Update – February 2026**

I want to share a transparent update and thank everyone who has supported and shared this fundraiser.

There has been one piece of good news. The insurance payout for my written-off vehicle will be applied directly to the car loan once the cheque arrives and is processed by the bank. This means I will no longer be stuck making monthly payments on a vehicle that no longer exists, which is a huge financial weight lifted.

However, because the payout is going straight to the lender, I will not receive any cash from the insurance settlement, and I will still be without a reliable daily vehicle for work.

I do still have our family van, but it stays with my mom so my kids can be picked up and dropped off while I work long days and travel to job sites. For my job in film and TV construction, I need my own dependable vehicle to commute long distances and carry tools to set.

Because the loan will be cleared, the fundraiser can now focus entirely on its original goal: getting into a reliable used vehicle as soon as possible so I can get back to consistent work and remain present in my children’s lives.

I also want to be fully transparent that I am actively trying to reduce my debts wherever possible. I am currently arranging barter work to help cover my 407 bill and doing everything I can to move forward and get back on my feet.

Thank you for continuing to share and support. Every share truly helps.

Hi, my name is Johannes, and I’m a dad of three boys, ages 3, 5, and 7. I’m an IATSE 873 film technician in Ontario, and I’m in an emergency situation that is threatening my ability to work and to stay present in my sons’ lives.

For the last two years I’ve been going through a difficult divorce and custody battle while trying to keep working full-time. My income goes up and down with production, and during the marriage I took on most of the debt so my ex could stay home with the kids. Since separating, I’ve gone even deeper into debt paying legal fees and support.

Right now I’m facing:

- About $150,000 in debt (legal fees, car loans, support arrears, taxes, credit cards)

- No steady income for the past month and no confirmed start date for new work

- My landlord selling the place I rent, forcing me to move with no savings

- My car being written off in an accident, leaving me with loan payments on a vehicle I don’t even have (I only have a rental for a few more days)

- My mom’s car breaking down, so the only vehicle left is a van that has to stay with her so she can get my boys to school and exchanges

In December alone I paid $24,000 in support through the government enforcement agency, based on an income I never actually earned. I’ve tried to do the right thing, but now there is nothing left. When I have my boys, I stay at my mom’s and sleep on a couch because I can’t afford a place big enough for all of us.

On top of everything, I owe about $3,000 in 407 tolls, which must be paid before I can register and insure another car. Without a car I can’t get to film sets and I can’t reliably pick up my kids. I’m at real risk of losing both my income and my time with my sons.

I am asking for $15,000 to:

- $3,000 – Pay the 407 bill so I can legally plate and insure a vehicle

- $6,000 – Buy a safe used vehicle so I can get to work and transport my three boys (I often drive 300–400 km a day for work, and I need to fit 3 booster seats)

- $3,000 – Moving and housing costs as I’m being forced to move when my landlord sells

- $3,000 – Basic expenses and child support while I secure steady work (groceries, gas, insurance, and at least some support for my boys)

This is not about avoiding responsibility. I love my sons more than anything. I’ve worked long days on set and paid as much as I possibly could until my body, bank account, and mental health hit a wall. Some months I’ve paid more in support and legal costs than I actually took home, and I’ve used money that should have gone to taxes just to keep everyone afloat.

I’m asking for help now because I’ve run out of options. If I can clear the 407, get a basic vehicle, move somewhere stable, and have a small buffer to get through the next couple of months, I can get back to work, keep seeing my boys, and start climbing out of this instead of sinking further.

If you can’t donate but can share this, I’m grateful. If you can donate anything at all, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Every dollar goes toward keeping me working, housed, and in my 3-, 5-, and 7-year-old sons’ lives.

Thank you for reading and for any help you can offer.

— Johannes