Thursday, November 5, 2015
arrowlakesnews.com • 250-265-3841 • $1.25 • PM40036531 Vol.94 • Issue 44 7 78195
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Radon Aware Month
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A taste of baroque
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Break in at Fauquier golf course GILLIAN TRAINOR Arrow Lakes News
Brothers reunited after nearly six decades Arthur Van der Kroft embraces his brother John. The brothers were reunited after spending nearly 60 years apart. Members of their families set up the surprise reunion for the two when they contacted Love In The Air, a program in Holland which allows loved ones to be reunited. In order for for the event to go through, it had to be kept quiet. Arthur and his wife Lean head back to Holland on Nov. 5. Photo by Jillian Trainor JILLIAN TRAINOR Arrow Lakes News
When John Van der Kroft left Holland in the summer of 1957, he had no idea it would be 58 years until he would see his brother again. At the age of 21, he had just finished his mandatory two-year stint in the military, and decided to immigrate. “I had my choices. I could go to Africa, or New Zealand, or Australia, but I picked Canada,” he said. “I had some relatives in Bowness, Alberta. They had to more or less co-sign for me.” From Bowness, he gradually made his way from Alberta to British Columbia, eventually making it to Nakusp.
He and his brother Arthur tried to keep in contact over the years, but life moves pretty fast. Both men were busy raising their families. While John had immigrated to Canada, Arthur stayed behind in Holland, Working in construction, building high-rises. Gradually, they fell out of contact. Their children however, did not. John’s youngest son, David, and Arthur’s two daughters, Anita and Diana, hatched a plan to reunite the pair. Anita and Diana contacted a group in Holland called Love in the Air. You can make a wish, and the group tries to turn that wish into a reality. “My daughters wrote a letter to ‘Love in the Air’— he came to us, and he asked me ‘I heard
NAKUSP’s 510 Broadway St W, Nakusp, BC (250) 265-3662
you have a brother in Canada, will you see him?’” said Arthur. “I said ‘Of course I will see him.’ He said, ‘Tuesday, go to airplane to Toronto.” From Toronto, Arthur and his wife, Lean, flew to Vancouver. From there, they took a helicopter ride to Nakusp, where they arrived on Oct.16. The way Love in the Air works, is that plans involving a wish have to remain a secret. If anyone spills the beans about what’s going on, the wish is cancelled. John was in for quite a shock. Around one o’clock on Oct. 16, there was a knock on his door. David was there with his wife Dawn, a paramedic continued on page A2
A break in occurred at the Fauquier golf course on Oct. 29. The event happened sometime either in the late night hours of Oct. 28 or the early morning hours of Oct. 29. “Three golf carts were broken into,” said Corporal Jason Burndred of the RCMP. “From what my investigators told me is they wouldn’t have gotten much for fuel.” It is estimated between $10 to $20 worth of gas was stolen, the equivalent of a full tank of gas for one cart. It may not seem like a lot, but there’s a reason for that. “Sometimes if they’re doing this illegally, they’ll get spooked.” said Burndred. There was no other damage, and the RCMP is investigating the incident. If anyone has any leads, but does not want to give their name, they can call Crime Stoppers. The number is 1-800-222-8477. Calls remain anonymous. A person can also visit the Crime Stoppers website and leave an anonymous tip online.
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