Through a fundraising campaign, thousands of dollars have been raised for the family of Ferdinand “Fred” Mejilla, a Filipino chiropractor who was killed in Ontario last March.
A total of $55,017 was donated, and the fundraising campaign is over.
Mejilla was a Burlington chiropractor who died after a shooting at his clinic. He left behind five children.
Mejilla is remembered by patients and colleagues as a warm and loving person, whose generosity shone through in his practice.
Mejilla, 50, died in hospital on March 17, a day after he was shot.
The shooter — 44-year-old David Williamson — shot himself in an apparent murder-suicide case. Williamson died in hospital on March 20.
Williamson, a one-time patient of the chiropractor, suffered what is believed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.
Williamson’s wife, Shawna Williamson, worked as one of two office staff at the Mejilla Family Chiropractic Clinic.
Pete Angerilli, another Burlington chiropractor, first met Mejilla when he delivered an inspiring guest lecture to his class at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College.
The two reconnected when both had clinics in the area and, for a time, would offer each other adjustments.
Angerilli recalled how inspiring it was to hear Mejilla’s excitement as he relayed stories from his practice to the students about how they would be able to help people one day.
“For some chiropractors, it’s a job,” he said. “But for a lot of us, helping people is really a passion.
While Mejilla’s dedication to his work was unwavering, his commitment to his family was his top priority, said Mike Schultz, a Burlington chiropractor whose Plains Road East office Mejilla started working in seven years ago.
He recalled Mejilla, a man of faith, telling him about the time he cancelled all of his afternoon appointments to take his five children out to a movie.
“I thought it was just crazy, but it’s family first,” Schultz said.
Police have not commented on a possible motive for the shooting.
A blog post written by Mejilla prior to his death said he had a passion for healthy living and “wanted to help people feel and be at their best.” He added that one of his “greatest joys” was seeing his patients’ quality of life improve from his treatment.
According to the College of Chiropractors of Ontario, Mejilla was in good standing and had no disciplinary proceedings, suspensions or negligence and malpractice findings to his name.