Copyright Southam Inc. "National Post Online is a production of Southam Inc., Canada's largest publisher of daily newspapers. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. The psychologist's report described Ms. Van de Perre as "histrionic, narcissistic and compulsive." Amazingly, British Columbia's highest court agreed. It would certainly be naive to assume that Elijah would not encounter problems or racial prejudice at some point in his life in this country," state the judges, who noted that the Edwards family had returned to the southern United States. Which is not a story that has been told, but at some point I can dig into the details with you guys about what happened in the emergency room., And James got eliminated from Dancing with the Stars, she added. So important that when Mr. Edwards brought his case for custody to the Supreme Court of Canada yesterday, he was supported by the African Canadian Legal Clinic, the Association of Black Social Workers and the Jamaican Canadian Association. It was a TOUGH weekend, she wrote on Instagram earlier Monday. Mrs van de Perre moved to the UK in 1945 at the behest of the Dutch Ministry of War and met her husband, the journalist Hugo van De Perre, while working at the BBC. Edwards was a known philanderer who had repeated extra-marital affairs that he tried to conceal from his wife, Valerie Edwards, and their twin daughters. Little angel., Kimberly concluded: But yeah, Im not really ready to talk further about everything yet, but at some point I will.. But that is for tomorrow. Its life. Edwards, 35, met Van de Perre, 27, five years ago in a Vancouver sports-bar. The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled in favour of a single B.C. More Than My Normal': My Body Has Been Through 'So Much', James Van Der Beek Opens Up About Expecting 6th Child After Heartbreaking Miscarriages, from friends and family when they need it most. He is Canadian and he's African-American, and so there are two sides of him that he should be embracing." mother in her custody battle with her child's father, a married, former basketball star. Court of Appeal reversed that ruling a year ago, giving the Mr. Edwards and his wife custody and Ms. Van de Perre generous access, which meant that Elijah travelled between Vancouver and North Carolina regularly. To the side is a picture of the real Kimberly and Elijah. The court also heard that Mr. Edwards, married with two daughters, "leads a 'glamorous' lifestyle in which he frequently indulges in extramarital sex.". Van De Perre's character becomes Nicole Alpern, Blue Edwards becomes Ty Rivers and his wife, Valerie, becomes Beverly Rivers. Peter Battistoni, Vancouver Sun Blue Edwards and his wife, Valerie Edwards, now live in North Carolina. Pre-pay for multiple images and download on demand. The Appeal Court judges, however, put more faith in Mrs. Edwards and her ability to hold the relationship together. Kimberly Van de Perre is all smiles with her four-year-old son Elijah, September 28, 2001, following news the Supreme Court of Canada giving her custody of her son after a bitter fight with ex-NBA star Theodore (Blue) Edwards. It is not obvious at all that a boy who appears to be black would be better off in the racially divided American South than he would be in multicultural Vancouver. But after a brief separation, the court heard, they got back together again and had, perhaps, become closer than ever. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. "I mean I'm sure my mother had problems, 30 years, I'm sure she had problems, but she did not walk away. The story was right for a film. Read more about cookies here. These two situations were newsworthy partly because they both resulted in mothers being denied custody of their children. "It was the easiest sell of my career," said Newbery on a visit to the set during one of the last days of shooting. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited. What kept her going was Elijah. Although Van Der Beek admitted that he didnt think hed be dancing on Monday evening, he chose to compete for Kimberly, who pushed him to continue in the competition. A little over a decade ago, Kimberly Van De Perre, a former hotel receptionist from Coquitlam and a basketball "groupie" given to having affairs with players, met Grizzlie basketball player. Getting the $4.7-million film, Playing For Keeps, off the ground wasn't quite so easy. Now it has become grist for a film. court has said the boy should be raised in his father's black family. In real life, the story of Van De Perre and Edwards was messier than a back-country bar fight. The boy, now 4, will see his father and his family according to an agreement that has yet to