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2005 West Quebecers Awards Banquet "A Resounding Success!"

GATINEAU, June 13, 2005 -- An impressive cast of community achievers was honored during a festive gala Friday June 10th at Camp Fortune where more than 80 people from throughout the Outaouais were gathered for the 2005 West Quebecers Awards banquet hosted by the Regional Association of West Quebecers. In an atmosphere that moved seamlessly from levity to deep felt emotion, this second annual banquet recognized the outstanding achievements, community service and leadership of very deserving West Quebecers who have volunteered time and energy toward improving their community and have made a difference in the Outaouais.
All of the award winners, and those who accepted awards on behalf of some who were not able to be there, seemed very moved at being recognized by their peers and the community at large.  

This year’s winner of the J.D. Coulson Award for Outstanding Achievement was singer, composer, folk artist and instrumentalist Ian Tamblyn of Chelsea. As his nominator, former RAWQ President John Trent spoke very highly of Tamblyn's accomplishments. "Ian Tamblyn has got to be one of the most outstanding persons that our region has created. Certainly for all my adult life I have continuously heard of Ian Tamblyn as a great voice of Canadian music." Tamblyn was not able to be at the banquet in person because of his other passion, leading tours to Scotland, where he teaches people about Celtic roots and the history of Scotland. However before leaving for Europe, Tamblyn produced a DVD for the evening on which he expressed thanks for the award. "It is an honor to receive this award and also very humbling because there's just so many people in West Quebec that I think probably deserve this award more than myself."  Tamblyn also shared a song Moon in the Maples that he wrote for his longtime partner Amanda Shaughnessy who accepted the award on his behalf.

Nominator Fred Ryan offered an impressive exhortation of Enid Page and her many years of dedicated service as a heritage preservation leader before presenting her with the Graham Greig Award for Outstanding Community Service."This year marks the Aylmer Heritage Association's 30th anniversary, and a large part of that time it has been led by Enid and they have virtually, single-handedly as an association preserved the face of Aylmer while the rest of the City of Gatineau changed around it." Enid Page is currently serving as President of the Aylmer Heritage Association once again, and laughing she said, "It is team work, and what I have the privilege of doing is acting as a laxative. I'm a pain, but I am able often times to get things moving and get other people to do the work."

Another conservation leader, the late Bob Phillips, was honored posthumously with the Award for Outstanding Leadership. During his nomination speech, former RAWQ board chair Jay Atherton spoke extensively of Phillips' work as part of a centennial committee in preserving key historical buildings including, "the Billings House, the Nicholas Street jail, the East block of the Parliament Buildings, Union Station and the inside of the Rideau Street convent". The award was accepted by Bob Phillips' two daughters Margaret and Jennifer Phillips and his grand-daughter Meghan Lewis. Margaret spoke these words on her father's behalf, " I think his greatest love was the Gatineau Hills and Ian Tamblyn's message through his music would have been my dad's through his columns. He would be so proud tonight, especially since my daughter Meghan is carrying on with the family tradition. It's very moving for us, so thank you so much." 

Two young men from Pontiac, both with outstanding resumes of community service, shared the Leadership Award for Youth; Shawn MacDonell of Shawville and Scott Stephens of Clarendon. Someone in the audience yelled out "when does he sleep" during nominator Rhonda Morrison's description of Shawn's extensive volunteer work, especially with youth. In accepting his award he said he sleeps, "anytime, anywhere, all over the place, it doesn't matter, whenever I get the chance. Some nights it's been at the youth center sleeping alongside some of the kids. Wherever it is, I'm going to wake up early with a happy smile on because I know there's going to be friends like Rhonda to help me along the way." In accepting his award, Scott thanked his parents for supporting his many community volunteer activities, and he received a round of applause after he quoted the last two lines of the 4-H pledge as his guiding motivation, "I pledge my hands for larger service; I pledge my health for better living; my glove to my community and my country." 

Acting Western Quebec School Board chair Michael Chaisson outlined a long list of accomplishments by retired WQSB teacher and senior administrator Kevin Drysdale of Chelsea who he presented with the Award for Community Service in Education. "Kevin is known fondly as 'Archive' by his colleagues because of his remarkable ability to remember students and parents." After receiving the award, Drysdale offered a very humorous summation of his more than 40 years relating with students, teachers, parents and taxpayers. "Grumpy parents have nothing over a grumpy taxpayer. But these have all been wonderful people and I've enjoyed serving them. We had a motto at Western Quebec; we're with you from the cradle to the grave. The taxpayers are testimony to that."  

Upon accepting the Award for Community Service in Health and Social Services, John Jolie & Louise Séguin of Luskville offered a very touching portrayal of the service they have provided since 1993 at Maison de Luskville with no government support to men with alcohol and drug addictions. The audience responded with loud applause after Louise Seguin offered this insight. "We offer 29,160 meals a year. We bed 9,720 nighters a year. Since the beginning in 1993 we have opened more than 700 files at Maison." The couple's nominator, Kate Aley, described them as angels who are tough, resourceful, funny and endlessly filled with hope, and who work non-stop for the benefit and betterment of men who are just helpless with their addictions.

The small group of committed volunteers who make up St. Mark’s the Evangelist RC Church St. Vincent de Paul Group of Aylmer was honored with the Award for Community Service in Recreation and Livable Communities. Group treasurer Brian Miller accepted the award on behalf of the group. "It's with brotherly love and the love of God that we try and help our neighbor. Our reward is that our lives are enriched when we offer hope to those in need."

Author Joan Finnigan of Aylmer, who has just released her 30th book, was presented with the Award for Community Service in Arts and Culture. As he presented the award, nominator George Toller who grew up with Joan, offered this description of his longtime friend. "Today I think she's one of the best well known social historians of the Ottawa Valley and very well equipped to give us insight." Joan had planned to read excerpts from her latest endeavour, "Life Along the Opeongo Line", but had to cancel because of illness, so her publisher John Flood offered the reading in her place which ended the evening on a note of levity.  "It's always an honour when a publisher has an author who receives an award whether it's for their writing or their life's commitment to cultural history or for the love of community. This evening I see that all three of those variables have in fact been touched upon for her, and on her behalf I am absolutely thrilled to accept this award."

The West Quebecers Awards are meant to celebrate the spirit of volunteerism that is such a part of the fabric of our home and honor outstanding people who have demonstrated new approaches in communications and creativity in volunteer service.  The winners were chosen by RAWQ's Awards Selection Committee, based on nominations received from the community at large, community organizations, our members and our association's Board of Directors. The recipients each received an elegant plaque and a lifetime membership to the Regional Association of West Quebecers. 

To obtain further details on the winners click on each person's name to see a bio. For more information, contact Communications and Community Liaison Officer Gaetanne Séguin at 819-682-9602 or via email at clco@magma.ca.

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