Searching For Buried Treasure: A Hobby With A Happy Ending

PRINCE GEORGE- Matt Doerksen can be found with his metal detector in hand in city parks, old neighbourhoods, and along the banks of local rivers and lakes. It’s a hobby he’s had for many years and it goes hand in hand with his love for local history. “I got into it when I was about 11 years old, I picked up a metal detector from Canadian Tire and I went out in my schoolyard the next day and started finding coins and old rings, I was hooked from the beginning,” said Doerksen. He’s found a number of valuable rings, necklaces, and coins, but he says it’s about more than the money… he loves to find lost items and return them to their owners. Over the summer he found a ring that was lost in the 50’s and used social media to return it to the original owner. “I figured since it had the initials and I found it in a specific yard that I might be able to find the owner,” added Doerksen, “if there are any identifying marks that could lead me to an owner I will always try and find the owner.” He posted the photo of the ring on a local Facebook page and Jane Snider was quick to respond. 

“I got goosebumps, I looked at this picture and thought ‘oh my gosh, those are my initials’ and I know I’m connected to that ring!” said Snider. She says she doesn’t remember losing the ring as she was younger than ten years old when it happened but she is excited to have it back. “It was in the yard of my aunt and uncles, my aunt just turned 100 and I had this chat with her and it was kind of a thrill for her to hear this old story as well!”

Doerksen has a Facebook page called Cariboo Jewelry Recovery where he hopes to reunite others with their lost items.