GoFundMe campaigns for those affected by last month’s plane crash in Fort Smith have exceeded a combined $36,000.
The fundraisers were launched after a plane carrying seven people went down near the community’s airport on the morning of Jan. 23. Two crew members and four passengers headed for work at the Diavik Diamond Mine were killed.
A GoFundMe for the families of the victims is on the brink of hitting $25,000. Another to help support Kurt MacDonald, the sole survivor of the accident as he recovers, sat at a little over $11,000 as of Wednesday.
“Kurt is an electrician at Diavik Diamond Mine, and has worked there since 2015. He has a five-month-old son with his fiancée Dominique. Kurt is a very loving and playful father; he would do anything for his family. Kurt and Dominique have a four-year-old dog that they adopted from the local animal shelter, and they spoil her like a real baby,” the latter GoFundMe reads.
The town’s mayor and council released a statement offering condolences to those affected by the tragedy, noting that the devastating plane crash, “has left our community with a deep sense of sadness and a long road ahead in coming to terms with the loss.”
“We remain grateful for the outpouring of support,” it continues.
In addition, the municipality will be waiving lottery licensing fees for non-profit groups looking to fundraise for families affected by the recent tragedy.
For more information, contact town hall at 867-872-8400 or executive.secretary@fortsmith.ca.