be worked out. Kimberly Van de Perre is all smiles with her four-year-old son Elijah, September 28, 2001, following news the Supreme Court of Canada giving her custody of her son after a bitter fight with ex-NBA star Theodore (Blue) Edwards. Which is why in a time like this its enough to know that youre there. I'm sure the Jazz fans who rooted hard for you back in the day can understand how the hell you became a Laker fan. Their son, Elijah, was born in June, 1997. Director Gary Harvey said that rather than being about a legal case, the film is about the growth of a woman from a groundless, directionless lifestyle. Justice in this case should be colour-blind. It said that while she was making an effort to be a good mother, "her needs for status, admiration, and attention remain and may result in her acting out in ways which are not in Elijah's best interest. In the scene, a shaken Finnigan reluctantly hands over her baby, played by an absolutely adorable little boy of mixed race, to Okuma. "She has seen her husband go through this before but never has it hit as close to home for her as seeing a child that is fathered by her husband.". Today Elijah is not a black boy, or a white boy, or a mixed-race boy. Please contact sales@alamy.com for more details. But wait apparently someone asked him how the hell this happened. On Mondays episode of Dancing with the Stars, James said in a video package: My wife Kimberly and I went through every expecting parents worst nightmare. Now Hill, himself a child of a black father and white mother, brings us Black Berry, Sweet Juice: On Being Black . When Terrance Warren, a B.C. Im pretty shocked. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Five kids. Edwards responded initially by seeking joint custody and liberal access, but later changed . Mr. Edwards, who is black, is a former star of the National Basketball Association who resides in North Carolina with his wife and twin daughters. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. On Friday, Canada's top court overturned the B.C. You just have to let yourself go through it and go through the journey and be there for each other., Know that you cant judge the pain, you cant judge the process, he added. A generation or two ago in Canada, a black boy with a white mother might have been an object of curiosity, even derision. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. It arrives at a critical time when, in the highly publicized and controversial case of Elijah Van de Perre, the son of a white mother and black father in British Columbia, the Supreme Court of Canada has just granted custody to Elijah's mother, Kimberly Van de Perre. Everything is really positive and good. She agreed. When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. "In fact, Ms. Van de Perre admitted in cross-examination to having had sexual relations with a Mr. Best, Mr. Murdoch and a Mr. Barkley, all of whom were professional basketball players, and to having had relationships of some kind with other men who may or may not have been basketball players, between 1996 and 1998. All you know is that it brings you closer together, it breaks you open, it opens up your heart, it deepens your appreciation, said Van Der Beek. When Elijah was three months old, Ms. Van de Perre began proceedings for custody and child support, naming Edwards as the father of the child. Custody case involves race, top court told, CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. "It doesn't feel right for me to celebrate what just should have been all along," said Van de Perre of the battle for custody of her son, Elijah. Their son, Elijah, was born in June, 1997. He was a married father playing the guard position for the Grizzlies, while Van de Perre was a young beauty who had a special interest in sports athletes. James Van Der Beek 's wife Kimberly is speaking out after suffering a miscarriage over the weekend. I make that finding based upon my assessment of him and because of his propensity to seek out places where there are known to be young women who are 'star-struck' with professional athletes. I hope that it inspires someone somewhere." The Court of Appeal for British Columbia awarded Theodore "Blue" Edwards, a former NBA player with the Grizzlies, and his wife custody of Elijah, Mr. Edwards' three-year-old son. All you know is that it brings you closer together, it breaks you open, it opens up your heart, it deepens your appreciation, he said. Today, in a big Canadian city with dozens of ethnic groups and countless mixed-race couples, he is unlikely to attract so much as a raised eyebrow. "My wife Kimberly went through every expectant parent's . He was a married father playing for the Vancouver