Residents of a Salmon Arm assisted living facility woke up Friday morning to the detrimental news they soon won鈥檛 have a place to call home.
Staff along with the 34 residents of McGuire Lake Congregate Living discovered a 鈥渃ourtesy notice鈥� taped to several of the doors explaining that the building they call home will be closed as of Oct. 1.
鈥淧lease note that this building will be closed as of Oct. 1. Utilities will be disconnected and the building will be sealed,鈥� read the notice, posted by the owners of the building at 551 Trans-Canada Highway.
鈥淭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.
鈥�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.鈥�
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 owners鈥� lawyers.
Shields said the lawyer was looking for, 鈥渁 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.鈥�
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.
鈥淎ll of which is absolutely ludicrous, all of which cannot be done,鈥� Shields told residents. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not legal, it can鈥檛 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.鈥�
Lorenz Eppinger, representing the numbered company 951624 Ontario, Ltd., which owns the building, explained Shields is 鈥渋n serious default with us,鈥� and was given notice in July. He reiterated how the date for possession had been extended two months to allow residents time to relocate.
鈥淒uring that time, we鈥檙e paying for water, we鈥檙e paying for all of this,鈥� said Eppinger, explaining the building鈥檚 owners are not licensed to operate an assisted living facility.
鈥淲e are very concerned because we wanted everyone to not have to scramble at the end, because legally I can鈥檛 do anything when Dan Shields is gone at the end of the month鈥� So this is an extremely upsetting situation for us and for everyone involved.鈥�
Eppinger noted there are concerns with the building, stating at this point it wasn鈥檛 known if the building could be saved.
Shields told residents he had been in contact with the province鈥檚 Residential Tenancy Branch and the building鈥檚 owners cannot just cut off utilities.
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鈥淚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, it鈥檚 four months notice. Otherwise, he could technically serve us with two months notice,鈥� 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.
鈥淢y biggest reaction to this is pure shock. That couldn鈥檛 be,鈥� 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.
鈥淚鈥檝e put nine and a half years into this place and I鈥檝e never received a dime of profit from it,鈥� 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 don鈥檛 find themselves out on the street as of Oct. 1.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 do it this way. You certainly don鈥檛 have a group of seniors waking up to a notice telling them you鈥檝e got 17 days and then they鈥檝e got no hydro, no gas and water. Who does that?鈥� said Shields.
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