Baclig family takes the long way home

LEAMINGTON — A five-flight trip home to Canada has finally brought the Baclig family back to Leamington from their 11-year stay in Australia.

Former Leamington Flyers standout Jason Baclig, his wife Danielle and their two children, Emiliano and Elea, made the trip back home this month.

The family had made a decision to eventually come home over the past couple of years, but fast-tracked that decision last March when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

The couple had taken an indirect path to get to Australia.

Jason’s hockey career took him to Europe, where Danielle came to visit while he was playing professionally there.

“We both got the travel bug after seeing Europe and wanted to see more of the world,” said Jason.

Danielle, who was working at the Ambassador Bridge, made a decision to head to Australia, where her brother had already moved, and Jason followed soon afterward. The couple was married in Windsor in 2013, with several of their new Aussie friends attending.

They settled in Melbourne, where Danielle enrolled in University and Jason caught on with the Melbourne hockey team, eventually running their hockey academy. Jason also became a full-time professional musician, playing gigs all over the country. Danielle was working for an education company, but once Emiliano came along, she settled into the role of a full-time mom.

Jason with his Australia hockey jersey.

The family enjoyed their life in Australia, but were happy to arrange a move back home, which began last spring.

The rules on travel in Australia are still very strict, after the country completely locked down from last spring through the fall.

“We had to apply for an exemption to travel,” said Jason. “People still can’t fly in for births or funerals, without an exemption.”

Australia’s reaction to COVID-19 was perhaps the most radical of any of the countries in the world, with lockdowns and curfews unlike anything we’ve seen in Canada. Prior to 8 pm, you could leave your home for essential reasons, but a strict 8 pm curfew was enforced.

An in-flight selfie for the Baclig family. They needed five flights and six COVID tests to get home.

Photos submitted

“The majority of the people followed the rules and they are reaping the benefits of it now,” said Danielle.

“Australia now has very few cases, and as they pop up, they are traced and taken care of,” said Jason. “Restaurants and concert venues are fully open.”

The family was thrilled as they emerged from quarantine on Sunday.

For now, plans are to live with Jason’s parents in Leamington, after quarantining at Danielle’s parents’ home in Harrow for the past two weeks.

They left Melbourne on May 8 and flew to Sydney, where they boarded a plane to Los Angeles. From there, they went to Dallas and on to Vancouver. Once on Canadian soil, the family had to quarantine in a hotel — at their own expense — for three days and pass their sixth COVID test.

Emiliano and Elea enjoying some sun while in quarantine.

They passed the tests and were off to Toronto, where they were handed a take-home test to perform in eight days. They were instructed to quarantine at home before venturing out into the world.

Coming out of quarantine on Sunday was not just a feeling of freedom, it was also an emotional first in-person meeting between little Elea and Jason’s parents, who’ve only been able to communicate with her over Facetime up until now.

As time moves on, Jason will join the coffee and agricultural sector as a sales rep and Danielle will enjoy being settled with the kids, but is considering going back into the education field at some point.

“I enjoy being a full-time mom,” she said. “I’d like to teach online learning and get back into my field,” she said.

Jason will also jump into the local music scene, after leaving his bandmates down under.

“With music, it’s something you just don’t give up,” he said.

He’s also looking forward to coaching the kids when the time comes for the youngsters to strap on a pair of skates.

Life has definitely come full circle.