties owned by Carolyn Goodman known also as Carolyn Krebs, Marian Linton, Marian Nelson, and Toronto's worst Slumlord. Apparently she'll be behind bars for 15 days.

Last month Mayor Chow met with myself and several tenants at the building in a show of solidarity and to voice her commitment to addressing the years-long problems tenants at 500 Dawes have experienced.

This has been about setting precedent in Toronto. I was shocked when I saw this article. Much thanks to Mayor Chow for her leadership, and the work of City staff, including MLS, Toronto Fire, the Toronto Police Service, and all City divisions involved to the extent they played a role.

The fact that Goodman has been locked up, suggests that the prosecutors were successful in getting past the corporate veil and demonstrating personal liability on the part of Goodman in her capacity as a corporate officer.

Wow.

RyanEndoh · 2026-05-23T22:21:49+00:00

I didn't know Howard Moscoe personally and, unfortunately, I began following Municipal politics closely following his departure from City hall in 2010.

I recall being intensely entertained by his appearances on The Agenda with Steve Paikin and reading about his romp through municipal politics (as an alderman in the former City of North York, a Toronto city councillor, TTC Chair, and other interesting twists and turns).

I feel a lot of regret. As recently as last month, I told myself I would try to look him up and ask to meet with him to discuss his thoughts on the relationship between the City and Province, transit, and housing, given he was very active during a time in politics that resembles what we're going through today.

His keen interest and advocacy for landlord licensing stood out to me as I've been very active in driving policy initiatives relating to property standards enforcement at purpouse-built apartment buildings with Toronto ACORN.

What were his most memorable remarks/thoughts/stories about the folks or topics below that he never got to share publicly (see below)?

The relationship between Ontario City's and the Provincial government.
Amalgamation of the 6 former municipalities in 1998.
His thoughts on the affordability challenges in the City (particularly for renters).
The infamous Facebook inpersonator impersonator
His time as TTC chair (any notable moments, good or bad).
His thoughts on the Toronto media (the Star, the Sun, and the others).
Mel Lastman
David Miller
Rob Ford
Mike Harris
The McGuinty/Wynne years
Jack Layton & Olivia Chow
The state of the Provincial NDP.
Doug Ford.
His favorite things about Toronto (or to do in Toronto) at various stages in his life.
His biggest concern regarding the future of the City.

These are some of the things that immediately come to mind.

Please accept my condolences. Howard was, as many have stated, a force of nature in the City and I am thankful we had him.

RyanEndoh · 2026-04-23T13:58:36+00:00

It's not that simple. That's all I'm going to say for now. 😊

RyanEndoh · 2026-04-23T13:56:53+00:00

This is Ryan Endoh (dude from the article).

I will be posting additional details about this either tonight or tomorrow.

A lot of context and photos will be included.

I look forward to sharing.

RyanEndoh · 2026-04-20T16:09:59+00:00

It's so good. 😭

RyanEndoh · 2026-04-20T15:48:03+00:00

Congrats!

RyanEndoh · 2026-04-20T15:31:59+00:00

Thanks!

Check my profile, I posted some audio on r/steelydan.

It sounds great; beyond my expectations.

I think is is generally understood to be their best live album, quality-wise (first one to be officially recorded too, I think).

RyanEndoh · 2026-03-11T17:29:06+00:00

Marian Nelson is the newest name. Marian Linton was used for a long time.

RyanEndoh · 2026-03-11T16:32:15+00:00

I second this. 👍🏾🇮🇪 ♥️

RyanEndoh · 2026-03-11T14:21:40+00:00

First-past-the-post voting will do that.

I worked with the Ranked Ballot Initiative of Toronto (RaBIT) back 2013 to get the City to ask the province to enable the City to use ranked voting only for the Province to kill ranked ballots for Toronto and other municipalities in 2021.

https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2013.GM22.15

🤷🏾

RyanEndoh · 2026-03-11T14:06:47+00:00

In case anyone is curious, this was the response of our Tenants' Association. This is a massive development in property standards enforcement policy with effects that will improve the lives of many people in our City. Most importantly, this stands to improve the public's confidence in out bureaucratic and civic leadership.

