Maple Ridge residents feel trapped because of faulty elevator

Some elderly residents of a Maple Ridge apartment building say they’re virtual prisoners in their homes because their elevator is broken.

“I’m trapped here. I can’t go anywhere,” says Jean Ticehurt.

“I’ve been sitting in pajamas for three days.”

She’s one of many seniors who live at Maple Court, a three-story apartment building at 20985 Camwood Avenue. But the building’s sole elevator went down three days ago, and originally, the property manager told residents it would take a least a month to be fixed.

“I was supposed to go see a specialist on Monday, I couldn’t go. I was supposed to go see my doctor, I couldn’t go. I have one day left of prescriptions, and the drugstore doesn’t deliver,” says Ticehurt.

Natalie Romaniuk lives across the hall from Ticehurst. She also needs to use the elevator, and injured herself when she was forced to carry heavy groceries up to her home.

“I just couldn’t deal with it. There was just so much pain, from the shoulder to the back, to the hip to the leg.”

Global News did attempt to interview a representative of AMACON, the building’s landlord, but the company said no one was available for comment today.

But later this afternoon, AMACON put a memo on the elevator, telling residents “there has been a miscommunication regarding the downtown for the elevator at the subject premises,” and that repairs would begin immediately.