North Bay restaurant rallying community support for fire victims
North Bay’s downtown community is still reeling after Tuesday’s fire that destroyed a building on Main Street East.
What's left of the six apartment units and two vibrant businesses is now a pile of rubble.
North Bay firefighters observe a building on Main Street East being torn down after fire
To help those who lost their livelihood and belongings, a restaurant located across the street from where the fire happened is going to step in and help.
When thick flames erupted from the building Tuesday, Cecil’s Brewhouse and Kitchen owner John Lechlitner said he was horrified.
Some of his former employees lived in the second-floor apartment complex.
"That makes it strike even a little bit closer to home. You know, when you do know people that live in a building and they've lost everything," Lechlitner said.
"Fire, in my mind, is probably one of the worst because you literally lose everything."
Wanting to help the displaced families, he’s scrounging up support from the local business community for a pasta dinner at the restaurant next Thursday.
"If there’s opportunities for us to help out, we will," Donna Backer of the North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce told CTV News in an interview.
"We’re always there to help anybody in the business community.”
All of the proceeds will go directly to the residents affected by the fire to help them get back on their feet.
"Despite a building gone, it's still a vibrant place to come to," Lechlitner said.
Flames quickly spread into the roof and despite firefighter’s best efforts, the building couldn’t be saved and had to be demolished.
Because the fire damage to the building was so significant, officials said they won’t be able to determine what caused it to go up in smoke.
The two businesses that were lost are a Lebanese restaurant and a tattoo parlour, with water and smoke damaging the neighbouring nurse practitioner clinic.
The chamber of commerce is urging the community to shop downtown following this disaster.
"It’s unfortunate that people feel like they have to come and support it in times of need. It should be supported all the time. It’s open all the time," Backer said.
The Canadian Red Cross is helping the displaced families with emergency lodging, food, clothing and personal items.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Driver, 18, gets $3,000 ticket, 32 demerit points after speeding on Laval boulevard
A young driver received a hefty fine from Laval police after they say he was driving nearly 100 km/h over the posted speed limit.
Trump confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
Custom baseball card released of Blue Jays fan struck in the face with foul ball
Liz McGuire, the Blue Jays fan who was struck in the face with a 110 m.p.h. foul ball last week, has been pictured on a custom baseball trading card applauding her fandom to the game.
As Canada warms, infectious disease risks spread north
Cases of Lyme disease have now increased more than 1,000 per cent in a decade as the warming climate pushes the boundaries of a range of pathogens and risk factors northward.
Blaine Higgs 'furious' over sexual education presentation
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has shared his anger on social media over a presentation in at least four high schools.
Grayson Murray, two-time PGA Tour winner, dead at 30
Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial.
Why did the French Open cancel a farewell ceremony for Rafael Nadal? And why is he unseeded?
The French tennis federation put off holding a ceremony to celebrate Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros this year, because he has said this might not necessarily be his final appearance at the tournament he has won a record 14 times.
Search underway for missing swimmer on Lake St. Clair
A search is currently underway for a Michigan man who police said jumped into the waters of Lake St. Clair on Saturday afternoon and did not resurface.