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Image Credit: mensshed.ca

The Okanagan Men’s Shed Association is suing the Trinity Baptist Church Legacy Foundation.

The Men’s Shed – an organization that helps senior men overcome loneliness – says it's owed over $10,000 it spent fixing up a workshop at the Helen’s Acres Community Farm, according to a civil suit filed in Kelowna, Nov. 24.

The Men’s Shed began leasing space at Helen’s in May 2019, the claim says. Negotiations started with the previous owner of the farm in 2014 before the property was donated the church's foundation.

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Men's Shed members were interested in renting a “tiny, old house” that did not initially suit their needs, according to the lawsuit. They wanted a year-round woodworking shop and meeting area, and believing in good faith that the business relationship would continue in perpetuity, $9,958.61 was spent on materials to renovate the building.

The landlord was preparing a new lease to take effect after 2020, and members of the Men’s Shed were ready to commit with post-dated cheques. However, “without warning and without reason,” Trinity decided not to renew and informed the Men’s Shed on the day members were expecting to sign the new lease, the lawsuit alleges.

“The contributions of Men’s Shed turned it from a non-heated storage and workshop area to a year-round useable woodworking workshop and office/meeting area,” reads the claim. “Trinity has been unjust enriched by its actions in refusing to lease the building to Men’s Sheds.”

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In addition to the $9,958.61 in building materials, it's also seeking $156 for filing fees and $20 for service fees for a total of $10,134.61.

The church has not responded to the allegations which have not been proven in court.

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