Community-wide fundraising is ongoing for the sole survivor of a December crash which killed her husband, brother, and sister-in-law when their vehicle plummeted into a Canmore area reservoir.
Longtime Innisfail resident Jaimie Waugh, 33, survived the Dec. 30 plunge into the Spray Lakes Reservoir after being helped out of the overturned SUV by a passerby.
The three other occupants of the vehicle -Waugh’s brother Darrin, 39, his wife Jennifer, 39, and Waugh’s husband James “Roddy” Allan, 43 - were killed.
“It’s heart-wrenching, just heart-wrenching,” said Waugh’s longtime friend Kim Tribble.
Tribble and other friends of Waugh’s are organizing a Feb. 18 fundraiser to benefit the now-single mom, and her and Allen’s two sons aged 11 and two.
The family had moved to Cochrane from Ontario in recent months to be closer to family.
Mourning the losses are many friends and a large extended family in Innisfail, where the Waughs grew up, Tribble said.
“We feel that’s where the community is going to pull through, because of the roots,” she said.
Tribble said she hopes to “raise the roof” with a charity hockey game and silent auction at the arena on Feb. 18.
The evening will feature a minor hockey skills competition and an Eagles alumni game.
“We just thought it would be fitting,” said Tribble.
While professionally, Darrin was a motion/broadcast graphic designer, in his early years in Innisfail he enjoyed playing hockey.
Both Darrin, and the Waughs’ father, John, played for the Eagles. John also coached the AAA hockey team.
Proceeds from the charity hockey game will be given to Waugh, Tribble said.
“For whatever she needs - if it’s something for the boys or whatever, whatever she needs,” she said.
Other community members have also pitched in to help Waugh and her family.
Every year participants in the Innisfail Farmers Bonspiel raise money for a community organization during the tournament.
In the past they have given to the food bank and to the little rockers but this year decided to help a local family who recently suffered a great loss.
Proceeds from a silent auction, and from a raffling off a number of different items were all given to the Waugh Family Fund.
“Businesses and people from the community have be so awesome,” said Brenda Beagle, who is on the committee for the Farmers Bonspiel.
Community members stepped forward with donations and many donated back their auction and raffle items to be auctioned off again in support of the family.
Over the six days of the tournament $16,000 had been raised for the Waugh family.
Another of Waugh’s friends, Angela Brownson, is helping organize the Innisfail Eagles alumni event and is also involved with a benefit on Feb. 11 being held in Calgary where Darrin and his wife Jennifer lived at the time of the accident.
Proceeds from a silent auction being held at Kilkenny Pub in Calgary on Feb. 11 will also benefit Waugh.
“She has a long road ahead of her and we all want to show our support.”
In memory of Waugh’s husband Roddy, friends can make a donation to the Alberta Rugby Association to honour his lifelong passion for the sport.
In memory of Darrin and Jennifer, and to honour their passions, friends can make a donation to Pawsitive Match Rescue or to CKUA radio.
Trees will be planted at Big Hill Springs Park in Cochrane in living memory of Darrin, Jennifer, and Roddy.
- With files from Justina Contenti