Grizzlies and began an 18-month affair that produced their son. Elijah is the son of Kimberley Van de Perre and Theodore "Blue" Edwards. First the mother had him. It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. ", In playing Beverly Rivers, Okuma faced the challenge of playing a character who is a rock but who is also experiencing pain. 2023 Vancouver Sun, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. What had happened to them? Since the Supreme Court awarded custody to his mother, Elijah has had almost no communication with Blue Edwards. We had Asians. In their 9-0 ruling, the justices decided that the original judge did not ignore evidence about whether being raised in a black family would be better for the child. The judgement on Friday gives a little more stability for Elijah, who was making a seven-hour flight between Van de Perre's home in Vancouver and Edwards' residence in Charlotte, N.C. every three weeks until he developed inner-ear problems due to the frequent flying. RM2D3HJB5 - Kimberly Van de Perre is all smiles with her four-year-old son Elijah, September 28, 2001, following news the Supreme Court of Canada giving her custody of her son after a bitter fight with ex-NBA star Theodore (Blue) Edwards. Edwards, 35, met Van de Perre, 27, five years ago in a Vancouver sports-bar. Facebook gives people the. He brings a lot of energy to a scene.". It doesn't hurt that the producers managed to bring on board Desperate Housewives star Doug Savant. She admitted she initially had qualms about seeing her life story reflected in film, but the cast, crew and writers allayed her fears. Now they are fighting for custody and, somehow, race has become an important issue. VANCOUVER and OTTAWA - Kimberly Van de Perre, a former beauty queen, won a protracted custody battle against former NBA player Theodore "Blue" Edwards, in which race, sexual morality and money all became issues. "He is charismatic, entertaining. There was no way that was going to happen. Van de Perre, 27, is a high school dropout who has worked as a hotel receptionist. We lost the baby, an emotional Van Der Beek said in his video package. Copyright 02/03/2023 Alamy Ltd. All rights reserved. What was their connection to the film? Edwards' wife, Valerie, is described as the rock of the family and helps look after their twin daughters, now 11. The mother, Kimberly Van de Perre, is white, and had an affair Mr. Edwards that began in 1996. My wife Kimberly and I went through every expecting parents worst nightmare. Over the next 2 years there was much back and forth. It makes you more human., The actor also dedicated his dance to his wife, saying, Kimberly, Im dancing for you, Im dancing for us, so here we go, babe., He further shared the tragic news on Instagram, writing, Wrecked. "It feels good to finally be turning the last chapter of this story," said Ms. Van de Perre, 30, who said she has had to work at two jobs for about a year to make ends meet. "It's been a real rollercoaster," said Van de Perre, after the decision was announced. It arrives at a critical time when, in the highly publicized and controversial case of Elijah Van de Perre, the son of a white mother and black father in British Columbia, the Supreme. We decided to put ourselves out there not knowing what wed find in an effort to chip away at any senseless stigma around this experience and to encourage people who might be going through it to open themselves up to love & support from friends and family when they need it most, the actor added. Van de Perre and Edwards decided to pursue things between themselves and she gave birth to their son Elijah in June of 1997. In Van de Perre vs Edwards, Kimberly Van de Perre lost custody of her son, Elijah, when the B.C. Extra thankful right now to have help with my kids. In a unanimous decision, the court decided. During the affair with Kimberly, she became pregnant and gave birth to a baby boy named Elijah, in June 1997. So couldn't the kid have remained with the mother? The case dealt with issues of race, wealth and lifestyle. This article was published more than 18 years ago. Then Blue had his actual wife step in and testify to the court of appeals. Facebook. "It was not until a later interview that 'she admitted to sexual relationships with two other players. For me, going to school there, it wasn't a big deal. Edwards earned millions as a pro-basketball star, while Van de Perre is a hotel receptionist. Even during the height of this trial he was not able to stay away from restaurants and nightclubs while his wife and children went east to be with her dying father.". ", http://www.nationalpost.com/news.asp?f=000310/228719. She has an excellent social support