Former Financial Adviser Appears In Court

AS REPORTED IN THE WATERLOO REGION RECORD

July 31, 2012 00:07:00

Rose Simone, Record staff

KITCHENER — Sitting quietly behind a glass enclosure in a Kitchener courtroom on Monday, the dynamic image of former financial adviser Daniel P. Reeve had disappeared.

Wearing a goatee and blue-checkered shirt, he bore little resemblance to the clean-shaven businessman in expensive suits who ran the Jakobstettel Inn in St. Jacobs and the Millionaire in You Wealth Institute in Waterloo a few years ago.

Reeve, 52, was remanded in custody to give him time to speak to a lawyer. He’s been arrested and charged in one of the biggest fraud cases in Waterloo Region’s history.

According to the Waterloo Regional Police fraud branch, 175 potential victims of the fraud case were convinced to contribute to private and public investments between 2006 and 2009. Total losses are estimated at nearly $30 million.

Reeve, a former Elora-area resident and businessman now living in Collingwood, has been charged with defrauding the public, and with theft over $5,000. The case is ongoing and there could be other arrests, police say.

During his appearance on Monday, the court issued a ban on the publication of the court proceedings.

His disabled elderly mother was in the courtroom to watch the proceedings.

One of the people who invested money with Reeve, 74-year-old Mike Ferguson of Belwood, just outside Guelph, was also in the courtroom. Speaking outside court, Ferguson said he lost about $200,000 of his retirement savings in 2008.

He said Reeve had been a trusted financial adviser for a number of years. When he was presented with an opportunity to invest in the Jakobstettel Inn in St. Jacobs, he was convinced. “He was a guy we thought we could trust.”

Now, Ferguson’s age and health make it impossible to recoup his losses. “I have a heart problem. Otherwise, I would have gone back to work,” he said.

Reeve’s next court appearance, which will be by video because Reeve is being held at the Maplehurst Detention Centre in Milton, is scheduled for Friday afternoon.

rsimone@therecord.com

Weddings in the Air!

Well, sorry I have been away so long...my niece is engaged!!! We have been so busy and I started a new career (sorry, no longer with Welcome Wagon Canada).

Wanted to let you know, you have not been forgottn though! If you are not a member of www.theweddingring.ca, you really should! Great source of wedding info and local wedding businesses and upcoming shows.

In the meanwhile, for you brides-to-be in the Waterloo Region--check out the Bridal Show calendar*:

Ancaster Wedding Show

August 19th, 2012 1pm - 6pm Ancaster Fairgrounds 630 Trinity Road, Jerseyville www.ancasterweddingshow.com

Your Day, Your Way Bridal Show

August 26th, 2012 Tannery Event Centre 151 Charles Street West, Kitchener www.yourdayyourwaybridalshow.ca

Brantford Bridal Showcase

September 9th, 2012 @1:30PM Best Western Brant Park Inn 19 Holiday Drive, Brantford www.bridalshowcase.ca or www.welcomewagon.ca

Kitchener Bridal Showcase

September 16th, 2012 @ 1PM Kitchener City Hall 200 King Street West, Kitchener www.welcomewagon.ca

The Ring's Fall Bridal Expo 2012

September 23rd, 2012 Waterloo Inn 475 King Street North, Waterloo www.theweddingring.ca/bridalexpo

KW Boutique Bridal Show

September 23rd, 2012 Delta Hotel Kitchener-Waterloo 105 King Street East, Kitchener www.kwbridalshow.ca or www.kwboutique.fervent-events.com

3rd Annual St. Mary's Bridal Show

September 23rd, 2012 Pyramid Recreation Centre 317 James Street South, St. Marys www.townofstmarys.com

Conestoga Country Club Bridal Expo

October 14th, 2012 Conestoga Country Club 400 Golf Course Road, Conestogo www.weddingsnorth.ca

Wedding Dreams Fall Show

October 20 & 21, 2012 10am - 5pm Bingemans Conference Centre 425 Bingemans Centre Drive, Kitchener www.theweddingdreams.com

Cambridge Bridal Showcase

October 22, 2012 @6PM Armenian Community Centre 15 International Village Drive, Cambridge www.bridalshowcase.ca or www.welcomewagon.ca

* All events are subject to change. Please check their websites for updates.

