A man offering free accommodation to a woman in exchange for sex just took the horror stories of trying to find a place to live in the Bow Valley’s tight rental market to a whole new level.
The young Australian woman’s story exploded online this week when she shared the disturbing proposition from a 40-plus year-old man, in an attempt to warn other females of her experience.
She posted an ad on Banff Buy and Sell looking for a place to live in Banff for a week for her and her boyfriend while they waited for their longer-term accommodation to be ready. The woman, who did not want to be interviewed at this time, was appalled at his response.
“How badly do you need the place? Could I make you a deal?” the man responded to her ad. When she asked what the deal was, he said: “No charge for the week but you stay a night with me. Sorry im (sic) probably being an ass or asking to (sic) much.”
Wanting to warn other females looking for a place to live, the woman shared the man’s response on other local Facebook groups. “This is absolutely appalling,” she wrote.
The man, from Canmore, has since tried to defend his actions online, saying he was drunk.
“I made a drunk and very inappropriate and stupid advance,” he wrote. “I understand it was inappropriate but I am not this.”
Canmore RCMP say the woman has not come forward to make an official complaint, though they are aware of the issue because a female worker at the detachment alerted them to it.
“There’s no offence, not at this time. We haven’t had anyone come forward, not a victim,” said Cpl. Shane Fletcher.
“It’s not solicitation. It’s a comment made on an open network for the purpose of who knows what.”
That said, Fletcher encourages anyone who feels coerced online to contact the RCMP. “If someone was concerned and felt they were being coerced, then we could investigate or look into it,” he said.
This incident in the Bow Valley followed a recent scandal uncovered by CTV News in Vancouver where landlords were making demands for sex. Cameras hidden as part of CTV’s investigation showed landlords asking for sex, not rent.
Connie MacDonald, chief executive officer of Banff’s YWCA, was alarmed when she heard of what happened here, saying this is an unfortunate illustration of what many women across Canada, not just in the Bow Valley, have to contend with.
“I think it’s easy to blame alcohol for inappropriate choices and inappropriate actions,” she said.
“He may think it’s a joke and he may make excuses that he was drunk, but the fact of the matter is that’s what women deal with.”
MacDonald said many people struggle to find a place to stay in the Bow Valley and some people who have no options for a place to stay end up making survival decisions.
“This person didn’t know who he was communicating with in this case, but it could very likely be a vulnerable person who has very few options,” she said, noting many people in the valley are one paycheque away from being homeless.
“When you have zero vacancy rates, cost of living being what it is in the Bow Valley and the salaries for people in various service industry jobs, often people are forced to make very challenging decisions.”
A Bow Valley politician, known as a champion of affordable housing and as an advocate for women, was shocked.
“I would say if this is true that it’s horrible and it’s very upsetting and truly disturbing to see something like this happen in our community,” said Banff Councillor Corrie DiManno.
“If it’s true, it’s sadly another horror story of this housing crisis.”
