Octogenarian fights eviction from Petite-Patrie home of 40 years

A housing rights group in the Rosemont-Petite-Patrie borough is organizing a boycott against a local business in a bid to helpan 82-year-old photographerkeep his home of 40 years.

Le Comit logement de La Petite-Patriesaysthe owners of the Milano grocery store on St.Laurent Boulevard want to evictPierino Di Tonno, who lives inan apartment adjacent tothe store.

"Starting over at my age isn't good. Where will I find a place for all my photos and negatives? That's the history of Montreal's Italian community," Di Tonnosaid.

Di Tonno returned from a recent stay in the hospital to an eviction notice from the building's owner, who wants to subdivide the apartment.

Di Tonno and a lawyer are scheduled to appear before the Rgie du logement on March 8 to contest his eviction.

Comit spokesman Martin Blanchard said evictions of seniors are accelerating in the borough. He said there have been 800 eviction attempts in the last 10 years, including 200 involving tenants older than 65.

"The elderly in Petite-Patrie are being evicted at an incredible rate," he said.

The organization is urging Quebec's government to adopt legislation proposed Gouin MNA Franoise David that would offer better protections to seniors who rent.

The Comit is organizing a protest outside Milano on Saturday to pressure the owners to reconsider Di Tonno's eviction.

Both Radio-Canada and CBC havetried to contact Milano's owner, who has not replied.

Radio-Canada has confirmed the same corporation owns both the grocery store and Di Tonno's residential unit.