Bridal Show Returns to Cambridge

The Cambridge Bridal Showcase, which is hosted by Welcome Wagon, is promoting its annual fall wedding show on Monday, October 3, 2011 at the Armenian Community Centre located at 15 International Village Drive. Doors open at 6:00PM, fashion show begins at 7:30PM and the event concludes at 9:00PM.

“We have La Crème Bridal Boutique and Tuxedo Royale presenting our fashion show,” said event coordinator Susan Casey. “We look forward to showcasing the hottest and latest wedding fashion trends to our bridal audience!”

The Grand Door Prize is "A Night On The Town in Pristine Luxury", courtesy of Brentwood Livery. This $500 upgradeable 5-hour package with professional, courteous, stress-free limousine service for up to 8 passengers also includes champagne.

“It’s been so incredible having notable local businesses work with us to create a terrific intimate show,” said Susan.

The show will feature many exhibitor displays, with everything from photography, bridal salon, insurance, jewellery, and planners to favours, investments, DJs, venues, accommodations, tuxedos and cake decorator. Engaged couples, along with their friends and families, will have a lot to see, touch and experience at Cambridge Bridal Showcase.

Show attendees will also enjoy complimentary delicious cake-tasting courtesy of Tiny Cakes.

“We will have a Hollywood entrance, with an official paparazzi, and the photos will printed and available at the event as well as online later on Facebook, courtesy of Focused Photography,” said Susan.

Susan also noted, “Spin Doctor Productions are such amazing exhibitors, we just had to bring them back again as the official DJ for our 2011 show.”

Brides can also listen to CHYM 96.7, 570 News or KIX 106 for our event announcements from September 19 to October 3, 2011.

Admission is free for bride-to-be and one guest plus the first 100 brides-to-be at our doors will receive a complimentary bridal gift bag. Brides can pre-register and get more information through our show’s website at www.bridalshowcase.ca or by calling 1-877-675-8463. Walk-ins are always welcome too!

Create Your Own Royal Wedding With Welcome Wagon

Welcome Wagon would like to invite you to attend our next Bridal Showcase, on October 3, 2011, at the Armenian Community Centre, 15 International Village Drive in Cambridge, ON. Doors open at 6:00 pm and the fashion show begins at 7:30 pm.

We offer informative displays, a fashion show, wedding planning guides, free gift bags for first 100 brides through our doors and the opportunity to win some amazing door prizes.

Admission is free for bride-to-be and one guest but registration is highly suggested. Walk-ins are welcome. To register, contact 1-877-675-8463 or online, www.welcomewagon.ca.

Limo Service Faces Fraud Charges

CTV Southwestern Ontario

Date: Friday Nov. 19, 2010 2:37 PM ET

A 36-year-old woman from Brantford is facing numerous fraud charges after complaints against Bellagio Limousines.


Waterloo Regional Police Fraud Branch investigators received several complaints that alleged fraudulent activity as far back as January 2010.


Victims allege the company took deposits for limousine service, but they were left with no service or sub-standard service.


According to police the limousines were booking primarily for wedding dates by couples both within and outside of the Region of Waterloo.


Police are asking anyone who has information or who may have dealt with the company to call the Fraud Office at 519-650-8500 Ext. 8372 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

Welcome Wagon Goes Bridalicious in Cambridge

Obtain the bridal resources needed to get your wedding plans started. Welcome Wagon invites engaged couples to our annual Bridal Showcase on October 4, 2010, 6PM – 9PM, at the Armenian Community Centre, 15 International Village Drive in Cambridge, ON.

This one-day bridal event puts fiancées in touch with local wedding professionals in one central location. With many beautiful exhibitor displays, brides can access many bridal services to make their dream weddings a reality. Large, overwhelming wedding events can create unwanted stress, but a leisurely walk through our intimate, charming bridal showcase can place engaged couples at ease and put ideas and concepts into perspective.

Our show offers a day of 'bridalious' fun. The first 100 brides-to-be greeted at our registration table will receive a free biodegradable gift bag filled with wedding goodies. Exciting door prizes are given out throughout our event. One bride-to-be will have the opportunity to win a 5-hour ‘Night On The Town’ limousine service, courtesy of Brentwood Livery. Meet our MC, an on-air radio personality from Rogers Kitchener Radio Group. A fashion show showcasing the latest in Bridal Gowns, Dresses, Formalwear, Accessories and Music will be a feast for the eyes and ears, courtesy of Simply Irresistible, Tuxedo Royale, and Spin Doctor Productions. And brides-to-be also have a chance to win an exciting honeymoon to a sun destination, courtesy of Today's Bride Magazine.

