'She was making people happy wherever she was': Friends of crash victims rally for their families
A fatal two-car collision last week robbed the world of what friends describe as a “shining light.”
“She was amazing. She was nice, and I know that she was making other people happy wherever she was,” said Cohen McQueen, one of the organizers of a fundraiser for family of Chloe MacKenzie who died in the crash, and Jacob Cloney, who is still in hospital with serious injuries from the accident.
“He’s one of the nicest dudes I’ve ever known,” said Marshall Tessier of his longtime friend.
The group of friends are still dealing with the grief of the accident which occurred on Bostwick Road between Southdale and Wharncliffe roads on Feb. 1.
It is difficult, but the group of friends instantly wanted to support both of the families that are dealing with the aftermath.
“You want to be there as much as possible, but you also don't want to overstep anything or put any more like harm on the families that they're already dealing with stuff, you don't want to overwhelm them at all,” said McQueen.
The area of Bostwick Road and Wharncliffe Road South in London, Ont. remain closed on Feb. 1, 2023 as police respond to a serious evening collision. (Jenn Basa/CTV News London)A GoFundMe campaign was started to help the families deal with any financial implications that come with tragedy — and it quickly exceeded expectations.
“It was every hour, not even like, we'd be like, ‘Oh, we're at our new goal. Another thousand [dollars], another thousand [dollars],’” recalled Tessier.
At the time of publication, the GoFundMe has raised more than $21,000.
This Friday, they have planned a hockey fundraiser set to begin at 10:30 a.m., with pick up hockey games at Brookeside Arena, and a raffle of prizes that have been donated. The funds raised will be going to the families.
“If they still want to come and support, there's going to be a ton of raffle items that are going to go off and they’re great items, to be honest,” said McQueen.
Ward 2 Coun. Shawn Lewis lives down the street from the Cloney family. He knows Jacob well, and met Chloe when their group of friends hung out with his nephew. He’s proud of the way the group of friends has banded together.
“They've surrounded each other, lifted each other up, talking through how they're feeling and taking this situation and not knowing what else to do,” he said. “Putting into action by helping raise funds to support the families through what's obviously a terrible time.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Boeing's financial woes continue, while families of crash victims urge U.S. to prosecute the company
Boeing said Wednesday that it lost US$355 million on falling revenue in the first quarter, another sign of the crisis gripping the aircraft manufacturer as it faces increasing scrutiny over the safety of its planes and accusations of shoddy work from a growing number of whistleblowers.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.