'We lost everything': Couple’s home the only one destroyed in Cape Breton community
In a community largely untouched by Fiona’s wrath, what happened to Janasta and Vincent Chaisson’s mobile home shows how random destruction can seem.
"I was worried," says Janasta, "but I didn't think, I thought my fence would go, I didn't think the house would go."
The couple was staying with family when Fiona hit. Janasta's sister, Jennie Pardy, says a neighbor across the street saw what happened.
"Around 1:30 AM (Saturday) he heard something like a screaming, a rumbling, kind of like a freight train," says Pardy.
She says he came to the house and knocked on the door to see if anyone was home. Receiving no answer, he went back home and watching.
"(And) everything came apart and landed into their next-door neighbor's yard," says Pardy.
What’s left of the home’s roof is now laying on the ground, after the storm’s high winds peeled it from the house.
The Chaisson’s didn’t know anything had happened until they drove by early the next morning as Vincent was taking Janasta to work at the local long-term care facility.
"We came up the lane Saturday morning and my fence was still up, the shed was still there, I said, 'ok everything's fine,'" recalls Vincent. "We got to the stop sign over here, made the turn, and realized our roof was gone."
Janasta is a continuing care assistant. Vincent had to leave his job after suffering from severe spinal degeneration, along with being diagnosed with early onset dementia.
The couple tried to get home insurance, but were unable to afford the necessary upgrades to qualify.
The property was their home for 20 years.
"This is where thought we would grow old, it's where our son grew up," says Janasta with tears filling her eyes, "it's where we've been taking our grandson on the weekends, and we don't have that anymore."
With rain pouring in after the roof was torn off, there’s barely anything for the Chaissons to salvage.
The ceiling has collapsed in several places, tiles strewn all over the floor.
The couple’s bed is soaked through.
The smell of mold inside is strong.
When the couple returned to what was their home, there was little they could save. All they have now is the clothing on their backs, and some photos Janasta managed to gather up to dry.
"We lost everything else, beds, bureaus, TVs, everything, photo albums," says Vincent, "everything is soaked."
"We're lost, we don't know the next step," adds Janasta.
Seeing her sister overwhelmed with the loss, Pardy has stepped in to help the couple apply for assistance through Nova Scotia’s disaster relief program, announced Monday.
The provincial government says the program will cover certain 'uninsured losses' up to $200,000, with no deductible.
When asked if the Chaissons would qualify, a spokesperson for the province would only say the program is for “non-insured damages”.
"That said," writes Marla MacInnis, "Government continues to look very closely at the type of support that Nova Scotians need right now and we encourage people who need support to apply."
The deadline for applications is January 31, 2023.
Meanwhile, family and community members in Arichat are stepping up to help the Chaissons.
Pardy has launched an online fundraising campaign and is organizing a benefit event for October 15 at the Acadiaville Hall nearby.
"I have no doubt that people are going to help support these people and help them rebuild and get back on their feet," says Richmond County District 1 Councilor Shawn Samson.
"When you speak of community, you get the word 'unity' out of it,” he says, "that’s what we do here on Isle Madam and Richmond County."
The county’s Emergency Services Coordinator says the county can also help the couple connect with aid organizations.
"There's the financial assistance there's Cape Breton Housing," says Steve Marcellus, "any of those resources, Red Cross if there's something longer term."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
As GC Strategies partner is admonished by MPs, RCMP confirms search warrant executed
The RCMP confirmed Wednesday it had executed a search warrant at an address registered to GC Strategies. This development comes as MPs are enacting an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power, summoning one of its contractors to appear before the House of Commons to be admonished publicly for failing to answer questions related to the ArriveCan app.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Attempt to have murder charge quashed against alleged serial killer dismissed by judge
A motion filed by the man accused of killing four Indigenous women in Winnipeg to have one of those murder charges quashed has been dismissed by the judge – weeks before the start of his trial.
Government proposes new policy for federally regulated employees to disconnect from work
In their 2024 budget, the federal government wants to amend the Canada Labour Code, so employers in federally regulated sectors will eliminate work-related communication with employees outside of scheduled hours. If implemented, this would affect roughly 500,000 across the country.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.