Admission is free for bride and one guest but registration is highly suggested and walk-ins are welcome. Call 1-877-675-8463 or online at www.welcomewagon.ca for more information and to register. Available to all brides-to-be, while quantities last: FREE Parking, a FREE Today`s Bride Magazine, a FREE Bridal Planner, a FREE Bridal Guide, and plenty of FREE information from local Bridal Professionals.

Welcome Wagon...Making Wedding Dreams a Reality!

Wonderful Time of the Year: Bridal Show Season

Yes, it`s that time in the year where the birds are singing, the weather is beautiful and bridal shows are pending. There are lots of wedding events to choose from. Many require an admission, others are free. These showcases range from small, boutique events to huge spectacular soirees. Which one to attend is more according to one`s tastes, availability and budget.

In the coming weeks, I will be writing about upcoming bridal events particularly within Waterloo Region in Ontario, Canada.

Congratulations to the engaged: you are now embarking on the journey of a lifetime and just getting started. Enjoy this wonderful adventure.

It's Bride Time!

Are you planning your wedding and don’t know where to start? Attending a bridal show is the first and best place for the pro-active bride-to-be to get started. Welcome Wagon will host their exciting bi-annual Bridal Showcase on Sunday, March 14, 2010 from 1PM-4PM in the rotunda of Kitchener City Hall, 200 King Street West in downtown Kitchener, ON. “Bridal shows can be a real financial windfall and timesaver for engaged couples,” said Susan Casey, of Kitchener’s Welcome Wagon Bridal Showcase. This intimate bridal event offers brides-to-be, their fiancés and guests the opportunity to meet with local wedding vendors such as photographers, videographers, DJs, caterers, travel agents, bakers, florists, and much more – at one time and at one location. “I will have some of the best wedding professionals from the Waterloo region and surrounding areas exhibiting,” Susan said.Not only do you get to meet with the traditional wedding exhibitors at this wedding event, “You may also find the smaller, independent artisans who can provide those inspired and unique touches for your wedding, for example, in jewelry, chocolates, and invitations,” Susan stressed.Our bridal showcases are full of great, exciting ideas! Guests can sample wedding cakes and edible favors. Free gift bags, bridal magazines and wedding planners will be given to brides-to-be (while quantities last). As well, brides-to-be will have the opportunity to win the grand door prize of a Special Occasion Package which includes a one-night stay in the luxurious Country Retreat suite, generously provided by Best Western St. Jacob Country Inn.
“We will have a bridal fashion show, and the DJ will showcase their musical talent.” She added, “And there are many chances to win fabulous door prizes, including an opportunity to win a coveted honeymoon vacation, courtesy of Today’s Bride magazine.” Admission is free. Pre-registration is highly suggested. For more information about the Welcome Wagon Bridal Showcase, contact Welcome Wagon online at www.welcomewagon.ca or by telephone at 1-877-675-8463.Exhibitor opportunities for Kitchener’s Welcome Wagon Bridal Showcase are still available. Space is limited. Don't hesitate to contact Susan Casey at 1-519-658-0687or suezavon@sympatico.ca.

About Welcome Wagon Ltd.:
Welcome Wagon is a community-based service which welcomes community newcomers and contacts new parents, brides-to-be, pre-retirees and new businesspeople with information on local businesses and services. The Welcome Wagon organization has over 1200 Representatives across Canada. Since 1930, it has served over 500 communities. For more information about Welcome Wagon Ltd, please visit their Web site: www.welcomewagon.ca.

Finishing 2009 On A High Note!

I just completed the last bridal show in Cambridge, ON for 2009. Wow! There was a lot of blood, sweat and tears put into it and now Welcome Wagon, my exhibitors and myself can reap the benefits.



For those of you who follow my blogs, I host several Welcome Wagon shows over the course of the year: the Kitchener Spring Bridal Showcase in March, the Cambridge Baby Shower in April, the Kitchener Fall Bridal Showcase in September and the Cambridge Bridal Showcase in October.



