A small group of community activists served a setback to the world’s largest corporation on March 4 by convincing the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) to prevent the development of a sprawling Walmart supercentre in the middle of
Toronto’s Leslieville neighbourhood.

“The OMB decision is a huge victory for the people who live and work in the Leslieville community,” says UFCWCanada National President Wayne Hanley.

“It also reconfirms a very important fact: no matter how big and powerful
a corporation becomes, it can never match the combined will and strength of working people.”

The OMB’s decision follows two years of community meetings, demonstrations, and lobbying efforts that involved Leslieville residents and various stakeholder groups, including our union. The UFCW Canada National Office played a key role in the campaign’s early stages by inviting a group of experienced “site fighters” – called the Wal-Town group – to help organize and mobilize the community (pictured).

“This decision supports the city’s official development direction, by preserving an important community within Toronto,” President Hanley says.

Leslieville is known for its activist culture. It is one of few jurisdictions in Canada represented by social democrats at every level of government. As part of downtown Toronto’s east side, it enjoys a much higher union density rate than the national average.