Caledonia rallies around family

By Dana Brown
The Hamilton Spectator
CALEDONIA (Dec 26, 2006)

Area residents wanted to make sure a teen whose house was recently trashed had a Merry Christmas.

So they opened their wallets and donated more than $2,000 to help buy a new bass guitar and amplifier for Dax Chatwell, 15, who received the new equipment in a surprise presentation on the weekend.

"We're a small town and a small town has that ... want to help those who live in the town," said fundraising organizer Michelle, a Caledonia resident who asked that her last name not be used.

The house Dana Chatwell, Dave Brown and Dax live in was severely damaged on Dec. 17. Furniture was overthrown, mirrors were smashed and the walls were spray-painted with hate messages. The family has not been staying in the house since the incident happened.

Although the family has insurance, Michelle and her daughter Samantha, 14, realized the money wouldn't be coming until after the holidays and wanted to make sure Dax had something special for Christmas.

So they started raising money the day after the house was ruined and asked everyone they knew for a toonie. When they were done, the pair has collected $2,025.

Caledonia Music Centre allowed the duo to purchase a Warwick bass and amplifier at cost for $1,020. They were then able to take the reminder of the money and buy gift certificates at local stores for Dana and Dave for Christmas.

Dana said her son was thrilled to get the guitar and managed to play around with it a little despite being hit with a bad case of the flu.

"When he got it, he seemed to brighten up a lot," she said, adding that the bass was beside him while he was taking a nap.

She said although she knew the guitar was coming for Dax, she had no idea she and Dave would be getting gifts as well and it was just another example of the town pulling together during a difficult time.

Dana and Dave came home to find their house, located just steps from the disputed former Douglas Creek Estates, destroyed the day after a high-profile protest rally in Caledonia where two men were arrested for breach of peace. Dana has heard speculation around town the home was trashed with the blessing of its owners, but she said that's nonsense.

"I've grown up in that house all my life and a lot of my stuff were antiques from my mother," she said.

A spokesperson for Six Nations said they had nothing to do with the incident.

OPP said on Saturday the investigation into the destruction of the Chatwell/Brown home is ongoing, but would not release any further details. They have not identified any suspects in the case.