Building Community, Brick by Brick

My journey with Brique par Brique began not with a blueprint, but with a collective dream. Rooted in the vibrant neighborhood of Parc-Extension, our mission has always been to create spaces that reflect the diverse tapestry of our community. While I never set out to fight for housing justice, I have an intimate understanding of how deeply housing is tied to safety and stability. It almost feels like kismet that my more than decade-long journey with community organizing and activism led me to where I am now. 

In the early 2010s, we were a group of artists and activists, united by a shared vision of social change. Our collective, Artivistic, sought to blend art, academia, and activism to address underrepresented issues. We organized festivals and discussions, aiming to foster dialogue and understanding. 

However, as time passed, I recognized the need for more tangible interventions. The transient nature of activist spaces and the systemic challenges faced by marginalized communities highlighted the importance of stability and infrastructure. While confronting this reality was uncomfortable, it sparked a vision of self-sustained community infrastructure, one that empowers people to take care of themselves rather than rely on funding from the government or foundations. It also led us toward an organizing model rooted in class struggle that aims to redistribute power and resources, not just provide services. Altogether, these realizations led to the birth of Brique par Brique.

- Faiz Abhuani

It led us toward an organizing model rooted in class struggle that aims to redistribute power and resources, not just provide services

Building more than affordable housing

The need for housing is a story that plays like a broken record across Canada. People are working multiple jobs yet still struggle to pay rent. Dreams of homeownership have become a thing of the past for the younger generation. Even middle-class families are being priced out of the cities they’ve called home for years. And yet, the Canadian government’s programs fall short of addressing the skyrocketing demand and burden of rising cost of living. 

We asked ourselves, “How can we fight for housing justice and make a real impact? How can we do things differently instead of sticking with the status quo while hoping for the different results?” In the spirit of self-sufficiency, our most ambitious initiative is raising capital to build affordable housing and vibrant community spaces through a social finance tool called community bonds. 

[Our] activities are meant to build strong community bonds and cultivate solidarity between groups affected differently by capitalism and colonialism.

Our approach is multifaceted. While our primary focus is on creating affordable housing, our work also extends beyond bricks and mortar, encompassing free community dinners, art and music workshops, information sessions for refugees and immigrants, mutual aid exchange, movie screenings, festivals, and more. These activities are meant to build strong community bonds and cultivate solidarity between diverse groups of people affected differently by capitalism and colonialism. “Act locally, think globally” comes to mind. 

Still, housing is the issue that underpins many facets of life, from health and wellbeing to education and economic stability, and freedom from domestic violence. And the challenges to affordable housing are numerous: navigating bureaucratic systems, securing funding, and addressing systemic inequalities require persistence and adaptability. Yet, the resilience and commitment of our community members inspire continued effort and innovation.