B10 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, Seplember 5, 2001

Siblings reunite after 40 years

Denise Fisher

at city hall

provided a vital search clue

A BROTHER and sister have reunited 40 years after they lost touch with each other.

About three months ago, Jim Regin from Darwin, Australia, was visiting a friend. Over a conversa- tion, Jim mentioned that he had a sister living in Terrace, B.C., Canada.

So his friend went on his computer and punched in, “Terrace, British Co- lumbia,” and found an email address for Terrace’s city hall.

Denise Fisher, director of administration for the city, received the first email asking if a Tilly Ro- ders lived in Terrace.

Denise emailed back, saying there was a John Roders, a photographer, living here,

——Jim. remembered that Tilly had a son John.

So, within three hours of the first message to city hall, John had phoned his uncle Jim in Australia, wondering, “When are you coming for a visit?”

For the last month, Tilly and Jim have been trying to catch up on all the lost time.

They are almost like strangers, Jim said, adding lots of water has gone under the bridge.

Tilly and her brother Jim were bom in London, England; Tilly in 1909 and Jim in 1923.

There were eight child- ren in the family. All were involved in the Second World War in some way or another.

Tilly and her sister Nora worked in an ammunition factory from 1939 to 1946.

Jim and his brother John joined the Merchant Mar- ines and went to sea.

In 1961, Tilly emigrated to Canada with her two children, John and Karen, landing in Montreal with only $20 in her pocket.

They boarded a train to Nelson, B.C., eating only sandwiches and drinking water from the bathroom tap.

After a year in Nelson, Tilly made the move to Terrace, where her sister Nora Bennett was living.

It was at this time that Jim and his wife Dorothy made a trip to Canada and came to Terrace to visit Tilly.

Over the last 40 years, they somehow lost touch with each other.

After the war and when their mother had died, all the children drifted away. Four emigrated to Canada; Tilly and Nora to Terrace, and John and Nellie to Al- berta.

Jim moved to Australia and spent most of his life at sea.

When he was dis- charged from the navy, he joined the American army transport service and worked on sailing ships until he retired. .

In Terrace, Tilly worked at Terraceview Lodge as a psychiatric aide until her retirement in 1974.

When they moved into the Willows Apartment on Feb. 1, 1976, a month after the 40-unit

not yet completed.

building - opened. The building was

YVONNE MOEN

Tilly Roders, the second person to move in, named the apartments The Wil- lows because at the time there were beautiful wil- low trees surrounding the building.

If you haven’t yet read Shades of Leroy Street by Tilly Roders, which is about life in a London slum after the Second World War, maybe you should see about getting a copy.

Tilly is now working on her second book - about her life in Canada after she left England.

Her brother Jim is also a writer. He is working on a book titled, Celestial Na- vigation.

Both Tilly and Jim said

en

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JIM REGIN and his big sister Tilly Roders tried catching up on the past 40

years while they were briefly reunited in Terrace.

their visit has been great and that it’s wonderful to unite again.

J had the opportunity to meet Jim. He had gone to

city hall to meet and shake hands with Denise Fisher, to say thank you for her help. in connecting him with his sister Tilly

again.

Jim left Terrace on Aug. 18 to fly back home to Au- Stralia. He promised not to wait another 40 years.

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Save my job Te Tm i in jail!

Sam finished his presentation with a flourish.

His boss beamed. “Superb job, We can all.

lear from Sam's dedication."

Suddenly, tia boss’ secretary burst into the boardroom. “I’m sorry, sir, | couldn't stop them...” .

Two police officers stormed in, “We have a warrant for Sam Meich’s arrest.”

The boss was shocked. “This must be a mistake.”

Sam collapsed into his chair. “It's my ex...she's out to get me....”

The other employees gawked.

4 “This meeting is over.” The boss sent them off.

Sam tried to explain to his boss. “She threatened to have charges lald...just to get back at me. We're going through a bitter divorea. | swear, | never laid a finger on her.”

“Save it for the judge,” the cops said as they dragged him away.

The boss reassured.Sam, ‘I'll call my lawyer and we'll meet you at the station. Don't worry, | won't let you down.”

nem was charged with assaulting his ex wife

The boss remained supportive. He called a meeting with all the employees.

“Sam is going through a rough time. He needs all our support. | don't want to hear any gossip,”

Months later, Sam was convicted of the charge and received a nine month sentence.

He pleaded with his boss. “! swear, | dic nothing wrong. Please keep my job. Otherwise my whole life will be ruined. |" have nothing!”

“Don’t worry, Sam. I'll do everything in my power.”

; A) ASED ONACTUAE -COUET.

VR)

TEIN

AY CLAENE GEANS

For the first months of his sentence, the boss let Sam use all the unpaid leave he had collected.

Once that was used up, Sam called his boss from prison in desperation. “I need an unpaid leave of absence."

“lll talk to the president,” the boss promised.

But the president was adamant. “We can't accommodate jailbirds.”

Sony 's a fine worker.”

The boss called Sam to tell him the news. “I'm so sorry, You're fired.”

Sam just Jet the phone dangle in his fingers.

Distressed, he decided to sua the company.

In court, Sam argued firmly. “Your Honour, an employer has no right to fire a person for being convicted of a crime that Is unrelated to the job,”

The company fought back. “Your Honour, we never discriminated against Sam because of his conviction. We went out of our way to halp him. He was fired because he was unable to come to work. Period. Surely, that's reasonable,

Was Sam wrongly fired? Youl Be the Judge Then look below for the decision.

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VOU! BE THE JUDGE - DECISION: “Sam's firing was justified,” held Judge Lyn. “The law protects people from belng fired based on the stigma of thelr conviction. But it’s not meant to guarantee that people jalled for crimes can keep their jobs even though they’re unable to show up for work.”

Today's column is based on a case from British Columbia. If you have a simllar problem, please consult Wright & Mardirns in Trace B.C. We are proud to bring you some of the current legal issues fram across the country for discussion and debate, To provide com Ing efttertainment, we have fictionalized the names, the characters and the scenarios In the case. Any. resemblance to real people purely cotacidental. In the interest of clarity and brevity, the legal issues in the case have been greatly reduced and simplified, Cia Bernsteli is a lawyer and nationally syndicated columnist. Copyright 2001 Haika Enterprises, C28-4

e

help!

TERRACE YOUTH SOCCER ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL GERAL METNG

Christie Park Club Hut Wednesday, Sept. 19 at 7:30 p.m.

Everyone Welcome.

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etc Tanai [ City of Terrace | Reglonal District of Kitimat-Stikine | ‘Transltinfo G35*2666 ‘waive blgonllria. ca®