Braelyn Jardine is grateful for her community’s support.
She was set to compete in the World Dance Cup in Dublin, Ireland, but needed a little help. Her fellow community members in Grand Manan stepped up.
“She’s with the Grand Manan Dance Academy,” Gail Jardine, Braelyn’s grandmother, said.
Braelyn was chosen by a scout to represent Canada on the world stage.
“It was just kind of a fun activity I liked to do at first,” Braelyn said in Ireland.
Braelyn said there were many fundraisers and donations to help her pay for the trip.
“We went to the local businesses and they donated,” Gail said. “We did a lot of fundraisers … The community has been amazing with everything.”
Canada would finish 17th among 60 countries. Braelyn was able to trade pins, taking a piece of other countries back home to the island with her.
Gail said the family has been overwhelmed by the support.
“[We’re] so thankful for anything and everything anybody has done,” Gail said.
Grand Manan Mayor Bonnie Morse said an islander competing on the international stage is exciting.
“I think particularly for Grand Manan because our access to programs is so limited — it’s much harder to ‘drive into the city’ for coaching or to compete at a higher level — it makes it that much more meaningful,” she said.
Morse said Grand Manan supports its own. The island is the largest in the Bay of Fundy and is home to 2,600 people.
“Because we know everyone and we have such strong connections, it’s like seeing a part of us achieve that level of success,” Morse said. “It’s why I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.”
As for Braelyn, the support has meant everything as she returned to the island she calls home and the community that helped send her to Dublin.
