Report of Retrouvailles 2023 at Québec cityby Danièle Saindon
The Citadelle
In addition to the annual general meeting and dinner, there was a very entertaining and informative visit to the Citadel of Quebec. This activity was proposed by Lea Vachon, our vice-president, retired colonel of the Royal 22nd regiment, of which the Citadel is the headquarters. He worked there as a young officer. According to legend, he even visited the prison of the said place... but the story does not clarify whether it was out of simple curiosity or merit!!!
The Royal 22e Régiment is the only French-speaking infantry regiment within the Regular Force of the Canadian Armed Forces. The Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiment is none other than… King Charles III!!!!
The Royal 22e Régiment is the only French-speaking infantry regiment within the Regular Force of the Canadian Armed Forces. The Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiment is none other than… King Charles III!!!!
Jérémie, a dynamic guide
As soon as we arrived, the group was warmly welcomed by Jérémie, an enthusiastic young man and excellent popularizer, recently graduated in teaching from Laval University!
He tells us that he has been a guide at the Citadel for more than two years, but that the visit he will make with us will be his penultimate for life, since he aims to obtain a position as a teacher in a school board to be determined. ! With this shortage of teachers that all regions of Quebec are experiencing, I am willing to bet that Jérémie was able to find the teaching job he dreamed of!!! And happy are these high school students who will have him as a teacher, because this young guide had contagious dynamism and demonstrated a sense of humor that knew how to capture the attention of the most absent-minded among us!
The visit lasted an hour during which Jérémie was able to tell us with passion the History with a capital H of the Citadel and the Royal 22e Régiment.
He tells us that he has been a guide at the Citadel for more than two years, but that the visit he will make with us will be his penultimate for life, since he aims to obtain a position as a teacher in a school board to be determined. ! With this shortage of teachers that all regions of Quebec are experiencing, I am willing to bet that Jérémie was able to find the teaching job he dreamed of!!! And happy are these high school students who will have him as a teacher, because this young guide had contagious dynamism and demonstrated a sense of humor that knew how to capture the attention of the most absent-minded among us!
The visit lasted an hour during which Jérémie was able to tell us with passion the History with a capital H of the Citadel and the Royal 22e Régiment.
An impregnable fortification…
The Citadel of Quebec, located on Cap Diamant, is part of the fortifications of the old city, and is considered impregnable. Indeed, certain aspects related to the particular construction of this citadel, notably the star-shaped fortifications, as well as its geographical location, gave it a reputation which has never faded.
The Citadel was built between 1820 and 1832 with the aim of securing the heights of Cap Diamant against a possible invasion by the United States.
The preservation of the fortifications and the Citadel is attributed to Lord Dufferin, Governor General of Canada from 1872 to 1878 who made the Citadel his official residence. Today, the Governor General of Canada still has her quarters there. We have observed that the spaces she occupies when she comes to Quebec are richly decorated and contrast sharply with the sobriety of the apartments of the officers of the Royal 22e Régiment! These observations were confirmed by Lea!
A place for important meetings
It was at the citadel that the important Quebec conferences of 1943 and 1944 took place, during which Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt and William Lyon Mackenzie King discussed strategy regarding the Second World War. Even today, the Citadel is a center of diplomacy, with several protocol events taking place there.
Ghislain in prison!
During the visit to the prison, voices were heard calling for my husband, Ghislain, to be locked up there for a more or less long stay, in reaction to the numerous teasing he allowed himself to do throughout the prison. visit. I was firmly opposed to it…I needed him too much to lug my sister and me to Quebec!!!
When we passed by the powder magazine, several of us kept our eyes peeled for smokers in the group or other groups around. Although we were told that the powder magazine was super secure, because it was built to avoid any explosion, our third eye was standing at attention!!!
At the end of the visit, we were able to witness the changing of the guard, a protocol activity if ever there was one!!!
