VE
The Invermere
ALLEY A CHO
Wilmer man honoured by China
MOTH MOMENT
7
BERNIE RAVEN CHRIS RAVEN 1-866-598-7415 TEAMRAVEN.CA Offices in Panorama, Invermere & Fairmont
ahead with 3 Edging improved infrastructure
1
$
05 INCLUDES GST
Maxwell Realty Invermere
This eye-catching image of a moth was taken on the steps of a residence in Columere Park by Gill Horbachewski, who could not resist capturing the moth’s beautiful wing design with her camera. PHOTO BY GILL HORBACHEWSKI
PUBLICATIONS MAIL REGISTRATION NO. 7856
Court appeal doesn’t deter Sunchaser property owners DAN WALTON dan@invermerevalleyecho.com Despite an appeal against a court decision last month which ruled in their favour, the property managers at Sunchaser Villas are still expecting their renovation fees. The decision that was overturned on Friday, June 13th came in November 2013, when the BC Supreme Court ruled in favour of the property managers right to impose extensive renovation fees upon all timeshare owners at the resort. Owners were given two options: pay $4,195 to keep each timeshare unit, or pay $3,168 to part with the asset. The fees were calculated by a consulting firm hired by Northwynd Resort Properties Ltd., the development company that purchased Sunchaser after it defaulted in 2009. Kirk Wankel, the chief executive officer of Northwynd Resort Properties
Ltd., said that obligatory maintenance “It’s hard to say what effect this’ll have duties and upgrades had been neglect- on [owners not involved in the lawsuit]. ed by the previous owners — Fairmont Renovation operations are based on the Resort Properties Ltd. — and a back- fees collected by the resort… people we log of issues have to be addressed. hoped would stop being in default will And even though the BC Supreme likely be in default longer.” Court reversed November’s ruling There are 18,950 time share units that last month, Mr. Wankel said all own- are part of the property, and the issue ers with outstanding wound up in court The owners are because about 950 accounts are still on the hook for the still bound by their of the owners filed a renovation fees. contracts and we’re still class-action lawsuit. “From a legal perAs legal experts figspective, this turned enforcing them. ure out who’s right, KIRK WANKEL ‘yes’ into ‘unde- NORTHWYND RESORT PROPERTIES LTD. owners with outcided’ – not a ‘yes’ standing accounts into a ‘no’,” he said. “We will pursue are being charged interest by the propcollection from them like any other erty management company. account. The owners are still bound Northwynd could take the issue by their contracts and we’re still deeper into legal limbo, but the propenforcing them.” erty management company won’t be But he admits the recent appeal will appealing the appeal, Mr. Wankel said, make it more difficult to convince own- as the decision would be tied up for ers they rightfully owe the money. years in the Supreme Court of Canada.
VJ (Butch) Bishop Owner/Operator 4846 Holland Creek Ridge Rd. Invermere, BC V0A 1K0
The number of time share units at the resort will be less after the completion of the renovation program, as many owners will choose to opt-out, he said. As many owners are still fighting the decision, it is not currently known how many units will still be part of the resort after the renovations. In an online forum used by many Sunchaser owners, skepticism has been expressed towards Northwynd’s longterm commitment to the resort, worrying some owners that the thousands of four-figure renovation fees could be collected before the bulk of the work is completed. “If we were going to run away with the money, why would we set up a $100-a-month payment plan?” Mr. Wankel said. “If we were going to cut and run, we would have already.” Renovations are currently taking place in the 300, 400, and 800 buildings at Sunchaser. See A3
• Excavators • Mini-Excavators • Bobcats • Dump Trucks • Water Trucks • Snow Plow • Sanding Equipment • Crane Truck • Road Building • Land Clearing • Controlled Burning • Rock Walls • Rip Rap • Top Soil • Sand & Gravel CONTRACT OR HOURLY MACHINE RENTALS AVAILABLE