Auburn Bay community members rally around grieving widow, three young children
Residents of one southeast Calgary neighbourhood have raised thousands of dollars to support a family grieving the losses of a father and grandfather.
Auburn Bay’s Chad Martin, 48, and his father Willard Martin, 76, were killed Friday.
Both were working on a vehicle together — one of their shared hobbies — when something shifted and the vehicle fell on them.
They leave behind Martin’s wife Natasha and three children under 12-years-old: Edie, Miah and Jake.
Family members describe the men as "hard working, kind and compassionate."
"(Willard) was a wonderful guy, a wonderful dad," Vance Eva said. "(They were) both really great people. The community was very lucky to have them."
Another relative called Martin a "community guy," who would be the first to help others on his block with anything and everything.
So it should come as no surprise that many of those neighbours are pitching in for his family in a moment of need.
One friend has started a GoFundMe page to "help with day-to-day bills, funeral expenses and any other unexpected costs that may arise during this heartbreaking time."
As of Wednesday afternoon, it had brought in more than $85,000.
Close to where the Martins live, another fundraiser has brought in more financial support.
The A&W on Auburn Meadows Drive S.E. will be donating $2 from every combo sold Wednesday to the Martin family, including orders placed through third-party delivery apps.
"Being community members, they are family to us, even though I don’t know them personally," Franchiser Balwant Singh said. "Being human, we should play our part all the time."
Singh says he is also matching any cash donations made in-store.
"They are going through a lot, but if I put myself in their shoes, I can feel their pain. We can try to ease it," he told CTV News.
"I always say we can’t walk for them, but we can walk with them during this tough time so they are not alone in this."
Another neighbour in Auburn Bay has started a "meal train" for the grieving family.
Community members have volunteered their time to make and deliver Natasha and her kids food.
One family member tells CTV News almost a month of meals has already been offered.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Teen was doing homework at family's Mississauga, Ont. restaurant when gunman opened fire: testimony
The 13-year-old sister of a young man killed in the attack on her family’s Mississauga restaurant in 2021 took the stand in a Brampton courthouse on Monday to describe the terrifying moments of coming under fire.
'Repetitive partisan conduct': Conservatives to force vote on ousting Speaker Greg Fergus
The federal Conservatives have advanced a motion that will force MPs to vote on whether to oust Greg Fergus as House of Commons Speaker, after MPs' deputy adjudicator ruled Monday that the Liberal member's allegedly errant partisan event invite required urgent attention.
Trial for B.C. man accused of killing, dismembering wife begins
The trial for a Langley man accused of killing his wife began Monday, with the prosecutor laying out a disturbing series of facts agreed upon by both Crown and defence.
Stars roar back to win Game 3 over Oilers
Jason Robertson's hat-trick goal midway through the third period broke a deadlock and proved to be the eventual winner as the Dallas Stars beat the host Edmonton Oilers 5-3 in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final to take a 2-1 series lead.
What a CBSA strike could look like, according to an expert
Slowed or interrupted travel, the passing of goods and significantly restricted borders should be expected if Canadian border workers take upcoming strike action.
WATCH Alta. man rescues wild foal trapped on steep cliffside
A man's daring rescue of a newborn wild foal that was trapped after falling down a steep embankment was caught on video over the weekend.
Severe thunderstorms, tornado watch in some areas of Canada. Here's where
Depending on where you live, you can expect to get a mixed bag of weather this week, as local forecasts predict heavy rain, strong wind, severe thunderstorms and even snowfall across some areas of Canada.
B.C. senior prepares to move due to devastating effects of fraud
A Courtenay, B.C., senior is downsizing and packing to move as she comes to accept she can no longer afford to stay in her home, after falling victim to a scam that robbed her of her life savings worth more than $100,000.
Israel close to approving Gaza reunification program before Rafah invasion: Miller
Immigration Minister Marc Miller says Israel seemed to be on the verge of approving a program to get Palestinian relatives of Canadians out of the Gaza Strip before the country's invasion of the town of Rafah.