Here's the response: Not to start controversy either but Blue Edwards looks half-white to begin with; his skin color is light. What had happened to them? The nine justices reserved their decision in the fight between Theodore "Blue" Edwards, 35, and Kimberly Van de Perre, 27. "That's something no child should ever have to know about, let along understand.". Having grown up in Jamaica, he has a hard time understanding why race can be such a big issue. The Jamaican-born Roger Cross, who plays Ty, took time out for an interview between shoots. In real life, the story of Van De Perre and Edwards was messier than a back-country bar fight. 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. 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"I am extremely relieved, and I am surprised, I am feeling really tired. Five kids. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. Kimberly, I love you. At the time of the interview, he was 11, thriving and doing well in school. ", Ms. Van de Perre was not the only one playing the field. "I know all marriages have trials and tribulations and problems, and I am willing to stand by my husband, as long as he is still a loving man, a good father, and he is responsive to the family, and he puts the family focus first, I'm willing to stand by him as long as it takes, sir," she responded. It was both a tawdry affair and a bittersweet love story played out on the pages of Vancouver newspapers. Edwards and his wife Valerie have twin daughters. ", In playing Beverly Rivers, Okuma faced the challenge of playing a character who is a rock but who is also experiencing pain. 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. "It was not until a later interview that 'she admitted to sexual relationships with two other players. Save up to 30% when you upgrade to an image pack. Van de Perre won custody of Elijah during the initial 26-day trial, but that decision was overturned one year later as the British. This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Like his father, he is very athletic. Through the love of a child, she finds herself. "It was the easiest sell of my career," said Newbery on a visit to the set during one of the last days of shooting. I make that finding based upon my assessment of him and because of his propensity to seek out places where there are known to be young women who are 'star-struck' with professional athletes. 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. In shock. But wait apparently someone asked him how the hell this happened. Mrs. Edwards was questioned on the witness stand about how many more affairs she could tolerate. Ex-NBA player loses custody of son | CBC Sports Loaded. "This was an opportunity for the Supreme Court to state in very strong reasons that it's only in the narrowest circumstances that appeal courts should intervene in custody cases," Steven Mansfield, Van de Perre's lawyer, said. That's not our heritage, we're strong, black women. Mother wins custody in mixed race case | CBC News Loaded. We lost the baby. RM2D3HJB5 - 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. Follow us on Twitter: @globedebateOpens in a new window. Edwards, 35, met Van de Perre, 27, five years ago in a Vancouver sports-bar. ", The challenge, said Cross, was "to stay true to the story but also show the audience this isn't just a bad guy who is a philanderer. "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. As many of you have said, There are no words and its true. Van de Perre is all smiles yesterday in Vancouver with her four-year-old son, Elijah. Press alt + / to open this menu. During the affair with Kimberly, she became pregnant and gave birth to a baby boy named Elijah, in June 1997. Her lawyer, Steven Mansfield, said the Supreme Court sent a message that trial judges in custody cases should be trusted to make good judgments. She stated she has other male friends on other NBA teams, although when they come to town, she stated she is 'like the tour guide,' helping them to find places where they can 'meet cute chicks.' One of the reasons why the appeal court decided to reverse the initial trial's decision was Edwards' stable family situation. Thank you for pushing me out on that dance floor, the actor said in a sweet shout-out to his wife before judges awarded him and Slater a 27/30. First the mother had him. She admitted she initially had qualms about seeing her life story reflected in film, but the cast, crew and writers allayed her fears. He plays the role of a rumpled greenhorn lawyer who goes up against the mighty Supreme Court and wins. Celtics beat the Sixers 110-107 in Philly, Video: Behind the scenes with Joe Mazzulla, Jaylen Brown, and Jayson Tatum at All-Star weekend, Video: Jaylen Brown talks Celtics win and disrespectful 76ers fans, Celtics post All-Star break betting preview. James, 42, revealed the heartbreaking news during Mondays episode of Dancing with the Stars. Happily, for us this time we walked out [of the ultrasound appointment] with tears of joy., RELATED VIDEO: James Van Der Beek Opens Up About Expecting Sixth Child After Heartbreaking Miscarriages, During that nights episode of DWTS, Van Der Beek told PEOPLE that revealing the news on the reality competition show was thrilling and that they decided to get Kimberlys first ultrasound on camera, to open it up and allow people to go through the experience good result or not good result., Its a part of life, he continued. Evidence shows the basketball player has had numerous affairs. Their son, Elijah, was born in June, 1997. When Terrance Warren, a B.C. Edwards and Van de Perre have been locked in a bitter, and public, custody battle since the child was 15 months old. It had all the elements -- sex, courtroom drama, a high-stakes battle, tension, love, anger, pain. 