On the evening of Monday, March 2, at approximately 7:15 p.m., a horrific explosion and fire destroyed the home of Sylvia Gillis .

Sylvia is a beloved member of our community who recently reached a major milestone: retiring after 40 dedicated years at London Drugs.

After decades of serving others, she was supposed to be enjoying her well-earned retirement. Instead, in a matter of minutes, she lost everything she owned.

The night was filled with both terror and incredible acts of bravery. We want to extend a special thank you to Shawna and her husband, whose quick thinking saved Sylvia’s life. They managed to pull her away from the trailer just moments before it was fully engulfed.

Sylvia’s loyal dog, Max, also proved to be a hero, staying by her side and trying to protect her from the flames despite suffering burns himself. Tragically, once Sylvia was safely away from the fire, a spooked and disoriented Max ran and was hit by a car.

While Sylvia was being airlifted to Vancouver General Hospital to treat her severe injuries, Max was rushed to an emergency vet. He is now recovering under the care of a close family friend, but he has a long journey ahead to heal from both his burns and the impact of the accident.

At 68, Sylvia is facing the impossible task of starting over from scratch. She has no home to return to and no personal belongings left.

How You Can Help:

We are asking the community to come together for Sylvia and Max.

Your donations will go directly toward:

• Sylvia’s Medical Recovery: Supporting her care at VGH and the long road of rehabilitation for her burns.

• Max’s Veterinary Bills: Covering the emergency care for his burns and injuries from being hit by a car.

• Rebuilding a Life: Replacing 40 years of memories and essentials—clothing, medication, and eventually, a new place to call home.

Sylvia has spent her life helping our community through her work; now it is our turn to help her. No donation is too small, and every share helps us reach those who know and love her.

Thank you for your compassion and support for Sylvia and her brave dog, Max.