Quebec man hopes posters placed around P.E.I. will help locate long-lost half-brother
SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — A Quebec man who has been in search of a long-lost half-brother for 20 years is hoping a brand new poster marketing campaign all through Summerside will assist discover this lacking piece of himself.
When Michel Vilandré first realized he had an older half-brother, mentioned brother would have been almost 40 years outdated.
It has been 20 years since Vildandré, of St-Barthélemy, Quebec, came upon about this beforehand unknown sibling and he’s nonetheless in search of him. Vildandré hopes that some posters positioned round P.E.I. will get the eye of somebody who is aware of one thing.
Within the mid-Nineteen Sixties, Vilandré’s father, Gérald Vilandré, spent half a yr in Prince Edward Island working in building.
Whereas in Summerside, he met a girl named Shirley. A little bit greater than a yr later, after Gérald had returned dwelling, Shirley travelled to Quebec to satisfy with him once more, their new child son in tow.
“The household of (my) father didn’t need Shirley to see him,” mentioned Vilandré. “So, they despatched her again dwelling. They mentioned ‘OK, go. Go wherever you’re from, however we don’t need you right here.’”
Vilandré was born a number of years later and has by no means met his half-brother; it was not even till his father’s dying in 2002 that he was advised about his existence.
“A buddy of (my) father advised (me) after his dying,” mentioned Vilandré. “However he didn’t need to give (me) any info in any respect.”
His aunt additionally knew, and likewise declined to offer any info. Because of this, 20 years later, Vilandré nonetheless has few particulars.
He doesn’t know his brother’s identify, Shirley’s surname, the place she is now or if she is anglophone or francophone.
“(I don’t) know if she was there (in P.E.I.) for work, or dwelling there,” he mentioned.
Nonetheless, simply the data that one other sibling was on the market – along with his identified siblings, a brother and sister – excited him.
“(We) share the identical blood,” he mentioned. “At first, (I) wished to know quite a bit about (my) half-sibling however (I) had no info apart from the identify of the mom.”
Not like a few of his relations, Vilandré’s mom inspired his search, saying his half-brother is “a part of the household.”
He spent the subsequent few years doing on-line sleuthing however received no nearer to discovering his brother.
In early Summer season 2022, Vilandré’s buddy, Chantal Chartrand, took a trip to P.E.I. Whereas within the province, she taped posters round Summerside containing what info Vilandré knew, asking anybody who would possibly know something to achieve out.
Chartrand has been in search of one in all her personal misplaced relations, and empathized with Vilandré’s search.
“It was pure, for me, to assist someone who shares an identical story,” she mentioned. “We’re at all times in search of that lacking a part of us.”
She estimates she made round 100 notes; most are in Summerside, although she caught a number of up in Charlottetown. Within the course of, Chartrand mentioned she attracted some consideration from curious passersby.
“All of the locals had been attempting to listen to the story and attempting to look (for) who may it’s, or the place may she be,” she mentioned. “His father … speaks French, so that they mentioned, oh, possibly it’s on the French facet. They had been making tales about that.”
Vilandré mentioned he was excited by the thought of spreading the phrase round P.E.I., the place his story may probably attain somebody who would possibly acknowledge the names and dates.
“Lastly, one thing concrete occurred,” he mentioned. “The story is getting one step nearer to discovering (my brother).”
“(I) can be actually actually comfortable, (whether or not) the ending is constructive or destructive … If (I discover) my half-brother, it’s going to be, after all, a very joyful second.” – Michel Vilandré
As of late August, although, no person has reached out who is aware of something about Shirley or Vilandré’s sibling.
Even so, Vilandré stays hopeful that sooner or later, he would possibly find his half-brother – no matter in the event that they ever join nearly or face-to-face.
“(I) can be actually actually comfortable, (whether or not) the ending is constructive or destructive,” he mentioned. “If (I discover) my half-brother, it’s going to be, after all, a very joyful second.”
Editor’s be aware: Throughout the interview for this text Michel Vilandré’s responses got in French, his main language, and translated by his buddy, Chantal Chartrand.
Kristin Gardiner is a reporter with the SaltWire Community in Prince Edward Island. @KristinGardiner
