Mar 4, 2024
Attention to Calgary Global News Desk Ms. Crystal, and the primary Editor:Subject: Request for Coverage: A Decade-Long Battle Against Discrimination and Injustice
Dear Ms. Crystal and the esteemed editors (Calmela Gentil) at Global News Calgary (Jill Croteau),
I am reaching out to share my enduring struggle against discrimination and systemic issues in a small town, a journey spanning over 12 years. My story is one of perseverance in the face of adversity, underscored by my unwavering belief in justice and equality. You can find more details about my ongoing campaign at: https://chng.it/B4fDptk6DS
My petition: https://chng.it/B4fDptk6DS
My name is Peter (Zhen Guo) Pan. I migrated from Shanghai, China, to Canada in 1987, bringing with me a dream for a better life in a country celebrated for its multiculturalism and freedom. In Shanghai, I was a chef specialist and cooking teacher at the city's only five-star Sheraton hotel. My culinary expertise, recognized by a Canadian Federal Immigration Officer, was seen as a valuable addition to Canadian cuisine. With hope, my family and I embarked on this new chapter.
However, my experience in Canada has been markedly different from what I envisioned. Despite my efforts, I have encountered systemic barriers across various sectors, including social services, government administration, and the legal justice system. These experiences have highlighted a stark contrast between the promises made to immigrants and the reality we face, challenging our pursuit of the Canadian dream.
My personal journey, marked by significant hardship, including the loss of my father and wife and my own battles with mental health, is detailed in my blog. Although primarily in Chinese, key articles are available in: https://blog.wenxuecity.com/myindex/14670/ And the translation can be found here: peterpan1668_Literature City Blog (blog-wenxuecity-com.translate.goog)
This battle is not just mine but reflects a broader issue affecting many immigrants in Canada. Despite support from various societal sectors, including academia and the media, and despite reaching out to multiple levels of government, my pleas for justice and fairness have remained largely unaddressed.
The heart of my struggle lies in a small town where political biases and discrimination have significantly impacted my family and me. The local mayor's assertion of absolute authority and the subsequent targeting by municipal officials underscore a grave abuse of power, highlighting the challenges of "small-town political issues."
Through it all, my resolve remains unshaken. I am currently taking legal action against the Ombudsman, an entity that, despite its mandate to ensure fair treatment, has failed to provide the support needed to rectify the injustices we have faced. My story is not just a call for justice for my family but a plea for systemic change to ensure that all Canadians, regardless of their background, are treated with fairness and respect.
I believe that sharing my story with your audience will not only shed light on the challenges faced by immigrants but also foster a dialogue on how we can collectively address and overcome these systemic barriers. It is my hope that, by bringing my experience to the forefront, we can inspire change and make Canada a truly inclusive society for all.
Thank you for considering my story. I am available for further discussion and can provide additional information as needed.
Sincerely,
Peter (Zhen Guo) Pan
SUMMARY OF LEGAL HARASSMENT AND ITS DEVELOPMENT
Dear everyone,
As we approach the final moments of the Chinese Spring Festival, I extend my sincerest wishes to all of you: Happy Lantern Festival, good health, family harmony, and success in all your endeavors.
Many have wondered how I managed to endure 12 years of struggle alone. Some are also eager to understand the details of my case and my recent progress. Here, I will list the series of actions I've taken in my fight against discrimination and small-town political issues related to the municipal office of Standard (hereafter referred to as the Defendant):
The Defendant abused the Alberta Municipal Act, excessively exercising their powers as law enforcers, and unlawfully renamed my two-bedroom mobile house to "SKID-SHAKE." Under the law, SKID-SHAKE is not allowed to exist in the village. They then towed it to their storage facility, charging $15.00 per day. Despite never initiating any legal proceedings or registering a case with the courthouse, they accumulated charges amounting to $29,000, even though I am not the legal owner of the mobile house dumped in my hotel's backyard.
Since 2016, each year when I went to pay my property taxes, I rejected the rental costs hidden within my hotel's property tax by the Defendant. By 2019, they virulently threatened to auction my hotel if I continued to refuse payment. To protect my business, I invoiced the Defendant for damages incurred from their illegal dumping of street snow on both my properties since I moved in 2012.
