Wife of Tim Bosma sets up charity to help grieving families

TORONTO – The wife of Tim Bosma has established a charity called “Tim’s Tribute” aimed at aiding the families of homicide victims.

Bosma disappeared from his Ancaster home on May 6 after meeting two men – believed to be Dellen Millard and Mark Smich – who allegedly met him to test drive his truck that he was advertising online.

He was missing for eight days before being found on a Waterloo property owned by Millard.

“Eight days after Tim disappeared, the detective came to my home to tell me that my partner in life and our little girl’s daddy was dead; his body burned. My world collapsed,” Sharlene Bosma, Tim’s widow, said in a statement.

In tribute to her murdered husband, Sharlene Bosma is hoping to help families in similar situations across Canada. Much of the money being used to fund the charity was donated to a trust fund in the days and weeks following Bosma’s murder.

Related: A timeline of the Tim Bosma case. 

“For now, we will focus on providing financial assistance and support for families in the Hamilton-Wentworth Area. It is our hope that we will eventually be able to expand beyond this region,” she said in a press release issued on Thursday.  “For the first time in almost three months, I have hope.”

The charity is focusing on helping families with needs immediately after the incident and during trial. According to the press release issued by Sharlene, some of the immediate needs include assisting with the costs of burial or assisting a grieving family by buying groceries.  And some of the trial needs she identifies include covering lost wages while family members attend trial, transportation costs, parking and other expenses.

“Tim’s Tribute” is not yet a registered charity but until it becomes official, Christian Stewardship Services, will be accepting donations on its behalf.

The announcement of “Tim’s Tribute” comes on the same day that both Smich and Millard appear in court.  Millard, who is charged with first degree murder, made a brief appearance in a Hamilton courtroom Thursday morning. He’s scheduled to appear in court again on September 12.

Smich, who also faces a first degree murder charge, is expected to appear in court Thursday afternoon.