By Barb Brouwer

Reposted courtesy of CSRD

Cynthia Bentley feared that nine months of wedding planning had gone up in flames.

The 65-year-old Century 21 Lakeside realtor was evacuated when the Bush Creek East Wildfire raged through Celista on Aug. 18.

Believing she, her husband-to-be and guests would not be able to use the Squilax-Anglemont Road to travel to their wedding venue near Seymour Arm on Sept. 9, Bentley was sure her wedding dreams were shattered.

91裸聊视频淐all the Columbia Shuswap Regional District Emergency Operations Centre,91裸聊视频� her daughter, Jolene, advised. 91裸聊视频淲hat have you got to lose? They may say no, but again, they may say yes.91裸聊视频�

The response to her Sept. 2 call was an enthusiastic 91裸聊视频測es91裸聊视频� from CSRD Chief Administrative Officer and EOC Director-of-the-day John MacLean.

91裸聊视频淭ell her we will do whatever it takes to make sure her wedding goes ahead,91裸聊视频� he responded with a huge grin, while others excitedly suggested moving the wedding party and guests over the lake by barge.

Overwhelmed with relief, Bentley sobbed at the news that she and Gord Stevens would be married within the week.

91裸聊视频淵ou are my fairy godmother,91裸聊视频� she said tearfully.

The couple91裸聊视频檚 journey to matrimony has been a difficult one.

Bentley and Stevens met for a second time in 2019. Their renewed friendship blossomed into romance and the future looked bright. But at the end of August 2021, Stevens was diagnosed with esophageal cancer.

So began a frightening and life-threatening medical battle that resulted in Stevens being placed in an induced coma.

91裸聊视频淲hen he came out of the coma he said, 91裸聊视频榯he first person I thought of was you. I had to live to be with you,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� said Bentley with emotion. 91裸聊视频淚 knew then he was going to make it.91裸聊视频�

Plans to have a wedding in beautiful off-grid Seymour Arm, a place they both love, began, only to be threatened by the Bush Creek East wildfire.

Shattered by the prospect of not being able to marry as planned, Bentley said she and her guests were overwhelmed by the regional district91裸聊视频檚 willingness to make the wedding happen.

91裸聊视频淥ur wedding guests couldn91裸聊视频檛 believe they would do it,91裸聊视频� she says. 91裸聊视频淧eople cared and wanted something good to come out of something so tragic.91裸聊视频�

At the wedding, Bentley wore red, the colour of love, and her daughter91裸聊视频檚 dress was yellow to symbolize hope. She was given away by sons Jason and Jory, and her son John91裸聊视频檚 four-year-old daughter, Miley, acted as her flower girl.

Although the Squilax-Anglemont Road had opened in time for guests, photographer and caterer to make their way to Seymour Arm last Saturday, Bentley remains grateful to the CSRD.

91裸聊视频淭he intent was always there, and I think that was the important part,91裸聊视频� she says. 91裸聊视频淲ow! Somebody actually listened, heard and cared.91裸聊视频�

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