Community Fundraisers Exceed $3 Million for Tumbler Ridge Shooting Victims
Crowdfunding campaigns have raised over $3 million for the families of victims of last week's mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. The outpouring of support from across Canada and beyond demonstrates the community's resilience in the face of tragedy.
Parent Advisory Council Leads Fundraising Efforts
By far the most substantial fundraising effort has been organized by the Tumbler Ridge parent advisory council, whose group campaign has collected nearly $750,000 as of Tuesday. The council has stated that funds collected so far are being directed toward "the urgent financial needs of the victims' families." They have also reached out to the families of two girls who remain in serious condition to confirm their specific needs.
Individual Campaigns for Specific Victims
Several individual GoFundMe campaigns have also generated significant support:
- Maya Gebala: A 12-year-old who has been at B.C. Children's Hospital in Vancouver on a ventilator since being shot in the head and neck inside Tumbler Ridge Secondary School on February 10. Family friend Krysta Hunt organized a fundraiser with an initial goal of $250,000 for Maya and her mother Cia Edmonds, but thousands of donations have poured in, raising over $430,000 as of Tuesday.
- Paige Hoekstra: Another survivor who was shot in the chest and will be released from hospital soon. Her GoFundMe has raised over $60,000 to support her recovery.
- Other victims: Fundraisers have been established for young victims Zoey Benoit, Kylie Smith, Ticaria Lampert, Abel Mwansa, Ezekiel Schofield, and teacher Shannda Aviugana-Durand. Campaigns also exist for the three surviving children of Jennifer Jacobs (Strang) and Emmett Jacobs, who were fatally shot at the family home along with shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar's mother and stepbrother.
GoFundMe Verification Process
GoFundMe has gathered several of the individual campaigns at a community fundraising hub. According to GoFundMe spokesperson Aisha Vernon, the platform's team is still working to verify several of the fundraisers. "For our team to verify a fundraiser, it must be clear who the organizer is, as well as the person, business or charity they are raising funds for, the organizer's relationship to the recipient of the funds, and how the funds will be used," Vernon explained.
This verification process involves reviews by trust and safety experts and technical tools aimed at spotting misuse. If more information is needed during a review, the fundraiser will be placed on hold and money cannot be withdrawn until the verification is complete. Individual GoFundMe accounts will be added to the community hub as they are verified.
Tragic Details of the Shooting
The mass shooting occurred on February 10 at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, where six people were fatally shot. The shooter, Jesse Van Rootselaar, also killed her mother and stepbrother at the family home before taking her own life minutes after shooting at RCMP officers who arrived within minutes of a 911 call.
The community continues to rally around the victims' families as they navigate this unimaginable tragedy, with financial support being just one aspect of the healing process.
