The idea was first brought to my attention during my holiday last winter: we were overdue for a Willberg family reunion. Some of my family members wanted to address that problem.
So during the August long weekend, about 60 members from my father's side of the family gathered at the Diamond Willow Retreat in the Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park during the Saskatchewan Day long weekend for our first family reunion in more than 40 years. (I think it was in 1982 and I would have been three years old at the time).
Since then, I remember spending time at a homecoming in Tompkins when I was a kid, about 35 years ago, but it wasn't a family reunion. I remember spending lots of time camping with my dad's side of the family in the Cypress Hills when I was a kid, but again, not a family reunion.
My dad's family is more spread out than my mom's. It seems like most of mom's side, the Leguees, live within an hour of the farm west of Fillmore. A Willberg family reunion requires a lot of people to travel significant distances. A Leguee family reunion seems to happen each year at Thanksgiving.
People came from far and wide for the Willberg reunion. One couple travelled from New Zealand for the event, another ventured from Houston. Of course, most of us were from Western Canada. The Diamond Willow location wasn't far from where the family homesteaded.
The weekend offered the assortment of activities you would expect. Eating, drinking and socializing were at the top of the list each day. Meals were terrific. The drinks were plentiful. The venue was superb; the bonus is we were the only ones on the property for the weekend, so we didn't have to share the accommodations or the kitchen with anyone.
With few exceptions, it had been more than five years since I had last seen anyone on dad's side of the family. Thanks to the distance and my lack of transportation, it had been six years since my last visit to the southwest – disappointing considering I used to make at least one trip a year out there for a decade. Some family members I hadn't seen in 15-20 years, others I had never met before. Fortunately, we have a common family trait leaving us with no doubt that we are Willbergs.
One of the biggest challenges was I spent the first night meeting so many people, and then had to try to remember who they were over the next three days. Most people eschewed their nametags after the first night.
But perhaps the element that stands out the most was the history. It was an opportunity to learn. Yes, you could pay the money for one of those genealogical sites and learn about your family's history, but a family gathering can also do the trick.
I knew that my great-grandfather George immigrated to Canada from Finland in the early 20th century, married a Canadian woman and they raised a family in southwest Saskatchewan. I didn't realize my great-grandfather had several different professions during his lifetime, or that he spoke eight languages. I didn't realize that 11 members of my family have served their country, whether it be in times of war, as a peacekeeper, a reservist or as a police officer. I didn't realize how vast the family tree extended.
And, of course, I didn't know some of the experiences of my other family members, which could only be learned by sitting down and sharing stories that went beyond simple small talk.
Family reunions aren't a rare occurrence, especially for people who live in the Prairies. You hear about them frequently, especially in the summer months. Or you'll hear about community homecomings, such as the one held in Redvers during the Canada Day long weekend.
But when you go 40-ish years without one, you want to make the most of it when you have the opportunity.
(I can't imagine the work that would be involved in having a reunion every year or every second year. And I definitely wouldn't want to be the one to spearhead all of the work).
It's a lot easier to remain in touch with people now, thanks to the advent of Facebook and other social media ventures, and through text messaging that makes it easier to say a quick hello.
I hope it won't be another 42 years before we hold another gathering, and I look forward to hearing "It's good to see you again" more than "It's nice to meet you".