I am very thankful for the teams of volunteers who man my registration desk, help in facility preparations, assist me in completing tasks, pass out the free gift bags, model the beautiful bridal gowns and so much more. Without these true-hearted, friendly people who are on the front-lines with me, many times being the first face the public sees at our shows, I would be lost, dazed and confused. My gratitude knows no bounds.



To the exhibitors: without your participation, it would be impossible to do a bridal show! You willingness to work with me and Welcome Wagon Ltd., your promptness, the gentle persuasions and preparations you make, adds to the elegance atmosphere and superb promotions of our Welcome Wagon events in Cambridge and Kitchener. Thank you for letting me work with you and for you.



None of this is possible without leadership. My area manager has open communication skills, willing to step in when an extra hand is required and can muster up enduring contagious energy in a moment's notice. She tells it like it is but will back you up when occasion calls for it. She makes me want to be better, stronger and faster. Thank you for being my guide.



If you do it, they will come: I was given sage advice several years ago about finding my bridal audience. Promote it, make it fun, provide an elegant, intimate atmosphere and they will flock. Last night, you flocked and said Welcome Wagon rocked! You enjoyed our exhibitors's displays, loved the fashion show, laughed through the entertainment and thrilled at our doors prizes. Your responses to our wedding shows touched my heart and made it easier to face the exhibitors at the end of the night--your happiness made them very happy, indeed.



I look forward to preparing for 2010--wanting to make the shows bigger, better and more fun. Please go online at http://www.welcomewagon.ca/ for the latest events information. It is a great source whether you want to go a show or if you want to exhibit in one.

Bridal Show 101

It’s bridal show season! Some of these events can be hectic and overwhelming while others can be intimate and relaxing. I’ve created a list of 11 helpful tips to make your bridal visit a wedding show success.

1. Wear comfy shoes! Leave the heels at home and put on your comfy runners. You’ll be walking and standing with other brides-to-be for hours.

2. Create a plan of attack. Find the list of attending vendors in advance (this should be available on the bridal show’s website). Know who’ll be there and if you need their services.

3. Carry a big tote. Most shows will give you a bag to carry but in some cases it can be a while before you get one! All the vendors will have cards, pamphlets and samples so they’ll be eager to supply them to you.

4. Create an email specifically for your wedding. Instead of having your regular email filled with wedding information, create one especially for your wedding using the free emails available online. Ie. mandyswedding@hotmail.com or suegettinghitched@gmail.com

5. Bring address labels for draws. Instead of wasting time filling out forms, just slap a pre-made label on them. It should include your name, address, postal code, phone number, email and wedding date.

6. Bring a pen and paper. You’ll want to jot down notes and exchange information with some of the wedding vendors. It’s best to record the information immediately so you aren’t left scratching your head later on.

7. Leave your entourage at home. It’s a better bet to bring one or two people whose opinions you value versus a chaotic, albeit, well-meaning posse of ladies.

8. Find out the times of the fashion shows. At most wedding expos the fashion show seating will be given on a first-come first-serve basis. You may want to claim a good seat beforehand.

9. Go during down times. Bridal shows that run from Friday to Sunday are generally not so busy on Friday and the most hectic on Saturday. Fewer future brides equals more time for vendors to talk with you. NOTE: There is very little down time in one-day events: show up early or on time, otherwise you may lose out on great event opportunities.

10. Know what to ask. Bridal shows are an ideal way to find the vendor that’s right for you. There is less pressure to commit and you will have time to think about other options if you wish.

11. Enjoy yourself. Planning a wedding can be stressful but it should be lots of fun! Enjoy your time at the bridal event; it should be exciting and inspiring.

The Wedding Nightmare Ends: Jakobstettel Inn is Sold

By Rose Simone, Record staff

ST. JACOBS The Jakobstettel Inn has been sold to a numbered company headed by Jim McConnell, president of Kitchener trucking company BLM Transportation Group. The inn was sold for $1.45 million in a cash deal on July 16, according to land registry documents.

McConnell said Friday he is not yet prepared to make a formal statement about why he was interested in the inn on Isabella Street in St. Jacobs, and what he intends to do with it. However, a note posted on the Jakobstettel website that says: “The Inn will be opening under new management in August with ten beautiful, distinctly furnished rooms for $199 to $399 per night.”

