Dear friends, we are blessed to have you there
You have woven us a blanket made of loving care
We felt warm and safe beneath it in our time of need
You have wrapped us in the real security--of community
(from song You Have Woven Us A Blanket © 2002 Remy Rodden)

About a year ago, our family was involved in a motor vehicle accident which could have had tragic consequences. Instead, it initiated a excellent demonstration of the extraordinary spirit of community we share in the North. We would like to remind everyone of this incredible story, and honour here the people who helped...

On December 14, 2001,the vehicle we were driving slammed into a truck parked at the side of the road near Fort Nelson. Miraculously, our three children were relatively unharmed. But both their parents had to be medi-vaced to Grand Prairie for attention to broken bones and eye injuries. What to do with the kids?

Recognizing our predicament, the X-ray technician at the Fort Nelson hospital immediately offered to shelter our three boys "for as long as they need". Incredible! especially considering the busy time of year, and that she is a single mom with two young children of her own.

It appeared we would be in Grand Prairie for a week or more. We contacted friends in Whitehorse to see if they could find some way to get the boys back home. After exploring many options, the community network responded with an unexpected alternative: the RCMP offered to fly down and rescue our kids.

Once back, the boys were well cared for by a host of volunteers. Meals, financial contributions and offers of help came pouring in. Friends threw a party and arranged gifts for our youngest to celebrate his third birthday during this time.

Meanwhile, the adults in the family were also well treated. News travelling through the community network led to hospital visits and assistance from former Yukoners now living in Grand Prairie. Alerted by Yukon friends of our situation, they came by immediately to see how they could help. On our way home we were greeted in Vancouver by a friend of a Yukoner who had called him on our behalf. Air Canada staff were also excellent in caring for us at a busy time of year.

Pushing hard to get home for Christmas, we parents arrived on the 24th to find a fully-decorated tree, and many donated meals for the holiday season. It was incredibly heartwarming to be reunited with our children after such an ordeal. We also discovered that a "Christmas angel" had moved in, giving up her vacation to help us in our first weeks back in the Yukon.

Many called or visited, and offered gifts, rides and other assistance. The scrumptious meals prepared for us really helped us immensely in the early days. Financial donations have helped us cover extra costs and losses.

We were truly overwhelmed and humbled by this whole experience, and of course incredibly grateful for all this loving attention.Thank you all. You gave our kids the best possible Christmas gift: to show them what community spirit is all about.

There are too many individuals to specifically credit here but a few deserve special mention: Josie Kortevich and children in Fort Nelson; the Langills in Grand Prairie; the Tuzlak family (Alpine Bakery) for support and loan of precious items; David Petkovich for coordinating so much of the rescue effort, and the Korn/Egli family for taking care of the boys; Sylvie Marcotte for getting us through the first weeks; Don Bishop and others in the RCMP for flying our boys back to the Yukon; and generous colleagues at the Environment Yukon and staff at Yukon Housing for the firewood and donations to our family's Christmas celebration. We parents are particularly proud of Niko, Nathaniel and Miguel for their fortitude during such trying times.

We live in a wonderfully caring community and we should celebrate it. We are planning an open house on Sunday December 15. Please, if you were a part of this all, and haven't yet heard from us, please give us a call at 333-1105 for details, or send us an e-mail openhouse@roddenbourque.com. We want you to be there!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all in this wonderful place we call home...

Remy Rodden, Marlynn Bourque, and Niko, Miguel and Nathaniel
Hamlet of Mount Lorne