Bakery launches ‘Bailey’s Day’ to raise funds for family of murdered B.C. mother

A local business owner who knew Bailey McCourt has organized a fundraiser to raise money for her family and awareness about victims of domestic violence.

In 2022, bride-to-be Bailey McCourt chose a bakery called Cupcasions in Kelowna, B.C., to make her wedding cake and cupcakes.

“She was just a very bright light, amazing smile, and a very proud mama,” said Cupcasions owner Libbie Philips. “She was just really happy to be planning her special day.”

On Friday July 4, Philips learned a woman had died after allegedly being attacked by a man with a hammer in a parking lot just blocks from the bakery.

• Related: Survivor of hammer attack that killed B.C. mom calling for change

“I stopped dead in my tracks when I got to the name of the victim, and my husband looked at me and he said, ‘Do you know her?’ And I said ‘We did her wedding. We do her kids cupcakes’,” said Philips.

James Plover, the man McCourt had married in 2022 and the father of her youngest daughter, has been charged with the second-degree murder of his 32-year-old estranged wife. That same day Plover had been convicted on four counts in a domestic violence case.

“I started to cry,” said Philips. “And then I just decided that creating Bailey’s Day was what I needed to do.”

On Tuesday, every dollar customers spend at Cupcasions will be donated to Bailey McCourt’s family. In the days since the announcement other Kelowna businesses have also jumped on board, ordering cupcakes that they will sell by donation.

“At this point, I think we have six different veterinary clinics, we have a couple of lawyers offices that are also have jumped in. I have lots of amazing corporate clients that I deal with all the time and I’ve been getting phone calls from them for pre-ordering,” said Philips.

She hopes Bailey’s Day will also shine a light on victims of domestic violence.

“The system definitely failed Bailey. It fails most victims of violence, and something’s got to change,” said Philips.

“The one thing that the family said to me when I was speaking to them is that they pray that Bailey’s death is not in vain, that we can make some change if we all just make our voices heard.”