Evacuated Parliament Street residents hold vigil for their homes

Return date now stretches to 15 months after devastating fire

August 22, 2019August 28, 2019 Rodger Burnside and Alexei Malakhov evacuation, fire, John Tory, Kristyn Wong-Tam, Parliament Street

Residents of 650 Parliament St. and their supporters held a candlelight vigil in St. Jamestown yesterday evening to mark one year since they were evacuated from their apartments after a devastating fire.

About 1,500 people left their homes last August and still don’t know when they can return.

650 Parliament St. vigil seen from above — Alexei Malakhov/StreeterCIRCLE OF LIGHT: The candlelight vigil for 650 Parliament Street as seen from above — from a neighbouring apartment building.

Toronto mayor John Tory and Toronto-Centre councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam attended the vigil and spoke in support, while residents recounted their experiences on the day of the fire and since as they have sought word on when they can come back to their apartments.

Wong-Tam and Tory at 650 Parliament vigil — Alexei Malakhov/StreeterWORDS OF SUPPORT: Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam, in pink, and Mayor John Tory, with microphone, spoke early in the evening.

Residents have faced repeated delays in their expected day of return. In the latest series of postponements, they were told in March that the return date of June was being pushed back to August.

Now building management is saying repairs will not b e completed until November, 15 months after the evacuation, and even then it might take longer to get safety clearance from the city.