The two-hectare property includes a gated three-storey Victorian home with 10 guest suites, a heated inground pool with poolside cabana bar and grill, tennis courts and gardens, as well as meeting room facilities.

BLM was founded in 1984 with one truck and has grown into a company with 170 tractors and 500 trailers. It transports electronics, office furniture, general merchandise and foodstuffs throughout Canada, the United States and Mexico.

The Jakobstettel Inn was one of the businesses run by Daniel P. Reeve, whose troubled business ventures are now the subject of a criminal investigation by the Waterloo Regional Police fraud branch.

The fraud branch has received about 110 complaints and is looking into alleged investment losses of about $19 million, according to Sgt. Rob Zensner of the police fraud division. The investments are related to various businesses that were run by Reeve, including DPR Financial Inc., which was based in Cambridge, the Millionaire Group and Millionaire in You Wealth Institute in Waterloo, as well as the Jakobstettel Inn.

When the inn closed this spring, couples who had booked weddings there lost their deposits and were left scrambling to find other locations for their weddings.

Reeve left the inn heavily in debt. Tuerr Holdings Inc., which had first and second mortgages on the property was owed $680,765 on the second mortgage and Brunen Holdings Inc was owed $350,000 on a third mortgage, according to court judgments.

When the inn was advertised in a power of sale process last month, Grant Hagerty of DTZ Barnicke in Waterloo-Wellington, the real estate company that was appointed as broker of record, said the purpose of the “sealed bid” auction process was to get the best possible offer in the shortest time frame.


IMO: What is taking the Waterloo Regional Police so long to make an arrest?

Wanted: New Owners for Jakobstettel Inn

by Rose Simone
RECORD STAFF

The Jakobstettel Inn has been put up for sale with the hopes of finding a new owner by the end of next month.The inn, on Isabella Street in St. Jacobs, was one of the businesses run by Daniel P. Reeve, whose troubled business ventures are now the subject of a review by the Waterloo Regional Police fraud branch.

Waterloo Regional Police Sgt. Rob Zensner said the police have now received about 100 complaints about alleged investment losses that total more than $16 million. That includes investments related to the Jakobstettel Inn, as well as other investments sold through companies headed by Reeve.

The inn closed earlier this spring. Many couples who had booked weddings there lost their deposits and had to scramble to find other locations for their weddings. The property is now going through a power-of-sale process as the mortgage holders try to recover their money.

Tuerr Holdings Inc., which had first and second mortgages on the property, is owed $680,765 on the second mortgage; Brunen Holdings Inc. is owed $350,000 on a third mortgage, according to court judgments.

The inn is being sold in a rapid "sealed bid" auction process that aims to get the property into the hands of a new owner as soon as possible, according to Grant Hagerty of DTZ Barnicke in Waterloo-Wellington, the real estate company appointed as broker of record.

Hagerty said details of the inn's sealed-bid auction have been distributed to about 200 operators of inns and bed and breakfast properties, as well as other businesses that might be interested.
The sealed-bid auction closes on June 30 at 4 p.m.

Hagerty said the intent is to get a "fast and furious" serious bid process going. He said the seller, Tuerr Holdings, wants to get the property into the hands of a suitable buyer and "see it go to a positive use."

The two-hectare property includes a gated three-storey Victorian home with 10 guest suites, a heated in-ground pool with poolside cabana bar and grill, tennis courts and gardens, as well as meeting room facilities.

Hagerty said there are many possibilities for the property. A prospective buyer might be interested in running it as an inn or as a bed and breakfast, he said. Companies also might be interested in it as a guest house and meeting facility, and someone might even eye it as a private residence, he said.

"We are looking at as diverse a range as possible," he said.

There is no starting price for the bids, but the advantage of having a sealed-bid process with a short time frame is that it encourages serious buyers to put their best offers forward. "If they don't, someone else will," Hagerty said. "What we are trying to do is create a competitive bid situation."

Tuerr Holdings hopes to select the best offer on July 3, and finalize the sale by the end of July.

Here Comes the Bride…

Welcome Wagon prepares for another wedding show in Kitchener

Despite the downturn in the Canadian economy, beautiful weddings are in the making as brides-to-be will once again meet for Kitchener’s Welcome Wagon Fall Bridal Showcase. This intimate wedding show will be held at Kitchener City Hall, 200 King Street West in Kitchener on September 13, 2009 from 1PM – 4PM.

