When we took over, Fred’s rent was $100 lower than the other suites. We were told this was because he was on a fixed pension. With all the rent increases since 1990, Fred’s rent remained the lowest in his building until his death in 2007 at the age of 90.

Fred was a quiet and private man, who kept his suite neat and tidy. He typically responded with a gruff word if someone tried to offer him a cheery “good day”. He had no living relatives or friends he wished to be notified in the event of an emergency.   In fact his tenant information stated he had no family, and to call 911.  However he become friendly with Chuck, the resident manager who worked for our company for the past eight years. Chuck is a good manager and is good with people. The two became friendly, like good neighbours do.

One Sunday night in early December, 2007;  Chuck called me and said he “misplace a tenant” and didn’t know what to do. Fred always put his rent under Chuck’s door the morning of the last day of the month without fail. A few days after his rent was due, there was no word from Fred, and no answer at his door. To our knowledge Fred had never left to travel or stayed away for any length of time.  His mail was piling up.

I authorized Chuck to enter his suite to check on Fred. Landlords are allowed to enter suites in the event of emergency, and a missing 90 year man is an emergency.  Over the years, we have found several stroke victims.  The phone rang a few minutes later. No Fred. Where does a 90 year old man go? I suggest to Chuck to call the local hospitals and, sure enough, Fred was in a nearby hospital. A few days earlier, Fred had gone out on his morning walk to get a newspaper and a car hit him while he was crossing the street and broke both his legs.

Chuck visited Fred at the hospital several times over the next four weeks, bring him his shaving gear and being a friend when he needed one.

Fred passed away from a heart attack when he was still in the hospital, almost a month later.

Because Fred had no known relatives, the Public Trustee became involved. They conducted an inventory of Fred’s suite and removed valuables, but so far as they could tell, he had not left a will. The Public Trustee made arrangements for his burial and Fred’s obituary was published in the Edmonton Journal mid January, 2008.

Chuck and I were the only people who attended Fred’s funeral; the only other people in the room were the minister and two funeral home employees. Chuck an I had an opportunity to celebrate Fred’s life, from the little we know of him. It was a sobering thought for Chuck and me: how did we want our life to end? What did we want to leave behind when we die?

The biggest surprise was the $120,000 in bank accounts books hidden under his mattress, and if the Public Trustee can’t find any relatives, the money goes to the government. Every one in our office shook our heads over that, and how low we’d kept Fred’s rent over the years, but I don’t regret it; at least we were able to to provide a little kindness for a man who must have been very lonely.

Brent Davies, Property Manager