The first instance of legal harassment occurred when the Defendant sent me a notice threatening to auction my hotel. The Defendant had shown no concern for their years of illegal snow dumping on my properties until they received my invoice for damages. To halt the auction, my lawyer advised me to postpone it, leading to the first legal action—an injunction I filed with the Jing's Bench Drumheller: 2002-00081.
At the same time, I lodged complaints with the Alberta Ombudsman and Human Rights Commission. The Ombudsman, after investigating for a while, abruptly closed my complaint, disregarding crucial evidence. I subsequently sued the Alberta Ombudsman (King's Bench Calgary, File No.: 2301-05514) for indirectly encouraging the Defendant's harassment against me and my business.
Cross-examination began in the injunction case. I clarified two things: first, the item the Defendant towed from my hotel's backyard was not a SKID-SHAKE but a two-bedroom mobile house, similar to most mobile houses in the village. Second, I am not the legal owner of this two-bedroom mobile house; the Defendant is, as they took possession and kept it in their storage facility after 30 days. From that moment, the Alberta Human Rights Commission accepted my complaint and forwarded it to the Defendant for response.
The Defendant made a settlement offer: withdraw my complaint from the AHRC, pay $7,900, and close the case. I disagreed and instructed my lawyer to make a counteroffer based on the facts. Surprisingly, my lawyer advised me to accept the Defendant's offer, leaving me with no choice but to represent myself in court.
During the pre-trial hearing, where I presented all evidence, I also convinced a CBC reporter to attend. Despite listing instances of discrimination by the Defendant and mentioning Municipal Act 610, the judge found no evidence of discrimination, didn't mention Act 610, and simply convinced me to pay $1,900 for storage costs before closing the case. I disagreed, but the virtual courtroom closed abruptly.
Nevertheless, the judge ruled that I must pay $1,900 and cover the Defendant's $7,900 legal costs. Upon receiving a copy of this judgment, I immediately disputed its validity since I hadn't signed anything during the pre-trial hearing, and both parties hadn't reached a settlement agreement. Furthermore, the virtual court was already closed, and the judge had disregarded the fact that the Defendant had initiated the legal harassment.
Regardless, the Defendant's lawyer ignored my refusal of the pre-trial judgment and my request for a counterclaim. Instead, he proceeded to obtain a grant from the Alberta Law Society for his legal costs and unlawfully seized my hotel's land, marking the beginning of a second wave of legal harassment.
As the Drumheller court kept informing me that my injunction case was closed due to the judge's lack of further instructions, I filed a claim for damages against the Defendant with the King's Bench Drumheller (File No.: 2202-00016).
I also filed a revision with the AHRC Tribunal office to appeal their decision (sas-m-239672-1508) and continued to provide updates on all legal proceedings through the King's Bench, especially the recent lawsuit filed with the King's Bench Drumheller against the Standard municipal office (Defendant A) for illegal snow dumping and false claims of "outstanding property tax arrears." Additionally, I sued TAXervice (Defendant B) for their role in the third instance of legal harassment by ignoring my objections to approvals (File No.: 24021-00011), with a hearing scheduled for April 11, 2024, at 10:00 am.
While awaiting the hearing date, the Defendant changed legal representatives, leading the judge to dismiss my case due to my alleged failure to respond to emails. Despite providing medical proof of major depression caused by the Defendant's relentless harassment, when I contacted the judge's office to file a complaint, the judge promptly declared my claim no longer existed. Consequently, I appealed both judgments to the Alberta Court of Appeal (No: 2301-0096AC).
To ensure the Defendant no longer diverted my property tax payments for legal fees and further harassment, I created an INTRUST account under the Defendant's name in 2022. However, they recently attempted to collect outstanding property taxes, disregarding my explanations. I responded with evidence of my property tax payments updated under the Defendant's INTRUST account, highlighting outstanding payments for the illegal snow dumping. Ignoring my request, the Defendant involved a property tax arrears collection agency, threatening to seize both my properties if I didn't pay the tax arrears by February 23, 2024. I now await the hearing to allow the judge to decide how I can protect my rights against legal harassment and claim damages (File No.: 24021-00011), scheduled for April 11, 2024, at 10:00 am.
