Whitehorse 'purple cabin' leaseholders appeal court order to vacate contested property

The long legal battle over the future of the so-called purple cabin in downtown Whitehorse is set to continue.

LawyerVincent Larochelle filed the appeal this week on behalf of Eric DeLong and Len Tarka.The appeal looks to set aside an order from the Supreme Court of the Yukonissued in September.

"Obviously, an appeal is not an easy thing to win," LaRochelle said."My clients are just going to hope for the best and hope that the court of appeal sees things their way."

Len Tarka has been leasingthe site from the Yukon government since 1991. He's subleased the property toDeLong who has been living there for the past seven years. The wording of the original agreement was "30 years, or the life of the Lessee."

Last month the Yukon Supreme Court ordered that the building needed to be vacated within 90 days. The court also concluded that Tarka's leaseended in September 2021.

The appeal asks the Yukon Court of Appeal to set aside the Supreme Court ruling as long as Tarka is alive.