The SVG Toronto Ad Hoc Committee under the leadership of SVG Consul General to Toronto, Mr. Fitz Huggins and which consists of a number of individuals and organizations was involved in responding to two disasters in our home country.
As a result of the 2013 Christmas Eve disaster, the committee organized a number of fundraising initiatives and raised over Cdn$30,000.00 which is being used to purchase one of the government low-income homes for a family in the North Leeward area of mainland St. Vincent. The committee is working in conjunction with the Rotary Club South in St. Vincent and it is expected that the house will be completed and turned over to the family by the end of May 2015.
Following what has become known as the Rock Gutter Disaster in January 2015 when a passenger vehicle overturned and caused the death of seven school children, the Ad Hoc Committee organized a memorial service on February 8 at Wesley Chapel Free Methodist Church in Toronto. The occasion brought together over 200 persons among whom were a number of young talented individuals of SVG parentage that performed memorable musical renditions. Receipts from collections taken at the service amounted to just over Cdn$3,000.00 and it has been determined that this money will be used to erect a memorial for the people of Owia & Fancy in honour of the young lives that were lost on that occasion.