Help Denis and Sherree come home

Hi, my name is Sherri, and i started this Gofundme page to help Denis and Sherree come home to Edmonton. This is their story.

Long version:

Help Sherree & Denis Come Home to Canada

Goal: $6,500 CAD

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Their Story

Sherree and Denis are a Canadian couple who left for France with the dream of enjoying a peaceful, affordable retirement. With faith and courage, they sold nearly everything they owned and stepped into what they hoped would be a new, fulfilling chapter.

But the reality turned out to be far more difficult than they ever expected.

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What Happened

Soon after arriving, it became clear the financial strain would be overwhelming:

• The Canadian dollar dropped sharply—with the exchange rate now at 1.6, they’ve lost over a third of their retirement income each month.

• There has been a further reduction in the Alberta portion of the Canada Pension Plan, cutting even deeper into their already limited income.

• They sold 85% of their possessions, including their vehicle, and shipped 10 boxes of essentials ahead to France—items they still haven’t been able to unpack.

• Long-term rentals are very difficult to secure in France, and short-term rentals (like Airbnbs) are legally limited to 120 consecutive days. This means they would be forced to move every four months, leading to ongoing instability and uncertainty.

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What We Miss Most

More than anything, we miss our family and friends—and the strong sense of belonging we once had in Edmonton.

Sherree deeply misses being part of The Edmonton Women’s Journey community, a space that offered encouragement, growth, and sisterhood. Together, we both miss the support and connection we felt through Richfield Christian Fellowship and The Salvation Army Edmonton Temple—faith communities that have shaped and sustained us for many years.

Since arriving in France, we’ve tried to find community, but we haven’t found anything that comes close to what we left behind.

We’ve also come to realize that a life of travel and constant adventure is not what we want at this stage of life. It took a journey halfway across the world to discover that what we truly long for is a loving community, faith-filled connection, and a predictable, grounded life.

All we want now is to return to familiar faces, spiritual family, and the comfort of knowing what tomorrow brings.

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Why They Need Help

Sherree and Denis want to return to Edmonton, Alberta and rebuild their life—this time with deeper clarity and appreciation for what truly matters. But returning comes with costs they simply cannot cover on their current income.

They’re humbly asking for help with:

• ✈️ Flights home for both of them — They were able to fly to France using their daughter’s travel points, but she doesn’t have enough accumulated to get them back home.

• Airline cargo fees and crate for their 30-pound poodle

• Shipping 10 boxes of belongings back to Canada using the most affordable method

The window for pet-safe air travel is only open during September and October, and then it closes until April 1st. Waiting until spring would bring them dangerously close to the expiration of their one-year visa on April 8th.

For that reason, they are aiming to return by the end of September.

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A Note from Sherree

“I feel deeply responsible for not asking more questions before we moved. I already beat myself up over the choices we made. We truly believed this was right, and was grateful for the opportunity to help our daughter and grandson while we were here, but we now know Edmonton is where we need to be. We just need a little help to get there.”

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How You Can Help

Even small donations can go a long way. Here are a few suggested giving levels:

• $25 — A warm welcome home gift

• $50 — Helps ship a box of belongings

• $100 — Supports their dog’s crate and cargo travel

• ✈️ $250 — Offsets airfare costs

• $500+ — A generous gift toward their return journey

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Thank You

Sherree and Denis know there are many needs in the world right now, and they don’t ask lightly. But if you’re able to help them return home and start fresh, they will carry your kindness with them always.

Every gift counts. Every share matters. And every prayer is welcome.