McCain heiress in dispute with Nova Scotia residents

File photo of Hackett's Cove, courtesy: Wikipedia

Thursday, March 10, 2016, 6:09 PM - Some residents of Hackett's Cove, N.S. are involved in a dispute with Elanor McCain, heiress to the McCain Foods fortune, over a recent land purchase.

According to the Canadian Press (CP), McCain built a home near the beach on St. Margaret's Bay, blocking off a path to a public beach that locals have used for years.

Some residents say McCain should continue to allow beach-goers to use the trail, while CP reports McCain wants people off her property.

McCain purchased the property last year. In an email to the Canadian Press, she defended her decision, saying she wants her family's privacy to be respected.

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"Our property has been damaged on a number of occasions. This includes garbage being left on our property, damage to plants and trees, and evidence of unsafe fires," the email reads.

While it is legal to prohibit use of the trail, resident Amy Johnson says it serves as another example of the public losing access to the waterfront.

Without the trail, residents will be forced to walk 30 minutes along the shore to access the beach or seek permission from another land-owner to cross their land.

LULULEMON FOUNDER STIRS CONTROVERSY

Eleanor McCain isn't the first wealthy Canadian to cause controversy in a small community.

In January 2015 Chip Wilson, the billionaire founder of athletic apparel company Lululemon, proposed building a 2,500-square-foot dock on his waterfront property near Sechelt, B.C.

At the time, neighbours argued the dock could pose a danger to swimmers and paddlers. Concerns were also raised about welfare of the marbled murrelet, an endangered bird species that feeds on eelgrass situated near the dock.

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A document submitted to government officials on Wilson's behalf says the dock was designed to avoid the eelgrass bed and that environmental concerns have been mitigated.

The B.C. government will make the final decision on whether or not the dock can be made. 

So far, there have been no public updates on the status of the proposal.

Source: The Canadian Press