I dont even know how Im going to begin to respond to it all so I think Ill just have to do it here., In 48 hours we lost our baby boy, by the way and I almost lost my life, she revealed. For me, going to school there, it wasn't a big deal. Copyright Southam Inc. "National Post Online is a production of Southam Inc., Canada's largest publisher of daily newspapers. That's not our heritage, we're strong, black women. I just focus on the present. Now it has become grist for a film. Mr. Edwards and his backers claim that because society will view Elijah as black, he would be better off living with his black father in a black environment. Some information may no longer be current. The highest court in the land overturned a highly controversial Appeal Court ruling that gave custody of Elijah to Edwards and his wife on the basis that the child would be better off growing up in a black household and in the southern U.S., where the couple had planned to settle. In shock. Canada during the summer of 2001. ", Ms. Van de Perre was not the only one playing the field. Available for editorial use only. Your Lakers? The Dawsons Creek alum, 42, and Kimberly are parents to Gwendolyn, 16 months, Emilia, 3, Annabel Leah, 5, and Olivia, 9, plus big brother Joshua, 7. Their union was damaged by the revelation of Mr. Edwards' affair with Ms. Van de Perre. On Mondays episode of Dancing with the Stars, James said in a video package: My wife Kimberly and I went through every expecting parents worst nightmare. Later during the episode, the Dawsons Creek star was eliminated one week shy of the ABC reality dance competitions finale episode despite his fellow contestant Ally Brookes attempt to save him. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. Sections of this page. She has an excellent social support network, and has, in my opinion, been the 'rock' that has allowed her children to adjust so well to a rather hectic lifestyle. Pre-pay for multiple images and download on demand. The court should treat him as such, and leave race out of it. This image could have imperfections as its either historical or reportage. It is not obvious at all that a boy who appears to be black would be better off in the racially divided American South than he would be in multicultural Vancouver. ", The Appeal Court also dealt with the delicate issue of race, noting that while Elijah was the son of a black man and a white woman, his dark skin colour meant that he would always be perceived as "being black. Facebook gives people the. Read more about cookies here. "It's been a real rollercoaster," said Van de Perre, after the decision was announced. Here was that synopsis: Really Blue? Elijah is the son of Kimberley Van de Perre and Theodore "Blue" Edwards. "I think that it come down to the fact that the trial judge, who is an extremely experienced family trial judge, gave a very carefully worded and considered decision," he said. Unlike the original trial judge, the Appeal Court also put great importance on the strength of character of Valerie Edwards -- a woman who refused to let her marriage be torn apart despite her husband's affair with Ms. Van de Perre. Last year, the British Columbia Court of Appeal awarded custody to Edwards, a former basketball player with the Vancouver Grizzlies. In his own eyes, he is simply a boy. In a unanimous decision, the court decided that four-year-old Elijah would be better off with Kimberly Van de Perre than with Theodore "Blue" Edwards. Devastated. Edwards will still have visitation rights to his son. Sensing her apprehension, Elijah was initially concerned about a film being made about him, but Van De Perre said he is okay with it now. Justice in this case should be colour-blind. I'm sure the Jazz fans who rooted hard for you back in the day can understand how the hell you became a Laker fan. The psychologist's report described Ms. Van de Perre as "histrionic, narcissistic and compulsive." It said that while she was making an effort to be a good mother, "her needs for status, admiration, and attention remain and may result in her acting out in ways which are not in Elijah's best interest. Ms. Van de Perre, 27, told reporters in Vancouver that she was pleased with the ruling. It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled in favour of a single B.C. Kimberly, I love you, said Van Der Beek, who dedicated the dance to his wife: Kimberly, Im dancing for you, Im dancing for us, so here we go, babe.. In a judgment that overturned a lower court and awarded custody of Elijah to Mr. Edwards, at least partly on the grounds of race, the B.C. The boy, now 4, will see his father and his family according to an agreement that has yet to be worked out. Van de Perre won custody of Elijah during the initial 26-day trial, but that decision was overturned one year later as the British Court of Appeals decided to hand him over to Edwards and his wife, Valerie, citing a better family situation. Although Van Der Beek admitted that he didnt think hed be dancing on Monday evening, he chose to compete for Kimberly, who pushed him to continue in the competition. He was ordered to make a lump-sum payment. tap here to see other videos from our team, Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account and fewer ads, Get exclusive access to the National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on, Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists, Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists, Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword, Access articles from across Canada with one account, Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments, Get email updates from your favourite authors. VANCOUVER and OTTAWA - Kimberly Van de Perre, a former beauty queen, won a protracted custody battle against former NBA player Theodore "Blue" Edwards, in which race, sexual morality and money all became issues. During arguments heard earlier this summer, Edwards argued that since society would see Elijah as black, not mixed race, he would be the best person to teach his son how to cope with the struggles in a predominantly white culture. James Van Der Beeks wife Kimberly is speaking out after suffering a miscarriage over the weekend. Thank you to all of our friends and co-workers (and dance partners) who have shown up for us so beautifully during this time. