A Calgary senior is warning others after the contractor she hired to build her dream business “vanished” during the months he was supposed to be on the job.

Christina Lo had always dreamed of opening up a “fully vegan” cafe and grocery store. So two years after saving up her retirement funds, she embarked on making that dream a reality and got ready to open Homey Food and Cafe.

She said she tried to get a few quotes from contractors and was then referred to LYS Construction Ltd. by another store owner.

“He (the contractor) give me a quote and the price was very reasonable,” she said. “And I don’t have that much money.”

The retiree drew up a contract that she said LYS committed to completing in four weeks. But she said as time went on, so did that deadline.

“I keep calling him. I say, ‘When are you going to come by? Oh tomorrow,’” she said she was told. “Tomorrow never arrived.”

Lo said neither did a lot of the equipment that was ordered, despite her paying the contractor more and more money.

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