The missing piece in Joanne WittstockB次元官网网址檚 life was a childhood friend whom she hadnB次元官网网址檛 seen for nearly four decades. She just wasnB次元官网网址檛 sure if he would want to see her.

Wittstock and Kent Wiley were inseparable growing up in a Toronto neighbourhood. They played and went to school together, and were even each otherB次元官网网址檚 best men at their weddings.

But as their lives changed the pair drifted apart, as people do.

They last saw each other at Expo 86 in Vancouver, and in the years that followed Wiley moved halfway around the world. Wittstock meanwhile transitioned from being a man to becoming a woman. She told her family and friends, but never had the chance to tell Wiley that Jeff had become Joanne.

B次元官网网址淚 had some trepidation. I was hoping for the best, fearful for something else.B次元官网网址�

Wittstock, who lives in Salmon Arm, is the subject of a new TVO documentary series titled Yearbook. Over six episodes, a variety of people reconnect with someone from their school days.

WittstockB次元官网网址檚 episode features scenes shot in Nelson, where she credits the organization ANKORS with providing her support services during her transition. The series debuted Jan. 16 and can be watched in its entirely online for free at .

Wittstock was approached by YearbookB次元官网网址檚 casting director Laura Morris on the website Quora, where Wittstock writes about trans issues. She knew immediately who she would want to reconnect with.

B次元官网网址淐hildhood is formative. The people who share experiences, theyB次元官网网址檒l become part of you at the core. I think Kent knows me as well as anybody despite the fact we hadnB次元官网网址檛 seen each other for a very long time.B次元官网网址�

Executive producer Mark Johnston was tasked with finding Wiley, who had moved to Thailand where he had a family. It wasnB次元官网网址檛 too hard B次元官网网址� the TVO team looked him up on Linkedin B次元官网网址� and Johnston said the timing of the call was serendipitous.

B次元官网网址淸Wiley] was flabbergasted because I think the day before he had just been sorting through childhood pictures in which Joanne appeared.B次元官网网址�

Wiley committed to meeting Wittstock in Toronto for a reunion, but Johnston didnB次元官网网址檛 tell him about WittstockB次元官网网址檚 transition. That moment he would leave for the cameras.

Wittstock, a 70-year-old retired geologist, lives with her partner Marsha Bradcoe. She came out publicly as trans in 2016 or 2017, and the pair helped form in 2022.

In the TVO episode, Wittstock and her daughter Morgan share a scene in which they discuss how Wiley might react to seeing her. Wittstock remembers dressing in girls clothing as a child and came out to some people as a teenager, but for years she stayed silent.

When Wittstock began telling friends and family she was transitioning, it required time and a delicate approach.

B次元官网网址淐oming out as an individual, one-on-one, done right is a complicated discussion with one other person. ItB次元官网网址檚 a very high energy event. So finding the time and the opportunity to do that is not that easy.B次元官网网址�

Reactions tend to be mixed. Wittstock estimates a quarter of the people she tells are enthusiastic, while most are apathetic. A small percentage are either hostile or eventually drift away.

The positive is that has made room for people in her life that wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be there if she hadnB次元官网网址檛 come out as trans.

Readers will have to watch the episode to find out how Wiley reacts to meeting Wittstock again for the first time. Johnston said the joy of the series is in watching people find each other.

B次元官网网址淚n all the shows, for us as filmmakers weB次元官网网址檙e kind of holding people back on each side and then releasing them as they come back together. It made for what I thought was such a beautiful reunion. It was just so wonderful after all these years.B次元官网网址�

No matter how the reunion played out, Wittstock is confident in who she is now. ItB次元官网网址檚 for the world to meet her where she is.

B次元官网网址淢y authenticity is in many ways an armour because if youB次元官网网址檙e being authentically yourself, itB次元官网网址檚 quite easy to take the attitude B次元官网网址榠tB次元官网网址檚 your problem, not mine.B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 like you either deal with it or you canB次元官网网址檛. ThatB次元官网网址檚 your problem, sort it out.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 happy to be a friend.B次元官网网址�

Support services for the 2SLGBTQI+ people and their families in the Shuswap Region can be found at , located at 450 Okanagan Ave. E in Salmon Arm. In Nelson, ANKORSB次元官网网址� program is at 101 Baker St.