The fence and what remains of the Stone Soup free meal program on Nicol St. came down Monday morning in a mad scramble of phone calls and arguments. (Spencer Sterritt/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Spencer Sterritt

stone soup

Nanaimo free dinner program dismantled after eviction saga

Jul 15, 2019 | 3:45 AM

NANAIMO — The dream of offering free hot meals to Nanaimo’s most vulnerable from an ideal south-end location has come to an end.

The locks were changed and tent ceilings taken down at 150 Nicol St. on Monday morning after a bitter fight over building permits and evictions.

Stone Soup organizers Tanya and Doug Hiltz were surrounded by friends and neighbours as court-ordered movers arrived around 9 a.m. Monday to dismantle everything and place it in storage.

The program started in March 2018 and quickly grew from a few tents in an adjacent parking lot to having a full tent ceiling with pallet-flooring, countertops and kitchenware in the Hiltz’ backyard.

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It was estimated to help feed roughly 150 of Nanaimo’s most vulnerable each night.

Much of the built up infrastructure was ripped out in mid-March 2019 after it was discovered the City of Nanaimo had never issued a building permit for the expansion.

An eviction notice from the landlord Paul Manhas quickly followed.

It was an eviction battle the Hiltz’ quickly lost, having failed to dispute the notice within 10 days of receiving it. They were given until the end of June to move out of the Nicol St. home.

It’s now unclear what will happen.

After a hasty run to the Nanaimo courthouse, the matter will be before the courts on Tuesday, July 16 attempting to have an injunction ordered against the proceedings to take possession of Stone Soup property.

Tanya Hiltz was in a mad panic during the eviction, desperately trying to coordinate where their items, specifically the outdoor kitchen appliances, will go.

Several neighbours offered to hold much of their stuff for as long as needed. Anything taken by the movers will remain in storage for 21 days. It can be picked up free of charge within that time. If not, it will be sold at public auction.

Tanya Hiltz repeatedly alleged their landlord Manhas would have removed pressure on them and rescinded his eviction notice if the City would be more lenient and work with the Stone Soup program.

A delegation of Stone Soup supporters is presenting to Nanaimo councillors during the Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday, starting at 4:30 p.m.

A staff report from Jeremy Holm, the director of development approvals, for Monday’s meeting said the City is not involved in landlord and tenant disputes.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit