Big family holds Buckhorn reunion

‘Tis

the season to attend a reunion. At many of the resorts in our area as well as at many cottages and parks family reunions are taking place. At Scotsman Point last week a family gathered with members from Alaska, Washington State, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Bermuda, P.E.I, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia attending.

The children of William Gordon Stevenson, born and raised in Cobden, Ontario, and Kathleen Sada Gilbertson, born in Guelph, have been without their mother and father for many years. Upon their father’s death their mother had eight children to raise with two already married.

Upon their mother’s death these children decided that they wanted to keep together. As they are spread across the country, it was not an easy thing to accomplish. They started bringing their pasts and presents together in 1980. They have continued every three years since. They have been in resorts in Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia. This year Scotsman Point was picked to host the Original 10.

The Original 10 is the name the original ten children gave themselves. And this year they were all attending! It was the first time ever that all the siblings could attend. They are five brothers and five sisters ranging in age from 59, the youngest sister, to 77, the oldest brother. They were veterinarians, a sales agent, a nurse, a transport dispatcher, a lab technologist, a housewife, an office administrator, an electrician and a sales agency owner. At the reunion, the oldest was a brother- in-law at 79 and a great nephew at the age of 4 months with all ages in between. Of the possible 130 pull off the “Olympics” which included a potatoe sack race, an egg race, crab walk, relay race and, of course, who could forget the water balloon toss.

The mother of this group would be very proud. The mother that instilled the importance of family would see her commitment to that idea fulfilled. The honoring of diversity of interests and ideas with respect and fun happened with Buckhorn providing the backdrop. Three years from now they will be gathering again in Ontario. With the template of this reunion in hand, the next reunion is off to a great start.