Smits House Fire
Donation protected
On Tuesday, January 19th, 2016, Bill Smits’ life changed forever. After spending close to a week enjoying the company of his daughter Chantelle in British Columbia, Bill landed in Ontario only to find out his entire life had been flipped upside-down. He received a phone call while still in the airport from Chantelle informing him that there had been a fire at the family home on Westcliff Way in Cambridge, Ontario. She was not able to provide much information to him at that time, other than that no one was home and that their family pets, Tsunami and Solstice had been safely removed before the fire began.
Over the next few hours Bill discovered that his wife, Michelle was missing with their only vehicle and that at that time, was considered the prime suspect for the suspicious fire. This information was devastating as the two had been high school sweethearts, having been together since they were both 15 years old, and the couple had decided to wed in 2009 after almost 30 years of being together. Bill had built the home himself for his family in 2002 and the three of them had spent many years residing within it, hosting family and friends at numerous happy gatherings.
Chantelle flew back to Ontario the next morning in order to assist her father in the coming days and weeks of heartache. The two visited Bill and Michelle’s financial institution in order to begin setting Bill up on his own, only to find out that his wife had not been paying the household bills like she was supposed to have been doing; the mortgage on their home had gone unpaid for numerous months and their house insurance as considered invalid as she had been missing payments for a substantial amount of time. This meant that the insurance company could do nothing to help Bill towards rebuilding his home. The fire is estimated to have completed nearly $100,000 worth in damages and destroyed family valuables including picture albums and trinkets that can never be replaced.
Bill has been a hardworking framer for many, many years around the Waterloo region, constructing many family homes for people in the area and all over Southern Ontario. He has dedicated himself to ensuring others have a roof over their heads and has volunteered himself, and his construction company to assist in various side projects to lend aid to family, friends and neighbours. Now this man, who has devoted himself to the comfort and well-being of others is left homeless, betrayed and penniless and needs the public’s help and empathy.
This fund was started by Bill's sister Maggie and his neices Jennifer and Rhiannon in Kitchener Ontario moments after we heard about this tragety. However, his daughter Chantelle has recently taken over the account in order to assist in purchasing the items needed for her father. The money raised will be used to get Bill off to his fresh start. He is in need of a roof over his head, a vehicle, clothing, and bacially everything! He was left with nothing but the suitcase he had with him for his trip out to BC.
Bill, Chantelle and the entire Smits family is asking for the help of those who can in order to help this man and daughter to begin rebuilding their lives and move past this heart-breaking event. Their lives will never be as it once was living on Westcliff Way, but society as a whole can do whatever it can in order to help them begin again and to put this tragedy behind them. Please lend your assistance in anyway possible and help us rebuild Bill’s life. You can contact us at [email redacted]
Over the next few hours Bill discovered that his wife, Michelle was missing with their only vehicle and that at that time, was considered the prime suspect for the suspicious fire. This information was devastating as the two had been high school sweethearts, having been together since they were both 15 years old, and the couple had decided to wed in 2009 after almost 30 years of being together. Bill had built the home himself for his family in 2002 and the three of them had spent many years residing within it, hosting family and friends at numerous happy gatherings.
Chantelle flew back to Ontario the next morning in order to assist her father in the coming days and weeks of heartache. The two visited Bill and Michelle’s financial institution in order to begin setting Bill up on his own, only to find out that his wife had not been paying the household bills like she was supposed to have been doing; the mortgage on their home had gone unpaid for numerous months and their house insurance as considered invalid as she had been missing payments for a substantial amount of time. This meant that the insurance company could do nothing to help Bill towards rebuilding his home. The fire is estimated to have completed nearly $100,000 worth in damages and destroyed family valuables including picture albums and trinkets that can never be replaced.
Bill has been a hardworking framer for many, many years around the Waterloo region, constructing many family homes for people in the area and all over Southern Ontario. He has dedicated himself to ensuring others have a roof over their heads and has volunteered himself, and his construction company to assist in various side projects to lend aid to family, friends and neighbours. Now this man, who has devoted himself to the comfort and well-being of others is left homeless, betrayed and penniless and needs the public’s help and empathy.
This fund was started by Bill's sister Maggie and his neices Jennifer and Rhiannon in Kitchener Ontario moments after we heard about this tragety. However, his daughter Chantelle has recently taken over the account in order to assist in purchasing the items needed for her father. The money raised will be used to get Bill off to his fresh start. He is in need of a roof over his head, a vehicle, clothing, and bacially everything! He was left with nothing but the suitcase he had with him for his trip out to BC.
Bill, Chantelle and the entire Smits family is asking for the help of those who can in order to help this man and daughter to begin rebuilding their lives and move past this heart-breaking event. Their lives will never be as it once was living on Westcliff Way, but society as a whole can do whatever it can in order to help them begin again and to put this tragedy behind them. Please lend your assistance in anyway possible and help us rebuild Bill’s life. You can contact us at [email redacted]
Organizer
Chantelle Smits
Organizer
Kitchener, ON
