I have been asked by a very good friend of mine for help finding his biological family. Being that he would like at this time to remain anonymous, I am acting as his intermediary and would ask that if anyone at Verdun Connections who might be able to offer any information contact me directly. We would appreciate if everyone who frequents this site could take the time to read this, and respond should they have any information. We both thank you.
"LOOKING FOR MYSELF"
I realize that Verdun Connections is not normally used for this type of search, however I have tried every other possible avenue and have come up empty. I have been searching for my biological family since 1995, a number of years after my adopted parents passed away. I've registered with Parent Finders and a number of other well known search agencies, contacted all of the Quebec Government agencies and official channels, and hired a private investigator to see if he could uncover any information. Finally I tried the legal system, hiring a lawyer to see if we might obtain family medical history information as I had suffered a heart attack without exhibiting any of the normal factors. Each time I was stymied by Quebec's archiac and bureaucratic adobtion laws. While Les Centres Jeunesse de Montreal, the agency which holds all such records confirm they have my file including the names of my biological parents, Quebec law precludes their providing this information to me. This, in spite of the fact that they've confirmed that my biological mother passed away in 1999. Part of a Government program I participated in, did however, provide what is referred to as non-identifying information about my background history. I'm hopeful that it might trigger a thought or a clue as to who my bilogical family might be and possibly a response from someone in the Verdun Connections network. Before I highlight some of that information I want to assure you that mine is not a frivolous search. I am 58 years of age, retired with a terrific family including 3 grandchildren, who fill a big void in my life. I don't intend to impose myself on my biological family, but simply want to let them know I exist and would welcome the opportunity of learning more about my ancestry and heritage. Hodding Carter, a famous American journalist, once said "There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to leave our children. One is roots, and one is wings". My wife of 36 years and I have been successful at giving our children wings. We hope someone can help us give them roots.
Why I've posted this request on Verdun Connections will become evident as you read through the non-indentifying information I referrenced earlier. Here it is:
- I was born on April 25th, 1948 at the Verdun General Hospital at 2:00AM, weithing in at 7lbs., 8 ounces and was admitted to the Youville orphanage on April 28, 1948.
- My mother was 24 years old, weighed 125 pounds and was 5'3" tall with chestnut hair and hazel eyes.
- She was English Canadian and Protestant.
- She was a waitress.
- She was pretty, pleasant and respectful. She was also sympathetic and gentle, and liked dancing, movies and sports.
- My mother had 4 brothers and 3 sisters.
-My mother's father and mother were 59 and 50 years of age respectively, and he was a carpenter.
-Both were aware of my mother's pregnancy and my mother apparently had a good relationship with her family.
- My father was 26 years old, weighed 145 pounds and was 5'7" tall with blond hair and blue eyes.
- He was also single, English Canadian and Protestant.
- He was a sailor, apparently good looking and liked to travel.
- It is not known whether he was informed of my mother's pregnancy or of my birth.
There is a certain irony to my being born in Verdun in that at the age of 17 I moved to Verdun, graduated from Verdun Catholic High School and remained in Verdun until age 20, when we moved to LaSalle. During that short timeframe I made numerous good friends in Verdun, many of whom I still see regularly. In fact, the nickname of "Wally" (after Brother Paul at VCHS) was given to me by Brian Boyle. Having spent those 3 years in Verdun and graduating from VCHS, I often wonder if I might have ever crossed paths with any members of my biological family before.
Thank you for taking the time to read this rather long winded "looking for" and I truly hope to hear from someone who may have some/any information relative to my biological family.
Firstave2
.........it's from a while back,but I thought it would be interesting:........
.......wasn't that a treat..........
hahahaha
Turkeys will thaw in the morning, then warm in the oven to an afternoon high near 190F. The kitchen will turn hot and humid, and if you bother the cook, be ready for a severe squall or cold shoulder. 
During the late afternoon and evening, the cold front of a knife will slice through the turkey, causing an accumulation of one to two inches on plates. Mashed potatoes will drift across one side while cranberry sauce creates slippery spots on the other. Please pass the gravy. 
A weight watch and indigestion warning have been issued for the entire area, with increased stuffiness around the beltway. During the evening, the turkey will diminish and taper off to leftovers, dropping to a low of 34F in the refrigerator. 
Looking ahead to Friday and Saturday, high pressure to eat sandwiches will be established. Flurries of leftovers can be expected both days with a 50 percent chance of scattered soup late in the day. We expect a warming trend where soup develops.
