Justice for Sylvia
Supporters of self-described hoarder stage peaceful protest outside Civic Centre
A North Sydney woman whose home was demolished after it was deemed structurally unsound and unsightly was joined Friday by a group of supporters who felt she was treated unfairly.
Sylvia Dolomont, 77, a self-described hoarder, lost her bid in July to prevent the tearing down of her former bungalow-style home on Campbell Street, after neighbours complained for years about rodents and odours.
Dolomont said she spent upwards of $50,000 cleaning the home but it was not enough to appease the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, which knocked down the structure during the evening hours of Oct. 4.
By early afternoon Friday, there were about 10 people gathered in front of the Civic Centre in Sydney waving “Justice for Sylvia” signs in protest of the CBRM’s handling of Dolomont’s case.
An organizer of the event, Ashley Wood, said she didn’t know the senior until reading about her situation in a newspaper article and reaching out.
“I myself didn’t get to physically go over to the house but I’ve been talking to Sylvia, along with her supporters as well — and the CBRM didn’t reconsider — they didn’t send anybody over to see the progress of what she did to the house,” said Wood. “I don’t think it’s right.”
Wood’s fiancé, Brian Aucoin, said having undergone his own personal struggles, he understands that hoarding is a mental health disorder that requires professional help.
“I really think they should build her a new home, to be honest with you,” said Aucoin. “Because there was absolutely nothing wrong with it except for a little cosmetic work, but I’ve seen worse places in Cape Breton.”
Although she hasn’t received it yet, Dolomont expects a bill for approximately $15,000 to $20,000 to cover the cost of demolishing the 1973-built structure.
According to the municipality, it received complaints about the property dating back to 2008. In July 2016, the CBRM issued a notice of intent to demolish the home, although Dolomont later filed an appeal of the order.
During a Supreme Court hearing in Sydney, the judge found no basis on which to grant such relief, stating that the CBRM had followed all of its processes in accordance with the Municipal Government Act including working with Dolomont to correct the deficiencies in the home.
Dolomont said Friday that she will not be backing down in her fight with the municipality over the loss.
“If my house wasn’t worth anything 10 years ago, why would they charge $2,300 a year in taxes,” said Dolomont. “They should give me back $23,000 on my taxes (paid for over 10 years.)”
“My home was my heart and they did it with vindictiveness and spite because I stood up to the big guns. Nobody stands up to the big guns.”
Dolomont said she never sought help for her hoarding and instead stopped shopping on her own.
A supporter of Dolomont’s, who didn’t wish to have her named published, said she found it “sneaky” that the municipality demolished the home after dark.
The woman also questioned the municipality’s ability to tear down structures that don’t belong to them.
“I’m here because what they did isn’t right,” she said. “We got new windows but around the windows is getting rotten, so can they just come and tear down my house? Who tears somebody’s house down because it’s not up to par? They’re people living in worse than that and do they do anything about that?”