York Creek Lodge: Heaven or Hell?

Thursday on the radio, I heard a gentleman who is a resident at the York Creek Lodge (YCL) in Blairmore publicly state on behalf of himself and other residents there that conditions at this lodge with respect to basic freedoms and civil liberties are deplorable.

The next day, on Friday, on CJPR radio again, by way of damage control, PR and bait 'n switch tactics, York Creek Lodge responded. I say 'bait 'n switch' because this gentleman's initial complaint did not get addressed, instead it got turned around to "he was off his pills", and we've resolved the situation by evicting him. Evicting him? By YCL's actions, does this not 'validate' this gentleman's complaint about a lack of 'freedoms and civil liberties'?

Last April, in a hodgepodge blog post of mine Gossiping at the local Trade Fair I brought the following to people's attention:

York Creek Lodge: Seems there is plenty of turmoil happening here with disgruntled employees and residents. Apparently 19 employees who were recently working there, are no longer doing so? Manager and Board have a revolt on their hands??

Now playing the devil's advocate, not knowing this gentleman in question and at the same time not being privy to anything that contradicts what YCL states or the actions they have undertaken but being a concerned citizen I feel it is necessary to echo what I have been hearing and am aware of with respect to conditions at this Lodge.

First, them kicking him out of the Lodge goes to the point this gentleman was making, don’t ya think? Second, do they have a class system over there... one for the well-healed and connected, and another for the less fortunate? Third, when complaints start piling up both from employees (current and former) and tenants is there a problem? When one of the latter risks eviction by going to the media was it out of desperation feeling there was no other recourse?

As stated I have heard numerous complaints and received emails with respect to how this place is being run, for who, and by who.

It is my understanding that Jerry Lonsbury as council rep on the YCL board will be doing some sort of media release shortly with respect to this matter. I suggest when he is finished his PR exercise that both he and the other members of this board actually do their jobs by getting off their plush seats, gag management, go out and talk to the employees (current and former), visit with residents living there (from all walks of life), and learn the truth of the matter for themselves. For has it not been said, "We are generally the better persuaded by the reasons we discover ourselves than by those given to us by others."

By doing the above they might actually learn something including that everything is actually okay, with happy employees, satisfied residents, and a caring and professional staff and management.

However, the only concern I would still have is based on management's track record of high employee turnover and residents fearful of retaliation (past track record of fired employees/residents kicked out of their homes) will people there actually feel free to talk candidly to members of this board? Is the board itself part of (or) the problem?


Note: If all else fails, maybe the YCL Board will need to follow council's direction and hire a consulting firm. Jerry should be able to give them references. :-(




If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things.