By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
The Township of Stanstead hosted its annual Volunteer’s Celebration on May 2 at the town hall, combining recognition of local service with the public signing of a new three-year funding agreement with three core community groups.
This year’s Volunteer of the Year award was presented to Claire Galipeau of Fitch Bay. Galipeau, who moved to the area in 2016 with her husband, said the recognition was a surprise — but one she had quietly prepared for. “This is our first home,” she said. “I’d like to thank the Township of Stanstead and all the residents for their welcome.” She also thanked those who had invited her to get involved and supported her efforts over the years, as well as “all the citizens for their participation in our activities.”
Councillor Constance Ramacieri welcomed guests and spoke on behalf of Mayor Pierre Martineau, who was unable to attend due to a family commitment. In her bilingual remarks, Ramacieri reflected on the Latin roots of the words volunteer and bénévole, both of which mean will, desire, or benevolence. “The combination of these two origins is at the heart of the very meaning of actions of the people we honour today,” she said. “The resilience of our community lies in large part in the caring, voluntary actions of individuals.”
Ahead of the award presentation, Ramacieri invited representatives of three local organisations to join her and Director General Sébastien Croteau for the formal signing of a three-year agreement. The goal of the agreement is to provide greater financial stability and planning capacity for the participating groups, which are active in the Georgeville and Fitch Bay sectors.
The agreement was signed with the Community Association of Georgeville (CAG), the Saint Matthias Property Management Committee (SMPMC), and Action Communautaire du Canton de Stanstead (ACCS). Together, these organisations operate key community spaces and offer cultural and social programming throughout the year.
