Members of a Fort Smith family are said to be recovering after sustaining serious injuries when their SUV collided with a semi truck about 70 km south of High Level just over a week ago.
Fort Smith is rallying to support the family and raise money for their unexpected stay in Edmonton as they wait to be discharged from hospital.
All proceeds from a Thursday 5-8pm art sale in the seniors’ room at Fort Smith’s recreation centre will go to the family.
Patti-Kay Hamilton and Don True are donating pieces from their personal collection to the sale, including works from artists James Wedzin, Archie Beaulieu, Maxine Noel, Benjamin Chee Chee, Hélène Girard, Piet Van Loon, Ted Harrison, Graeme Shaw and more.
“We’ve downsized recently, so we moved into a much smaller house, and we have a large collection of art. Some of it’s really pretty unusual and amazing art and I’ve thought of selling some of it, but it was hard to let go of some pieces,” Hamilton said.
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“I think I’ve been waiting for something to use it for.”
Hamilton said her family went through a similar situation in the past. Her niece was killed and other family members injured in an accident close to where this month’s semi collision happened.
“We all tried to make our way down there and get a hotel and stay in the hotel so we could be close to the children, just be with them,” she said. “And it’s so important, especially for kids, to have someone they know and love and trust around in those scary situations.”
She knows how expensive these unexpected trips can be, even with governmental support. Selling art felt like one way to help.
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Art will be priced between $10 to $100, though Hamilton said many of the original and numbered pieces are worth far more and people are welcome to contribute larger sums to the family.
There will be a donation jar for people who want to give cash. Anyone who donates will be entered to win Christmas ornaments.
In total, 50 pieces will be for sale. People outside Fort Smith can message Hamilton on Facebook after the in-person sale closes if they are interested in pieces that didn’t sell.
One of the most precious pieces Hamilton is letting go is by John Blondin, a close friend of hers who died in his late thirties.
“He created a theatre company, wrote plays, wrote books, and also was an artist,” said Hamilton.
“This is one of his originals called Grandmother, and it’s an older woman just sitting quietly with her hands folded in her lap. It’s a pencil drawing, and you just look at it and you feel calm. So that one is very special.”
Semi driver uninjured
Alberta RCMP said the collision happened near the Paddle Prairie Métis Settlement, a community of a few hundred people south of High Level.
The accident was reported to police shortly after 11am on December 10, RCMP stated.
“There was a plow on the road, so the snow was being cleared, but it lowered visibility,” explained Mathew Howell, a spokesperson for Alberta RCMP, noting the accident is still under investigation.
The driver of the semi truck was said by police to have been uninjured.
