2013 - 2014
GATHERING AT TROIS-RIVIÈRES (AUGUST 2013)
HISTORY WITHIN OUR REACH
English translation: Cécile Perron (129)
As early as Friday afternoon, 23 August 2013, Gilles Grondin (847), coordinator for the Perron gathering, was at his post in the hall of Hôtel Gouverneur ready to welcome the participants. Again, on Saturday morning, Gilles was back at the welcoming table, this time accompanied by his team, Suzanne (954), Jacques and Alexandre. Cécile also stood by their stand to distribute an important document to members in good standing that they had to read before the following morning’s general meeting. Participants eagerly gathered around in the hotel lobby. Several members came to the AFPA stand to say hello, then it was departure time for the various visits and tours.
While a group set out with Alexandre who guided them to the Museum, another accompanied by Sieur de Laviolette boarded a school bus to view the old city.
TOUR OF HISTORIC TROIS-RIVIÈRES
By Robert Perron (901)
For our Perron gathering in Trois-Rivières the organizing committee had arranged a guided tour of this magnificent city’s historic sites. Our guide was none other than Sieur de Laviolette who led us brilliantly through the history and evolution of Trois-Rivières from its founding days to present. The morning group included about forty people and as many in the afternoon who, for close to two hours, learned all about those sites. One of them was the park where the fur trading business used to be held; no houses have ever been built in the park which has remained the same throughout the centuries. We also saw where past Premier of Quebec Maurice Duplessis used to live.
Note that in 1908 a fire destroyed most of the city and its historic sites which had to be reconstructed. We were also shown a few residential districts including a very modern shopping center as well as the business center connected to the paper industry and the spinning factories which played a big part in export trade.
Sieur de Laviolette who expressed himself in the old language used when Trois-Rivières was just beginning was very entertaining and all appreciated his wide knowledge. We were also quite pleased by the fact that he answered all questions very courteously and without hesitation. Our group had only positive comments about the tour and all wanted to be photographed with such an amiable character.
VISIT OF MUSÉE DES URSULINES AND ÉGLISE ST. JAMES
By Nicole Perron (195)
The weather was superb and the walk very pleasant. Here and there along the streets a few commemorative plaques caught our interest and some took pictures of them.
Our guide welcomed us at the museum door and took us to a room where we viewed a video interview of five nuns who had lived cloistered before the Vatican’s second Council. We all sat around a large table in the room that used to be the students’ dining hall. On the walls were hung photos and documents telling the history of the Ursulines who came to Trois-Rivières in 1697 to teach young girls and take care of the sick.
We learned that three categories of nuns lived in the monastery: those who devoted their every moment to prayer and worship (choir sisters), those who taught and attended to the students and ran errands for the community (angel sisters), and those whose tasks were to clean and cook (lay sisters). At one end of the room were exhibited costumes of nuns and students, and from the windows we had a glimpse of the nuns’ cemetery.
In a second room was an exhibit called "Bahuts, bergères et berceuses" (Cupboards, easy-chairs and rocking-chairs), all beautiful pieces of furniture used by the nuns. Then we entered the chapel; built in 1715 it is dedicated to the Sacred-Heart of Jesus. It is adorned by magnificent fresco paintings and a dome where we can see the eye of God. The alter is sculpted in wood covered with leaf gilding. We could see the cloister where the remaining 80 nuns who still live in the monastery gather to offer their prayers and songs. Thinking what a mercy that the museum was spared by the 1908 great fire, we thanked our guide for a fascinating visit.
A bit further on we stopped at St. James Church also located on Rue des Ursulines, the oldest street of the city. The church used to be the chapel of the Monastery of the Récollets, an early religious order of teaching friars. Again a young guide told us the history of the church that was rebuilt in stone in 1754 and was first named Église Notre Dame (Church of Our Lady). Under British rule, the church served as hospital and law courts between 1776 and 1823 at which time it was restored by the Anglican Church and opened for worship. Forty years later it was further restored and in 1910 a Casavant organ was installed. Contrary to churches of the catholic faith, the walls of this church were bare of all paintings or statues, but at the front, facing the congregation, the Holy Bible lay open on a lectern. In the fall of 2011, the city acquired this heritage site that is St. James Church and has since promoted its cultural value to the numerous tourists who visit each year.
MASS AT CATHÉDRALE DE L’ASSOMPTION
By Richard Lyness (755)
Saturday afternoon under a clear blue sky, a good number of Perrons walked over to the cathedral and joined the faithful for mass. Located on Rue Royale and facing Parc Bonaventure, the cathedral was consecrated in 1858. The bells were installed in 1912, and the magnificent stained-glass windows were created by Guido Nincheri in 1925. These windows are said to be among the most beautiful in Canada. The church was renovated in 1966-67 and again in 2001 along with a thorough cleaning. In a brief meeting after mass, Father Marchand informed me that the work done in 2001 with the help of government monetary funds for the support of Canadian heritage had been a great success.
