Justice in this case should be colour-blind. During the affair with Kimberly, she became pregnant and gave birth to a baby boy named Elijah, in June 1997. How was Edwards' actual wife able to play the race card saying Elijah needed to know how to grow up black? Facebook gives people the. We don't run. Now it has become grist for a film. Its life. Playing For Keeps airs on CTV April 5 at 8 pm. It was a bitter custody battle that lasted three years, but in the end Canada's top court decided that Theodore (Blue) Edwards' son would be better off with his mother. A little over a decade ago, Kimberly Van De Perre, a former hotel receptionist from Coquitlam and a basketball "groupie" given to having affairs with players, met Grizzlie basketball player. 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. 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. While on set, I asked questions about Kimberly Van De Perre and her son, Elijah. "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. We lost the baby, an emotional Van Der Beek said in his video package. Elijah was the result. 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. During Monday's Dancing with the Stars semifinals episode . Copyright 02/03/2023 Alamy Ltd. All rights reserved. The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled in favour of a single B.C. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. Elijah is the son of Kimberley Van de Perre and Theodore "Blue" Edwards. Five kids. Her lawyer, Steven Mansfield, said the Supreme Court sent a message that trial judges in custody cases should be trusted to make good judgments. 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. It would certainly be naive to assume that Elijah would not encounter problems or racial prejudice at some point in his life in this country," state the judges, who noted that the Edwards family had returned to the southern United States. The psychologist's report described Ms. Van de Perre as "histrionic, narcissistic and compulsive." The Appeal Court judges, however, put more faith in Mrs. Edwards and her ability to hold the relationship together. 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. Here's the response: Not to start controversy either but Blue Edwards looks half-white to begin with; his skin color is light. Audiences watched as Van Der Beek danced a touching Foxtrot to Hoziers Take Me to Church. After his performance, Van Der Beek wept as pro partner Emma Slater embraced him on the ballroom floor. If his parents are smart, they will encourage him to explore both sides, but not to be imprisoned by either. I just focus on the present. Grieving AND counting our blessings today.. In Van de Perre vs Edwards, Kimberly Van de Perre lost custody of her son, Elijah, when the B.C. And it disagreed with the Appeal Court's negative assessment of Van de Perre's parental ability and situation. "If it is correct that Elijah will be seen by the world at large as 'being black,' 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 discrimination and racism in various forms. I think it's just a huge weight that's been lifted of my shoulders," she said. Press alt + / to open this menu. 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. Van De Perre was branded "poor white trash" and a gold digger. Thank you everyone for all the love, Kimberly, 37, said. He was a married father playing for the Vancouver . 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. For example, it is my impression that she minimizes the extent to which she goes out to nightclubs. Van De Perre was working for an insurance brokerage firm. Ms. Van de Perre, who is white, is a former beauty queen who lives in Vancouver. Supreme Court. 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. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. Now they are fighting for custody and, somehow, race has become an important issue. 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. 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. Roger Cross and Jennifer Finnigan star in Playing For Keeps. She has been collecting $3,500 a month in child support. Edwards and Van de Perre have been locked in a bitter, and public, custody battle since the child was 15 months old. But wait apparently someone asked him how the hell this happened. So couldn't the kid have remained with the mother? Edwards, 35, met Van de Perre, 27, five years ago in a Vancouver sports-bar. That trailer doesn't depict it accurately really either. Edwards' wife, Valerie, is described as the rock of the family and helps look after their twin daughters, now 11. Van De Perre's character becomes Nicole Alpern, Blue Edwards becomes Ty Rivers and his wife, Valerie, becomes Beverly Rivers. 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.' 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. Elijah Van de Perre is a four-year-old boy. As a result of this affair, Ms. Van de Perre became pregnant and had a son named Elijah in 1997. He was ordered to make a lump-sum payment. It really helps to go through when you have the support of friends and family. Then Blue had his actual wife step in and testify to the court of appeals. 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. Custody case involves race, top court told, CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. All you know is that it brings you closer together, it breaks you open, it opens up your heart, it deepens your appreciation, said Van Der Beek. Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. This image could have imperfections as its either historical or reportage. And she tried to give her spot to James, she tried quitting the show. Read more about cookies here. For me, going to school there, it wasn't a big deal. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Supreme Court justice, awarded full custody to Ms. Van de Perre last year, he dismissed Mrs. Edwards as being peripheral to the issue, saying the central question was whether the child would be better off with his natural mother or father. She admitted she was tempted to give up several times. Edwards, who lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, will still have access to his son. 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. 