The Citadel of Quebec, located on Cap Diamant, is part of the fortifications of the old city, and is considered impregnable. Indeed, certain aspects related to the particular construction of this citadel, notably the star-shaped fortifications, as well as its geographical location, gave it a reputation which has never faded.
The Citadel was built between 1820 and 1832 with the aim of securing the heights of Cap Diamant against a possible invasion by the United States.
The preservation of the fortifications and the Citadel is attributed to Lord Dufferin, Governor General of Canada from 1872 to 1878 who made the Citadel his official residence. Today, the Governor General of Canada still has her quarters there. We have observed that the spaces she occupies when she comes to Quebec are richly decorated and contrast sharply with the sobriety of the apartments of the officers of the Royal 22e Régiment! These observations were confirmed by Lea!
A place for important meetings
It was at the citadel that the important Quebec conferences of 1943 and 1944 took place, during which Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt and William Lyon Mackenzie King discussed strategy regarding the Second World War. Even today, the Citadel is a center of diplomacy, with several protocol events taking place there.
Ghislain in prison!
During the visit to the prison, voices were heard calling for my husband, Ghislain, to be locked up there for a more or less long stay, in reaction to the numerous teasing he allowed himself to do throughout the prison. visit. I was firmly opposed to it…I needed him too much to lug my sister and me to Quebec!!!
When we passed by the powder magazine, several of us kept our eyes peeled for smokers in the group or other groups around. Although we were told that the powder magazine was super secure, because it was built to avoid any explosion, our third eye was standing at attention!!!
At the end of the visit, we were able to witness the changing of the guard, a protocol activity if ever there was one!!!
The annual general assembly
At 4:00 p.m. the Annual General Meeting (AGM) began. The current members of the board proposed a detailed agenda. Beyond the obligations that such an assembly must fulfill, the suggested points allowed members to have real discussions on important subjects relating to the Association and its future.
Reminder of the Association's achievements
The Association has accomplished great things since its creation almost 30 years ago. Let us name, among others:
The Association at a turning point...
In particular, we noted that the Association is at a turning point in its history.
We need succession to ensure the sustainability of the Association. How can we interest and recruit this generation who will engage in mobilizing projects that will keep the flame of our Association alive?
Reminder of the Association's achievements
The Association has accomplished great things since its creation almost 30 years ago. Let us name, among others:
- The establishment of the DNA link between all the Saindons of North America and Michel Saindon of Bains-sur-Oust:
- The publication of two editions of dictionaries dealing with the genealogy of the Saindons, the latest edition of which offers new facts in the history of Michel and Marie-Yves and an update of their descendants;
- Installation of a plaque in Cacouna and a second in Bains-sur-Oust, which help to perpetuate the history of Michel Saindon and its sustainability for future generations.
The Association at a turning point...
In particular, we noted that the Association is at a turning point in its history.
We need succession to ensure the sustainability of the Association. How can we interest and recruit this generation who will engage in mobilizing projects that will keep the flame of our Association alive?
congratulations from Walter
At the very end of the meeting, Mr. Walter Dubé (93 years old) wanted to conclude the meeting which lasted more than 2.5 hours by emphasizing the seriousness and commitment of the board members to the Association. He specified that it was quite rare to meet an Association of the same nature as ours which had stood the test of time and still demonstrated so much dynamism.
After these well-deserved congratulations, the audience was directed to the aperitif location.
After these well-deserved congratulations, the audience was directed to the aperitif location.
A lively dinner
Dinner followed, animated by discussions, jokes and the discovery of each other's secrets, bonding those present a little more closely to each other.
The summer 2024 gathering is planned in the beautiful region of Lanaudière, which is, oh coincidence, the region where I live! We promise a unique encounter, under the theme of traditions to remember or discover!
So see you next year!
The summer 2024 gathering is planned in the beautiful region of Lanaudière, which is, oh coincidence, the region where I live! We promise a unique encounter, under the theme of traditions to remember or discover!
So see you next year!