Nova Scotia鈥檚 COVID-19 border closure has shut out a Maple Ridge family that was in the process of moving to their new home in the province.

David and Julie Kaplan were driving across the country, but were stopped at the New Brunswick border. That province informed them Nova Scotia鈥檚 border is closed, and turned them back.

The family of four is camping in Quebec, hoping to cut through pandemic-created red tape.

鈥淭hey were exhausted, and to be turned away was very emotional,鈥� said David鈥檚 sister Belinda Kaplan, who started appealing to the media for help from her home in Maple Ridge.

The Kaplans鈥� story has been in the television news in Atlantic Canada, and David said he is now cautiously hopeful that a resolution is in sight.

鈥淏ut we鈥檙e still waiting, and haven鈥檛 heard anything,鈥� he said on Tuesday morning. 鈥淎nd we have no guarantees.鈥�

The family was looking for a fresh start in the Maritimes, where Julie鈥檚 family lives, and sold their home in Maple Ridge to buy a two-acre property in Windsor Forks, N.S., about 40 minutes from Halifax.

When they left their home on May 2, the public health orders stated they could still get into the province, based on the closing date of their property purchase.

鈥淭he day we left, Nova Scotia was going to let us in,鈥� said David.

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However, as the pandemic took hold of the province, and case counts reached record highs, the border restrictions tightened. Nobody is allowed to enter the province until at least the end of the month, with few exceptions.

The border was closed at 8 a.m. Monday.

The Kaplans had been travelling at an admittedly leisurely pace, moving across the nation with Justin and Estelle, aged six and four, and the family dog.

鈥淢oving, at the best of times, is quite stressful, much less moving across the country,鈥� said David.

They have a cargo trailer full of their most valued possessions, and a travel trailer to sleep in. When they heard the new restrictions were coming, they got their caravan moving, putting in some long days of travelling over 1,000 km each, but still just missed the open border. At the New Brunswick border, officials were inflexible.

鈥淭hey wouldn鈥檛 even look at my documentation,鈥� said David.

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But he sent an email asking the Nova Scotia government for a compassionate exemption. They called their realtor, their new MLA and a variety of other potential advocates, and it seems they may get passage. Their appeal has been given unofficial approval.

He is keeping the family comfortable in a campground near the New Brunswick border, and expecting some digital permit documents that will get them both through New Brunswick and into their new home province.

鈥淲e鈥檙e very hopeful. I think things will be resolved. It鈥檚 just a matter of time,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e need to be able to get home.鈥