Confusion amongst tenants of the former Weidner buildings is in the process of being cleared up by the new owners, Wingspan. This office on 2nd Avenue is now re-opened and tenants can pay their rent there in person if they choose. (Susan McNeil/paNOW)

By Susan McNeil

Apartment update

New apartment owners reach out to Weidner tenants

Dec 5, 2024 | 4:09 PM

Some clearing of the air is on the horizon for hundreds of apartment tenants in Prince Albert left confused by the sudden sale of their buildings.

“We have been advised of recent confusion regarding the transition,” reads the letter, adorned with a Wingspan logo and with a local street address. It is dated Dec. 4, 2024.

“First and foremost, please be assured that our primary goal is to be responsible and attentive landlords, ensuring that you feel safe, comfortable and secure in your home.”

Tenants only learned on Nov. 29, that the city’s largest landlord, Weidner, had sold their buildings and had closed their administration office when someone posted a photo to social media.

With the beginning of a new month just two days away, people wondered where and how to pay their rent. The next day, they received a typed letter with several phone numbers and a Gmail account to send their rent to.

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Many refused, convinced it was a scam, and reached out to the company, or their local MLA or local media first.

The new letter addresses those concerns.

Someone shared this photo on social media of a letter from Wingspan to tenants, issued Wednesday.

“The transition may have raised concerns regarding payment timelines and methods. As a gesture of goodwill, we will waive any late payment fees for this month, provided that rent is paid by December 15, 2024.

Under Saskatchewan tenancy law, long term tenants paying more than 15 days late can face eviction and late payment penalties are allowed.

A website (www.wingspandev.ca) is also shared for tenants to get information from regarding maintenance concerns and sharing information about the snow clearing schedule.

It turns out that there is more than one Wingspan Development Capital. One is in the United States and another is based New Westminster, B.C.

PaNOW has tried for days to contact the new owners to confirm the legitimacy of the first letter and so far, had no success.

Weidner itself released no information. The Prince Albert buildings were removed from their list of available rentals on their website and their office on 2nd Avenue W. was closed.

It was by calling as a prospective tenant contacting a Weidner building manager in Regina that paNOW got confirmation that the Prince Albert buildings were indeed sold to a Wingspan Development Capital. No contact information for Wingspand was available.

The City of Prince Albert is aware of the sale but does not get involved in real estate transactions. They are involved from the public safety and health perspective, however. They could confirm the sale, but not the buyer.

The street address of the Wingspan Development Capital in BC is listed as a strip mall. Calls to the landlord of the strip mall and the tenant at the address showed that a medical clinic operates in that location. The owner of the clinic said he is not involved in real estate.

Both the BC and the American Wingspan said they have heard from dozens of Prince Albert’s residents regarding the sale but have been unable to answer any questions.

No response has been received from either of Prince Albert’s MLAs and information from the Saskatchewan Office of Residential Tenancies also did not confirm the sale.

The ORT did have this to say:

• The Office of Residential Tenancies (ORT) is available to provide information to residential landlords and tenants about their legal rights and obligations under The Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, and The Residential Tenancies Regulations, 2007.
• The ORT also provides information related to residential tenancies at www.saskatchewan.ca/ORT, including informational audio/videos in over 30 languages.
• If tenants are unsure about their rights and responsibilities, they should contact the ORT at 1-888-215-2222, ORT@gov.sk.ca, or in person at the ORT’s Regina or Saskatoon offices.
• The ORT cannot comment on specific properties or individual cases which have been or may be adjudicated by its hearing officers.

The letter from the local Wingspan said they have rehired all former Weidner staff and have now re-opened their administration office in the same location as the previous Weidner office was.

Thursday afternoon, paNOW confirmed that Wingspan is indeed the new owner by walking into the old Weidner office and hearing the receptionist confirm it to a caller.

—

susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com