Chris Laskey said he used to drive down Doe Lake Road and hope that someday he could build a house near there.

Last year, he set out to fulfil this dream and began building a house for himself, his partner Mandee Johnston, and their three children.
While the house was being built, the family needed a place to stay. So, Laskey brought a camper trailer to his property for his family to live in during the construction period.

The Town of Gravenhurst received a complaint from a neighbour about the trailer and the family was forced out.

They have been living at the hotel where Johnston works since January.
Melissa Halford, the town’s director of community growth and development, explained that the camper trailer is considered major recreation equipment in the town's zoning bylaw.

“Living in a major recreation equipment is not permitted — whether it is an RV, camper trailer or any other form of major recreation equipment,” she said.

She also said people are not allowed to store or park major recreation equipment on vacant property. But Laskey said his property is not vacant; there is a hole in the ground where his house is being built.

Housing prices have risen uncontrollably in Canada over the last while.  20 years ago the average income was $57,000,  Today it's $55,000  A house that was then $100,000 is over $800,000 today.  

Bylaws are designed to keep people safe, happy and cooperative.  They shouldn't be designed to keep people in poverty.  

Let's show them that while the town sees no reason to make a bylaw exemption that the people of Gravenhurst still have a heart. 

Please sign this petition to convince the town to allow people to live in a trailer while building their home, so long as there is progress made in the build and it's not taking years.

Credit Muskokaregion.com for the article information.