The power of social media played in favour of Bunbun, a stuffed bunny lost in the holiday shuffle at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) that’s finding its way home thanks to a viral tweet.
Alberta Senator Paula Simons took to Twitter on Tuesday, saying the bunny was left behind in the travel frenzy and her daughter had turned it over to the airport’s lost and found.
“She’s hoping for a happy ending,” Simons said in a tweet, noting she wanted the toy back in the arms of its rightful owner as well.
Do you know this bunny? This well-loved fren got left behind in the frenzy at the Vancouver airport today. My daughter turned Bunny into the #YVR lost & found this evening, after her own flight was cancelled. She’s hoping for a happy ending. (I am too.) #yvrsnow #Vancouver pic.twitter.com/dbahayR8nd
— Paula Simons (@Paulatics) December 21, 2022
YVR was crowded Tuesday with stranded travellers, many sitting or sleeping on floors, as heavy snowfall played havoc on transportation in the region during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year.
Amid the chaos, Simon’s tweet was shared more than 1,000 times, including by Canadian media personality George Stroumboulopoulos who asked Simons to “keep us updated if the bunny is reunited with their human.”
That is for sure. Keep us updated if the bunny is reunited with their human.
— George Stroumboulopoulos 🐺 (@strombo) December 21, 2022
Bunnyhop to Friday, the owner was found.
“That’s our son’s Bunbun! After 60 hours of delays and flight cancellations, we finally arrived in Edmonton for our son’s first time meeting his Canadian family,” Neva Bassingthwaite said in reply to Simon. “Our luggage is still lost in transit, so reuniting them would be a Christmas miracle!”
That's our son's Bunbun! After 60 hours of delays and flight cancellations, we finally arrived in Edmonton for our son's first time meeting his Canadian family. Our luggage is still lost in transit so reuniting them would be a Christmas miracle! pic.twitter.com/6noBrJ8jlZ
— Neva bassingthwaite (@Nevabassingthwa) December 24, 2022
On Christmas Day, YVR shared some good news.
“We’ve been in touch with the owner and are in the process of reuniting them with Bunbun,” the airport said in a tweet Sunday. “Thanks to all who helped us make it happen.”
Simons, like many others online, was happy with the outcome, calling YVR’s response “a perfect Christmas tweet!” and thanking airport staff who “took this story to heart.”
Twitter user Vitor Rigoni also praised the workers, saying, “with all the frenzy and challenges, you found time [to] care for a person missing their bunny. Keep doing that,” while Elaine summed it up as “the sweetest Christmas reunion ever!”
Good news! We’ve been in touch with the owner and are in the process of reuniting them with Bunbun. Thanks to all who helped us make it happen. https://t.co/lklF4kGFG8
— YVR (@yvrairport) December 26, 2022
Ethan Morneau
