Elder stabbing victim

I spent Saturday night in the emergency room and I’m seeking financial contributions to help. My Elder friend of 22 years was maneuvering, with back pain and impaired vision in one eye, to get to his seat on the sky train. As he was going to sit down, a young man started yelling at him trying to take his seat. The man pulled out a 10 inch knife and stabbed my friend Norm nine times all over his body. Norm is recovering but as you can imagine, he and his children are in trauma, and he has a long road to recovery.

 

In 2006 when I was defending my masters thesis, Norm and his three children, teenagers at the time, took the journey from Vancouver to Victoria to stand by my side as I presented my research. They have stood by me and always treated me as family through all of my trials, tribulations and adventures. If I ever need support, he is always there for me. My friend who has always welcomed me in his family, could have died on Saturday through a traumatic, violent attack.

 

Despite Norm and his family struggling financially, their generosity, thoughtfulness, care and advocacy for others is beyond compare. Family connectedness and humour are getting my loved ones through this, but they could use all of our financial support. The children and grandchildren are coming in from the island to help. They have to take time off work, take their children out of school, take transit and taxis, find additional resources to help with the grandchildren because grandpa Norm helped every day with the parenting routines, and so on. The family is deeply traumatized, and this compounds living with the impacts of residential school and daily racism, to name a few.

 

My friend is a former football player, logger, and is deeply proud of his traditional Toquaht territory on the west coast of Vancouver island, and the life that he lived growing up on the land by the water. He worked as a drug and alcohol addictions counsellor and had the courage and will to counsel sex offenders. My friend Norm has helped people get through great life difficulties and has contributed to society to create positive change. He single parented his three children, who I have known since they were young. He has always given of himself for the benefit of others and now my dear friend is recovering from fighting for his life. His body is fragile and I’m scared. If you can help, it would be so much appreciated. Norm and his children have not asked for anything and would never create a go fund me asking for help. But they need it and I’m doing this for them because I love them and this experience has been traumatizing beyond our imaginations. I have received their permission to do this.

Please reach out to me directly if you're not comfortable using this platform. Thank you for considering donating, whether it be cash, gift cards (Chatr cell provider, Superstore, Walmart), children's Christmas presents, new clothing, devices and even your thoughtful words. (His tablet and clothing were damaged in the attack.) Please know that if you know me and who I am and what I stand for, that much of who I am is thanks to my dear friend Norm and his children being in my life.

https://www.surreynowleader.com/news/senior-stabbed-over-dispute-regarding-skytrain-seat-in-surrey/