(Courtesy: GoFundMe, Maritime Sikh Society Executive)
More than $140,000 has been donated to the family of a young woman who died in a Walmart walk-in oven in Halifax.
In a devastating incident that has left the Halifax community reeling, Gursimran Kaur, a 19-year-old Walmart employee, was found dead in the store’s bakery department walk-in oven on Oct. 19, according to a GoFundMe page.
Kaur had worked alongside her mother at the Walmart on Mumford Road for the past two years.
In the wake of this tragedy, Kaur’s family, alongside the Maritime Sikh Society, launched the GoFundMe to support funeral expenses and aid the family during this horrific time. The fundraiser quickly surpassed its initial goal of $50,000, raising over $140,000.
She was described as a “young, beautiful girl who came to Canada with big dreams.”
Halifax police told reporters earlier in the week that they received a call at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Saturday of a sudden death.
“Mother started panicking as it was unusual for her to switch her phone off during the day. She reached out to the onsite admin for help. As you all know now, her charred remains were found inside the walk in oven in the Bakery after a few hours. Imagine the horror that her mother experienced who herself opened the oven, when someone pointed out to it,” the GoFundMe stated.
The Brandon Gonez Show contacted the Maritime Sikh Society in regards to this incident and in an email statement on Thursday a spokesperson said, “The Maritime Sikh Society is in the process of coordinating the facilitation of visa papers of the immediate family members who reside in India so that they attend the funeral.”
“Additionally, we are actively engaging in fundraising efforts to ensure that the family receives the necessary support during this challenging period. The family is going through the worst traumatic situation, and arrangements for psychological counseling are being provided,” it added.
The Walmart location remains closed as Halifax police continue to investigate.