Mass was co-celebrated by parish priest Father Jean-Yves Marchand, OCD, and Father Raymond Perron (332), White Father of Africa. Before mass, Father Marchand acknowledged the presence of the Perron families and greeted them. The choir’s beautiful voices added to the ceremony. The second reading dealt with guidance: ″ When the Lord loves someone He gives him good lessons; He corrects all those He recognizes as his children.″ Father Marchand exhorted the faithful to give grace, thank the Lord, and look around us as well as inside us to expose any wrong.
BANQUET AND SOCIAL EVENING
By Marlène Perron (255)
At the banquet room we were greeted with a delicious cool drink and Perron participants and guests seated themselves around neatly dressed tables and chatted a while.
Before the meal, Gilles introduced his team, Suzanne, Alexandre and Jacques, and gave us an overview of the evening’s activities. Afterwards, president Gabrielle wished a warm welcome to everyone and Gilles invited Father Raymond to say grace. Supper started with pâté followed by carrot soup, loin of pork, a platter of fruit and cheese, and ended with a scrumptious chocolate cake.
During supper, the president presented those marking 50+ years of marriage. Among the couples were Mme Bernadette Perron (961) and her husband André Guérin who received the usual tributes from the association. Then, surprise! Diane (416), Gabrielle’s sister, walked over to her with a magnificent bouquet of red roses … the reason? Gabrielle would soon celebrate her 59th birthday. Everyone sang the birthday song for her and for Yvon (81) whose birthday was the day after. Then Gabrielle went back to the microphone and read the text of a certificate bestowing upon Rhéal the title of Honorary Member in gratitude for all the work he has undertaken for our organization.
Some time later, Nicole and husband Renaud, armed with rolls of tickets, went from table to table inviting people to participate in a fund raising, the prize being a sculpture of our coat of arms made by Jean-Claude Perron (547) of Isle-aux-Coudres. The winner was M. Raynald Perron (963), a brand new member from Sainte-Adèle. Other door prizes were given throughout the evening. Happy winners were: Joachim’s wife Louiselle of Portneuf – a bag and book offered by the tourist bureau of Trois-Rivières; Yvon Perron of Jonquière – AFPA promotional articles; and Claire Lapointe of Trois-Rivières – a one-year membership to AFPA.
After supper, Gilles presented the results of his research on the Perron families who lived in or around Trois-Rivières from 1775 to 1940. It turned out that although the patronym is still present very few have settled there. Finally to finish off the evening, some music and dance to make us move about after such a copious meal.
GENERAL ANNUAL MEETING AND BRUNCH
By Cécile Perron (129)
After some time spent distributing documents and readjusting seating places at the board of directors’ table, the general meeting started with a 15-minute delay but went on smoothly. Thirty-eight members in good standing were in attendance along with their spouses. When came time to talk about the 2014 Perron gathering, the president asked Richard (755) who works with the organizing committee of Congrès Mondial Acadien (World Acadian Convention), to inform the assembly about Dégelis where we could hold our gathering. A show of hands confirmed that participants were in favour of the administrators’ choice. The president also talked about the Filles du Roy; Normand added that he had attended the Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France in Québec and had welcomed Louise Gargotin at the port of Montreal. Two other subjects were well received by the assembly: a follow-up on the Perron Dictionary, and that section of the Perron history which will be part of the television program Le Québec, une histoire de famille. Then came time to elect two new administrators to fill the positions vacated by the retirement of George and Cécile. Proving that the Perrons are generous people, both positions were filled on the spot. The 2013-2014 Board of Directors is as follows:
Robert – President; Gabrielle – 1st Vice-president; Rhéal – 2nd Vice-president; Nicole – Secretary ; Michel – Treasurer; and Administrators: Normand, Richard, Claude and Linda. This brought the general meeting to a happy ending and all moved to the next room to partake of a tasty brunch.
As Jean-Yves called their table’s number, people gladly lined up at the buffet table. The buffet consisted of a wide variety of cold and hot food; the braised veal in particular was delicious. During the meal, which was the last opportunity for the Perrons to visit with one another, Gilles drew three more names for the remaining door prizes: the bag and historical book offered by Tourisme Trois-Rivières went to Manon of Val d’Or; AFPA promotional articles to Linda of Cookshire, and a one-year membership renewal to Bertha of Coaticook. A last word by coordinator Gilles, then the new president closed the gathering with thanks to all participants who, before departing, wished each other well, shaking hands and saying: ‘See you next year at Dégelis!’
Sources: See French page
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