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In November 2025, a CN train derailment destroyed our entire Canadian holiday shipment of Joeydolls. The railcar carrying our container was crushed and nothing could be recovered.
For our tiny family business, this one incident wiped out:
- Nearly $50K we had already paid in production and shipping
- Over $200K in expected holiday revenue
- All of our holiday restock and new product launches
- The inventory we were counting on for our upcoming Dragons’ Den Canada airing
For a small, mission-led brand, this is devastating.
Hi, I’m Samantha, founder of Joeydolls. We are a small family owned Canadian brand created to bring cultural connection, representation, and joy to children and families. Every Joeydoll celebrates identity and heritage so children can see their culture reflected in everyday play.
Joeydolls is fully owned and run by my family and me. We do not have investors or a large financial cushion. Every dollar we earn goes straight back into designing and producing dolls for families who have been waiting to feel seen.
This derailment happened right at our busiest season and removed the inventory we were counting on to sustain the business into 2026. Unfortunately, goods in transit was excluded from our business insurance.
How your support will help
- Your support will help us:
- Reorder the dolls that were destroyed
- Cover part of the financial impact so we can keep Joeydolls alive
- Pay essential operating costs while we rebuild
- Continue creating dolls and resources that celebrate culture and identity
- Sustain our community partnerships and giveback commitments
What we are doing ourselves
We are doing everything we can on our side.
This week, we are driving to our U.S. warehouse, picking up every Canadian order we can, and bringing them back to Toronto to ship ourselves so families still receive their dolls. We are tightening expenses, applying for grants, and continuing to sell what limited inventory we have.
In 2025, Joeydolls was honored with opportunities like the Startup Canada Global Pitch Competition, the High Five Grant for Moms by The Mama Ladder®, and the YSpace ELLA Ascend Accelerator program. These recognitions reminded us that representation in toys matters and that there is real momentum behind this mission. We are determined to keep going.
How you can help
There is absolutely no pressure to give. It is the holiday season and many families are stretched.
If you would like to support our rebuilding, you can:
- Donate here, in any amount
- Share this fundraiser with your network
- Shop what is still available on our website or connect us with families, schools, and retailers who care about representation
Every share, every donation, and every encouraging message helps us bring our dolls back to families and keep representation growing.
Thank you for believing in our mission.
Thank you for standing with representation and with our family during this incredibly difficult moment.
Samantha
Founder, Joeydolls
Organizer
