A group of St. Albert singer-songwriters are uniting their voices to help a city family that lost their home to a fire.
Pop-rock songstress Martha Livingstone, jazz chanteuse Mary-Lou Drachenberg, roots vocalist Jake Perry and country singers Jessy Mossop and Melissa Letourneau are the featured entertainers at a silent auction fundraiser for Bruce Osborne and Tani Baskett’s family this coming Friday at O’Maille’s Irish Pub.
The family of four, who lost their Sturgeon-area home on May 22 due to an electrical fire in the attic, is now renting an apartment in north Edmonton and may be unable to return to their home for a year.
“The family needs moral support. They need to feel like they’re not alone in this journey. Every little bit helps and the kids have been really affected by this,” said event host Martha Livingstone.
The initial electrical fire was caused by a pinched wire in the attic from a renovation completed in the ’70s, said Bruce Osborne.
“The fire investigator described it like taking a garden hose and getting a restriction that eventually wears out. Somebody drove a staple in too far and it eventually wore its way through.”
Although the fire was contained in the attic, it destroyed the roof and firefighters had to rip through the ceiling. The rest of the house was filled with water and smoke damage.
“The insurance tells us it’s a complete gut job down to the two-by-fours.”
To add more problems, the 1930s built home, an original farmhouse constructed before Sturgeon community was developed, needs to be brought up to code with additional costs not covered by insurance.
“We got out of the house with the clothes on our backs and the dog and the cat.”
At the moment all their possessions are in four storage containers being assessed by specialists for damage.
So far only one bed frame, the kitchen table, dishes and pots and pans are useable.
“We have received no word on the TV and electronics. All our beds are written off and both couches for living room and rec room are. All our furniture from the rec room is written off. By the time water trickled downstairs we had four inches of water pooling.”
In addition, son Joshua, 15, an actor with Visionary College and daughter Brynn, 12, a long-time Irish dance aficionado, lost their costumes, some pegged in the $1,000 range.
Despite the trauma, Osborne credits the generous outpouring of support from neighbours and friends for keeping the family on an even keel.
“The support we got from neighbours and friends was immeasurable. They stayed with us through the fire and that night, even though we had to split up, we had a place to sleep with neighbours.”
Osborne has taken a leadership role in this tragedy. This is not the first time he’s lost his home. On July 31, 1987 his trailer in the Evergreen Trailer Park in east Edmonton was hit by a massive tornado.
“When the tornado happened it was tough. But it’s helped me cope with everything about the fire. I’ve been down that road before and I know there’s light at the end of the tunnel.”
Silent auction items are being accepted at Innovations Music. Funds generated from the silent auction will be placed in a trust fund. For more information call Lori Sartison at 780-908-7855.