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. The Appeal Court judges, however, put more faith in Mrs. Edwards and her ability to hold the relationship together. They moved back to be closer to family and friends, particularly Elijah's grandparents, whom he is close to. View the profiles of people named Eli Van De Perre. The battle for custody started when Elijah was three months old. That way, he would avoid cultural confusion and learn to identify with his black heritage. In real life, the story of Van De Perre and Edwards was messier than a back-country bar fight. Join Facebook to connect with Eli Van De Perre and others you may know. Edwards, 35, met Van de Perre, 27, five years ago in a Vancouver sports-bar. It was a TOUGH weekend, she wrote on Instagram earlier Monday. In Van de Perre vs Edwards, Kimberly Van de Perre lost custody of her son, Elijah, when the B.C. He was a married father playing the guard position for the Grizzlies, while Van de Perre was a young beauty who had a special interest in sports athletes. What followed was a protracted custody battle that went all the way to the Supreme Court. CP, Follow us on Twitter: @globeandmailOpens in a new window. The Appeal Court judges said Judge Warren focused too much on Mr. Edwards' promiscuity, and not enough on his abilities as a parent. Edwards responded initially by seeking joint custody and liberal access, but later changed . Kimberly Van Der Beek suffered a miscarriage one month after she and James Van Der Beek announced that they were expecting baby No. Playing For Keeps airs on CTV April 5 at 8 pm. The Appeal Court judges, by contrast, noted that Ms. Van de Perre had also shown a proclivity for nightclubs, and that she often made arrangements for others to care for her son while she went out to bars. Obviously? Edwards and Van de Perre have been locked in a bitter, and public, custody battle since the child was 15 months old. Here's the response: Not to start controversy either but Blue Edwards looks half-white to begin with; his skin color is light. All you know is that it brings you closer together, it breaks you open, it opens up your heart, it deepens your appreciation, he said. It makes you more human., The actor also dedicated his dance to his wife, saying, Kimberly, Im dancing for you, Im dancing for us, so here we go, babe., He further shared the tragic news on Instagram, writing, Wrecked. Kimberly, I love you. Even during the height of this trial he was not able to stay away from restaurants and nightclubs while his wife and children went east to be with her dying father.". Roger Cross and Jennifer Finnigan star in Playing For Keeps. The Pose actor went on to explain in the caption that he and Kimberly decided to share the news on Dancing with the Stars after his wife suffered a number of miscarriages. in the highly publicized and controversial case of Elijah Van de Perre, the son of a white mother and black father in British Columbia, the Supreme Court of Canada has just granted custody to Elijah's mother, Kimberly Van de Perre. Van De Perre was working for an insurance brokerage firm. The little soul that we had expected to welcome into our family took a shortcut to whatever lies beyond., You never know why these things happen, thats what Ive been telling my kids. "I mean I'm sure my mother had problems, 30 years, I'm sure she had problems, but she did not walk away. Court of Appeal reversed that ruling a year ago, giving the Mr. Edwards and his wife custody and Ms. Van de Perre generous access, which meant that Elijah travelled between Vancouver and North Carolina regularly. Blue Edwards, the former Vancouver Grizzlies basketball star, has been ordered to pay more than $300,000 in child support by the B.C. Email or phone: Password: Forgot account? court has said the boy should be raised in his father's black family. So important that when Mr. Edwards brought his case for custody to the Supreme Court of Canada yesterday, he was supported by the African Canadian Legal Clinic, the Association of Black Social Workers and the Jamaican Canadian Association. Kimberly Van de Perre is all smiles with her four-year-old son Elijah, September 28, 2001, following news the Supreme Court of Canada giving her custody of her son after a bitter fight with ex-NBA star Theodore (Blue) Edwards. Miscarriage (a word that needs a replacement nobody failed to carry, these things sometimes just happen) is something that people rarely talk about, and often go through in secret. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. She won custody of Elijah after a 26-day trial,. "That's something no child should ever have to know about, let along understand.". Im pretty shocked. The Jamaican-born Roger Cross, who plays Ty, took time out for an interview between shoots. Having grown up in Jamaica, he has a hard time understanding why race can be such a big issue. In shock. The court also heard that Mr. Edwards, married with two daughters, "leads a 'glamorous' lifestyle in which he frequently indulges in extramarital sex.". He said she was a loving mother whose bond with Elijah far surpassed anything Mr. Edwards could offer. The day I visited, the film was shooting in the shadowy corridors of the Coliseum on the PNE grounds. Court of Appeal ruled he was better off with the family of his father, millionaire basketball player Blue Edwards, who could raise him in a black cultural environment in the United States. Edwards was a known philanderer who had repeated extra-marital affairs that he tried to conceal from his wife, Valerie Edwards, and their twin daughters. Weve been through this before, but never this late in the pregnancy, and never accompanied by such a scary, horrific threat to @vanderkimberly and her well-being.. Find the right content for your market. When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. It is even less obvious that Elijah should be encouraged to "nurture his identity as a person of colour." These two situations were newsworthy partly because they both resulted in mothers being denied custody of their children. Five kids. Van de Perre won custody of Elijah during the initial 26-day trial, but that decision was overturned one year later as the British. Pfft. Getting the $4.7-million film, Playing For Keeps, off the ground wasn't quite so easy. During the affair with Kimberly, she became pregnant and gave birth to a baby boy named Elijah, in June 1997. She admitted she was tempted to give up several times. woman custody of her son after a prolonged fight between her and his pro basketball-player father that raised the issue of race in custody battles. When Elijah was three months old, Ms. Van de Perre began proceedings for custody and child support, naming Edwards as the father of the child. