RidgeView residents voice concerns and feedback to city on poor handling of building evacuation

Displaced RidgeView Place residents addressed Langford city council in a heated meeting Monday night, where residents were able to ask questions about the cause of evacuation—questions that the city did not have answers to.

When asked by resident Tyler Samson what was wrong with the building, Mayor Scott Goodmanson said this had not been identified.

Goodmanson said that two structural engineers and a concrete specialist conducted a visual inspection of the building the weekend prior to evacuation, alerting building owner Centurion Property Associates that the building should be vacated. He said they will not have an answer on the exact cause until a thorough examination of the building is completed.

The building had its occupancy license revoked by Langford after the city received a letter from Engineers and Geoscientists of the Province of BC on April 17, stating that there were unresolved structural design flaws that had not been repaired after the 2019 evacuation.

“This is an invasive investigation that will take a long time,” Goodmanson said. “As frustrating as that is, they can’t go in there and do what they need to do until everyone is out.”

Samson said he found it “alarming” that the city did not know this information. According to him, there are still several residents occupying the RidgeView, who either can’t leave without alternative housing options or won’t leave because the risk level is not clear.

Many residents said they were disappointed that the city did not reach out to the affected individuals. Resident Ashley MacDonald told councillors that they “should be ashamed” for their lack of support “for nearly 200 of their constituents.”

“I have never received direct communication from any of you and it’s despicable,” MacDonald told councillors. “What we have endured is trauma—there’s no way around that. We are so far past sympathies, prayers.”

Goodmanson said council had not received any information about RidgeView’s residents from Centurion, saying he did not know names, contact information, or the number of people living in the building.

‍ Moving costs and hotel fees straining residents finances

While Centurion has promised residents a $2,500 “compassion assistance” and a refund of their last four days of rent, many point out that the cost of the last-minute move, hotels and travel have put a strain on their finances.

Resident Tara Davies said the financial assistance program is “a slap in the face,” adding that she will not be eligible for a grant at her income level. She works full time as a bus driver, but has had to take a break from her job due to the fallout of losing her home.

The city says their priority right now is to offer financial aid to the most vulnerable people, with any leftover funding going equally to the remaining residents.

Stress has triggered medical issues for some

The stress of the incident has affected some people more than others. Robert Taylor told council that his wife, who is in her 70s, is currently in the hospital after collapsing from a stress-induced “episode.” Taylor, meanwhile, is staying in a house he described as “abandoned”— a difficult adjustment for someone previously living in an apartment “costing near $3,000 a month” in rent.

Jamee Coubrough, who suffers from stress-induced seizures resulting from a 2019 car accident, said her seizures have worsened in the last two weeks. Prior to the evacuation, she had been seizure free for six months.

Precarious housing difficult for those with small children and pets

For those with pets, finding housing has created additional challenges. Victoria Simms, who needed immediate stable housing due to her remote job, has had to move back in with her parents in Ontario since she couldn’t find a home that allowed dogs. Simms had to pay for an expensive cross-country move, having to give away most of her belongings.

Laura Valasquez, a resident who moved into RidgeView two months ago, said she had to leave her pet behind because she could not find pet-friendly housing. She is now staying at her third place in three weeks with her husband and small children.

“My baby has been sleeping on a playpen for the last two weeks–it’s so uncomfortable,” said Valasquez, calling moving with a baby “exhausting.”