Thirty years ago two young Canadian women, Nancy Hannemann and Coral Poser met in an isolated rural community in Nigeria. Coral, a CUSO sponsored ESL teacher and Nancy, an anthropology masters student at Manchester University became firm friends but lost touch when Nancy returned to the UK to complete her studies. The two women have not seen or heard from each other since.
Before leaving Nigeria, Nancy asked Coral to buy her some traditional Yoruba fabric from a local market which Coral did. Unfortunately Nancy left the country before Coral could give her the cloth. Today Coral, who runs Rico Massage with her partner Rintje Raap still has that fabric at their home in Sooke.
Nancy now lives in Edmonton, Alberta with her partner David Hannis who was in Sooke recently to check out Harbourside Cohousing. Coincidentally while he was in Sooke he met Coral and learned of her previous friendship with Nancy. As a result a reunion took place at Harbourside over the Thanksgiving weekend when the African fabric was formally handed over to Nancy by Coral.