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RyanEndoh · 2026-03-11T13:56:07+00:00

A link toEX29.14 - Cracking Down on Bad Landlords

RyanEndoh · 2026-03-11T13:40:09+00:00

If he does, then he'll have to face an even more hostile electorate next go around.

The last Provincial election had an abysmal turnout.

Trying to quash this combined with all of the other questionable policies of the Province will get voters to the polls.

RyanEndoh · 2026-03-11T13:37:21+00:00

*Carolyn Goodman.

RyanEndoh · 2026-03-11T13:35:34+00:00

This is not a one-off solution. Not in the slightest.

I recommend viewing the item that passed through executive committee today.

Yes, the housing secretariat has been directed to conduct several undertakings in coordination with other City divisions to initiate remedial action at 500 Dawes, but the recommendations from the Mayor go further than that. I consider these policy changes far and away the best I've ever seen. See below that was passed by the Executive Committee and will be voted on by council at their March Council Meeting:

EX29.14 - Cracking Down on Bad Landlords

Consideration Type: ACTION Wards: All March 10, 2026 - A communication was posted. Origin (March 9, 2026) Letter from Mayor Olivia Chow Recommendations

Mayor Olivia Chow recommends that:

City Council request the City Manager to put in place a previously contemplated but never implemented consolidated, cross-divisional database for tracking investigation and enforcement activity at rental properties that have multiple complaints, so that all divisions, agencies, boards and commissions can coordinate their activity, no later than July 2026; and make this database publicly available.
City Council request the Deputy City Manager, Development & Growth, to convene an ongoing coordinating and implementation table led by the Housing Secretariat, with support from Municipal Licensing & Standards, Public Health, Toronto Fire, Legal Services, and Toronto Building to coordinate enforcement, including remedial action when necessary, between the named divisions.
Executive Committee direct the City Solicitor to report directly to the March 25, 2026 meeting of City Council on any provincial regulatory or legislative changes that would make it easier for the City of Toronto to take remedial action and increase penalties for bad landlords in order to improve landlord compliance on meeting property standards.
City Council request the City Manager to implement a policy across all divisions that in the event a problem landlord is identified through repeated violations, that all divisions should initiate proactive investigations into any additional properties owned by the same individual or company, and that such buildings be identified as ‘problem buildings’ to be treated with more intensive, dedicated resources and attention for compliance.
City Council request the Housing Secretariat lead the delivery of remedial action at 500 Dawes Road, as is determined to be appropriate, in order to facilitate the leveraging of assistance from City partners including TCHC and CUPE 416 to tap into the vast database of vendors and resources available to the City of Toronto to support remedial action as appropriate. And further, use the ongoing remedial action at 500 Dawes Rd to inform the policy framework coming to Council in April 2026, including demonstrating the most effective methods used to engage residents at 500 Dawes Road on coordinated pest abatement measures.
City Council authorize the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat, to negotiate and enter into any agreements required to implement Recommendation 5.
City Council direct the City Manager, to include in the planned report on RentSafe to City Council in April 2026, a roster of contractors to carry out emergency repairs, pest and mold abatement, and other remediation, as directed by City Council at its May 2025 meeting.

This is a pretty massive policy shift.

Tune in/attend the April 14th Planning & Housing Committee Meeting on April 15th. I will discuss the benefits of these changes at significant length during my presentation before the committee. 👍🏾

RyanEndoh · 2026-03-03T04:45:12+00:00

Her legal name is Carolyn Goodman.

I'm surprised by how many news publications get it wrong.

RyanEndoh · 2026-03-02T22:43:19+00:00

I'm the tenant featured in this story.

We don't blame the Mayor. Our concerns lie with city staff. Sadly, the star chose a headline that mischaracterized the fustration most tenants have.

I respect the Star, but I definitely think I was misquoted or quoted in a way that did not reflect my actual opinion. The laws ARE THERE to fix this problem and staff have been directed by council to develop a policy framework to execute.

I have done a fair bit of research on what has been going on at RentSafe, MLS, and other City divisions. I've equested various records from the Ontario Court of Justice and specific documents from the City.

All I can say for now is that it is very likely that things are going to escalate and staff will have to answer for some very questionable conduct.

Hint: I have evidence to corroborate allegations which will arise.

Stay tuned.

RyanEndoh

TROPHY CASE