FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Trade Routes Canada Launches Workforce Housing Pilot for Toronto’s Music Community at ROQ City
TORONTO, ON — [August 13, 2026] — Non-profit music industry development organisation Trade Routes Canada has officially launched the Canadian Music Community Housing Pilot, introducing a comprehensive housing survey alongside 20 rent-controlled workforce housing units dedicated to Toronto’s music workforce at the newly constructed ROQ City development (261 Queen St E & 410 Richmond St E)
Partnering with institutional landlord Tricon, the pilot initiative keeps artists rooted in Toronto’s downtown core by addressing a profound market failure within the cultural sector. Statistics Canada and Nordicity data show the median income for professional artists in Canada is $27,000 – 43% below the national average, leaving creative workers systematically locked out by standard rental screening criteria.
To build long-term solutions for the sector, Trade Routes is launching an immediate Housing Referral Pilot program beginning at ROQ City while simultaneously conducting country-wide Music Community Housing Needs Survey. The survey will aggregate anonymized data from respondents – including those with active leases or homeownership, to prove market demand for culture workforce housing to unlock funding for future regional and national housing acquisitions.
"We are treating housing as essential cultural infrastructure," says Michael Owen, Executive Director of Trade Routes Canada. "Whether an artist needs a downtown unit today or is settled for the next few years, taking a few minutes to complete the survey provides us with the data we need to secure future phases, funding, and assets. For those needing immediate housing, the ROQ City pilot pairs secure, rent-controlled units with an on-site recording studio, a teaching room, and co-work spaces included to lower the overall costs for a local musician or music professional."
Submission for ROQ City units and other future opportunities officially opens to the Canadian music community on August 31, 2026, at 12:00 PM EDT, following a publication of program information. Units will be allocated through a fair, 100% objective, chronological waitlist based on sector qualification.
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About Trade Routes
Trade Routes Canada is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to building infrastructure that enables professional performing artists and arts professionals to have sustainable careers. To achieve this, Trade Routes has launched an Attainable Workforce Housing Pilot Program to partner with leading institutional landlords through established municipal frameworks to secure stable, rent-controlled live/work apartments for musicians and music professionals. By bridging the gap between corporate real estate systems and the unique realities of the creative economy, we keep creative talent anchored, active, and productive in Canada’s urban core.
https://traderoutes.ca/
For more information, please contact:
Trade Routes Canada: music@traderoutes.ca
About Tricon
Tricon Living is Canada's preeminent rental housing provider. We build, own, and operate a growing portfolio of purpose-built rental apartments located in major urban centres and defined by design excellence, signature resort-quality amenities, exceptional customer service, and resident programming that fosters connection and community. Tricon Living is a leading partner of all three levels of government, both building and operating many of Canada's largest purpose-built rental apartment communities that integrate market and affordable rental units. At Tricon, we have reimagined rental living.
https://triconliving.com/ca/
For more information, please contact:
Tricon: mediarelations@triconliving.com
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