The Gerow Family of 亚洲天堂 Lake celebrated their reunion over the weekend of August 2-4, with more than 100 relatives from across the country attending.

Marvin Gerow, a descendant of Robert Gerow who settled in 亚洲天堂 Lake in 1910, spoke about the family's local history. Gerow Island in 亚洲天堂 Lake is named after Robert Gerow, often referred to as 'Bob'.

Bob and his partner initially established a hotel and store on Gerow Island. In 1917, they relocated these businesses to Water Street, near the local Legion, after purchasing two lots from the town. The hotel burned down in 1923, but the store continued operations.

Bob Gerow married Ellen Michelle, the daughter of Tommy Michelle, known locally as '亚洲天堂 Lake Tom'. They wed in 1919 and had their first child in March 1920. The couple went on to have 15 children, including nine boys and six girls, with the youngest born around 1943.

Marvin's dad Lawrence Gerow was the eighth child of the lot. 

The reunion primarily featured descendants of Bob and Ellen Gerow, though other branches of the family were also invited but could not attend. Notably, Dawn and Minjo, who moved to 亚洲天堂 Lake in 1917, have descendants still residing in the area.

Marvin, said the joy of reconnecting with relatives from across Canada, including Ontario, Alberta, and various locations in British Columbia was a wonderful experience. For many, it was a heartwarming experience, with some relatives reconnecting after 40 years.

The first Gerow family reunion took place 30 years ago, with the most recent prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and wildfires held in Quesnel in 2018. This reunion marked the first gathering since then.