ATHABASCA — Travellers and passersby through Athabasca may have noticed the presence of equipment and workers at the site of the Grand Union Hotel today as clean up at the site is said to be starting.
The corner lot on 50 St and Hwy 2 has been cordoned off with orange safety fences for more than two months after the July 23 fire that destroyed the iconic landmark and left shock waves throughout the community.
Keen residents first noticed the appearance of an excavator on the site the night of Oct. 1, and during the day Oct. 2, trucks and workers could be seen hauling away loads of the wreckage and rubble.
Town CAO Rachel Ramey said the municipality issued orders to have the site cleaned up by Sept. 16, and the owner of the property, Jaspal, or "Paul" Singh Boparai, did submit a request to councillors to extend the deadline to Sept. 30, which was granted.
Boparai could not be reached for comment prior to publication.
