A tight-knit retirement community in Windsor, N.S. is hoping to solve the mystery of the missing maroon balloon.
Residents at The Crossing wanted to do something special for the community’s 75th anniversary. The Department of Transportation wouldn’t allow a sign on the highway to advertise, so they came up with a high-flying idea.
“We popped the question, ‘What’s your rule on balloons?’ And they said ‘We don’t have any rules on balloons.’ So I said ‘Ah, we’re going to get a balloon!’” says developer Mitchell Bryson.
The Crossing purchased a $2,000, four-and-a-half metre maroon-coloured balloon from Alberta. It was to be launched on Tuesday, but after being filled with about $1,200 worth of helium, the rope snapped and the balloon drifted off into the sky.
“My phone rings, it’s my mechanic who’s filling the balloon with helium, calling to tell me that he’d lost control of the balloon and driving down the [Highway] 101, about 400 feet in the air is my balloon!” says Bryson.
“When I got the phone call, I couldn’t believe it. I was in shock, in absolute shock,” says staff member Betty Crockett. “Where is it now? That’s what we want to know. Is it flying over France? Is it over North Africa? We don’t know.”
As of Wednesday, the balloon was on day eight of its journey, with enough helium to keep it afloat for seven more days.
Residents have their own theories about where it might have drifted off to.
“Probably in the Bay of Fundy,” suggests Ralph Boles.
“Probably in the water somewhere,” speculates Ken Gerhardt.
Crockett’s view, however, is more optimistic.
“I really feel it’s going to come down somewhere in a field of tulips in Holland and they’ll Google The Crossing and it will come back to us,” she says.
The Crossing is offering a $1,000 reward to anyone who finds the balloon and sends it back.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Kelly Linehan
