Winnipeggers step up to help evacuated Birchwood Terrace residents

Some Winnipeggers have taken it upon themselves to help out residents who were evacuated from the Birchwood Terrace apartment building Thursday.

Crystal Costello went to the building as soon as she heard residents of the apartment building were being displaced and that's where she met Deidre Buechler,an 81-year-old with mobility issues, and no family in Winnipeg. The two were strangers just days ago, but now, Buechler says her new-found family member will be in her life forever.

"I'm very overwhelmed. I feel so alone except for Crystal," said Buechler. "But she's got a life, and I'm going to be a part of it from now on."

Buechler said she lived at Birchwood Terrace for close to seven years and met lots of people there who are now in the same situation she's in. She's said she's angry with the way things have gone the last few days.

All of her furniture, clothes and a fridge and freezer full of food from a trip to the grocery store remain in Buechler's apartment.

"How do you pack up your life, I don't know, it's never happened to me before," she said. "I've never been in a horrible situation like this in my life before, I don't know what I'm going to do."

Costello has helped Buechler pack andregister for Canadian Red Cross services, as well as keeping her dog company. She'salso started the hunt for a new apartment for the 81-year-old.

She said she was motivated to take action after seeing what was happening at the apartment building on social media and also going through an overwhelming move with her own mother. But shealso hopes the City of Winnipeg willstep up too to find housing for those who have been displaced.

"We're really hoping that the city steps up and helps out with all these displaced seniors," said Costello.

WATCH | Winnipeg woman bonds with displaced senior after apartment evacuation:

Winnipeg woman bonds with displaced senior after apartment evacuation

5 months ago

Duration 2:34

When 250 people were forced out of their homes at Birchwood Terrace with less than a day's notice Thursday night, Crystal Costello thought of her own mother, a senior, who was overwhelmed when she had to move with three months' notice. Costello went to the St. James building to see how she could help on Friday, where she met Deidre Buechler, who has now become her "adopted grandma."

A town-hall-style meeting was held Friday night at the Holiday Inn where residents were addressed by the landlord and an engineer from a firm who conducted an inspection that found damage in various parts of the building's structure.

Costello was at the meeting and said while there were a lot of angry residents, some of whom were seniors that are afraid to speak up.

"They have things in the building and a lot of them have had major problems with their apartment, but they can't really complain too much because they're afraid they're going to get kicked out," said Costello.

Ladco Company Ltd. which owns Lakewood Agencies, the property manager of the apartment complex also owns the Holiday Inn Airport West where the meeting took place. However, Henry Borger with Ladco Company Ltd. said they wouldn't provide room and board following the meeting.

That's something that doesn't sit well with Costello.

"They own the Holiday Inn. [It's] so close but they won't house any of the seniors there, they have to go into different places."

Meanwhile, Buechler said while the last few days have been hard, she called the assistance from Costello a silver lining.

"She's the best thing that ever happened in my life," saidBuechler.

And Costello said while she thinks Ladco could've done better to help residents, she doesn't mind stepping in to help.

"We do have a lot of community helpers that showed up and a lot of people on Facebook pages that arewanting to help in some way," she said.

Others happy to help

Another Winnipeger, Kelly Ryback, doesn't know anyone who lived in the building, but lives in the St. James area and drives by Birchwood Terrace almost every day. Ryback said he helped out last year after an apartment fire in the area.

Ryback, who ran unsuccessfully in2022 for the St. James seat at city hall, saidhe's also been in contact with businesses and also reached out to the offices of the area MLAtoo.

"If there's donations to be picked up for clothing or small items, I would do that," he said. "Or if something needs to be delivered to a resident of Birchwood Terrace, I would do that."

Ryback said because he has the time to reach out and help, he wants to make sure he puts it to good use.

"I'm very happy with how the community is responding and as news comes out as to what's needed in the coming days and weeks I know that the community will step up and the residents and the businesses."