The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 5
August 8, 2008 Continued from Page 3 In 2003, the Akisqnuk band submitted a lease, and owners signed for a five-year period. When the lease expired, owners were once again mailed an annual bill for the summer 2008 season, and the owners paid up as usual. But some owners say they didn’t realize this would be the final chapter for their idyllic summer home on the lake. Lillian Rose is president of the two-year-old Akisqnuk DevelOwners enjoy waterfront views on this prime development property. opment Corporation, now responsible for the property. would be told to leave we wouldn’t have done that.” She is also the elected representative for Regional He said removing his trailer is a physical imposDistrict Area F, representing about 7,000 residents livsibility. “There’s no room, since I can barely drive my ing in the rural area from Invermere to Canal Flats. van down the lane between the rows of trailers,” he She said the Akisqnuk Development Corporasaid. “When we purchased the trailer 15 years ago tion is now ready to clean up and restore the property, interior walls had already been taken out so we can’t pending a possible new housing development. move it without demolishing it.” Many of the long-time owners are saddened by The lease that was signed by the owners in 2003 the prospect of leaving. Dayle Armstrong first came states that all structures must be removed, according with her parents 26 years ago when she was a child, to Ms. Rose. “We’re hoping that people will do the and now she brings her own children with her. “For right thing,” she said. them to take it all away is quite sad,” she said. Mr. Dyer said he plans to approach his Member of Michael and Ann Dyer of Calgary have been leasParliament Jim Prentice, a former Minister of Indian ing and paying band-assessed taxes on their lakeview Affairs, for assistance. He said the removal of the traillot and trailer for 15 years. Mr. Dyer said he heard ers should be the responsibility of the band, and ownthe news about the eviction from his neighbour, two ers should be compensated for the financial loss based days after arriving for his annual month-long holiday on their value as assessed by the band itself. “They have in July. “This came as a complete shock.” rendered our property worthless,” he said. Mr. Dyer said he is outraged at the way owners are A group of owners got together recently and tried being treated. “There are two main issues: the breach to negotiate a new lease with the Akisqnuk, to no avail. of faith with people who have been investing finanNone of them wanted to speak with the newspaper. cially and emotionally in this place for decades, and But Ms. Rose is adamant that the trailers have to the requirement that we should remove everything by go. “There’s no amount of money they can offer that October. That’s ridiculous,” he said. will allow them to stay,” she said. “We have invested tens of thousands of dollars in She said the adjoining campground, also run by the this property. We replaced our deck as recently as three Akisqnuk, will still be available for short-term campers summers ago. Obviously if I had any inkling that we and former owners are welcome to stay there.
We will beat all competi tors on P rice per quality!
Just a reminder… The classified deadline is 12 noon Tuesday.
Furniture Shopping? Think Cranbrook! 60 day money back guarantee U Deluxe delivery to Invermere, Radium, U and Fairmont for $4999
Value, selection, service – We have it at the U Cranbrook Ashley Furniture Home Store 1708 Cranbrook St. (on the strip) Cranbrook, BC V1C 3S8 (250) 426-2311 • info@cranbrookhomestore.com www.ashleyfurniturehomestore.ca
Independently Owned and Operated