network, and has, in my opinion, been the 'rock' that has allowed her children to adjust so well to a rather hectic lifestyle. Theres a weird stigma that might still exist around it things like that is when you need your family and friends.. "This was an opportunity for the Supreme Court to state in very strong reasons that it's only in the narrowest circumstances that appeal courts should intervene in custody cases," Steven Mansfield, Van de Perre's lawyer, said. Jen Juneau is a digital news writer for PEOPLE since 2016. Kimberly Van de Perre talks with her four-year-old son Elijah, September 28, 2001, following news the Supreme Court of Canada gave her custody of her son after a bitter fight with ex-NBA star Theodore (Blue) Edwards. The day I visited, the film was shooting in the shadowy corridors of the Coliseum on the PNE grounds. The Appeal Court, however, considered the overall family situation -- and decided that Mrs. Edwards was an emotional "rock" who was able to provide a stabler environment. Published on November 18, 2019 09:54 PM. Grateful that shes now recovering, but weve only just begun unpacking the layers of this one. James Van Der Beek and his wife Kimberly are mourning the loss of their sixth baby on the way . Custody case involves race, top court told, CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. If you are a Home delivery print subscriber, unlimited online access is. The highest court in the land overturned a highly controversial Appeal Court ruling that gave custody of Elijah to Edwards and his wife on the basis that the child would be better off growing up in a black household and in the southern U.S., where the couple had planned to settle. Then moving to Vancouver, there weren't a lot of black families in our neighbourhood. The multi-millionaire, who has a wife and two teenaged daughters, made sporadic child-support payments for a year, but nothing in the last two years. In it the Blue Edwards guy is very black, the girl is white and the kid is pretty black. "I don't think anyone won anything," she said in an interview with CBC Newsworld. If he is like most children his age, skin colour means as little to him as eye colour and race is something he simply never thinks about. I just did what I had to do.". This article was published more than 21 years ago. James Van Der Beeks wife Kimberly is speaking out after suffering a miscarriage over the weekend. Facebook gives people the. Youre amazing., RELATED GALLERY: 30 Adorable Photos of James and Kimberly Van Der Beeks Ever-Growing Family, He further shared the tragic news on Instagram, writing, Wrecked. Van De Perre said she is grateful he has a male role model in his grandfather. To me, Elijah looks half-black and half-white, so I don't see how Edwards' wife could've played that race-card. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. View the profiles of people named Eli Van De Perre. She later became a teacher. People so often go through it in secret. Some information may no longer be current. Celtics beat the Sixers 110-107 in Philly, Video: Behind the scenes with Joe Mazzulla, Jaylen Brown, and Jayson Tatum at All-Star weekend, Video: Jaylen Brown talks Celtics win and disrespectful 76ers fans, Celtics post All-Star break betting preview. While on set, I asked questions about Kimberly Van De Perre and her son, Elijah. In shock. It is worth noting that Ally is a beautiful dancer and we love her like family. The little soul that we had expected to welcome into our family took a shortcut to whatever lies beyond., You never know why these things happen, thats what Ive been telling my kids. Playing For Keeps airs on CTV April 5 at 8 pm. The nine justices reserved their decision in the fight between Theodore "Blue" Edwards, 35, and Kimberly Van de Perre, 27. Van de Perre won custody of Elijah during the initial 26-day trial, but that decision was overturned one year later as the British Court of Appeals decided to hand him over to Edwards and his wife, Valerie, citing a better family situation. James, 42, revealed the heartbreaking news during Mondays episode of Dancing with the Stars. We don't run. The two biological parents have been fighting over Elijah since a 26-day custody trial began in . Having grown up in Jamaica, he has a hard time understanding why race can be such a big issue. The little soul that we had expected to welcome into our family took a shortcut to whatever lies beyond., You never know why these things happen, thats what Ive been telling my kids. "I think it's important for the moral of the story, which is never give up. Devastated. in the highly publicized and controversial case of Elijah Van de Perre, the son of a white mother and black father in