Belcarra cabin dwellers waiting to hear if eviction sticks

By

BELCARRA (NEWS1130) – Tenants of a handful of cabins nestled along the waterfront of Belcarra Park are waiting for Metro Vancouver to get back to them this week on whether they can stay in their homes.

The seven cottages are on Metro Vancouver land and leased yearly to those who live in them full-time.

Jo Ledingham, who has lived in one of the cabins for over 40 years, says they got the eviction notice in February, and have been fighting to stay ever since.

“We called for a meeting, and what we heard then was they were going to build a trail along the waterfront. But they also raised issues of liability, and when we questioned them about [what the liabilities are] they weren’t specific.”

Ledingham says those living on the property have cared for it as if it was a home they owned, pouring thousands into upgrades and maintenance.

“When we came into this cottage, there was no electricity, no septic. We wired it, we put plumbing in. There was no heat, so stoves went in. The roof has been done twice,” but Ledingham says Metro Vancouver hasn’t contributed so much as a bucket of paint.

Three generations of her family live in the cottages, including her daughter and granddaughter. They’re feeling frustrated, distraught and furious at the thought of having to leave their homes and breaking up their tight-knit tiny waterfront community.

They appealed the eviction set to come into effect at the end of August, a process that has taken six months. At a final meeting Friday, Ledingham says one Metro Vancouver rep told those in attendance the outlook didn’t look good.

Ledingham says if they have to leave, it’s not going to be an easy move: “It’s not like moving from one apartment to another, we have wood stoves, boats, crab traps. There are three pianos on the properties.”

She adds she’s walked through other Lower Mainland neighborhoods, but just can’t imagine living anywhere else.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today