Community rallies to build Cape Breton goat farm destroyed by fire
A popular Nova Scotia goat farm on the Cabot Trail that was destroyed in a fire is set to be rebuilt just in time for the busy tourist season.
The Groovy Goat lost all of its animals in the blaze, but community members have been stepping up to help the facility rise again.
The farm went up in flames five months ago, an event the Costelo family will never forget.
"It's still devastating and it was a lot to process for sure. We lost so much at the time," says co-owner Shannon Costelo.
Nearly two dozen goats, along with several horses, all perished in the fire.
Ryan Costelo is not only part owner of the farm, he is also the fire chief in Ingonish Beach, meaning he had to help put out the flames at his own property.
"We miss our goats, we really do. Our bathroom window upstairs looks over where the barn was, and every day looking out there, we miss them and look forward to them coming back," says Ryan Costelo.
With help from community members, the family is moving forward and will soon rebuild their barn, as some of the new animals are already on their way.
"We actually ordered our goats, so things are coming together really quickly now. They're being shipped from Saskatchewan and because of the support, those goats are sponsored by other people, which is amazing," says Ryan Costelo.
Volunteers and community members will come together July 23 to 26 to help rebuild the structure.
The family says they bought t-shirts and hard hats for everyone. Restaurants are supplying meals and the rebuild will be a team and community effort, just in time for the tourism season.
"Our business - partly because of COVID, but also because we don't have the petting farm experience - we've been a lot slower than usual," says Ryan Costelo.
"We don't have the goats and the animals to draw people to our business."
The Costelos are hoping to open a new chapter, but admit it will be an emotional weekend for everyone.
"Shannon says she thinks it's just going to be a day of crying for her. I'll be too busy to think about it until it's over," says Ryan Costelo.
Coming together as a community, one piece of lumber at a time.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.