A life-changing project to renovate the home of a Surrey family devastated by a deadly car crash is chronicled in a new episode of a “Room Makeover” web series.
The Reimer house in Fraser Heights was renovated after friends nominated the family for work paid for by Square One insurance company, in partnership with Grapevine Designs and others.
The renovation project, completed more than a year ago, is now showcased on Youtube in the first of four parts.
The Reimer family was initially nominated for a 48-hour makeover on the web series, but with “an unprecedented outpouring of support from people wanting to help them,” the single-room makeover became a three-month, multi-room project,” explains an intro to the 16-minute video.
Chris and Jodi Reimer lost their teen son, Caleb, on Aug. 21, 2021, in an early-morning car crash that also claimed the lives of hockey-playing friends Parker Magnuson and Ronin Sharma.
Afterward, the parents, along with daughter Shaye, weren’t sure they could stay living in Fraser Heights due to the emotional toll of the car crash, which happened on 104 Avenue, near Highway 1.
“There’s a little bit of pain associated with this area, but we have such an amazing community here, we need to learn how to kind of go forward with the new look of our family,” Jodi says in the web episode.
“In kind of recreating the space,” Chris adds, “it will give us something new that we can move forward with. Having this renovation feels like a win to us. We move forward and we don’t forget the past.”
The video starts with the story of how Caleb was on a path to a career in hockey when his life was cut short by the car crash.
Lisa Moody, principal designer with Grapevine Designs, knows the Reimers from school and hockey games involving their sons.
“This project was one of the most difficult and most rewarding projects I’ve ever worked on,” Moody told the Now-Leader.
“When I suggested to Square One that we try to renovate the whole main floor, I didn’t really realize what I was getting myself into,” she added. “It was just going to be really hard to do one room, like the other episodes we have done. Which room do we choose? And do I design it to coordinate with the other rooms? All the rooms were in such need of an overhaul.
“What I ended up taking on was finding the sponsors to help undertake such a project,” Moody explained. “I was sick with worry that the Reimer would be left with a large bill at the end. When all was said and done it was a $270,000 project and Jodi and Chris chipped in $60,000.”
The “Room Makeover” project was so big that it was split into four parts for the web series. The whole main floor was renovated with the help of many generous companies and friends, Moody noted.
“They’re a phenomenal family that has had a very tough time,” Moody said.
“The greatest reward was the friendship I developed with Jodi and Chris. They are now two of our dearest friends. Square One are super great to work with and definitely were generous.”
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