SUPPORTING VERONICA GORE POST HURRICANE FIONA

Julia Creighton here, a friend of the Gore family, fundraising for Veronica Gore.

We’ve heard many tragic interviews from Cape Breton and PEI with people who lost everything due to Hurricane Fiona. This story is a little closer to home. Veronica Gore lived in Foxwood Terrace Apartments in Spryfield for 12 years and spent her childhood in Chester; she is one of four daughters of George and Erin Gore. Perhaps you knew Veronica as a student or know her family. Maybe you attended the Blanket Exercise (an interactive way of learning Indigenous history in Canada) she conducted with Elder Geri LeBlanc in Chester last November.

Part of Veronica’s Spryfield apartment roof flew off during Fiona. Because she wasn’t allowed to enter her unit for two entire weeks, water seeped in and damaged most of her belongings. Veronica did have tenants’ insurance, but her adjuster did not view her unit until late October, and she has yet to have any resolution or receive funds.

As with so many post-Fiona stories, Veronica was forced from her home to a hotel. She incurred debt on bills due to using her credit card for the hotel and having to eat in restaurants (being gluten and lactose-intolerant makes this a considerable expense.) Her family jumped in to support her. Then her employer, the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre, stepped in and covered her accommodation for two weeks. She hopes to reimburse them. Veronica continued working when displaced, taking no time off during her ordeal.

Veronica is the sole support for her two grown daughters and grandchild; her children are currently in school. The older one is taking a pipe trades course at NSCC, and the younger one is at University. She is living with her eldest daughter till November 1, when she moves into her new apartment. The rent for this apartment is more than double her rent at Foxwood Terrace. With the current housing crisis in Halifax, this is the only accommodation she could find.

Veronica needs some breathing room. She has no idea when she will receive her insurance claim. She needs to replace many items that cannot be salvaged.

The fate of her furniture and beloved sewing machine, completely covered in mould, is uncertain.

Please consider taking this opportunity to support Veronica and her family, who have contributed much to their community.