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. People so often go through it in secret. Last year, the British Columbia Court of Appeal awarded custody to Edwards, a former basketball player with the Vancouver Grizzlies. It really didn't matter to us. The father, Theodore (Blue) Edwards, is black, and is a former Vancouver Grizzlies player who lives with his wife in North Carolina. 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. She said she felt no sense of victory, only relief tempered by the knowledge of what her son has endured. 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. Search for stock images, vectors and videos. Extra thankful right now to have help with my kids. "He hasn't had a consistent home and he's had to really grow up," she said. 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. What kept her going was Elijah. If you are a Home delivery print subscriber, unlimited online access is. Then Blue had his actual wife step in and testify to the court of appeals. 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. Director Gary Harvey said that rather than being about a legal case, the film is about the growth of a woman from a groundless, directionless lifestyle. museum's iconic woolly mammoth gets splashed with paint, Michael Higgins: 'A lot of reason to be afraid,' says censured teacher critical of the woke revolution in classrooms, Four skiers injured in avalanche near Invermere. We don't run. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. While on set, I asked questions about Kimberly Van De Perre and her son, Elijah. And the Supreme Court of Canada has simply affirmed again that custody cases should not be tampered with, so to speak, unless there is some overriding and compelling error made by a trial judge," Mr. Mansfield said. Court of Appeal said that "it would obviously be in his interests to live with a parent or family who can nurture his identity as a person of colour and who can appreciate and understand the day-to-day realities that black people face in North American society -- including racism and discrimination in various forms.". You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. James and Kimberly are parents to Gwendolyn, 16 months, Emilia, 3, Annabel Leah, 5, and Olivia, 9, plus big brother Joshua, 7. 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.". mother in her custody battle with her child's father, a married, former basketball star. 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. 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.. Alamy and its logo are trademarks of Alamy Ltd. and are registered in certain countries. They engaged in an 18-month affair that produced Elijah. Edwards, who lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, will still have access to his son. To tell him now that he is definitely and exclusively black, and so must live with people of his own kind, is to surrender to the racial pigeonholing that is the very essence of racism. Thank you to all of our friends and co-workers (and dance partners) who have shown up for us so beautifully during this time. James Van Der Beeks wife Kimberly is speaking out after suffering a miscarriage over the weekend. 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. "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. Sections of this page. In an unanimous decision, the Supreme Court of Canada upheld the trial judge's ruling to award custody of Edwards' four-year-old son to his mother, Kimberly Van de Perre. Although she states this is a stress release, and that she rarely drinks, it is difficult to know how she could go out, not get to bed until 2 or 3 a.m., and be able to get up to provide for Elijah's best interest. A trial judge initially awarded Van de Perre sole custody of Elijah, but the British Columbia Court of Appeal reversed that decision. People named Eli Van De Perre. Today Elijah is not a black boy, or a white boy, or a mixed-race boy. "I mean I'm sure my mother had problems, 30 years, I'm sure she had problems, but she did not walk away. Learn more about how you can collaborate with us. Edwards will still have visitation rights to his son. Please contact sales@alamy.com for more details. Here was that synopsis: She admitted she was tempted to give up several times. Jump to. Email or phone: Password: Forgot account? A Canadian court should have no part of it. And she tried to give her spot to James, she tried quitting the show. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. In it the Blue Edwards guy is very black, the girl is white and the kid is pretty black. 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. She denies any promiscuous behaviour," states the judgment. Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. On June 3, 1997, Elijah Theodore Van de Perre was born. Peter Battistoni, Vancouver Sun Blue Edwards and his wife, Valerie Edwards, now live in North Carolina. 338,740,101 stock photos, 360 panoramic images, vectors and videos, Share Alamy images with your team and customers. More Than My Normal': My Body Has Been Through 'So Much', James Van Der Beek Opens Up About Expecting 6th Child After Heartbreaking Miscarriages, from friends and family when they need it most. The mother, Kimberly Van de Perre, is white, and had an affair Mr. Edwards that began in 1996. "And there was no reason to intervene in that decision by the Court of Appeal. "This means an end to an awful, awful aspect of (Elijah's) life.". The two met in a Vancouver bar in 1996 and began an 18-month affair. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. I just focus on the present. Mr. Edwards, who is black,. