Peder Mortensen, the Vaudreuil-Dorion recluse who risked losing his house after city officials tried to evict him, is getting ready for at least one more winter in his makeshift home.
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The retired civil engineer, who worked Expo’67, explained only one room in his house has true winter insulation – but he doesn’t need more than that.
Mortensen built his home in the woods from scratch in the mid-1960s – it’s one of his proudest achievements.
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Last May, the 82-year-old was told by city officials that he needed to vacate his home due to safety and building code concerns.
After the story became public, the mayor received hundreds of complaints over the controversial plan and residents delivered a petition to city hall featuring over 1,500 signatures from people demanding the elderly resident be left alone.
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“We understand Mr. Mortensen wants to live in this thing and we can accommodate,” Vaudreuil-Dorion Mayor Guy Pilon said.
Pilon added no one else can reside in the home on Sunset Street and once Mortensen leaves, the house must be demolished.
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“I didn’t know I had so many friends around my neighbourhood,” said Mortensen, who first moved to Vaudreuil-Dorion in 1962.
“I’m a solitary person, so that’s one good thing that came out of it.”
There were a few conditions for the Danish-born Mortensen to be allowed to stay.
These include improving his kitchen (he bought a hot plate) and making sure he can get quick medical care (he now has a phone and access to a direct clinic phone line).