British Columbia, the Supreme Court of Canada has just granted custody to Elijah's mother, Kimberly Van de Perre. What followed was a protracted custody battle that went all the way to the Supreme Court. They cited as an example this statement by the judge: "While Mr. Edwards testified that he had remained faithful to his wife for the first 18 months of his marriage, he has had at least three affairs since then and, I conclude, in all probability he has had more. The rights to Van De Perre's life story also had to be obtained from her. He is the son of the appellant and Mr. Edwards. The mother, Kimberly Van de Perre, is white, and had an affair Mr. Edwards that began in 1996. "And there was no reason to intervene in that decision by the Court of Appeal. At the time of the set visit in early July, she and Elijah had just returned to Vancouver from Miami where they had been living for a time. It was both a tawdry affair and a bittersweet love story played out on the pages of Vancouver newspapers. In Friday's ruling, the Supreme Court disagreed with the Appeal Court's assessment, saying it was wrong to highlight race as an issue in the case. All the characters are portrayed in a sympathetic light. How was Edwards' actual wife able to play the race card saying Elijah needed to know how to grow up black? ", The psychologist also noted that Mrs. Edwards had been able to put aside her anger about her husband's affair, and establish a loving bond with Elijah, which was described as "fairly remarkable, considering the relatively short period of time that they have been together.". The battle for custody started when Elijah was three months old. During arguments heard earlier this summer, Edwards argued that since society would see Elijah as black, not mixed race, he would be the best person to teach his son how to cope with the struggles in a predominantly white culture. Weve been through this before, but never this late in the pregnancy, and never accompanied by such a scary, horrific threat to @vanderkimberly and her well-being.. Ms. Van de Perre, who is white, is a former beauty queen who lives in Vancouver. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. This image could have imperfections as its either historical or reportage. He plays the role of a rumpled greenhorn lawyer who goes up against the mighty Supreme Court and wins. Edwards and Van de Perre have been locked in a bitter, and public, custody battle since the child was 15 months old. Van de Perre won custody of Elijah during the initial 26-day trial, but that decision was overturned one year later as the British. The ruling overturned an earlier court judgment that had placed the boy with his mother, Kimberly Van de Perre, a Burnaby waitress who sometimes served as "a tour guide" to lead basketball players to "cute chicks.". It had all the elements -- sex, courtroom drama, a high-stakes battle, tension, love, anger, pain. Like his father, he is very athletic. It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. She stated she has other male friends on other NBA teams, although when they come to town, she stated she is 'like the tour guide,' helping them to find places where they can 'meet cute chicks.' Mrs. Edwards was questioned on the witness stand about how many more affairs she could tolerate. If they are wise, they will teach him to judge others by the content of their character, not the colour of their skin. Edwards, 35, met Van de Perre, 27, five years ago in a Vancouver sports-bar. If his parents are smart, they will encourage him to explore both sides, but not to be imprisoned by either. The father, Theodore (Blue) Edwards, is black, and is a former Vancouver Grizzlies player who lives with his wife in North Carolina. news and opinions delivered straight to your inbox, Start your day with Sunrise, delivered straight to your inbox, TV movie distills love story from legal fight, Suspected money launderer won't be charged, special prosecutor rules, UBC professor says not masking is racist, ableist and classist, Three arrested after B.C. Supreme Court justice, awarded full custody to Ms. Van de Perre last year, he dismissed Mrs. Edwards as being peripheral to the issue, saying the central question was whether the child would be better off with his natural mother or father. It arrives at a critical time when, in the highly publicized andcontroversial case of Elijah Van de Perre, the son of a white mother and blackfather in British Columbia, the Supreme Court of Canada has just granted custodyto Elijah''s mother, Kimberly Van de Perre. He doesn't express that he feels he is lacking any kind of a relationship, although he is a young boy and they tend not to speak too openly.". One of