After two years negotiating with lawyers, insurance companies and the provincial government, nine of the original 11 claims have been settled and the two remaining claims are close to reaching resolution, according to the Ministry of Justice – according to a CBC report

The years since the devastating landslide on June 13, 2010 have been almost as difficult as the day when he lost three acres of grapevines, a shed and vegetable garden.   It was only this Wednesday that West learned he was being compensated by the provincial government for losses which he estimated to be worth about $250,000.   “Basically we did the cleanup and the replanting and then were told of the compensation,” says West. “The process was painful because the communication wasn’t there.”

Dale Kronebusch, emergency services supervisor for the Regional District Okanagan-Similkameen, said the entire period from the day it began to now has been a painful experience and learning curve for all involved.

Five homes were destroyed, as well as several vineyards and orchards, when the dam on Testalinda reservoir failed, causing a slide that pulled down heavy mud, trees and boulders.   “It was big, horrible. It sounded like a plane. We didn’t know what was happening, we just had to run because we didn’t know how big it was or what it was. That was the thing — the unknown. We didn’t know what it was, or why,” said homeowner Hardeep Khela.

With files from CBC and Castanet