Apr 9, 2024Dear Ms. Crystal and the esteemed editors (Calmela Gentil) at Global News Calgary (Jill Croteau),
I am reaching out to share my enduring struggle against discrimination and systemic issues in a small town, a journey spanning over 12 years. My story is one of perseverance in the face of adversity, underscored by my unwavering belief in justice and equality. You can find more details about my ongoing campaign at: https://chng.it/B4fDptk6DS
My petition: https://chng.it/B4fDptk6DS
My name is Peter (Zhen Guo) Pan. I migrated from Shanghai, China, to Canada in 1987, bringing with me a dream for a better life in a country celebrated for its multiculturalism and freedom. In Shanghai, I was a chef specialist and cooking teacher at the city's only five-star Sheraton hotel. My culinary expertise, recognized by a Canadian Federal Immigration Officer, was seen as a valuable addition to Canadian cuisine. With hope, my family and I embarked on this new chapter.
However, my experience in Canada has been markedly different from what I envisioned. Despite my efforts, I have encountered systemic barriers across various sectors, including social services, government administration, and the legal justice system. These experiences have highlighted a stark contrast between the promises made to immigrants and the reality we face, challenging our pursuit of the Canadian dream.
My personal journey, marked by significant hardship, including the loss of my father and wife and my own battles with mental health, is detailed in my blog. Although primarily in Chinese, key articles are available in: https://blog.wenxuecity.com/myindex/14670/ And the translation can be found here: peterpan1668_Literature City Blog (blog-wenxuecity-com.translate.goog)
This battle is not just mine but reflects a broader issue affecting many immigrants in Canada. Despite support from various societal sectors, including academia and the media, and despite reaching out to multiple levels of government, my pleas for justice and fairness have remained largely unaddressed.
The heart of my struggle lies in a small town where political biases and discrimination have significantly impacted my family and me. The local mayor's assertion of absolute authority and the subsequent targeting by municipal officials underscore a grave abuse of power, highlighting the challenges of "small-town political issues."
Through it all, my resolve remains unshaken. I am currently taking legal action against the Ombudsman, an entity that, despite its mandate to ensure fair treatment, has failed to provide the support needed to rectify the injustices we have faced. My story is not just a call for justice for my family but a plea for systemic change to ensure that all Canadians, regardless of their background, are treated with fairness and respect.
I believe that sharing my story with your audience will not only shed light on the challenges faced by immigrants but also foster a dialogue on how we can collectively address and overcome these systemic barriers. It is my hope that, by bringing my experience to the forefront, we can inspire change and make Canada a truly inclusive society for all.
Thank you for considering my story. I am available for further discussion and can provide additional information as needed.
Sincerely,
Peter (Zhen Guo) Pan
SUMMARY OF LEGAL HARASSMENT AND ITS DEVELOPMENT
Dear everyone,
As we approach the final moments of the Chinese Spring Festival, I extend my sincerest wishes to all of you: Happy Lantern Festival, good health, family harmony, and success in all your endeavors.
Many have wondered how I managed to endure 12 years of struggle alone. Some are also eager to understand the details of my case and my recent progress. Here, I will list the series of actions I've taken in my fight against discrimination and small-town political issues related to the municipal office of Standard (hereafter referred to as the Defendant):
The Defendant abused the Alberta Municipal Act, excessively exercising their powers as law enforcers, and unlawfully renamed my two-bedroom mobile house to "SKID-SHAKE." Under the law, SKID-SHAKE is not allowed to exist in the village. They then towed it to their storage facility, charging $15.00 per day. Despite never initiating any legal proceedings or registering a case with the courthouse, they accumulated charges amounting to $29,000, even though I am not the legal owner of the mobile house dumped in my hotel's backyard.
Since 2016, each year when I went to pay my property taxes, I rejected the rental costs hidden within my hotel's property tax by the Defendant. By 2019, they virulently threatened to auction my hotel if I continued to refuse payment. To protect my business, I invoiced the Defendant for damages incurred from their illegal dumping of street snow on both my properties since I moved in 2012.
The first instance of legal harassment occurred when the Defendant sent me a notice threatening to auction my hotel. The Defendant had shown no concern for their years of illegal snow dumping on my properties until they received my invoice for damages. To halt the auction, my lawyer advised me to postpone it, leading to the first legal action—an injunction I filed with the Jing's Bench Drumheller: 2002-00081.
