The list of unsecured YDHR creditors is long
Roger Varley
More than 50 people, businesses and organizations are listed as unsecured creditors in York-Durham Heritage Railways' bankruptcy filing.
Ranging from $339 to $218,500, the outstanding debts to unsecured creditors total $1,439,798. An unsecured creditor does not have the right to seize the debtor's property or assets and must rely on bankruptcy proceedings or lawsuits to recover the debt. Eight of the unsecured creditors are based in Uxbridge Township, but some are from as far away as British Columbia and Georgia. The list does not include the many performers, including children, who were not paid for their work on the YDHR's special events.
Mansergh Inc. Borrowed Vintage of Zephyr is owed $2,333. Owner Alex Aldridge said her company rented out vintage tableware for YDHR's Heritage Tea Ride. She said her last invoice was submitted on Dec 16, and was the only amount owing.
"To be fair to them," she said, "everything else was paid."
The filing shows that Uxbridge company Meek Electric is owed $10,278. Owner Paul Meek disagrees with the amount, saying it’s more in the neighbourhood of $17,000. He said he has been owed the money "since this time last year," adding that YDHR has approached him for other work since then but he refused until they paid their invoice.
"It's quite a hit," said Meek. "We're probably not getting it back."
Alysa King of Acton runs Inspiring Imaginations. Her company is owed $12,200. She has started a GoFundMe campaign but not for herself. King said the aim is to raise money to pay some of the young performers who worked on YDHR's special events. She claimed some of the children are owed as much as $1,000. She said she has not been able to contact all the children who were not paid, but she has set a goal of $3,349 to help those she has contacted. As of press time, the fund had raised $1,240. King said the money raised will likely be distributed to the children on a percentage basis.
One entry on the list is $84,750 owed to Nestleton Waters Inn. The inn, which catered to weddings and offered luxury suites, was sold by its owners in March 2023. The former owners could not be contacted for details on the reason for the debt.