Mother’s 26-Year-Old Message in a Bottle Discovered in Ontario’s Lake St. Clair

Discovery of the Message in a Bottle

A kindergarten student River Vandenberg made an intriguing discovery while exploring the west beach of Belle River. Near a jetty, he spotted a sealed bottle tucked away in the sand. Driven by curiosity, River and his grandmother, Michele Vandenberg, retrieved the bottle and found a letter inside. At first, they thought the note was a recent one, but closer inspection revealed it was dated all the way back to 1998.

The 1998 School Project

In 1998, fourth-grade students at St. John the Baptist Catholic Elementary School in Belle River, Ontario, participated in a project inspired by the book “Paddle-to-the-Sea.” Under the guidance of their teacher, Roland St. Pierre, the students wrote letters about the Great Lakes, sealed them in plastic bottles, and released them into Lake St. Clair. One such letter was penned by then-student Makenzie Morris, now known as Makenzie Van Eyk.

Reconnecting with the Past

The discovery took on a personal dimension when the letter was read to a current fourth-grade class that included Makenzie’s daughter, Scarlet. Scarlet was astonished to hear her mother’s name at the end of the letter, exclaiming,

“My mouth completely dropped. And everyone was like, ‘Who’s that? Who’s that?’ And I was like, ‘My mother.'”

Scarlet

Makenzie Van Eyk recalled the project vividly, noting the significance of sealing the bottles with wax and the novelty of using the school’s computer lab to type the letters. She expressed surprise and delight at the letter’s discovery, remarking, “It was memorable to do something like that, throw something and think maybe someone will find it later.”

Teacher’s Perspective

Retired teacher Roland St. Pierre, who initiated the project, was equally moved by the bottle’s resurfacing. He reflected on the project’s intent and the unexpected longevity of the bottles, stating, “For it to survive 26 years without breaking down, it’s …

“It was wild. I’ve got a lot of ties to this building. I taught 33 years here. It’s close to me. I had forgotten all about it, so it was a real shock.”

Roland St. Pierre

This serendipitous event has not only reconnected a mother with a piece of her childhood but also bridged a generational gap within the school community, highlighting the enduring impact of educational projects and the unforeseen connections they can foster over time.