What started as a dream to help a Ukrainian couple and their four children escape the war against Russia, turned into a nightmare for a Kelowna family.
It was nearly a year ago when Corey Carthew and his wife Jessica agreed to help the family, who had already been approved to come to Canada through a federal government emergency program, by offering jobs and a place to live.
They initially contacted the Carthews inquiring about potential employment.
After discussing the matter, the Carthews offered the husband a job with Coreysa国际传媒檚 plumbing business and paid for the flights to bring the family to Kelowna.
sa国际传媒淲e felt compassionate, because of the kids more than anything, and they were coming anyway, so wesa国际传媒檒l help them get off on the right foot,sa国际传媒� Corey said.
The Carthews also tried to find employment for the mansa国际传媒檚 wife and rented them a home they owned at a reduced rate.
It wasnsa国际传媒檛 long after they arrived, Corey said, that the relationship soured. He said he eventually had to let the husband go due to, among other issues, a poor attitude.
sa国际传媒淗e criticized me, my profession and my company. He was taking pictures of my work, putting them online and claiming it as his own.sa国际传媒�
Corey said he also agreed to hire the man, an experienced plumber, so that he could spend more time with his family.
sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檝e had less time to spend with my family because Isa国际传媒檝e been dealing with this. Itsa国际传媒檚 been hell.sa国际传媒�
The Ukrainian family was only supposed to rent the home for two to three months until they got on their feet.
When they said they wanted to stay Corey told them he would need to increase the rent.
sa国际传媒淚 was going to raise the rent by $800 a month and I was going to give him $1,100 a month in living allowances through his job.sa国际传媒�
Corey said the man told him he wouldnsa国际传媒檛 pay the increase and eventually refused to pay any rent or move out of the home.
In December 2022, a GoFundMe was started for the Ukrainian family that claimed the husband was let go from his job without cause and the family was being evicted for late rent payments, which Corey said wasnsa国际传媒檛 true.
It stated the family needed money to rent another home, and $22,000 was raised.
In January this year, the family was featured in a media story in which they said the landlord was raising their rent and they couldnsa国际传媒檛 afford to stay in the home.
However, Corey said because the family refused to pay rent or leave, he felt he had no choice but to begin an eviction process through the Residential Tenancy Board (RTB). That process started in December 2022 and the family left April 30.
After the RTB ruled in the Carthewsa国际传媒檚 favour, they tried to recoup $14,000 in unpaid rent through the courts.
Jessica attempted to serve the Ukrainian family with documents in June but said the husband swore at her repeatedly, slapped the papers out of her hand and pushed her.
sa国际传媒淗e destroyed the papers from the court,sa国际传媒� she said. sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 just unfortunate that when we have to do anything with this family itsa国际传媒檚 this type of stress.sa国际传媒�
She said the incident was reported to police. RCMP confirmed to Capital News that a file was opened, resolved and then closed.
The courts recently ordered that the Carthews be paid back $1,000 a month to settle the outstanding rent balance.
However, Corey estimates he and Jessica have spent close to $40,000, including the unpaid rent, in trying to help the family.
sa国际传媒淭his is the world we live in. There are going to be people like that and there are good people too. Wesa国际传媒檝e had an unfortunate experience.sa国际传媒�
Iryana Meyer, who assists displaced Ukrainians in Kelowna, knows the family. She said that she initially thought the Carthews were treating them badly.
But after getting to know the Carthews, and having discussions with the Ukrainian family, Meyer realized she wasnsa国际传媒檛 getting the whole truth.
sa国际传媒淚 think oh my God this Corey sounds like a crazy guy because thatsa国际传媒檚 exactly what they tell me,sa国际传媒� she said. sa国际传媒淎gain, when this situation happened, I understand they kind of lied.sa国际传媒�
Capital News contacted the man who worked for Corey by phone and agreed to email questions to get his side of this story. The email was sent June 28.
After several other back-and-forth emails he declined to comment or provide his version of events as explained by the Carthews.
READ MORE:
READ MORE: Okanagan Forest Task Force saves man sleeping in burning truck
gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on and subscribe to our daily and subscribe to our daily newsletter.
