Montreal

Message in a bottle discovery unites two strangers

A message in a bottle sent from a Quebec teen has made it to France, 16 years later.

Bottle makes 16-year trip across 5,000 km from Quebec to Brittany, France

Message in a bottle

11 years ago
Duration 2:05
A message written by in 1998 and sent from Quebec washes up on the shore in France.

A message in a bottle sent from a Quebec teen has made it to France, 16 years later.

Lucien Sanquer found the plastic bottle on Feb. 4, sealed with a Canadian flag and letter inside, washed up on a beach in Crozon, Brittany, France.

The letter, written in 1998, was signed by 16-year-old Nicolas Morin:

"Hello, my name is Nicolas Morin. I am a boy. I am 16 years old. I was born May 25, 1982. I speak French but I am learning English in school. I have a brother but no sister. My favourite hobby is basketball. My favourite food is pizza. I live in Roxton Falls, a town in Quebec. I hope to hear from you soon."

Interactive map: Roxton Falls to Crozon

After finding the letter, Sanquer reached out to find the sender, and managed to track down Morin on Friday.

They spoke for the first time this weekend, on a video call over skype.

“I never thought that someone would find my bottle. I was so surprised when I received the call,” Morin said.

Morin, who now lives in Sainte-Cecile-de-Milton, Que., said he wrote the message as part of a school project.

He said he thinks his teacher gathered the messages and tossed them into the water.

Morin said he's speaking with his former classmates to find out where the letter was sent from, and if any of them have heard replies to their messages.