Jul 17, 2008 - 11:41 AM

By Kristen Calis

PICKERING -- An 81-year-old Pickering Mr. Fix-It and his 80-year-old wife are about to experience something they never have before.

"This is the first time I've ever been in a courtroom," said John Tennant. "They're a little late catching me."

The long-time Pickering resident has repaired in his backyard garage lawn mowers, bicycles, snowblowers, Weedeaters and just about anything he can get his hands on from the time he moved into his home in 1965. In fact, he's had a love for fixing things from the time he was 16.

"How can you change a man who's 81?" he said.

But on June 24, Mr. Tennant and his wife, Jean, were given notice to appear in a Whitby Ontario Court of Justice for breaking a Pickering zoning bylaw. The couple was supposed to appear in court on July 7, but their neighbour, John Rooney, asked the judge to delay the proceedings until Mr. Tennant could get a better handle on the bylaw; it's not available online due to its large size, and the judge delayed it to September. The property is designated for a single-family dwelling, not business uses. But, according to Mr. Tennant, friends and neighbours, he isn't running a business; it's simply a hobby, and the only payment the man will accept, if any, is a cup of coffee.

"Am I broke?" he said. "I'm far from it," adding he simply wants to keep his hands busy and his brain occupied.

Mr. Tennant's neighbour of more than 40 years, Violet Nicholls, wrote a letter to be presented at court in order to defend the neighbourhood "charitable man." In an interview, she said the "community spirited" man, who is older than she, is always the first to help her rake leaves or check the oil in her car, and when her grandchildren visit, they know just who to see if anything needs fixing.

"It is a shame that John has been charged for being a good neighbour as I personally believe that an injustice is being done," she wrote.

Jack Cox wrote a similar letter. But he's not a Pickering resident; he heard about Mr. Tennant when visiting relatives in the area about eight years ago. He took his broken-down snowblower to him and when he learned it was free of charge "I was in disbelief.

"Seeing an excellent deal when presented with it, I have since had Mr. Tennant repair other gardening equipment, all at no charge," he wrote.

Mr. Rooney has taken it upon himself to help keep Mr. Tennant from losing the ability to do something he loves and is afraid of what could happen to the energetic man.

"You keep (stressing this man out) and he's not going to be riding his motorcycle in a few of years," he said, adding it's quite common to see his 81-year-old neighbour riding around on his motorcycle, something he's fixed up for himself.

Mr. Rooney has canvassed south Pickering and discovered about 200 businesses operating from homes, such as day cares, and lawn mowers blatantly for sale on front lawns. He questions why someone helping out seniors and kids is the one going to court.

"He's never had a lawn mower on his front yard," he said.

Mr. Tennant isn't worried about the fine he may have to pay; he's worried about losing his hobby and doesn't appreciate the stress this brings to his life.

"To drag my wife to court for something like that I think is absurd," Mr. Tennant said.

The City of Pickering cannot discuss Mr. Tennant's case since it's before the courts, but City clerk Debi Wilcox said the City's bylaw department operates on a complaint basis.