St. Albert students heading to space camp after all

EDMONTON – After numerous community donations and a huge fundraising effort, a group of St. Albert students will be heading to space camp.

In March, the Nova Scotia-based tour company arranging the trip to a Montreal space camp went out of business, taking with it their $228,000 deposit.

READ MORE: Students’ dream trip to space camp in jeopardy after travel company seemingly vanishes

Since then, the families have been tirelessly fundraising the make the trip happen. And on Wednesday afternoon, the group announced their trip had been saved.

“I think it’s pretty amazing,” said Grade 5 student Abby Kemp. “The parents have been working so hard and so have the kids.”

“Mission accomplished… the trip is a go. They can start packing,” added her mother, Heather Kemp. “Air Canada has been paid in full and our Global Tourism has been paid 50 per cent, and the next payment is due next week and we have those funds in the bank.”

As a result, 71 children and 22 chaperones will be heading on their trip, as planned, on April 26.

The group has a silent auction set for this Saturday, which they say will go on as planned. However, the money raised in the auction will go back to a local charity.