Over 100 Gabriolans show up to support residents at risk of having their homes demolished by the RDN

Islands Trust has agreed to help intervene on the decision

Hope Lompe

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder

Gabriolans poured into the Gabriola Arts and Heritage Centre on Thursday for the Gabriola Local Trust Committee on Oct. 9. to show support for residents facing possible demolition of their homes by Oct. 20 and Dec. 1.

It was standing room only, with some oven watching in from outside through the open doors. In all, approximately a hundred people turned up to support Kelsey Rush and Thalia Apostolopoulos, speaking as delegates on behalf of the owners and residents of 750 South Road, 1400 South Road and 1965 Stalker Road, asking Islands Trust to intervene on the RDN order.

“We knew that we had the support, it was just a matter of telling everyone what we were facing, that the RDN has been threatening to demolish homes that have been standing for 15 years housing senior citizens, families, residents of Gabriola,” said Rush. “It’s just so far outside what is reasonable enforcement.”

Islands Trust passed three motions in favour of the delegates, including one that would give the unique cob home community a site specific eco village designation through the Gabriola Official Community Plan, currently in review.

Ultimately, the decision whether or not to act will be up to the RDN. Vanessa Craig, RDN Chair and Director for Electoral Area B was present for the meeting, and stayed after to speak with the delegates. The RDN was not available for comment ahead of publication.

Delegates made their case, citing an alleged retracted agreement with RDN that would have allowed them to bring the homes up to code while the eighteen residents continued to live there.

Now, the homes have “Do Not Occupy” notices. They say they are told they must demolish one cob home and permit another by Oct. 20 or all buildings exceeding 107 sq.ft must have demolition applications or permit applications put in by Dec. 1, and the four cob homes on the properties are not eligible for permits, they say.

The situation has garnered public attention on Gabriola, where the properties have been a refuge for people seeking community and affordable housing on the island for over a decade.

After delegates spoke, it was the community’s turn to make their case for the homes.

“I’m about to be homeless again. This would be the most intense move in 13 years,” Crystal Carlson said, and adds she has been displaced multiple times with her five children, sometimes resulting in going on long trips while in between homes.

“Who else is opening a home for us? Who else? When I show up to a house and I say, ‘Hi, I have five children, my older boys come on the weekend, so they won’t be much of an impact, they’re very respectful.’ People come back and say, ‘Sorry …I just feel like that’s too many people for my house.”

Another community member spoke up to speak on the bureaucracy over humanity.

“A document that pertains to an inanimate object is being given all the power over the health and well being of people, and the system is not prepared for the current climate of the housing crisis, of the economic crisis, of the mental health crisis, none of It is working together to solve problems for humans.”

Island Trustees have acknowledged Gabriola has unique housing that differs from other areas in the RDN, and passed a motion to work with RDN on this issue, as well as write a letter to defer the bylaw enforcement on these properties.