GLACE BAY, N.S. — Craig Seymour watched his dreams go up in smoke on Saturday, as flames engulfed the building that homed his Taekwondo school.
But it didn't take long for those dreams to be reignited, thanks to support from people, business and competitors in the area.
"I'm really amazed (by all the people reaching out). I was so upset because this is my passion. I love to teach," said the 49-year-old who started studying Taekwondo when he was a child.
"Even the other martials arts clubs have reached out and offered to help. You'd think they'd be like, 'oh good, less competition.' But no."
- Craig Seymour, owner, Ashley Taekwondo
"I didn't know what we were going to do. Then everyone started calling and offering to help . . . It's hard to do everything on your own sometimes and that's what I did here (with my martial arts school). It's a lot easier when people offer to help . . . You wouldn't believe the people who have been calling."
Seymour, a champion Taekwondo fighter who competed in tournaments in many countries before retiring in 2007, opened Ashley Taekwondo in September. Located on the second storey of the building located at the corner of Catherine and Commercial streets in Glace Bay, Seymour used a lot of his own money for startup costs, rent and utilities as he was establishing himself.
Before the fire, the father of two said things were starting to take off. Now, nothing could be salvaged from the blaze that destroyed the building and took all his equipement, trophies and photos.
"There's not much you can do. It's pretty sad . . . But it is good that no one was hurt," he said. "It took me forever to get flyers done because I am doing it from scratch. It's like one step forward, two steps back."
The day after the fire, the calls started. Some from people sharing their condolences. Others were offering to help Seymour get his school back up and running.
An adult student of his, Kevin Boutillier, started a Go Fund Me to raise money for the studio. Jeanette MacDonald from the Glace Bay Y's Men's and Women's Club called to offer Seymour help in finding a new space and Island Martial Arts, a competitor with a location in Glace Bay, also reached out and offered help.
"It's just incredible," said Seymour, a junior master fourth degree black belt. "Even the other martials arts clubs have reached out and offered to help. You'd think they'd be like, 'oh good, less competition.' But no. They're offering some equipement to help us get going again.
Island Martial Arts spokesperson Angie MacDonald-Fraser said they reached out because they know what it's like to have to lose everything.
"When we had the flood (Thanksgiving Day 2016) we lost everything — from the building, to the pads, to the equipment. Everything we built up," she said.
"It's tough to get started and he just started . . . We wanted to support all the people doing this, so we reached out to lend as much help as we can. We want to help him build back what he started."
Although Seymour knows there's some things he can't get back, like more than 30 years of newspaper clippings documenting his Taekwondo accolades as both competitor and instructor, this support he's getting is making him realize starting over won't be as difficult as he feared it might be.
And Seymour is feeling confident Ashley Taekwondo will be open again in the near future.
CONTRIBUTE TO THE GOFUNDME HERE
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