Community-based crowdfunding campaign will support all victims of Lynn Valley stabbing spree

A local non-profit has launched a crowdfunding campaign which aims to support all the victims of Saturday's stabbing spree in Lynn Valley that claimed one life and left six people injured.

Organized by Jacquie McCarnan of North Van Cares, the "Lynn Valley Victims" GoFundMe campaign was created in response to the outpouring of community concern following the attacks that took place in broad daylight in the tight-knit neighbourhood on the North Shore.

"The community of Lynn Valley is small in population but huge in heart and soul," writes McCarnan.

McCarnan describes the harrowing stabbing attack, adding: "The victims of this crime were our neighbours, friends, teachers. Brave bystanders jumped [in to] help at their own, personal, peril and were injured in the process."

Citing an anticipated "long delay" in getting much-needed services to victims of the attack, McCarnan says the funds raised through this online campaign will bridge any gaps in getting those affected "physical, mental and emotional support."

In order to ensure proper distribution of the funds raised, the campaign will be governed by a committee made up of representatives from all of the victims' families and by The North Van Cares Foundation.

So far, the GoFundMe has raised just a fraction of its $130,000 goal.

McCarnan launched North Van Cares in March 2020 when the pandemic first hit hard as an initiative to help seniors get groceries and prescriptions during quarantine. 

With a file from Elisia Seeber