As we come out of the pandemic, the importance of volunteers contributing to the well-being of a community has never been more important. Yet the pool of people willing to offer their time is dwindling. We need to find inspirations to show us the way and set the examples for the generations of today and tomorrow. The Canada Day Committee always seeks to accomplish this in recognizing community members as our honorary president. For 2022, the Committee has chosen someone who personifies this dedication, and who at his age, still offers his precious time today to the community. The Canada Day Committee is proud to announce as its honorary president for the 2022 Canada Day celebrations, Mr. Albert Allen.
Albert grew up in Montreal and began his career working as an electrician, eventually becoming a draftsman. He married Sandy Potts in 1965, a love story which continued right up to Sandy’s passing in 2016. Albert and Sandy moved to Deux-Montagnes in 1978, purchasing their house on 16th Avenue from Albert’s parents, a home where Albert continues to live in today.
It is hard to dissociate Albert from Sandy when you talk about their volunteering. For 30+ years, whether it was helping seniors at Manoir St-Eustache, offering food for Meals on Wheels, supporting the various Lions Club activities or helping celebrate Canada Day, Albert and Sandy were always there to give their time and make our community better.
Albert and Sandy continued their volunteerism well beyond Albert’s retirement in 2002. After Sandy’s passing in 2016, Albert continued this legacy by offering his culinary skills for Meals on Wheels. And Albert currently teaches a wood-carving class pro-bono. Albert will certainly be seen at the Canada Day kitchen this year. Albert has always been a do-ers, and because of his dedication to our community, we are all richer for it. The Committee congratulates Albert Allen on his many years of volunteerism and service to our region.
Deux-Montagnes, June 14, 2022– The schedule for the 51st edition of Canada Day celebrated in Deux-Montagnes, was announced at a press conference held yesterday at City Hall. The Mayor of Deux-Montagnes, Mr. Denis Martin, and the President of the Canada Day Committee for MRC Deux-Montagnes, Mr. Tom Whitton have invited the entire MRC population to gather in large numbers on Friday, July 1st at Central Park in Deux-Montagnes.
“It is an honour for the City of Deux-Montagnes to be a partner for Canada Day. After two years of the pandemic. The desire to gather together around our common values is more evident than ever. I salute the commitment of the organizing committee for putting together festivities which will allow for the entire population of the MRC, from young to old alike, to come celebrate here which collectively gives us pride in being Canadian,” declared Mr. Denis Martin, Mayor of Deux-Montagnes.
For his part, Mr. Tom Whitton, Committee President, mentioned, “We have al gone through difficult moments since Spring 2020. A return to our traditional, open-air celebration at Central Park is an important step towards a return to a normal life. Also, Deux-Montagnes is, by far, the best place to celebrate Canada Day on the North Shore or in the Greater Montreal Region. I must thank our partners, the City of Deux-Montagnes, the Government of Canada, Desjardins – Caisse de Saint-Eustache/Deux-Montagnes and Selection Retraite Deux-Montagnes for their substantial contribution to our memorable cultural event.”
THE FESTIVITIES
At noon, an opening ceremony will take place, with the signing of our national anthem, “O Canada” in the presence of dignitaries and our Honorary President for 2022, Mr. Albert Allen. Mr. Allen, a resident of Deux-Montagnes for more than 40 years, is well known for his volunteering with numerous organizations over more than 30 years, including le Manoir St-Eustache, Meals on Wheels, the Lions Club and Canada Day. He continues today by offering his time as a cook for Meals on Wheels or by teaching wood carving classes.
The day will continue with many family activities: face-painting, train rides, horseshoes tournament, bingo, inflatables and a circus workshop offered by les Forains Abyssaux. New this year, a Zumba Class (presented by Sélection Retraite Deux-Montagnes) and an obstacle course race organized by Équilibre au Carré. Also, from 9:30am-4pm, the group “Véhicules Antiques des Patriotes de Saint-Eustache” will provide access to many of their vintage vehicles for fans of these fabulous machines.
Live music featuring artists from the region will be presented from 3pm to midnight. The headlining band is “Journey to the Grand Illusion”, a special tribute to Journey and Styx, not forgetting, of course, the spectacular fireworks display, presented by the City of Deux-Montagnes, which will fill the sky at 10pm.
The complete schedule is attached to this press release and can also be consulted on the Committee’s web site at www.celebrationcanada-mrcdm.ca
GENEROUS PARTNERS
“Again this year, the Caisse Desjardins of Saint-Eustache/Deux-Montagnes is happy to be a partner in Canada Day. As a cooperative, the Caisse has as its mission to contribute to the social and economic well-being of our society, and being a part of festivities in our community is another concrete example of our contribution,” underlined Mr. Neil Hawthorn, Director General of Caisse Desjardins.
Finally, we must also highlight the support from our major sponsor for the event: Tri-Tex Co. and Benoit Charette, Provincial MNA for Deux-Montagnes.
For more information, please consult www.celebrationcanada-mrcdm.ca, as well as the committee’s Facebook page (@CanadaMRCDM). If you would like to volunteer for the day, please contact Christine Neumayer at 514 827-1361.
FULL DETAILED SCHEDULE – CANADA DAY 2022
(Schedule subject to change without notice)
Friday, July 1st, 2022 : Central Park, 13th Avenue, south of Oka Road
9:30 am-4 pm
Vintage Car Show (15th Avenue)
12:00 pm
Opening Ceremony – Singing of the National Anthem, ‘’O Canada’’
Zumba, presented by Sélection Retraite Deux-Montagnes
1:30 pm-4 pm
Obstacle Course, organized by Equilibre au carré
1:30 pm
Kids Races
2:30 pm
Egg Toss (12 years old and up)
Noon – 8 pm
Municipal Pool – Free non-resident access (adults only noon to 1 pm and 6:00 pm – 6:30 pm)
MUSIC
3:00 pm-Midnight
Live Music
9:45 pm-Midnight
“Journey to the Grand Illusion” – A Tribute to Journey and Styx
10 pm
Fireworks, presented by the City of Deux-Montagnes
Please note:
For everyone’s safety, animals are not allowed on site. All food & beverages other than those sold on site are not permitted. Please encourage the event by purchasing your food and drink on site. These sales go directly towards offsetting the costs for the festivities, including the fireworks display. Please note that the streets which border Central Park will be closed as of 7:00 PM.
Photo from Press Conference – June 16 , 2022 From left to right: First row : Erik Johnson, City Councillor – District du Lac Micheline Groulx-Stabile, City Councillor – District de l’Olympia Albert Allen, Honorary President of 2022 Christine Neumayer, Member of Canada Day Committee for MRC Deux-Montagnes Denis Martin, Mayor City of Deux-Montagnes Second row : Dave Byers, Member of Canada Day Committee for MRC Deux-Montagnes Tom Whitton, President of Canada Day Committee for MRC Deux-Montagnes Brian Snell, Member of Canada Day Committee for MRC Deux-Montagnes Michel Mendes, City Councillor – District du Coteau
With limits on in person activities due to the pandemic, we have decided to offer two family classes at Central Park (13th Avenue, Deux-Montagnes). Cheryl Dore will bring her enthusiasm and her energy with a Zumba class at 2pm. And Patrick Long (Équilibre au carré) will be on hand to challenge us with his Bootcamp at 3pm. FOR ALL AGES!!!!!