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. Before he announced the devastating news on DWTS, Kimberly hinted at the tragedy on social media. "It was not until a later interview that 'she admitted to sexual relationships with two other players. 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. mother in her custody battle with her child's father, a married, former basketball star. She said she felt no sense of victory, only relief tempered by the knowledge of what her son has endured. Newbery discreetly asked her whether she would be interviewed. Their son, Elijah, was born in June, 1997. 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. Facebook. Email or phone: Password: Forgot account? We had whites. The day started with a poignant scene that drew tears to the eyes of some watching. court has said the boy should be raised in his father's black family. 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. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited. Devastated. I wasn't willing to give him up. The B.C. Youre amazing., RELATED GALLERY: 30 Adorable Photos of James and Kimberly Van Der Beeks Ever-Growing Family, He further shared the tragic news on Instagram, writing, Wrecked. It was a controversial case, as the Canadian Supreme Court not only had to determine Elijah's best interests, but weed through a lot of issues, including the role of race, wealth and the benefits of the two-parent versus single-parent families. Mr. Edwards, who is black,. In the scene, a shaken Finnigan reluctantly hands over her baby, played by an absolutely adorable little boy of mixed race, to Okuma. Amazingly, British Columbia's highest court agreed. That way, he would avoid cultural confusion and learn to identify with his black heritage. Court of Appeal's ruling, saying that Elijah should live with his mother and that the appeal court did not have sufficient grounds to reverse the decision of the original trial judge. People named Eli Van De Perre. This article was published more than 21 years ago. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Peter Battistoni, Vancouver Sun Blue Edwards and his wife, Valerie Edwards, now live in North Carolina. 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. In a unanimous decision, the court decided that four-year-old Elijah would be . As he grows up, Elijah will have to grapple with his mixed heritage. 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. Edwards, 35, met Van de Perre, 27, five years ago in a Vancouver sports-bar. First the mother had him. Elijah is the son of Kimberley Van de Perre and Theodore "Blue" Edwards. "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. 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. It makes you more human.. It was a TOUGH weekend, she wrote on Instagram earlier Monday. For us, thankfully, we also have three rainbow babies. Theres a weird stigma that might still exist around it things like that is when you need your family and friends.. The original trial judge had awarded custody to Ms. Van de Perre. James Van Der Beek and Wife Kimberly Welcome Sixth Baby After 2 Pregnancy Losses: 'Overjoyed', James Van Der Beek Is Eliminated from 'DWTS' After Revealing Wife Suffered Miscarriage, Kimberly Van Der Beek Opens Up About Miscarriages: 'Two Blood Transfusions in the Last 7 Months', James Van Der Beek Opens Up About Expecting 6th Child After Heartbreaking Miscarriages, Jenna Dewan Is 'Speechless' over James Van Der Beek's 'DWTS' Elimination After Wife's Miscarriage, James Van Der Beek Admitted He Needed 'DWTS' to Cope with Miscarriage, Says Partner Emma Slater, Kimberly Van Der Beek Reveals Baby Was a Boy and Says 'I Almost Lost My Life' During Miscarriage, James Van Der Beek Speaks Out About Wife Kimberly's Miscarriage: 'We're Hanging in There', James Van Der Beek and Wife Kimberly Are Expecting Baby Number 6: 'Thrilled Beyond Belief', 41 Celebrities Who Have Shared Their Miscarriage Stories, in the Hopes of Helping Others, James Van Der Beek Says He and Wife Kimberly Are 'Still in Repair' After Miscarriage, Katie Holmes Showed Support for 'Dawson's Creek' Costar James Van Der Beek Before 'DWTS' Elimination, Kimberly Van Der Beek Needed a 'Blood Transfusion' After Miscarriage: 'Taking It Super Easy', James Van Der Beek Has 'Newfound Gratitude' for His Wife Kimberly After She Suffered Miscarriage, James Van Der Beek Reveals Wife Kimberly Recently Suffered a Miscarriage at 17 Weeks Pregnant, Carrie Ann Inaba Says She 'Vomited' After James Van Der Beek Was Eliminated from 'DWTS', from friends and family when they need it most, allow yourself space to grieve and go through it. Pfft. 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. 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., Grateful that shes now recovering, but weve only just begun unpacking the layers of this one, he continued. James Van Der Beek and his wife Kimberly are mourning the loss of their sixth baby on the way. In real life, the story of Van De Perre and Edwards was messier than a back-country bar fight. 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. Getting the $4.7-million film, Playing For Keeps, off the ground wasn't quite so easy. 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. Devastated. He also said that Van de Perre and her friends were demeaning of Edwards' African-American makeup. Sorry, this image isnt available for license in your territory. A Canadian court should have no part of it. 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. She denies any promiscuous behaviour," states the judgment. The story was right for a film. "This means an end to an awful, awful aspect of (Elijah's) life.". ", The psychologist also noted that Mrs. Edwards had been able to put aside her anger about her husband's affair, and establish a loving bond with Elijah, which was described as "fairly remarkable, considering the relatively short period of time that they have been together.". "I mean I'm sure my mother had problems, 30 years, I'm sure she had problems, but she did not walk away. 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. CANADA-RACE - RTR15NZ8 KIMBERLY VAN DE PERRE WITH SON ELIJAH AFTER BITTER CUSTODY BATTLE WITH NBA STAR. Edwards, 35, met Van de Perre, 27, five years ago in a Vancouver sports-bar. This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. 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