Several Decades of Piecing Familial Puzzles by Peri Hayes Former teacher, Colleen O’Grady Johnson, is a well-known ‘adoption search angel’ – previously known as FOUND adoption Services. Colleen graciously demonstrates her dedicated detective skills through having successfully reunited hundreds of families. Over the years, she has reunited nearly 1,000 family members across North America. Adding Colleen’s investigative proficiency to her portfolio began in 2008 upon a dear friend seeking support. Motivated to discover their biological family and having brought these individuals together, a local newspaper published a story surrounding Colleen’s efforts – word swiftly spread thereafter. Colleen reports her inbox being filled with requests; people from all walks of life were in search of an estranged piece to their familial puzzle. As Colleen fondly reflects, “I loved my career as a teacher, but I also love the challenge of searching, solving mysteries, and helping others. Finding someone is only half the battle – the real work lies in bridging the gap with sensitivity and care.” To date, Colleen has facilitated 988 reunions between ad- optees, birth parents, and estranged relatives. In one of her esteemed cases, which was featured on CBC’s The Doc Project , an adoptee had unforgivingly been in search of his biological mother for several decades. When a seemingly dead end had been reached, Colleen was privy to a contextual clue found in an old painting listed for sale online; this very detail led the determined Colleen across the Atlantic to locate the man’s mother in England.
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NEW FAMILY PHYSICIANS ACCEPTING PATIENTS To apply, visit thompsonmedical.ca and click APPLY NOW or scan the QR code . 25 Elm Street, St. Thomas, ON N5R 1H5 519-601-8621 (option 3)
Port Stanley Villager September 2026 cover It’s tough for a mermaid to get around on land – good thing they have Syd and his rickshaw at CALIPSO. Photographer Gianni Martino
Page 10 Port Stanley Villager • September 2026
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