Hide Article Text (OCR)
^ 0 THE SELKIRK JOURNAL Monday February 11, 2002-BY JEFF SOLMUNDSONelkirk resident Joe Smithdidn’t show it but he wasnervous when his son knocked on his dooi|*xl:^'^pSHe had no idea what kind of man was on his doorstep or evenwhat he looked like.£After the door slowly opened there was shock, recognition and a lot of emotion. A father and son were reunited after nearly half a century. ■’VSV V«- ■ *■ i‘They embraced, cried, and it was a wonderful day. It was very emotional for all of us,” said Joe’swife LoisAfter being separated 47 years a small coincidence brought together Joe Smith and his long-lost son Brian TaiL ^ r?1 -Joe was just a 15-year-old boy with a summer job in Chatfield, near Fisher Branch, when he had ababy with a 15-year-old local girl. It was understandably a scandal in those days and Joe last saw his son when he was just hours old.Joe said he held his son once, was told by family not to come back, and soon left town. But he said he never forgot.“I had no idea if I would ever see him again. But he was always in the back of my mind,” he said.Joe eventually met Lois and she helped him search for his son now and then over the years.‘‘We met and married in 1970. He told me about this baby and I said let’s go find him,” said Lois.Brian, always curious about his father, was raised in Chatfield and Winnipeg. He later lived in Edmonton for 20 years and settledin Steinbach in 1992.Brian said he asked about his father and searched for hints but without success. “I didn’t even know if he was alive. No clue,” he said.Then about two months ago fate intervened in the form of Marie Johnson and her daughter. Marie is a cousin of Brian’s mother and was aware of the story. Her daughter works at Woodmill Homes.where Joe and Lois live. Talking one day Joe mentioned Chatfield and the son that was bom there.Marie’s daughter realized she knew who his son was and she and her mother passed Joe’s phone number on to Brian.Brian waited a month to make- . *t iLois, with photo from a reunion thathe never had any doubt he wouldcall. ’ lt;.• . . .“I had to do it. 1 had to see what he looked like and see what he was like, what he did,” said Brian.So it was a recent weekend Brian, who celebrates his 48th birthday May 1, brought himself and his family to be introduced to his biological father. His wife Joan, four-year-old Breanna, and infant daughter Ashley waited in the driveway a few moments as Brian knocked on his father’s door. \ v“This is usually something you see on said Joan.Lois said the two men just stooda moment, both taken aback by theresemblance between them. Theypokethat daunting phone call but said • wenl back out to Set his family*The visit brought out questions and answers, and old photo albums, and overnight Joe and Lois went from having eightgrandchildren to 10.Joe and Brian, and their wives,were immediately struck by the similarities between father and son. Besides shared mannerisms both play guitar, enjoy carpentry, and are men of few words.Joe and Lois recently went to Steinbach to see Brian’s home and both families say they’ve discovered a connection they want tonurture. r.‘ ' ' s' ’“We look forward to getting to know them a lot better,” said Joan.“When (Brian) went to leave he clung to his dad. We’re keeping in touch now. They're added to our family,” said Lois. • -Selkirk with his family to meet his father.made
Newspaper Details
Selkirk Journal
Selkirk, Manitoba, CA
Mon, Feb 11, 2002
Page 10
Full Page
Clipped by
Diane W.
CA 04 Jan 2023
Other Publications Near Selkirk, Manitoba
Selkirk Record
Selkirk Weekly Record
Selkirk Record and Canadian Fishing Gazette
Selkirk Enterprise
Selkirk Journal
