A woman expresses her deepest gratitude to Winnipeg Richardson International Airport after staff helped her recover security footage of her final moments with her father.
“I think it’s a beautiful reminder that there are really good people in this world and that the kindness of strangers can go so far for someone,” said Megan Cyr, who is from St. Andrews, Man., but currently lives in Calgary , High. .
“It means more now than when I first received it.”
The story dates back to December 28, 2020, when Megan was due to leave Manitoba and return to Calgary.
However, he misread his departure time, thinking it was 7 pm instead of 7 am, causing him to miss his flight at the Winnipeg airport.
Megan rebooked her flight to return to Calgary the next day, giving her an extra night to spend with her father Curtis Cyr.
The next morning, Curtis drove her to the airport.
Megan was worried that the 12 homemade breakfast burritos she had packed in her carry-on would be confiscated when passing through security, so her father went inside to make sure no food was wasted.
Once the burritos passed through the scanner, Megan gave her father the go-ahead and continued on her journey.
That was the last time he saw his father alive. He died of a heart attack on January 3, 2021.
A photo of Curtis Cyr, who was a Winnipeg firefighter. (Source: Megan Cyr)
A few days later, Megan had a clear memory of her final goodbye with her father at the airport.
He decided to contact the Winnipeg airport to see if they had the security footage of his final moments with his father, knowing it might be a long shot.
“I think it’s pretty rare for someone to receive a recording or footage of them saying goodbye to their loved one,” he said.
“This is usually reserved for people who can anticipate someone dying or who have been sick for a while, so I thought it would be out of this world to get those images.”
From there, Megan received updates every few days from airport staff as they worked to find the video.
On January 20, 2021, they gave him the images of his last moments with his father.
“It was better than I expected and definitely a great gift that I can really appreciate even more four years later, because the pain has softened a little and I can see that there was some good in the darkest time of my life. life,” he said.
The minute-long video shows a clear view of Megan and Curtis as they say goodbye before she goes through security. In the images, Megan can be seen talking to her father and giving him two hugs.
A screenshot of the video Megan received from the airport. (Source: Winnipeg Richardson International Airport)
Megan said the video serves as a reminder of the love she shared with her father, adding that it has been a great help in her grieving process.
“As the pain progresses, it becomes more difficult to remember and feel what it was like to be with that person,” she said.
“I think that video encompasses the relationship between my dad and me. So to have that memory with me forever, and I know that it will never fade and I will never be able to forget it, because it is a physical reminder and I can see it. “That’s just amazing.”
Megan said that even though it’s been four years, she wants to share her story now to remember all the good in the world.
“Loss and grief have a beautiful and heartbreaking way of connecting people and feeling seen and understood by someone you don’t even know,” she said.
“So I felt like it was the right time to share this and hopefully bring people together to let them know that they’re not alone and that there are still amazing people in this world doing really kind things for people they don’t know.”
Megan Cyr with her father Curtis. (Source: Megan Cyr)
As for the staff at the Winnipeg airport who helped her get the video, Megan said there are no words to describe her appreciation and gratitude.
Saying “thank you” just doesn’t do justice to what you’re feeling.
“The fact that they went out of their way to get me is just an incredible act of kindness,” he said.
“I will be grateful for the rest of my life for that video.”
