As Bonnie Thomas listens to the news of the mass killings that happened in Nova Scotia this past weekend, her heart breaks.
She knows what the families are going through, because she’s experienced similar grief. She lost one young son, Olin, in an accidental house fire in 1987. Then his brother, Kevin Martin, was murdered in 1994.
“We’re thinking of them and sending them love and strength,” Thomas said of the Nova Scotian victims' families. “It’s just heart-wrenching.”
May 19, 1994 is the last day Thomas saw her son Kevin alive. On Nov. 13, 2000 his body was found in the Burnside area of Colchester County. Police are still investigating the homicide, but no one has ever been charged in what is now a cold case.
Thomas, who lives in Prince Edward Island, returns home every May to honour her son and this year is collecting donations in his memory to give to the Scotian Glen Camp that Martin had enjoyed going to in the summers when he was a kid.
Because inter-provincial travel is closed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Thomas won’t be able to make it for the May 19th anniversary this year, but still plans to deliver the donations to The Salvation Army later in the summer so they can use it whenever the camp is able to reopen.
She’s been touched by the amount of people who have sent her donations to go to campers in need, so far.
“It’s amazing how people help out,” she said. “It makes your heart smile when you see that kindness.”
Since she can’t be in Pictou County in person on May 19 to honour her son, a friend is going to hang some flower pots in a gazebo where a bench was placed in Kevin’s honour last year. She hopes to FaceTime with her friend while she places them.
“It’s going to be different not being there on the 19th, but we don’t have any other choice but to stay home,” Thomas said. “Hopefully in July everything will be somewhat back to normal.”
Anyone who would still like to make a donation in honour of Kevin’s memory can contact her through Facebook. The fundraiser is for items such as sleeping bags, pillows, body wash, shampoo, towels, facecloths, Kleenex, toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs and brushes. People can either donate items or money to buy the items.
