Pedro Salgado Zuloaga, was a 14-year-old exchange student when he first came to the small town of Fort St. James in north-central B.C., far from his home in Mexico.
He came to stay with Bev and Al Playfair, staying three years and becoming like a member of the family.
This student language exchange created a multi-generational connection to Canada and Fort St. James for the young man’s family. For starters, Pedro became a close lifelong friend of Steve Willick, who was born and raised in Fort St. James.
Then, Pedro’s four other siblings followed him to the small town to learn English themselves, staying with other families and creating even more connections.
His twin sisters, Lucy and Anna, stayed longer in Fort St. James, with Lucy marrying Jason Reierson and settling down in the small town to raise their two daughters, Britni and Andréa. Lucy’s twin Anna spent time in Fort St. James and later also came back to live again in Fort St. James. Anna’s sons went to school for some time in Fort St. James.
Recently, the entire family was once again celebrating a new Canadian connection, when Lucy’s daughter Britni Reierson gave birth to Lucy and Jason’s first grandchild.
Britni Reierson and her partner Paul Williamson welcomed Ila Luz Maria Williamson on Nov. 8, 2023 at 7:16 p.m. in Sechelt, B.C. The baby was a cause for a Mexican connection reunion, and the 8 lbs 9 oz newborn was visited by family and friends.
Lucy’s father and newborn Ila Luz’s great-grandfather Pedro Salgado Andrade, 86, made the journey to Canada to meet the new addition.
Lucy’s brother, the original exchange student, and the newborn’s great-uncle, Pedro Salgado Zuloaga accompanied his father. Both men traveled from Mexico to meet the newborn in Sechelt, and Steve Willick came to have a visit while his old friend was in the country.
All these years later, the Mexican connection continues for Fort St. James, with the powerful small town friendships continuing across the continent.
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