Free gift bags, bridal magazines and wedding planners will be given to brides (while quantities last). As well, brides will have the opportunity to win the grand door prize of a luxurious 5-hour Girls’ Night-Out limousine service, generously provided by Brentwood Livery.

More than 20 exhibitors will be represented at this intimate wedding show.
"Couples still want to get married and tend to find creative, fun ways to fashion their big day even in this slower economy," says Susan Casey, Welcome Wagon’s Kitchener Bridal Event Coordinator.

Among the show highlights included is a fashion show by Sophie’s Gown Shoppe, Tuxedo Royale, Frey’s Flowers and Complete Music. Brides can look forward to winning exciting door prizes, and there is a chance to win an exciting dream honeymoon to the Bahamas, courtesy of Today's Bride Magazine. “If you’re planning to be married or know someone that is, come meet our exhibitors at Kitchener’s Welcome Wagon Bridal Showcase. It will be time well invested,” Ms Casey said. For your free invitation, please visit www.bridalshowcase.ca or call 1-877-675-8463 to register.

Exhibitor opportunities for Welcome Wagon’s Bridal Showcase are still available. Space is limited. Don't hesitate to contact Susan Casey at 1-519-658-0687 or suezavon@sympatico.ca.

About Welcome Wagon Ltd.
Welcome Wagon is a community-based service which welcomes new arrivals and contacts new parents, brides-to-be and new businesspeople with information on local businesses and services. The Welcome Wagon organization has over 1200 Representatives across Canada. Since 1930, it has served over 500 communities. For more information about Welcome Wagon Ltd, please visit their Web site: www.welcomewagon.ca.

Contact:
Susan Casey, Kitchener Event Coordinator, Welcome Wagon, +1-519-658-0687 or suezavon@sympatico.ca.

Wedding Nightmare, The Continuing Saga

Locked out Millionaire in You owner also runs closed Jakobstettel Inn

The Waterloo headquarters for the Millionaire in You Wealth Institute, owned and run by Daniel P. Reeve, has been taken back by the landlord for nonpayment of rent.

Mat Wolf, a principal in Solowave Investments, the landlord for the property at 423 King St. N., said his company changed the locks and took back the premises on April 16, 2009.

Wolf said Solowave tried for weeks to meet with Reeve in an effort to make arrangements to get back rent owed, but each meeting was deferred by Reeve.

"We have had no success in actually meeting with him and we went through a process of making a formal demand for the rent arrears," Wolf said.

Reeve is also the president of Jakobstettel Properties Inc., which ran Jakobstettel Inn in St. Jacobs until its sudden closing in early April.

The inn property on Isabella Street is in power of sale proceedings because of defaults on the mortgage.

Reeve said on an April 17 the Record interview that he hopes to meet with the landlord of the Millionaire in You office to work out an arrangement to reopen the office.

He also said that he is "in the middle of refinancing" the business.

Reeve also used to head Daniel P. Reeve and Associates Financial Services Inc. and was the "chief visionary officer," for DPR Financial Inc. Now, both websites, www.dpr-financial.com. and www.themillionaire-inyou.com, are no longer functioning.

Another site, www.corporateangel.ca, was still functioning as of April 17. It advertises Reeve's books such as The Millionaire Mortgage, which claims to show people how to "turn your mortgage from being a burden of debt into a high-earning investment vehicle," and do so "without even changing your cash flow."

The Millionaire in You Wealth Institute offices in the 5,000-square-foot building opened in November 2007.

The office was to be a state-of-the-art "command centre" for the Millionaire Group and its affiliated businesses that encompassed Millionaire Travel, Millionaire Executive Services, Millionaire Mortgages and other businesses.

Waterloo Regional Police are now "reviewing" 35 complaints about products offered by various businesses headed by Reeve, Staff Sgt. Wally Hogg said in mid-April to the Record.

In an interview on April 8 with the Record, Reeve said his companies have done nothing wrong and he is confident that nothing further will come from the review.

Reeve also said at the time that the Jakobstettel Inn was closed because he was training new staff. He said he planned to reopen it on April 21.

Former suppliers to Reeve's businesses say they also are owed money. Daniel Tuka of The Essential Image in Waterloo said he is owed $5,000, plus material costs, on a project completed about eight months ago to produce promotional DVD discs for The Millionaire in You Wealth Institute.

