Two years after the devastating McDougall Creek fire burned down the majority of Lake Okanagan Resort, displaced residents struggle to rebuild as red tape delays recovery.
Heather Ormiston called her second-floor condo unit, overlooking Okanagan Lake, her retirement plan. Now, all that remains of Ormiston’s condo is a barren patch of rocks and gravel.
“It was an investment property — every dollar of our savings went into buying this for our future,” said Ormiston.
The fire destroyed 90 per cent of the resort, and dozens of displaced residents, including Ormiston, are still stuck in limbo. Unable to begin rebuilding, they face red tape that has kept them from moving forward.
Maria Hart, another condo owner, says, “It’s so frustrating. We’re still paying condo fees and taxes, some people are paying mortgages, and we don’t have a home we’re paying for. We have so much money tied up in that.”
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The stalled recovery …