The City of Abbotsford is going through the courts in its battle to remove child sex offender James Conway from a home on Joanita Place in Abbotsford.
The city this week filed a notice of civil claim in B.C. Supreme Court against property owners Brian Vos and Fiona Mitchell, as well as supervisor Ed Holroyd and WJS Canada.
The latter operates supervision and care facilities in B.C., Alberta and Ontario and provides supervision, counsellling and treatment for high-risk individuals.
The suit alleges that the defendants are using the property for “commercial, institutional and care uses,” which are not permitted under the “Agricultural One” zoning for the neighbourhood.
Mayor Henry Braun announced in September that the defendants had been notified of the city’s position and that Conway, Holroyd and the home’s other resident – also a former inmate – had been asked to move. They have not done so, resulting in the city filing the civil suit.
The defendants have not yet filed a response.
Conway, 40, has a history of sexual offences against children. He first moved into the neighbourhood at the beginning of August, resulting in neighbours holding protest rallies and contacting officials to plead for his removal.