SLAVE LAKE- A year and a half after fire tore through the town of Slave Lake, some families who lost everything say they are now struggling through another nightmare.
Global News spoke with four families who say they hired Dave Nicholson of Nicholson Construction in Wetaskiwin, to rebuild their homes after losing them in the fire.
They say the builder abandoned them after construction was delayed and over budget.
Tradespeople and suppliers have now placed liens on their homes, claiming they were not paid by the builder.
Homeowner Sheila Pearson was shocked when Home Hardware put a lien of $81,000 on her home.
“(Nicholson) was supposed to pay the trades, that’s how it works. He’s supposed to pay the supply company. I’m not supposed to chase around and make sure everybody is paid,” said Pearson.
She says she called Nicholson and he told her everything would be taken care of.
“(He said) don’t worry about it. (He) left my house never to be seen again, and refused to answer all phone calls,” Pearson added.
The other three families are also facing liens. They say they paid the builder and would like to know where their money went.
They say Nicholson didn’t have detailed contracts and the projects were way over budget.
“We’re way beyond the insurance money, what the insurance gave us to do our house. We’ve cleaned out the contents money and now he still wants another $43,000 for upgrades,” said homeowner Val Love.
Millet-based M & S Renovations says it has not placed any liens on any homes but, it is owed more than $20,000 by Nicholson Construction.
“There was a lot of contact made with Mr. Nicholson, but nothing as far as payment,” explained Steve Dubyk of M & S Renovations. “Pay your trades. If that doesn’t happen then where is the money going?”
Homeowner Ted Parks has also been affected. He says he paid Nicholson $270,000 and then had to pay the trades people again, so they would come back.
Parks says he will likely have to take out another mortgage, on a home he still isn’t living in.
“Don’t just walk away with a house that’s half done and pretend to be my friend to start off with and then dump us. Basically that’s what we’re feeling like, we’ve been dumped,” said Parks. “We’re in dire straights, I guess.”
Global News was able to contact Nicholson over the phone, to ask him why his company walked away from the jobs, but he declined comment following advice from his lawyer. However, he did say some of the families did not pay him for all the upgrades to their homes.
The homeowners maintain they’ve paid and just want to be able to move on with their lives.
“We’ve been to hell and back, in my opinion,” said Pearson. “I didn’t think people would take advantage of the situation. I thought they were here to help.”
Nicholson and Pearson are both being sued by Home Hardware in Wetaskiwin for the money Home Hardware says it’s owed on the house.
Cubbon Building Centre Ltd. is the holding company for Wetaskiwin Home Hardware. The company’s president says because the matter is before the court, she is unable to speak on a specific case, but sent the following statement to Global News via email.
“After all they have been through, our hearts go out to the people in Slave Lake who have been adversely affected by their dealings with Mr. Nicholson. We are one of many vendors and suppliers of Mr. Nicholson who have not been paid for materials or services used to rebuild the homes in Slave Lake. As an independent company, we are working within the confines of the Alberta legal system to ensure that he is brought to justice, and held accountable for his actions,” said Patti Smith.
With files from Julie Matthews.
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