BELL’S POINT, P.E.I. - When Gordon Hill looked out at the view from his Cape Traverse property, something was missing. About 30 mature trees were gone.
“I quickly noticed that our treeline had been chopped down,” he said.
It was early November and Gordon was in P.E.I. to check on the property and his Charlottetown-based business.
Gordon and his wife Vivian, who live in Caglary, own the property and were planning to build a summer cottage/second home there.
“Gordon is from the Borden-Carleton area, so choosing property in the area was a no-brainer. It was so beautiful and the trees added to it,” said Vivian.
The couple is at a loss to explain why someone would cut down the trees.
“We were both outraged," said Gordon. "And we were confused as to why someone would do this. They didn’t take the wood from the trees."
Gordon called the developers of the property as well as P.E.I. Wildlife Conservation.
“It was after speaking with the conservation officer that we realized this was serious and an actual crime,” said Vivian.
“It’s been very disheartening. But since going to social media for help, we’ve had a lot of support from Islanders and the community. We felt like we were searching for answers by ourselves. Now we have our community helping us.”
-Vivian Hill
The pair reported the incident to the RCMP and the investigation is ongoing.
But with still no answers behind who cut the trees and why, Vivian turned to social media and published a post on Facebook asking for the help of Islanders. They are also offering a $1,000 reward.
“Going to Facebook was kind of a last resort for us. We know someone must be able to help. There has to be someone who can come forward. We’re looking for any tips,” she said.
At the time the trees were cut down, the couple was in the beginning stages of planning the development of the property. That has since been put on hold.
“We want some answers first before we go further with any plans,” Gordon said.
Vivian added, “It’s been very disheartening. But since going to social media for help, we’ve had a lot of support from Islanders and the community. We felt like we were searching for answers by ourselves. Now we have our community helping us.”
The Hills are optimistic they will receive answers soon.
“We’ve had a lot of people reach out with some really good tips. We’re hoping something comes of it soon,” Gordon said.
Wade MacKinnon, manager of investigations and enforcement for the Department of Justice and Public Safety, said this isn’t the first time an incident like this has occurred.
“In the past, the cause has been because cutting down the trees may improve the view for a neighbouring property owner," said MacKinnon. "But crimes like this are hard to prove because they’re often in rural areas with no witnesses.”
MacKinnon says the incident consists of several violations.
“It’s damage to property, trespassing in a buffer zone, it violated the Wetlands Protection Act.”
He suspects the person who cut the trees wasn’t experienced with a chainsaw.
“We can tell this by the way the trees were cut.”
MacKinnon asks anyone with information to call 902-368-4884.
