Last Updated on June 22, 2020 by Amanda Stancati

HAMILTON, ON – On November 25, 2013, Maryalice Wood from British Columbia was selected as a winner in tripcentral.ca’s Home for the Holidays contest. She wrote a poem in hopes of bringing her stepmother’s sister home from Ireland.  Pam, Maryalice’s 81-year-old stepmom had not seen her 72-year-old sister in years.

“She has always been a great support to me. We talk nearly everyday….It’s just part of Christmas. I didn’t think about it being any other way,” said Pam about her sister, Mary.

The reunion took place in Pam’s home in British Columbia. tripcentral.ca was there to capture the moment.

The video of Pam and Mary’s reunion on December 18 can be viewed on the tripcentral.ca website.

The goal of the contest was to fly a loved one living far away to Canada in time for the holidays. tripcentral.ca offered to provide up to two round-trip flights from anywhere in the world to make someone’s holiday special.

The Home for the Holidays contest was open to Canadians from November 5 to November 18, 2013 and required entrants to submit a letter about their loved one and an accompanying photo. It received over 400 entries.