Joel Barter sent us a terse message: “The first Home Children wreath ever laid in Quebec will be in Bury at 2 p.m., November 6, 2021.” Lori Oschefski, the CEO of the British Home Children Advocacy & Research Association confirmed his assertion.
Remembrance Day! We have so much to remember on November 11. Before 1931, as Armistice Day, it marked the day the First World War ended in 1918. Later, it became an occasion to remember all wars, and the veterans who served in them.
We wear red poppies in remembrance of “all those who have served in the nation’s defence,” (warmuseum.ca).
Starting in 1933, the members of the Women’s Co-operative Guild in Britain began also wearing white poppies in support of peace. Today, peacepoppies.ca encourages us to wear white poppies, signifying a broader remembrance to include civilians who now make up 90 percent of conflict victims, and supporting the use of non-violent means of conflict resolution.
And we lay wreaths to honour those killed.
Now, for the first time, Joel Barter is laying wreaths for the more than 100,000 children shipped from Britain to Canada between 1869 and the 1930s – the first wreath at the cenotaph in Bury, then another at the Gibbs Home, 806, 13th Avenue North, Sherbrooke (for the date, see Joel’s Eastern Townships Roots Facebook group.)
Today, more than four million Canadians are descended from those original children who landed here unaccompanied by adults – many at the Gibbs Home. They worked as farm hands and servants, cut off from their families. Their stories are replete with hardships, tragedies and also miracles. At 100objects.qahn.org is one story about Home Child Frederick Williams and his “home-child-box” of belongings. Stories about other children are at pier21.ca.
Barter has helped 10 families find their relatives, mostly through his Facebook group. “I got immersed in it and decided to help with getting their story out,” he wrote.
CEREMONIES
Remembrance Day ceremonies: Thursday, November 11, at 11 a.m. in both Sawyerville and Cookshire. At 11:45 a.m.: at Island Brook in Newport, and in Saint-Isidore-de-Clifton. On Saturday, November 13, is a ceremony at 1:30 p.m. in Weedon. On Sunday, November 13, it is at 11:30 a.m. in East Angus. Bury and Scotstown ceremonies were November 6.
LISTEN!
Mental Health Estrie is offering two workshops via zoom, free and in English. On Wednesday, November 10, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Rachelle Doucet will teach “Active Listening Skills.” On Wednesday, November 24, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Melanie Hughes will present “Conflict Resolution for Interpersonal Relationships.” To register, visit Mental Health Estrie’s Facebook page, email outreach@mentalhealthestrie.com, or call 819-565-2388.
WINTER EATING
How to support your immune system and mental health over the coming months of shorter, colder days and winter blahs and sniffles? Registered dietitian Cora Loomis will tell us how to do this by “Eating Well for Winter.” At lunch via Zoom on Thursday, November 18, from 12 to 1 p.m., she will talk about foods, supplements, and forms of self-care to keep us happier and healthier during winter.
WINTER EXERCISE
Are you vaccinated? Are you willing to wear a mask before arriving in your exercise area? Will you wash your hands, bring your own materials and water bottle, and stay one metre away from other participants?
If your answers are “yes,” you are welcome to any of the Viactive groups listed below. All three of the bilingual weekly exercise groups for people aged 50+ are free of charge, and newcomers are welcome to begin anytime.
In Cookshire, Serena Wintle welcomes you on Wednesdays, from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Manoir de l’Eau vive, 210 Principale East. Info: 819-875-5210.
In Newport, Lyne Maisonneuve and France Demers invite you to the Viactive group at the Municipal Hall, 1452 Route 212, Island Brook, on Tuesdays, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Info: 819-889-1340 or 819-560-8565.
And in Sawyerville, Denise Nault and Gérard Nault facilitate the group at the Église Notre Dame du Rosaire (Catholic church), 4 Randboro Road, Sawyerville, on Wednesdays, at 10 a.m. Info: 819-889-2630.
OSCAR AND WALTER
Trials and Tribulations: Oscar and Walter, an Encounter by Tony De Melo contemplates two men. He created a series of paintings using actual texts from Oscar Wilde’s trials, on which he enlarged and superimposed details from Walter Crane’s engravings and drawings. You can see this thought-provoking exhibit at the Galérie Métissage, 6361 rue Salaberry, Lac Mégantic, until November 30, on Thursday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
COOKSHIRE CHRISTMAS MARKET
To avoid delivery delays, visit the Cookshire Christmas Market. It’s a two-storey extravaganza, with some 20 exhibitors showing off and selling all kinds of treats, from wine to wooden toys for all ages, and from maple syrup to baked goods. Prices range from $3 to the sky’s the limit, if you are an extravagant gift giver. The Market is on Sunday, November 28, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Victoria Hall, 125 Principale West, Cookshire.
CHURCHES
Baptist. In-person Sunday services are with Covid-19 protocols in place (distancing; masks can be removed when sitting down; wear masks when singing, etc.). The service is in French at 9 a.m., and in English at 11 a.m. Persons with flu symptoms are asked not to attend services. The pastor’s message is also available on YouTube: For the link, contact Pastor Michel Houle at 819-239-8818.
Anglican. Bishop Bruce Myers continues to offer Home Prayers at 4 p.m., Sundays, on Facebook, and at quebec.anglican.ca (Worship Videos). Info: 819-887-6802, or quebec.anglican.ca.
United. In-person Sunday services are bi-weekly. November 14th service is at home. November 21th services are in person at Trinity United, 9:30 a.m., and Sawyerville United, 11 a.m. November 28th service is at home. Info: 819-452-3685; spiresta@hotmail.com; or United Eaton Valley Pastoral Charge (Facebook).
Do you have news to share? Call 819-640-1340 or email rawrites@gmail.com by November 15 for publication November 24 or by November 29 for December 8.