'He was like a father to me'
Sister to move into boarded-up house brother was allegedly killed in; says this is what he would want her to do
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Friday, July 10, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A woman says despite the fact her brother was allegedly killed there, she still intends to move into the derelict house in Ndilo where he once lived.
Susan Chaffee holds a photo of her brother as she stands in front of the house where he died last month. Chaffee intends to move into the abandoned home in Ndilo once it is fixed up. She said her brother dying in the home doesn't bother her adding that is what he would want her to do. - John McFadden/NNSL photo |
Her brother, Archie Paulette, 68, died in the home at 122 Sikyea Tili on June 8. His common-law wife Beverly Ann Villeneuve is charged with second degree murder.
The house was boarded up in the days after Paulette's death but some boards have been pried off and the glass is smashed out of several windows.
Susan Chaffee, who currently lives in an apartment in downtown Yellowknife, said she realizes the home needs a lot of work, but added that Paulette, who she says owned the house, would want it that way.
"He told me two years ago that if anything were to happen to him then he wanted me and me alone to move into the house," Chaffee said.
"The chief told me that when he has time we will both go down there and see what all has to be done."
Ndilo Chief Ernest Betsina couldn't be reached by press time to establish the role of the First Nation band regarding the house.
Chaffee said he isn't sure who has been smashing windows in the house but said she doesn't expect any further vandalism.
"If somebody got killed there those people down there wouldn't go near it," she said. "They're scared that somebody might be haunting that house. There are people there that check it every time they go by it."
Chaffee remembers her brother fondly.
"He was like a father to me. He looked after all of us, his brother and sisters."
Chaffee describes herself as tough-as-nails, adding said she lived on the streets for seven years so moving into a house where her brother was killed will not bother her. Chaffee said there is no reason to condemn the home and she fully intends to make it livable.
Kevin Brezinski, the director of public safety for the territorial government's Department of Municipal and Community Affairs said he could not address this particular house specifically but added that his department, which oversees the office of the fire marshal, would not step in and condemn the house or order it to be torn down.
It is the homeowner who is responsible for the state of the house, he said.
"Somewhere in the mix there is an owner and the owner is ultimately responsible for ensuring security and safety of the structure from unlawful or inappropriate access," Brezinski said.
"So all of the legislation pools that exist are aimed at encouraging the owner to take corrective action."
If a bylaw dealing with derelict buildings is being contravened then it is up to the municipality to step in, he said.
