Through T-shirts, jewelry and other gestures, companies and individuals are pitching in to support the families of those affected by this weekend’s tragic mass shooting in Nova Scotia.
Terry Holdershaw, founder of online clothing company East Coast Proud, has launched a new line of “Nova Scotia Strong” apparel, with 100 per cent of profits going directly to the families of those affected by the tragedy.
It’s the least he could do to support his home province of Nova Scotia during times of adversity, said Holdershaw, who now resides in Ontario.
“One, it’s a horrible tragedy that happened, but on top of the COVID-19 and social distancing, it’s going to make it even tougher for some of these families to grieve and plan what they need to do,” he said.
“They can use whatever help they can get and hopefully we can raise some money for them.”
Holdershaw said East Coast Proud is also setting aside a portion of the proceeds from its “Stay The Blazes Home” apparel for the cause.
Amos Pewter, a South Shore-based company, is similarly donating all proceeds from the sale of its Nova Scotia crest ornament and necklace products “to a cause in support of the families affected by the tragedy,” according to Sebastian McSween, the company’s creative lead.
“As a local company we wanted to find some way of using what we do to support those affected,” McSween said in an email.
“We felt that our Nova Scotia-themed designs with the crest symbolizing the strength and resilience of all Nova Scotians would be meaningful to many people at this time.”
Bill Mont, 90, a resident of the Northwood long-term care facility in Halifax, decided he, too, wanted to help out.
Mont, who once owned a plot of land at Portapique Beach which he subdivided into cottage lots and sold more than 15 years ago, said there’s a chance he might’ve been friends with some of the victims of the tragedy back in the day.
To help their families with the financial costs of losing a loved one, he’s offering about 20 to 25 free burial plots at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Lower Sackville. Those plots, which he owns, would normally cost around $1,500, he said.
“That’s my contribution, whether they need one lot or a whole bunch or whatever, it’s open for them,” said Mont.
Noushin Ziafati is a local journalism initiative reporter, a position funded by the federal government.
