Organic Gardening News

Dear Tony:

We recently sold our strata lot of 10 years. Our lawyer contacted us a day before the transaction to inform us there was an $1,800 charge back fee for damages caused by our unit in March of 2024. We were never informed of any such claim and cannot find any indication in the minutes of our council meetings of any incidents in the first six months of 2024.

The property manager advised it was damages to common property as a result of an overflowed toilet from our vacant unit. We were never away in the first six months of 2024. We immediately requested all the documentation, but to avoid complicating the sale and clearing the title, we paid the amount.

Can we still go after the strata corporation for a false claim? The strata corporation has still not provided any evidence or documentation.

— Warren M.

Dear Warren:

Yes, after the fact for the period you were an owner, you are still entitled to file a claim. Start by following up on all related documentation. You may file a claim with the Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT) for both the related records, correspondence and minutes, and to dispute the claim for the amount.

Review the bylaws of the strata corporation to determine if they have any provision to charge back for insurance deductibles, damages, claims below the deductible, or costs for the strata corporation to manage a claim. Sellers may request a copy of a Form F payment certificate well in advance of a sale to confirm their account is clear. The declaration on the form is valid for 60 days.

If there is a claim it gives you time to dispute a claim for any unsubstantiated costs, and the seller may pay an amount either into the courts with a commenced dispute or in trust to the strata corporation pending the dispute being resolved. A request a few weeks in advance of a sale is well worth the effort. Strata corporations, councils and managers must also exercise good judgment on these matters. You simply cannot drop a claim on a Form F at the last minute, attempting to collect an undisputed or unsubstantiated amount. A bylaw for your strata corporation that addresses potential charge backs, claims, damages, insurance deductibles, and enforcement costs is strongly recommended and essential for cost recovery.

In the event of a dispute, the bylaws will establish whether the ability to impose charges against a strata lot are permitted. The CRT and the courts routinely reference the bylaws for enforcement and to determine if a) the bylaws were properly enforced b) whether a decision of council was obtained to impose the charge backs and c) the extent to which the corporation can make a claim. $1,800 might appear to be a nominal amount, but these claims can easily exceed $100,000 in extreme circumstances.

Tony Gioventu is executive director of the Condominium Home Owners Association. Email tony@choa.bc.ca. 

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Jordan Jones started sketching designs for his parents’ lakeside cabin in Kaslo, B.C. back in his university days. The early concepts were riffs on what he liked at the time — modern architecture — without much thought to surroundings.

“It wasn’t necessarily a goal at that time, in my mind, to find a way for that modern, contemporary style to fit,” he recalls.

But eventually, his early sketches would evolve into blueprints for something much more personal: a reimagined home for his parents to spend their golden years. “My parents’ dream was to retire here. But it just wasn’t performing to be used year-round,” says Jones, principal of Town Architecture.

The cabin had already lived a few lives of its own; built in 1945, with reclaimed wood in its bones. The Jones family had bought it in 1999 as a modest summer retreat on the edge of Kootenay Lake.

Meanwhile, over the years, Jones had come to appreciate architecture that honours its origins. “We wanted to renovate rather than rebuild; to make it livable while keeping the spirit of the place,” he says.

With this in mind, the structure retained its basic form — including the familiar gabled roof — through the project. Wood-look touches and soffits, a nod to the construction of neighbouring structures, accent stylish dark steel cladding.

A flat-roofed addition off one side, previously sinking due to an improper foundation, now extends farther toward the lake, walled with glass, bringing the home’s total square footage to 1,388. And the carport, once an informal zone for meals and hammock naps, is now a properly covered parking area, designed to ease winter upkeep and snow shovelling.

Getting to this point was tricky: a compact lot meant the redesign had to fit within tight setbacks and sightlines. “With it being a corner lot, it didn’t allow much room for expansion,” says Jones. So, he reconfigured the interior spaces strategically instead. The original living room was wider, for instance, while the bedroom was only nine feet wide. Now, the proportions are balanced and suitable for “the home to actually function as a home, rather than just a summer cabin,” says Jones.

Durability was also major concern. Kaslo summers are mild, but its winters can be harsh, and wildfires are also a growing issue. With this in mind, Jones selected non-combustible cladding, reinforced with a rain screen and mineral wool insulation. The end product is low-maintenance, a bonus for the senior Joneses aging in place.

As the property underwent these modern upgrades, more pieces of history came to light. During demolition, the team uncovered lumber that had been reclaimed from an even older house across the lake — and gave it third life as concrete formwork for a new wraparound patio.

Inside, simplicity prevails. The open living, dining and kitchen space flows visually toward floor-to-ceiling glass doors, with lake and Selkirk-Purcell mountain views. Pale wood floors and crisp white-and-grey cabinetry bounce light from end to end.