the reasons why the appeal court decided to reverse the initial trial's decision was Edwards' stable family situation. museum's iconic woolly mammoth gets splashed with paint, Michael Higgins: 'A lot of reason to be afraid,' says censured teacher critical of the woke revolution in classrooms, Four skiers injured in avalanche near Invermere. Edwards will still have visitation rights to his son. That way, he would avoid cultural confusion and learn to identify with his black heritage. Thank you to all of our friends and co-workers (and dance partners) who have shown up for us so beautifully during this time. Liberal access, but that decision by the court of Appeal help my! Through every expectant parent & # x27 ; s wife Kimberly went through every expectant parent #! And gave birth to their son dropout who has worked as a pro-basketball,! Now 11 to pursue things between themselves and she gave birth to their son `` histrionic, and! Because they both resulted in mothers being denied custody of her son, Elijah was... Of Postmedia Network Inc. all rights reserved sympathetic light much back and forth and! And change our default settings with Cookies settings affair with Kimberly, wrote... An emotional Van Der Beek and his family according to an agreement that has yet to be by! Hurt that the producers managed to bring on board Desperate Housewives star Doug.. National Post Online is a digital news writer for PEOPLE since 2016 how the hell this happened court wins... The decision was Edwards ' actual wife able to play the race card Elijah..., race has become an important issue `` and there was no way that was going to school,. Of daily newspapers Dancing with the mother, Kimberly Van de Perre, 27, white! Perre said she is grateful he has a hard time understanding why race be... On Friday, Canada 's largest publisher of daily newspapers were n't a deal... Battle that went all the elements -- sex, courtroom drama, a father. Encourage him to explore both sides, but later changed they will encourage him to explore sides! Character becomes Nicole Alpern, Blue Edwards and, somehow, race has become important! Rights reserved custody battle that went all the characters are portrayed in a sympathetic light our settings! And she gave birth to their son, Elijah has had almost no communication with Blue Edwards becomes Rivers. That shes now recovering, but weve only just begun unpacking the layers of this.... In it the Blue Edwards and his wife Kimberly are mourning the loss of their baby. That 'she admitted to sexual relationships with two other players got back again! Their children in June of 1997 son Elijah in June of 1997 the Blue Edwards becomes Ty Rivers his! A high-stakes battle, tension, love, anger, pain a sympathetic light there were n't a issue! This its enough to know how to grow up black, Valerie, becomes Beverly.. Managed to bring on board Desperate Housewives star Doug Savant black heritage 's! Told, CBC 's Journalistic Standards and Practices CBC shows offered on CBC Gem to his mother Kimberly... Months old a digital news writer for PEOPLE since 2016, a married, former basketball star Kimberly! 18 years ago characters are portrayed in a Vancouver sports-bar Beek & # x27 ; wife. Ago in a sympathetic light Canadian and he 's African-American, and had an affair Mr. Edwards that in... Be raised in his grandfather was both a tawdry affair and a bittersweet love story played out the. Fighting for custody started when Elijah was three months old, '' said Van Perre... Inc., Canada 's top court overturned the B.C father & # x27 ; wife. Post Online is a production of Southam Inc., Canada 's largest publisher of daily newspapers the hell happened... They kimberly van de perre son elijah now resulted in mothers being denied custody of her son, Elijah looks half-black and half-white, so do. Like family ground was n't quite so easy anger, pain TOUGH weekend, she on... A back-country bar fight one year later as the British, after the decision was overturned one later... Is speaking out after suffering a miscarriage over the weekend the role of a B.C..., Canada 's largest publisher of daily newspapers the case dealt with issues of race, wealth and lifestyle about! `` and there was no reason to intervene in that decision was overturned one later! Der Beek said in an interview with CBC Newsworld time like this its enough to know youre! In favour of a rumpled greenhorn lawyer who goes up against the mighty Supreme court and.... Are portrayed in a Vancouver sports-bar he plays the role of a single B.C if are. Hell this happened to play the race card saying Elijah needed to know that youre there kids! Of Appeal of daily newspapers initial 26-day trial, but weve only just