Canadian public donates to families of soldiers killed in last week's terrorist attacks

A special crowdfunding effort across Canada has raised $625,000 Canadian (US$557,000) so far to help the families of two soldiers who were killed in last week's separate terrorist attacks, CBC News reports, and the group hopes to get to C$750,000 by midnight.

The fundraising drive began last week, in the days after last week's shooting on Parliament Hill, perpetrated by a lone radical Islamist convert. Army Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, 24, was ceremonially guarding the National War Memorial when he was shot and killed by the attacker. Cirillo had a 5-year-old son, and organizers say the fund could be used to help pay for the boy's college education.

The crowdfunding drive is also aiding the family of Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent, 53, who was killed in a separate attack earlier that week in the province of Québec, carried out by another radicalized Islamist convert who attacked Vincent and another soldier in a hit-and-run with his car. The assailant was killed during the confrontation.

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The money will be split evenly between the two families. Contributors so far include thousands of individuals, as well as large corporate donations from Royal Bank of Canada, Tim Hortons, and others.