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Edwards, 35, met Van de Perre, 27, five years ago in a Vancouver sports-bar. Blue Edwards, the former Vancouver Grizzlies basketball star, has been ordered to pay more than $300,000 in child support by the B.C. "My wife Kimberly went through every expectant parent's . Yet . Facebook. Kimberly Van de Perre jokes with her four-year-old son Elijah, September 28, 2001, following news the Supreme Court of Canada gave her custody of her son after a bitter fight with ex-NBA star Theodore (Blue) Edwards. The father, Theodore (Blue) Edwards, is black, and is a former Vancouver Grizzlies player who lives with his wife in North Carolina. Now they are fighting for custody and, somehow, race has become an important issue. Court of Appeal ruling and has granted a B.C. It said that while she was making an effort to be a good mother, "her needs for status, admiration, and attention remain and may result in her acting out in ways which are not in Elijah's best interest. But that is for tomorrow. Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. ", The judgment quoted Mrs. Edwards as saying that Ms. Van de Perre "couldn't teach him what it's going to be like to be black, and how he is going to be seen in the world as being black And reading books won't help.". At the time of the interview, he was 11, thriving and doing well in school. Several black associations intervening in the case supported Mr. Edwards's claim that since Elijah will be seen as black, it is vital for him to be raised in a milieu that will further his identification with black culture. Accessibility Help. It arrives at a critical time when, in the highly publicized and controversial case of Elijah Van de Perre, the son of a white mother and black father in British Columbia, the Supreme. You just have to let yourself go through it and go through the journey and be there for each other., Know that you cant judge the pain, you cant judge the process, he added. Thats how were feeling right now after the soul we thought were going to welcome into our family in April has taken a short cut to whatever lies beyond this life. 338,740,101 stock photos, 360 panoramic images, vectors and videos, Share Alamy images with your team and customers. Theres a weird stigma that might still exist around it things like that is when you need your family and friends.. The ruling overturned an earlier court judgment that had placed the boy with his mother, Kimberly Van de Perre, a Burnaby waitress who sometimes served as "a tour guide" to lead basketball players to "cute chicks.". "She has seen her husband go through this before but never has it hit as close to home for her as seeing a child that is fathered by her husband.". Elijah is the son of Kimberley Van de Perre and Theodore "Blue" Edwards. They cited as an example this statement by the judge: "While Mr. Edwards testified that he had remained faithful to his wife for the first 18 months of his marriage, he has had at least three affairs since then and, I conclude, in all probability he has had more. Van De Perre was branded "poor white trash" and a gold digger. So couldn't the kid have remained with the mother? "It doesn't feel right for me to celebrate what just should have been all along," said Van de Perre of the battle for custody of her son, Elijah. If you are a Home delivery print subscriber, unlimited online access is. Sorry, this image isnt available for license in your territory. We lost the baby. "I am extremely relieved, and I am surprised, I am feeling really tired. This article was published more than 21 years ago. Save up to 30% when you upgrade to an image pack. It arrives at a critical time when, in the highly publicized and controversial case of Elijah Van de Perre, the son of a white mother and black father in British Columbia, the Supreme Court of Canada has just granted custody to Elijah's mother, Kimberly Van de Perre. Jump to. Some information may no longer be current. The judgement on Friday gives a little more stability for Elijah, who was making a seven-hour flight between Van de Perre's home in Vancouver and Edwards' residence in Charlotte, N.C. every three weeks until he developed inner-ear problems due to the frequent flying. Then moving to Vancouver, there weren't a lot of black families in our neighbourhood. Mr. Edwards, who is black, is a former star of the National Basketball Association who resides in North Carolina with his wife and twin daughters. She admitted she initially had qualms about seeing her life story reflected in film, but the cast, crew and writers allayed her fears. At the time of the set visit in early July, she and Elijah had just returned to Vancouver from Miami where they had been living for a time. I hope that it inspires someone somewhere." We had whites. Today, in a big Canadian city with dozens of ethnic groups and countless mixed-race couples, he is unlikely to attract so much as a raised eyebrow. Edwards' wife, Valerie, is described as the rock of the family and helps look after their twin daughters, now 11. Elijah was the result. Met Van de Perre was not the only one playing the field Vancouver Grizzlies she! Big deal to start controversy either but Blue Edwards looks half-white to begin with ; his skin is! Apologize, but later changed Elijah was three months old to `` nurture his identity as a person of.. Of colour. told reporters in Vancouver that she was tempted to give up several times were... Have visitation rights to his son am extremely relieved, and I am kimberly van de perre son elijah now... 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