Communi Sidney sister was a surprise gift Ron Arnett of Chilliwack received an unusual gift for Christ- mas this year — a sister he never knew he had. On Sunday, he came to Sidney to meet his new sister, Linda Evans, for the first ume. “Tm elated,” he said, although he admitted being shocked when he was advised by the adoption reunion registry on Dec. 7 that he had a sister. He and Linda spoke on the phone for the first time on Dec. 8. “J had absolutely no idea. I didn’t know,” Ron said. In 1948 Ron Amett was four years old — too young to realize that his mother had been pregnant, gone to hospital late in October and returned home without a child. Already struggling to raise three children as a single parent, she put her newborn twins up for adop- tion. The twins, Linda and Edward, were adopted by Victoria and David Bathie of Vancouver five days after birth. And although Linda describes her adoptive parents as “wonder- ful”, she also felt there was a missing piece in her life. In 1986 she wrote the Ministry of Social Services seeking back- ground information on her birth family. A year later, in 1987, she received a reply advising her that she had a brother and two sisters — but refusing any additional information. “Te-teally made me angry lo know that clerks in that office knew about my family but I, as an adult, could not know,” she said. Although Linda did not know it at the time, both of her sisters were alive in 1987. By the end of 1991, both had died. = ‘It really made me angry to know that clerks in that office knew about my farnily but I, as an adult, could not know’ “T missed meeting my sisters,” Linda said. The original 1987 report on Linda’s birth family explained that her mother had placed the twins up for adoption in the hope that they would have a better life than she could provide. Dupont _ GRAY CONDO RESALES ‘TOWNHOUSES NEW PROJECTS | Be one step ahead and get on my list for BI up to date info. on these rare properties. INRS PROPERTIES 50.517 Sen Ron said the three children in Linda’s birth family were brought up by their mother, helped by her parents. Linda came closer to finding her birth family in 1991 with changes in provincial law and the establish- ment of the B.C. Adoption Reun- ion Registry. Although Linda registered with the program, the.demand on the registry was overwhelming. Finally, early this month she received the information reuniting her with her brother. On Sunday, she met her brother Ron and sister-in-law Donna. Ron and Donna Amett met their brother-in-law Len Evans. Together, they studied photo- Do the right thing 9711 - 5th St., Sidney 655-1555 Shift your shopping _- = ALO high gear BAR ENDS Giant Onza Copies Dew COMPUTORS Vetta C-10 Various Colours $ 90 LIGHTS 38. Cat Eye HL500 negS24.% SALES18.% VISTALITE Flashing Tail Light Rog 24.2 SALE‘18.°° graphs, noting family resem- blances such as the dramatic simi- larity between Linda’s twin brother and Ron’s son. The reunion has resolved some of Linda’s curiosity about her birth family. “There was always something missing — the missing link,” she said. Like many people who were adopted, Linda has frequently studied strangers’ faces, wonder- ing if they might be related. — Now she can stop searching. ON Ze ews : ©V9 FLINT MOTORS LTD. "9% Esso Full Service Dealer GENERAL AUTOMOTIVE REPAIRS MERRY CHRISTMAS § | Thank you for your. patronage in 1992, — By @We are looking forward to serving you in 1993.@ 2526 BEVAN AVE.(Corner of ist & Bevan) —__ SIDNEY 656-0144 “Check out our Great Serv. SOR TheReview Wednesday, December 23, 1992 = Ag LONG-LOST SIBLINGS discovered each other just before Christmas. Ron Amett came from Chilliw- ack to Sidney Sunday to meet his sister Linda Evans, who started a search for her birih relatives in 1986. Evans and her twin brother were adopted five days after they born on Oct. 28, 1948. Viclorian Oi rd vonte KK HERITAGE RESTORATIONS RENOVATION CEHOPANE We fabricate & install direct RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL For a firm quote 384-0337 Wishes to announce the relocation of his Practice of Dentistry to Suite 212-2506 Beacon Ave. in the Landmark Building *Extended Hours Participant in the “First Dental Visit” A P Available Program, Ministry of Health DR. HAROLD PRUSSIN eS 655-4244 Free Consultation for Children under 3 *UPHOLSTERY * ANTIQUES | 6655 TRUDEAU TERRACE BRENTWOOD BAY, B.C. E: f eo e @ ic ® * DRAPERIES * ETC. FROM EDWARD AND ISABEL 8 AND STAFF = =——sYJ