On November 1, 2000, The Vision ran a story about a statue of St. Bernadette, which had been taken from a private grotto owned by the Bourgeault Family of Hanmer. The statue was consecrated and had significant sentimental value to the family. In the story we asked our readers to be on the look-out for the statue and contact us if they spotted it.  Remarkably, only a single day after the story was published, the statue was returned, undamaged and is now in its rightful place in the grotto.

Apparently, two young adults, who asked to remain anonymous, had found the statue in the bush area around Farmdale. They had brought the statue home and put it in their family garage. When they read the story in The Vision, they realized that the statue belonged to the Bourgeault Family and returned it immediately.

Mary Claire Bourgeault was ecstatic when the two young persons appeared at her doorway. While the family held out hope for the return of the precious figure, there was a feeling in the back of her mind that she may never again see the statue which was so very dear to her mother, Bella, who had made Marie-Claire promise to take care of the grotto before her death.

It  matters not that we may never know the exact details surrounding the taking of the statue. What does matter is that St. Bernadette once again adorns the grotto which is seen by thousands of residents every day as they drive by the Hwy 69N location next to Lougheed’s Funeral Home in Hanmer.

To the young man and woman who returned the statue, we all thank you for your honesty in helping to restore what is considered by many to be a landmark of this community. To the people who took the statue in the first place, we ask that you think seriously about the hurt you may be causing innocent people next time you consider doing something like this again.