SHASHONE TOPHAM MEMORIAL FUNDRAISER

On January 25, 2022 our beloved son Shashone Topham passed away while on a trip to Revelstoke, B.C. from his home in Cottonwood. The shock to his family, friends, associates and the community in which he was born and raised was staggering and heart-rending. Everyone who had the privilege of knowing Shashone over the past 45 years was deeply affected and saddened by his sudden and tragic passing.

Because of the unexpected nature of what occurred Shashone never had the opportunity to prepare for such an event by drawing up a Will. Due to this I am now having to go through all of the legal procedures involved in dealing with Probate wherein his intestate remains and debts and so on must be dealt with.

This procedure is a convoluted, complex legal process that requires either the hiring of a Probate lawyer or having someone with legal experience who is willing and capable of applying to the Supreme Court of British Columbia for a grant of Administration without will annexed in relation to Shashone’s estate.

As Shashone’s birth father I decided to take on this responsibility given my extensive experience dealing with the Supreme Court legal system here in B.C. over the past 10 years. Back in 2015 when my brother David passed away in North Vancouver I was the Executor of his Will and had the experience of looking after all the matters involved with his death from the cremation to the settling of his property. As well, I’m currently the Administrator for another Estate that was left by my late Aunt to a number of her nieces and nephews and have experience there as well in dealing with the various types of issues that arise.

Shashone’s worldly possessions did not include the ownership of any physical property like land or a house or a mobile home. His most valued asset in this regard was his 2014 Ford F150 truck which he used for traveling to work while employed by Barkerville Gold Mines in the Cariboo region of B.C. over the past few years and also for traveling down to Revelstoke on his days off to see his children.

In May of 2021, after a serious life-threatening accident at the mine, Shashone was unable to work and was on medical leave. During that period he moved down to Revelstoke and rented a motel unit in order to be close to his two boys who were living there.

In December of 2021 Shashone returned home to Cottonwood, B.C. He began renovating the old family home with the intention of making it livable again. He planned to start a new life using his extensive skills as a Millwright, Welder and Carpenter in order to be gainful employment in the local area and also be in a position where he could continue to support his children financially and build a new future for himself.

All this said the time and legal requirements involved in administrating an estate can be quite onerous from a financial perspective. Affidavits must be sworn in the Court Registry at $40.00 each. Death certificates and Will searches have fees to be met and when children are involved in the Probate process that entails having to meet the requirements of government bodies such as the Public Guardian and Trustee and the Grant Application Review Services who play a major role in determining the outcome of an application for grant of administration. Everywhere one turns there are fees to be met.

One of the more onerous examples is the case of Shashone’s Ford truck. When he passed away it was towed to a compound in Revelstoke where it remains to the present day. Every day that it sits there costs his estate an additional $40.00 in fees. As I’m editing this campaign once again on June 23, 2022 (back on April 16, 2022 Shashone’s truck had been in the towing company’s yard for 82 days. The company can't release it to anyone unless they have the legal status to act on behalf of Shashone’s estate and to that date the bill for removing the truck already stood at $3,240.00 !) it's now been 150 days that the trucks been in the compound and the bill has risen to $6000.00.

To make matters even worse one of his ex-spouses has filed a Notice of Dispute with the court which means the legal process will be bogged down even further.

I realize, with full understanding, that times are tough for most folks and for that reason there is no expectation for major donations. If those who knew and loved Shashone and those who know me as well are able to contribute to this fund it would be deeply appreciated.

May God bless and keep Shashone in His care and may He also bless and keep everyone who can help out during these tragic time.

Sincerely,

Arthur Topham

Father of the late Shashone Topham