A man who said he was stuck in Prince George in July 2022 due to catching COVID-19 failed in his bid for a refund of a Vancouver Island campsite reservation.
In a Sept. 17 ruling by the Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT), Jeremiah Knechtel said he booked a campsite at the Maple Grove campground on Lake Cowichan from July 4-17, 2022 with Silvifor Resource Consultants Ltd. Silvifor co-manages the Crown land campground with Recreation Sites and Trails B.C. (RSTBC).
Knechtel said he tested positive on July 4, 2022 and was unable to catch a return flight from a wedding in Prince George. His father-in-law drove to Prince George and brought him and his wife back to Vancouver Island.
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Two days later, Knechtel said he was too sick to use the campsite. He claimed Silvifor was unsympathetic and he entitled to a refund for $180.
In its defence, Silvifor said it followed RSTBC policies and Knechtel “should have contacted the district officer for the South Island to discuss the refund,” wrote CRT member Jeffrey Drozdiak.
However, Knechtel did not provide the CRT any documentary evidence to support his claim, except for his letter to Silvifor and complaint to the CRT, which relied on the opinion of his father-in-law, an alleged 50-year veteran of policy development.
Without any documentary evidence — such as the campsite booking, terms and conditions for the booking, bank statement confirming payment of the booking fee and records showing the COVID-19 infection — Drozdiak said Knechtel did not prove he is entitled to a refund.