At the same time, I lodged complaints with the Alberta Ombudsman and Human Rights Commission. The Ombudsman, after investigating for a while, abruptly closed my complaint, disregarding crucial evidence. I subsequently sued the Alberta Ombudsman (King's Bench Calgary, File No.: 2301-05514) for indirectly encouraging the Defendant's harassment against me and my business.
Cross-examination began in the injunction case. I clarified two things: first, the item the Defendant towed from my hotel's backyard was not a SKID-SHAKE but a two-bedroom mobile house, similar to most mobile houses in the village. Second, I am not the legal owner of this two-bedroom mobile house; the Defendant is, as they took possession and kept it in their storage facility after 30 days. From that moment, the Alberta Human Rights Commission accepted my complaint and forwarded it to the Defendant for response.
The Defendant made a settlement offer: withdraw my complaint from the AHRC, pay $7,900, and close the case. I disagreed and instructed my lawyer to make a counteroffer based on the facts. Surprisingly, my lawyer advised me to accept the Defendant's offer, leaving me with no choice but to represent myself in court.
During the pre-trial hearing, where I presented all evidence, I also convinced a CBC reporter to attend. Despite listing instances of discrimination by the Defendant and mentioning Municipal Act 610, the judge found no evidence of discrimination, didn't mention Act 610, and simply convinced me to pay $1,900 for storage costs before closing the case. I disagreed, but the virtual courtroom closed abruptly.
Nevertheless, the judge ruled that I must pay $1,900 and cover the Defendant's $7,900 legal costs. Upon receiving a copy of this judgment, I immediately disputed its validity since I hadn't signed anything during the pre-trial hearing, and both parties hadn't reached a settlement agreement. Furthermore, the virtual court was already closed, and the judge had disregarded the fact that the Defendant had initiated the legal harassment.
Regardless, the Defendant's lawyer ignored my refusal of the pre-trial judgment and my request for a counterclaim. Instead, he proceeded to obtain a grant from the Alberta Law Society for his legal costs and unlawfully seized my hotel's land, marking the beginning of a second wave of legal harassment.
As the Drumheller court kept informing me that my injunction case was closed due to the judge's lack of further instructions, I filed a claim for damages against the Defendant with the King's Bench Drumheller (File No.: 2202-00016).
I also filed a revision with the AHRC Tribunal office to appeal their decision (sas-m-239672-1508) and continued to provide updates on all legal proceedings through the King's Bench, especially the recent lawsuit filed with the King's Bench Drumheller against the Standard municipal office (Defendant A) for illegal snow dumping and false claims of "outstanding property tax arrears." Additionally, I sued TAXervice (Defendant B) for their role in the third instance of legal harassment by ignoring my objections to approvals (File No.: 24021-00011), with a hearing scheduled for April 11, 2024, at 10:00 am.
While awaiting the hearing date, the Defendant changed legal representatives, leading the judge to dismiss my case due to my alleged failure to respond to emails. Despite providing medical proof of major depression caused by the Defendant's relentless harassment, when I contacted the judge's office to file a complaint, the judge promptly declared my claim no longer existed. Consequently, I appealed both judgments to the Alberta Court of Appeal (No: 2301-0096AC).
To ensure the Defendant no longer diverted my property tax payments for legal fees and further harassment, I created an INTRUST account under the Defendant's name in 2022. However, they recently attempted to collect outstanding property taxes, disregarding my explanations. I responded with evidence of my property tax payments updated under the Defendant's INTRUST account, highlighting outstanding payments for the illegal snow dumping. Ignoring my request, the Defendant involved a property tax arrears collection agency, threatening to seize both my properties if I didn't pay the tax arrears by February 23, 2024. I now await the hearing to allow the judge to decide how I can protect my rights against legal harassment and claim damages (File No.: 24021-00011), scheduled for April 11, 2024, at 10:00 am.
Actually, AHRC of Tribunal make a negative decision and kept decision granted by AHRC with my case. As I mentioned multiple times, our inspect system just pretending to stand up for citizens, which it just as a vase. So I will file to the court for Application of Review to the King's Bench, in the same time I will file a lawsuit of damage recovery with the inspect organizations, and related of provincial government agencies. I already filed a lawsuit against Alberta Ombudsman last year, which I will request to schedule the hearing since the lawyer from the Ombudsman didn't follow the court order.
