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Reuniting people with mitts and more builds online B.C. community

91ƵEven little things make a difference91Ƶ says woman running online lost and found
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This tiny stuffy has yet to be reunited with its family, but is drawing a lot of attention and creating community on the Oak Bay Lost & Found Facebook page.(Courtesy Cyndra Townley)

Cyndra Townley is physically incapable of passing by a lonely mitten.

Finding things isn91Ƶt new to her. It91Ƶs actually a bit of a super power.

91ƵI once found my mother-in-law91Ƶs diamond upside down in the shag rug behind her fridge.91Ƶ

These days it91Ƶs primarily cashmere beanies, tiny shoes, dog licence tags and keys.

A lot of keys.

91ƵThis is stuff that if I lost it it would drive me crazy,91Ƶ Townley said.

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She once picked up a tiny bootie in Beacon Hill Park and through the power of social media got it back to the owner 91Ƶ well the owner91Ƶs parents. What seemed an inconsequential piece of clothing returned was actually from Denmark, a gift from grandparents and of course part of a pair.

91ƵI delivered this bootie in Rockland and this couple was over the moon. That gave me this perspective that even little things make a difference,91Ƶ Townley said.

Finding the neighbourhood groups on social media cluttered with home rental listings and quasi-jokes about leaf blowers, Townley created a dedicated page on Facebook called .

There she and the community match up people with a ton of missing keys and mitts, plus the odd plushie.

She marks her latest stuffed animal the most rewarding 91Ƶ and popular 91Ƶ find to date.

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91ƵHe was sticking out of a two-foot-high wet, dirty leaf pile on Beach Drive and he91Ƶs only three inches high,91Ƶ Townley said. 91ƵI had to go back and get him, it registered in my mind I had passed something. I pictured somebody had chucked this out of a stroller and there91Ƶs a mum going 91Ƶoh my son or daughter lost their favourite 91Ƶ91Ƶ91Ƶ

It91Ƶs now had a wash and brush with before and after photos posted online, the bear has yet to be reunited with its family.

It also elicited the most heartfelt and copious responses. A back-and-forth of conversation and ideas also plays into the underlying reason Townley started the page.

A Canadian who grew up in war-torn Libya, she91Ƶs a fan of creating positive community.

91ƵI know what a terrible community looks like. Anything I can do to make us feel like a community, I91Ƶll do it,91Ƶ she said. 91ƵIt91Ƶs really rewarding. People can be quite reserved 91Ƶ it91Ƶs just a huge icebreaker. That and the block watch.91Ƶ

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Shortly after moving to Oak Bay three years ago, she joined Block Watch as another way to build community and meet people. Now she91Ƶs a leader for 60 homes in her neighbourhood. It also morphed into work with the Oak Bay Emergency Preparedness Program.

91ƵI need to make this place feel connected to me,91Ƶ Townley said.

She figures about one-third of the items listed on the Facebook page wind up returned. She recently successfully retrieved her own lost light-up dog collar.

And Townley has a potential plan for the leftovers.

Already she91Ƶs envisioning the community connection that might be created with a clothesline of lonely gloves, boots and wayward caps, and an invitation online to let folks know to 91Ƶcome by for the things you lost.91Ƶ



About the Author: Christine van Reeuwyk

Longtime journalist with the Greater Victoria news team.
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