People who paid deposits for weddings that were booked at the Jakobstettel Inn are also trying to get their money back.

The Wedding Nightmare Continues

Jakobstettel Inn can operate despite power-of-sale process.

The Jakobstettel Inn property in St. Jacobs is in the midst of a power-of-sale process because of defaults on mortgage payments, according to court documents.

The inn, located in an old mansion on Isabella Street in St. Jacobs, had been booked by couples who put down deposits for upcoming weddings. Those couples have been scrambling to make other arrangements since the inn suddenly closed down.

In a statement of claim served to Jakobstettel Properties Inc. on Jan. 22, the mortgage holder, Brunen Holdings Inc. of Kitchener, claimed it is owed almost $350,000 in principal and interest on a mortgage of $655,461 that was registered last June in the Waterloo Region land registry office.

Last month, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice granted Brunen Holdings the authority to issue a writ for possession of the property when it is sold, so that it can be turned over to a new owner.

Bruce Lackenbauer, a Brunen Holdings representative, said the court order basically allows the power-of-sale process to proceed. That process is now underway, but the writ of possession has not been taken out yet, he said.

"We don't want to get into possession until we have to, and the power-of-sale process requires appraisals and that sort of thing, so we are just in the process of that now," he said.

Lackenbauer said the power-of-sale process does not prevent the inn from operating. "We are not in any way preventing it from being open. That is up to the business, which is Jakobstettel Properties Inc.," he said.

The president of Jakobstettel Properties Inc., Daniel P. Reeve, has not returned calls since last week. His lawyer also has not returned calls.

Reeve said in an interview with the Record on April 8 that he was training staff and would reopen the inn on April 21, but couples who have weddings booked at the inn are still in a state of confusion about whether the property will be available to them. As of April 14, there was still no answering machine or voice mail system to pick up calls to the inn.

Welcome Wagon Gets Ready To Tie The Knot

Say “I do” to Waterloo Region’s exciting wedding event!

Welcome Wagon, the Canada's largest and most respected greeting service, will host a Bridal Showcase on Sunday, March 8, 2009 from 1pm - 4pm at Kitchener City Hall located at 200 King Street West in downtown Kitchener, ON. Brides and grooms will have the opportunity to meet and discuss their big day with many wedding professionals while discovering the latest wedding products and services.An elegant fashion show will be presented by A Moment In Time Bridal Boutique and Tuxedo Royale. Brides and their guests will be able to get an up close look at the gowns and formal wear in this intimate setting. Featuring unique displays and showcasing some of Kitchener's leading wedding professionals, Welcome Wagon’s Bridal Showcase also offers thousands of dollars in door prizes will be given to some very fortunate attendees. During the Welcome Wagon Bridal Showcase, one lucky bride-to-be will win the Grand Prize, a romantic one-night getaway, compliments of Best Western St Jacob Country Inn of Waterloo, ON. All attending brides-to-be will have a chance to win a romantic honeymoon getaway courtesy of Today’s Bride magazine. All brides-to-be will receive a free gift bag, filled with wedding products and services, plus a free current copy of Today’s Bride magazine and a free wedding planner (while quantities last).

"Brides have so many important arrangements and decisions to make before their wedding day…it can be overwhelming. This intimate bridal show gives them the brilliant opportunity to discuss their wedding dreams and interview the wedding experts personally," says Welcome Wagon Event Coordinator, Susan Casey. "Brides and grooms will have a chance to sample delicious cakes, view the photographer's work, meet the DJ, smell gorgeous fresh flowers, plan their honeymoon, pick a reception site, secure guest accommodations and a lot more—all in one day, at one location." Admission is free but by invitation only. Please call us to register at 1-877-675-8463 or visit us online at www.bridalshowcase.ca.

Exhibitor opportunities for Kitchener’s Welcome Wagon Bridal Showcase are still available—please contact Susan Casey at 519-658-0687 or info@welcomewagon.ca.

About Welcome Wagon Ltd.
Welcome Wagon is a community-based service which welcomes new neighbours and contacts new parents, brides-to-be and new businesspeople with information on local businesses and services. The Welcome Wagon organization has over 1200 Hostesses across Canada. Since 1930, it has served over 500 communities. For more information about Welcome Wagon Ltd, please visit their Web site: www.welcomewagon.ca.