Trip to Québec – August 22nd to 25th 2008
For more than a decade, leaders from each of our family associations, the Richard Association of New Brunswick and the Richard Family Association, have met at their annual meetings or other events. In addition, both organizations share their newsletters.
More than a year ago, the ARNB Board of Directors decided to take advantage of the 400th anniversary party in Quebec City to organize a four-day trip to meet our Quebec friends and attend their annual general meeting on August 23rd. We did not know at that time that important events would take place this weekend. Indeed, it was only after having booked the hotel and the bus that we learned that Celine Dion was going to give a big free concert on the Plains of Abraham on the 22nd, that a marcheton of the founding families, including the Richard families would be held this weekend as well as a big concert Paris-Quebec gathering several of the greatest French singers
The project, under the skillful direction of Thelma Richard, quickly materialized and 52 people joined the group for the trip. She had planned several activities in addition to those already listed, a guided tour of Old Quebec, a mass and torchlight procession in Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré. There was also a stop at Cap-Saint-Ignace on the way back to visit the monument to Pierre Richard, as well as the church and the museum. We were greeted by none other than Jean-Guy Richard and Josette Mercier of the Richard Family Association of Quebec, and a few other people who served as our guide. There was also a stop at the Center of St-Alexis de Matapédia where we had dinner before returning to Acadia
We received a warm welcome and it was a wonderful trip. We now want to see many Richard from Quebec join us Richard of New Brunswick for a family reunion on August 16th and 17th in Neguac at the 2009 World Acadian Congress.
