How Genevieve's heart got broken this morning

SooToday.com has received the following letter from a loyal reader who has a strong personal connection with the Winnie the Pooh plaque stolen in White River:

************************* To whom it may concern, I just finished reading the news on SooToday.com about the Winnie the Pooh plaque [shown] being stolen from the statue location in White River and I am compelled to respond as my heart is simply broken.

I am currently a citizen of Sault Ste. Marie, but I was born and raised in White River.

This plaque represents a lot and this is why.

Back in 1997, I was a part of the Grade 8 class that was entirely, more than fortunate enough, to go to London, England, to deliver an exact replica of the plaque that has been reported stolen.

Our purpose and our mission was to deliver the true and factual story of the bear's journey, from our hometown of White River, Ontario to London, England, where the bear was made famous across the world. From there, if anyone does not know, the bear was purchased by Captain Harry Colbourne (from Winnipeg, hence the name Winnie).

Captain Harry Colbourne was soon enlisted to head overseas with the army, and could not bring his bear with him.

He therefore, donated the bear to the London Zoo in London, England, where A.A. Milne brought his son, Christopher Robin, to see the bear regularly.

It was A.A. Milne and E.H. Shephard who wrote and illustrated the famous and loved stories of the charming bear who originated in our local area, at a train station in White River.

As a part of the group of young entrepreneurs who headed to London, England back in May 1997, I felt so lucky to have that opportunity, so proud of my little hometown, who helped our class of 15 students, along with five chaperones and community representatives, bring this charming story to a land, that to a 13-year-old, felt entirely unreachable.

As you can see, this simple plaque, not only represents the community's story of the beloved bear, but it represents the chance in a lifetime, 15 Grade 8 students from a small town up north, had.

A chance that I reflect on so often, that I remember and cherish and will do so the rest of my life through.

A chance that I, and many others, likely would not have had.

To the individual who stole the plaque: to you, it may have been a prank; to you, it may mean nothing but a silly joke, but to a community and to a number of students who had this opportunity, it represents so much more. This year, during the 22nd Annual Winnie the Pooh Festival in White River, the community of White River, will not only be celebrating our history with Winnie, but we will be celebrating the 2010 Friendship Reunion. People from far and wide are planning to get together in White River, after years of not seeing each other!

I am personally very excited to attend this event, as I have heard from many others who are too. Please, return this statue to our community.

Please, leave it somewhere anonymously, if you need to, so that this statue may be returned to a place where many can read it and many can get to know the history of a bear that started in a place where I and many others did. A place I am proud to share with Winnie, and to call home. Sincerely (and hopeful),

- Genevieve Lachapelle

*************************