Discussions

My wife and I met when I was living and working in Brandon (about 8 years ago). I have been trying to find out more information on my wife's birth parents. She was adopted as a baby from the Brandon Regional Hospital. The records she has, show that her birth mothers name was Lauren Bell and the birth father was Tony Lowe ... this would have been January of 1982. We have tried going through government (provincial) channels, but have had no luck. Outside of hiring a private detective, I figured this might reach someone who knows either her birth mother or her birth father. If anyone can be of help, it would be greatly appreciated.

Go to the library. They have Henderson directories. You can check years before and after 1982 to look up their names. If they lived in Brandon it will list an address, other people living in the household, and what kind of job they did. Might be a place to start.

You mention you have tried going through provincial government channels - does this mean you have already looked in to the post adoption registry? If you haven't already done so, it may be a starting point for you. Here's the link https://www.gov.mb.ca/fs/childfam/registry.html. Your wife can register and if her biological mother and/or father have also registered, a reunion may be possible if all parties are agreeable to that. Good luck in your search!

Go online and search old Brandon sun editions for those years.May have to buy a subs:cription to do so.I worked for me.

This is advice based on personal experience, and just throwing this out there to be prepared.  
 
My husband and his siblings are all adopted. He watched as both siblings dragged their parents through the process of finding the birth parents. Neither of his siblings paid any attention to the feelings of his parents, though as an outsider I could see it was hurting them to think these siblings had even the slightest thought that they were not their "real" parents.  
 
Hubby had no desire to find his genetic parents, especially after seeing both of the outcomes were terrible. Both siblings ended up very let down because their birth families were quite messed up. I don't believe to this day either of them acknowledged how appreciative they should be to their parents for adopting them into what was clearly a better life.  
 
Just wanted to put that out there, if she is close with her parents now, please make sure she is aware of their feelings in the process. And that rarely is it a fairy tale ending. I know a lot of people look for birth families out of a desire to feel whole or that they are missing something, when often it will not fill that gap.  
 
Good luck with your search though. Brandon and area are so frightfully small and gossipy you are bound to figure something out.  
 
The reason I make that last statement is that even though I mentioned hubby has no desire to meet or greet his birth family, we are fairly certain we know who his genetic family are due to the gossipy nature of the area he was born. In fact, a family member of mine took it upon themself to show me a yearbook photo of hubby's supposed birth father, and yes, he is the spitting image - so most likely it is true. You just never know.  
 
Best of luck.

I sent you a PM.

Try getting your ancestry dna. It might give a list of potential relatives on the website.

We recently found out that my husband's Dad is not his bio Dad. He is 40 years old and had no idea. As a long shot, we submitted his DNA to Ancestry.com, thinking he would get some distant cousin matches and we could maybe track him down that way. Three weeks after submitting his sample, we got a match! And it was an exact match with bio Dad, who had submitted his DNA a few months prior to my husband, while researching his family geneology. He has since contacted him. He didn't know my husband existed and seems very excited to get to know him. It may not work out that easily,but it's worth a try.

I actually found one of my biological parents by searching classmates, now keep in mind I knew names and where they went to school, and messaged on classmates.com so maybe give that a shot, again its a long shot but you never know

Thank you to everyone for trying to help out. The only other thing my wife knows, is her oiginal name at birth ... it was Kendal Elaine Bell. Her birth mother was living in a large home that was turned into an apartment complex, which was later torn down. It was near where Fairview Personal Care Home is now (to my knowledge). We have learned that her birth father does have another child as well. In regards to my wife's mom and dad, they are truly wonderful people and have been supportive of this search. Honestly ... anyone having met my wife and my in-laws, should consider themselves as fortunate. They are just that great of people.

I joined it a Cpl years ago. I was even able to help someone connect with their half brother. was so heart warming to do that.  
 
Free Canada Adoption / Family Search and Reunion on facebook you have to ask to join but its not restricted. all you need to do is post why you are there who you are looking for. they keep records and have several databases listing them by birth dates or provinces. it gets updated monthly. there are people there that can help you. called search angels and it is free no cost.  
 
I am still looking for my husband's fathers birth family.  
 
he was born February 13, 1937.  
Named Raymond Bruce Godkin.  
Which was on the mothers maiden name (who was 19 at the time) not the birth fathers name.  
 
we just received word last month that his birth father was 34 at the time of his birth and his name is John Harvey (or Harvie)  
Ancestry.com shows my husband has relatives with the Harvie last name.  
 
It is an interesting journey to find things. Each little bit gets you closer.  
 
Good luck hope to see you on the facebook page. You never know who may find your family for you.  
 
When I helped I had it confirmed for the lady in less then 10 minutes of her post. Was amazing feeling.

Not 100% but these were people that had been from the Swan River/Birch River/Bellsite area.

Thanks to this awesome site ... with the help of all the wonderful people that keep using eBrandon as their "go to" place for local info and discussion, I am happy to report that my wife Samantha was able to connect with her (unknown until yesterday) biological half-sister (95% sure this is legit). Ultimately an individual who personally knew Lauren Bell, reached out to her and her daughter Amelia. It was Amelia that contacted me through some Facebook sleuthing and we are all still trying to get this figured out. Thank You All ... so very much.  
 
PS - My wife says "THANK YOU" too.

Awesome! It is good to hear it worked out for you. How exciting!

Isn't it incredible that it didn't take that long. How exciting for you.  
Thanks for the info on the facebook page. I'm looking for a son my mom gave up for adoption. Haven't had much luck yet. Maybe this site will help.