Residents of a Salmon Arm assisted living facility woke up Friday morning to the detrimental news they soon wonB次元官网网址檛 have a place to call home.
Staff along with the 34 residents of McGuire Lake Congregate Living discovered a B次元官网网址渃ourtesy noticeB次元官网网址� taped to several of the doors explaining that the building they call home will be closed as of Oct. 1.
B次元官网网址淧lease note that this building will be closed as of Oct. 1. Utilities will be disconnected and the building will be sealed,B次元官网网址� read the notice, posted by the owners of the building at 551 Trans-Canada Highway.
B次元官网网址淭he tenant operating as McGuire Lake Congregate Living and Shuswap Grill Gourmet Burgary has been served a Notice of Termination effective July 29, 2019. The date for vacant possession has been extended until September 30 in exchange for an orderly exit.
B次元官网网址�This notice is given as a courtesy to any occupants and/or sub-tenants renting from the tenant noted above as it has come to our attention that the tenant has likely not informed all occupants of the need to vacate.B次元官网网址�
At 10 a.m., Friday McGuire Lake Congregate Living owner and operator Dan Shields met with staff and residents to explain the situation.
He confirmed he had received the first notice on July 29, stating the lease was being terminated immediately and asked him to contact the building ownersB次元官网网址� lawyers.
Shields said the lawyer was looking for, B次元官网网址渁 proposal for some monies that I owed them from the past, and what we were going to with this building in the future as far as beginning to renovate.B次元官网网址�
But, then he had heard nothing more from the lawyer or the building owners until Sept. 4. Instead, he received another letter demanding that the building be emptied by Sept. 30.
B次元官网网址淎ll of which is absolutely ludicrous, all of which cannot be done,B次元官网网址� Shields told residents. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not legal, it canB次元官网网址檛 be done. He cannot do anything he wrote on here, he cannot cut off the gas, he cannot cut off the power, he cannot cut off the water.B次元官网网址�
Lorenz Eppinger, representing the numbered company 951624 Ontario, Ltd., which owns the building, explained Shields is B次元官网网址渋n serious default with us,B次元官网网址� and was given notice in July. He reiterated how the date for possession had been extended two months to allow residents time to relocate.
B次元官网网址淒uring that time, weB次元官网网址檙e paying for water, weB次元官网网址檙e paying for all of this,B次元官网网址� said Eppinger, explaining the buildingB次元官网网址檚 owners are not licensed to operate an assisted living facility.
B次元官网网址淲e are very concerned because we wanted everyone to not have to scramble at the end, because legally I canB次元官网网址檛 do anything when Dan Shields is gone at the end of the monthB次元官网网址� So this is an extremely upsetting situation for us and for everyone involved.B次元官网网址�
Eppinger noted there are concerns with the building, stating at this point it wasnB次元官网网址檛 known if the building could be saved.
Shields told residents he had been in contact with the provinceB次元官网网址檚 Residential Tenancy Branch and the buildingB次元官网网址檚 owners cannot just cut off utilities.
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B次元官网网址淚f he sold the building he has to tell us he sold the building, in which case he has to give us four months notice. Or any major renovations to the building, itB次元官网网址檚 four months notice. Otherwise, he could technically serve us with two months notice,B次元官网网址� said Shields.
Residents were upset by the news and at least one of them was angered with Shields.
Donna Benn, a resident of the facility for about six years, said she moved into the facility with her husband because its proximity to the hospital allowed her to be close to him when he became ill. Benn said she enjoys living at the facility and was stunned to learn of the notice on the door.
B次元官网网址淢y biggest reaction to this is pure shock. That couldnB次元官网网址檛 be,B次元官网网址� said Benn.
During the meeting, Shields also said his restaurant, the Shuswap Grill Gourmet Burgery, will remain closed.
Shields later explained to the Observer the assisted living home never had been a moneymaker, though it was meant to be his retirement project.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e put nine and a half years into this place and IB次元官网网址檝e never received a dime of profit from it,B次元官网网址� said Shields, who also resides at the facility.
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While his days at McGuire Lake Congregate Living may be coming to an end, Shields said he would do what he can so his fellow residents donB次元官网网址檛 find themselves out on the street as of Oct. 1.
B次元官网网址淵ou donB次元官网网址檛 do it this way. You certainly donB次元官网网址檛 have a group of seniors waking up to a notice telling them youB次元官网网址檝e got 17 days and then theyB次元官网网址檝e got no hydro, no gas and water. Who does that?B次元官网网址� said Shields.
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