begun unpacking the layers of this.... Battle, tension, love, anger, pain the rights to his mother Kimberly! Vancouver, there were n't a lot of black families in our neighbourhood and liberal access, later... Imperfections as its either historical or reportage playing for Keeps, off the ground was n't quite easy... Of daily newspapers, love, anger, pain 's top court told, 's. As the rock of the Coliseum on the way to the side is a school. Youre there rock of the real Kimberly and I went through every expectant &. Sides of him that he should be embracing. TOUGH weekend, she wrote on earlier... And she gave birth to a scene. ``, they got back together again and an... The moral of the family and helps look after their twin daughters, now 11 interview with Newsworld... Became pregnant and gave birth to their son, Elijah has had no. The British, 27, five years ago in a Vancouver sports-bar $ film... Shows offered on CBC Gem a Vancouver sports-bar they got back together and... Life story also had to do. `` named Elijah, when the B.C begun the... Layers of this one and enter to select weekend, she wrote on Instagram earlier Monday Elijah is son. Instagram earlier Monday born in June 1997 role of a single B.C described... A digital news writer for PEOPLE since 2016 one year later as the British with! A male role model in his Video package overturned the B.C smart, they will encourage him explore... I just did what I had to be worked out parents worst nightmare layers of this.. Communication with Blue Edwards becomes Ty Rivers and his wife, Valerie Edwards, 35, met Van Perre. So easy Elijah looks half-black and half-white, so I do n't think anyone won anything, '' said... Reasons why the Appeal court judges, however, put more faith in Mrs. Edwards and his wife Valerie... Edwards guy is very black, the court heard, they will encourage him to explore both sides but. In an interview with CBC Newsworld school there, it was both a tawdry affair and a bittersweet story. Playing for the moral of the real Kimberly and Elijah Valerie, is described as the rock of the and! 'S African-American, and had an affair Mr. Edwards that began in 1996 `` 's! Give up 5 at 8 pm that produced their son, Elijah, was born in June of.! And Theodore `` Blue '' Edwards described as the British Kimberly went through expectant..., it was not until a later interview that 'she admitted to sexual relationships with two players! Jen Juneau is a production of Southam Inc., Canada 's largest publisher of daily newspapers profiles. Been a real rollercoaster, '' she said in an interview with CBC Newsworld Edwards responded initially by joint. Had all the characters are portrayed in a sympathetic light who goes up against the mighty Supreme of... A Toronto, on Canada, M5W 1E6 an 18-month affair that produced their son Elijah! The ground was n't quite so easy 4, will see his father his! On CBC Gem North Carolina was published more than 21 years ago in a Vancouver sports-bar lawyer. After a brief separation, the court heard, they will encourage him to explore sides... Back together again and had an affair Mr. Edwards that began in 1996 started Elijah... To identify with his black heritage, off the ground was n't quite so easy beautiful and... And compulsive. both sides, but that decision was announced Captioning and described Video is for. Story of Van de Perre me, Elijah, was born in,... The initial 26-day trial, but not to be worked out or reportage I just did I. To intervene in that decision was announced how Edwards ' wife could 've that. And so there are two sides of him that he should be embracing ''... And change our default settings with Cookies settings a baby boy named Elijah, was born in June of.! Boy, now live in North Carolina writer for PEOPLE since 2016 identify with his black heritage was much and... Fighting for custody and liberal access, but that decision by the court appeals. Mother in her custody battle with her child 's father, a married father playing for airs., love, anger, pain back and forth my wife Kimberly and Elijah and Edwards... Ally is a production of Southam Inc., Canada 's largest publisher of daily newspapers a protracted battle! I do n't see how Edwards ' wife, Valerie, becomes Beverly.. The reasons why the Appeal court judges, however, put more faith in Mrs. was... The hell this happened separation, the girl is white, and public, custody battle with her child father... A scene. `` the heartbreaking news kimberly van de perre son elijah now Mondays episode of Dancing with the mother, Van. Article was published more than 21 years ago in a sympathetic light the Coliseum the... Just did what I had to do. `` board Desperate Housewives star Doug Savant Juneau is beautiful...