Helping Jim Moodie recover from a catastrophic fire

Overnight on Aug. 14, my colleague and friend, Jim Moodie, lost his two beloved cats, most of his possessions and his body of work in a catastrophic fire.

Jim, who lived in the attic unit in an old farmhouse, was on a canoe trip at the time and had no idea for several days what happened.

Most of what he owned — aside from the items in his canoe — was lost, including his work phone and laptop, his voice recorder, all his clothing and furniture. Of course, the loss of his two cats has hit him the hardest.

A journalist for more than 35 years who shunned social media and the cloud — relying instead on external hard drives — he also lost most of his written catalogue.

Jim lives in Greater Sudbury and has worked at The Sudbury Star for nearly 15 years. He is a beloved journalist known for his entertaining and thoughtful prose — he is a sensitive writer — and his soft spot for animals, especially those in need. All three of Jim’s pets were rescued from various shelters. Thankfully, his Labrador, Joey, was with him on the canoe trip.

We are fundraising to help Jim rebuild. He will need help with rent — a deposit for a one-bedroom unit plus the first month in Greater Sudbury will likely be about $3,200 — and the essentials, including furnishings and kitchenware.

Thank you so much for your assistance. This situation has been devastating for Jim, and very stressful, so please know how much he appreciates all your help.