Here's some news on Sackville, NB

This fire happen Aug 11/06

A fire that tore through a historic building in downtown Sackville Saturday night has left several university students homeless.

More than 25 people were forced from their apartments on Saturday night. Eleven lost everything they owned. Many did not have tenants' insurance.

When Mount Allison University student Mike Bailey got the call that his apartment was burning, he thought it was a joke. It wasn't until he got to his building an hour later and saw the roof cave in on his living room that reality began to set in.

Everything Bailey owned was in the apartment, including clothes, photos and a new flat screen television. He said the fire destroyed all of it.

When Bailey started renting the place, he said it didn't occur to him to buy insurance. He didn't even know it was an option. He figures he'll have to start again from scratch.

'I'm not going to get anything back'

"Basically what I'm looking at is that I've lost everything and that I'm not going to get anything back," he said. "I think that's the easiest way to go about it because if you're expecting to get something and you don't, then you have to live through it twice."

Most students left homeless didn't have insurance and are scrambling to see if they will be covered under their parents' policies. Some will and some won't, depending on individual plans.

Terry MacPherson owns the Insurance Centre in Moncton and says students need to be better educated about insurance and the responsibilities that come with renting properties.

"When students go to university, in their frosh kit, there should perhaps be a handout that says, 'Make sure you do have insurance to cover your personal belongings,' " he said.

MacPherson said tenants' insurance is cheaper than people expect and that before sending their children to university, parents should be aware of what their home insurance covers.

Fire officials don't know what ignited the fire, but say it began in the basement of the 150-year-old building.



FINANCIAL DONATIONS CAN NOW BE MADE

A number of people have been emailing me or commenting on this blog asking about the possibility of making a financial donation from afar. This is now possible. Cheques can be made to "RC Sackville - Project Rebuild" and sent to the Sackville branch of the Royal Bank of Canada. Currently there is no way to donate online but cheques can be mailed to the Royal Bank at:

Royal Bank of Canada
103 main st
Sackville, NB
E4L 4B1

The money will be circulated among those who need it by the Rotary Club.

Thanks you!

Here is where you can see some pics of the mess! Click Here For Pic