“Because it’s a fairly small space, we felt it was important to keep it quite minimal,” Jones says. Surfaces are clean and artwork limited. “It was really that view we wanted to frame, and that would be the artwork for the home,” he adds. One example is a clerestory window near the entry, which looks out toward Kaslo’s historic SS Moyie, a circa 1898 sternwheeler that once ferried passengers and freight across the lake; now a national historic site.

A cylindrical wood-burning stove in the corner recalls times when the family would gather around a wood stove in the basement — the cabin’s original source of heat. “To me, it always seemed kind of silly to be hiding downstairs in the basement next to the wood stove when you’re then missing out on this amazing view,” says Jones. Now it’s possible to enjoy sit and enjoy both. Or, there’s the patio just outside, where Adirondack chairs face the water, surrounded by soffit and deck lights that trace the surrounding structure with a soft glow by night.

Though Jones’s parents have now settled in, the space is still evolving. Future plans include adding a large sliding barn door to the west windows, to add privacy and shade, plus solar panels and landscape furniture. But the home has been serving well as a full-time residence.

Jones, who lives a five-minute walk away, says it’s been a pleasure to live close to his parents — and one of his finished projects. “When they’re away, we come and house-sit for them. It’s nice to be that immersed in the space, and kind of gives you an extra ability to analyze it and learn from it,” he says.

Not that he’s been in town long himself: Jones and his family moved to Kaslo in 2023 when he founded his firm. “We’re absolutely loving it,” he says. “It kind of feels like a dream every day.”

Design: Town Architecture

Construction: Handley Construction

Millwork: Lasca Construction & Design (Kitchen), Purcell Custom Wood Products (Ensuite)

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Handmade beauty meets every day living with the arrival of Mud Australia in Canada.

The popular Sydney ceramics brand has opened its first Canadian retail space inside Toronto’s Hopson Grace , showcasing its signature minimalist porcelain pieces in a serene palette of soft, natural hues.

We caught up with founder and creative director Shelley Simpson to find out more.

For anyone not familiar with the brand, what is Mud Australia?

I started Mud Australia in 1994 with a simple idea, to make nice things for good people. Every piece is designed in our Sydney studio and handmade by our team using porcelain from Limoges, France. The goal has always been to create pieces that feel balanced and timeless, the kind that quietly become part of your daily routine.

We’ve had a wonderful seven-year wholesale relationship with Hopson Grace and saw a natural opportunity to share more of Mud Australia with Canada. We’re now bringing the complete Mud Australia store experience to Toronto, a thoughtful extension of the brand and an exciting new chapter for us.

How has the brand evolved since 1994?

Back in the 90s, I was working out of my garage in Sydney, making pieces for friends. Over time, we’ve grown Mud into a global brand with stores around the world, but the philosophy hasn’t changed. Everything is still made by hand in Sydney and refined until it feels just right.

We make many more pieces now — and we’re much better at making them. The way we add to the collection is more intentional, always guided by harmony and function. The scale is larger, but the care and craft remain exactly the same.

What sets Mud Australia apart from the rest?

We do not chase trends. I have always wanted Mud to be about longevity, pieces that last and sit easily alongside the things you already have. There is a softness to the porcelain and a warmth to the colours that make them feel lived with from the start. Each one carries the touch of the maker, and I think that is what people connect to most.

Who is the target customer?

Anyone who values design that quietly improves everyday life. People who appreciate objects made with care and purpose that feel considered but not precious. Our pieces are made to be used and loved, not kept on a shelf.

Tell us about your partnership with Hopson Grace.

Hopson Grace shares our belief that good design should be timeless, useful and made to last. They have such a thoughtful approach to curation and a real understanding of how people live with objects. It felt like the right way to introduce Mud to Canada, a partnership built on shared values rather than scale.

Is there a customer favourite or bestseller, and why does it resonate?

The Pebble Bowl range has always been a favourite. It was one of our first designs and remains one of the most collected. It is versatile, generous and works in any setting. I think it resonates because it is simple but never plain, a piece that quietly earns its place on the table.

What is the price range?

Pieces start from around $50 for a small bowl and go up to around $500 for larger serving or lighting pieces. Each one is handmade in Sydney and passes through the hands of about 15 makers before it leaves the studio. Everything is designed with longevity in mind, the idea is to buy once and use it for life.

Where can people find Mud Australia?

You will find our stores in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, as well as two in London, one in Los Angeles and two locations in New York. Most recently we opened a new shop-in-shop in Toronto with Hopson Grace. The full collection is also available online at hopsongrace.com.

What can be shared about new products to come?

We are always refining and evolving, often in quiet ways. A recent project I’m proud of is our Rescued Clay Collection, made entirely from reclaimed porcelain and handcrafted in our Sydney studio. The trimmings and spills from production are collected and recast into new pieces, diverting over 1,500 litres of clay from landfill each year. It reflects our commitment to thoughtful design and responsible making, and the custom colourway sits beautifully alongside our core range.

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