Julie Ann Bertram
Special to the Tribune
On the evening of Saturday, December 14th, the Field Regional Economic Development committee (FRED) hosted a Christmas dinner at the Knights of Columbus Hall to honour the many volunteers who contribute to community life in Field. Volunteer groups include Field 1st Response, Station 4 Firefighters, Dames Auxiliaires (Ladies’ Auxiliary), FRED members, the Field Recreation Committee, the Field Knights of Columbus, and the Club d’âge d’or (Field Golden Age Club), who were all represented at the event.
Approximately 100 community members gathered for a Christmas banquet prepared and served by Carmen Binette and Chez Nous Restaurant. Heidi Vezina, Field’s Postmaster and head of the Beautification arm of FRED, also baked a stunning Yule Log as the door prize. Shannon Baker, a volunteer firefighter, commented over dinner, “It is really nice to come together with all the volunteer groups and their families to celebrate together, we haven’t since pre-Covid. Most of us as volunteers rely heavily on our families to support us to be able to do the volunteer work that we do.”
After the meal, host Ken Paquette of the Knights and FRED, noted the loss of some great long-time volunteers, Gordy and Aline Jackson, and Larry Brandridge. The Caisse Alliance was thanked for donating $25,000 towards the new heating system for the Knights of Columbus Hall in the church basement, keeping so many of the community gatherings viable in that space for many more years to come.
Paquette invited the heads of the volunteer groups on stage to thank their members and honour the families of Jacques Malette, Claude McGrath, and Kenneth Paquette. This year, Grand Knight Don Deschamps spoke eloquently and with humour as he encouraged younger folks to join the Knights to keep the up the many services, events and activities they provide for Field. Deschamps also described the valuable contributions made by Gisele Labelle, Julie Lamoureux and Caroline Rousseau, noted as the “better halves” of Field fire fighters and Knights who consistently volunteer their time.
Local singer Ivory Labelle kicked off the entertainment portion of the evening singing Christmas carols, and the rest of the night continued with shared stories and laughter.
Station 4 Fire Chief, Denis Labelle, summed up the importance of volunteering during his speech. “I want to thank all of you, all these volunteers, that’s what makes our community better. Everybody helps each other out, and that’s what makes it so great, I’m very proud of that. All the groups are working together, that’s what’s happening, and you can see the results,” he beamed.
