Stories from Tri-City News headlines of decades past is a recurring feature as the publication marks its 40th anniversary in 2024.
A distant conflict hit close to home for residents of the Falcon Crest Estates Co-op in Coquitlam.
The son of one of their neighbours was headed home after being held hostage to several weeks by Bosnian Serbs battling a civil war in the former Yugoslavia.
Capt. Patrick Rechner was part of the Canadian military’s effort to observe and help sustain a fragile and uneasy peace in the conflict that started in 1992 and ended in December 1995.
The hero’s welcome included a huge arch constructed of red and white balloons over the driveway of the home where Rechner’s parents lived, flowers and gifts piled other porch and a cheering crowd of more than 200.
“This is a community within a community,” said one resident of the 65-unit complex.
“Everyone knows everyone’s children by name.”
Local businesses pitched in with donations — gift certificates for cakes and donuts, steaks from a butcher, ginseng from a health food store, home-made beer and wine from a home-brew store.
Rechner’s parents, Vincent and Krystyna, said they were overwhelmed by the show of support for their son.
“This is our neighbours,” Vincent said with tears of joy in his eyes. “I appreciate these things.”
The Tri-City News has covered civic affairs, local crime, festivals, events, personalities, sports and arts in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody since 1983. Bound back issues of the paper are available at the Coquitlam Archives, while digital versions of several past years can be found at issuu.com.