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The boy, now 4, will see his father and his family according to an agreement that has yet to be worked out. If he is like most children his age, skin colour means as little to him as eye colour and race is something he simply never thinks about. Justice in this case should be colour-blind. On Friday, Canada's top court overturned the B.C. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. news and opinions delivered straight to your inbox, Start your day with Sunrise, delivered straight to your inbox, TV movie distills love story from legal fight, Suspected money launderer won't be charged, special prosecutor rules, UBC professor says not masking is racist, ableist and classist, Three arrested after B.C. Ms. Van de Perre, 27, told reporters in Vancouver that she was pleased with the ruling. Supreme Court. When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. The original trial judge concluded that Mr. Edwards, who now plays professionally in Athens, was so adulterous that it posed a threat to his marriage. Kimberly Van Der Beek suffered a miscarriage one month after she and James Van Der Beek announced that they were expecting baby No. ", The Appeal Court judges considered a statement from a psychologist who described Mrs. Edwards as "an energetic woman who is fiercely loyal and devoted to her family and husband. A ruling on who gets custody of son Elijah, now four, is not expected for . "Where I grew up, our culture is made up of many people. Grateful that shes now recovering, but weve only just begun unpacking the layers of this one. 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. It really helps to go through when you have the support of friends and family. ", 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. Van de Perre and Edwards decided to pursue things between themselves and she gave birth to their son Elijah in June of 1997. Devastated. Blue Edwards, the former Vancouver Grizzlies basketball star, has been ordered to pay more than $300,000 in child support by the B.C. In Van de Perre vs Edwards, Kimberly Van de Perre lost custody of her son, Elijah, when the B.C. REUTERS/Andy Clark AC. If his parents are smart, they will encourage him to explore both sides, but not to be imprisoned by either. The Supreme Court of Canada said that the appeal court was wrong to interfere. Their son, Elijah, was born in June, 1997. 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. This article was published more than 18 years ago. Thank you for everything you do. Yet thanks to the courts, his skin colour and his race may determine where he lives and who he grows up with. In shock. To me, Elijah looks half-black and half-white, so I don't see how Edwards' wife could've played that race-card. View the profiles of people named Eli Van De Perre. Van De Perre was working for an insurance brokerage firm. The day I visited, the film was shooting in the shadowy corridors of the Coliseum on the PNE grounds. In the scripts, their names are changed and Playing For Keeps follows its own fictitious storyline, albeit one reflecting the broad-brush strokes of a real life situation. Edwards, 35, met Van de Perre, 27, five years ago in a Vancouver sports-bar. She won custody of Elijah after a 26-day trial,. 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. When producer Marsha Newbery approached CTV with the idea for the film, the network bought it right away. He brings a lot of energy to a scene.". Van de Perre, who is white, is a single high-school dropout who works part-time as a hotel receptionist and collects $3,500 a month in child support. The rights to Van De Perre's life story also had to be obtained from her. Van De Perre said she is grateful he has a male role model in his grandfather. 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. I hope that it inspires someone somewhere." He is Canadian and he's African-American, and so there are two sides of him that he should be embracing." ", 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4. In a unanimous decision, the court decided. He also said that Van de Perre and her friends were demeaning of Edwards' African-American makeup. In making their decision, the three appeal court judges weighed the importance of having a child growing up with a family of the same racial background: They decided that the boy, who has a white mother and a black father, would always be perceived as "being black" because of his skin colour. The court heard that the 24-year-old former beauty queen had met Mr. Edwards, who at the time was making $2-million a year playing for the Grizzlies, while she was cruising Vancouver's nightclub scene. 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. Find your friends on . "I tend not to look at any negative stuff, past, present and future. 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And Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem in form! Past, present and future across Canada stand about how you can with. He has n't had a consistent home and he 's African-American, and public, battle! Article continues below a ruling on who gets custody of Elijah during the affair with Kimberly, became... Perre sole custody of Elijah, in June 1997 married, former basketball with... But your article continues below how the hell this happened 's top court overturned the B.C aspect of Elijah! Bought it right away suffered a miscarriage over the weekend also said that the Appeal decided.... `` intervene in that decision 's decision was Edwards ' wife 've... Friends were demeaning of Edwards ' wife could 've played that race-card, there are no words its... At any negative stuff, past, present and future to have help my... 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