After a review of the minutes from last year’s AGM, Guay presented the association’s annual report in French and English, which she explained was a great success.

Among other things, the report highlighted the hard work the association’s members had put in over the past year, their achievements and their contributions to the Pontiac’s artistic identity.

Highlights included a fundraising event titled Works on Paper Exhibition and Exchange 2019, an exhibition called Reclaimed and an art presentation put on by Pontiac High School students inside the Stone School Gallery.

Guay also announced that after another successful tour last summer, the PAA has postponed next year’s Pontiac Artist’s Tour, after running for 30 years straight.

“It’s because the participants are exhausted and there aren’t any new participants or people that want to join,” she said. “So, we decided that it’s time to stop. It’s always good to stop and rethink what you want to do.”

She continued by speaking about the PAA’s upcoming projects, which include an eight-artist printmaking exhibition in Shawville’s streets called Interconnexion, as well as another exhibition from PHS students.

“I’m proud of the exhibit Reclaimed because there was public involvement,” Guay said. “I liked working with the Pontiac High School because we like to have more younger people involved in art and, for them, it was the first time that they showed something in a gallery.”

After thanking each member on the PAA’s board of directors, Guay presented a special gift to two of the association’s members – Treasurer Chris Seifreid and Gabrielle Dupuis – for their long tenures of taking care of the association’s administrative and financial duties.

France Lamarche followed up with a report on the Pontiac School of the Arts. Valerie Bridgeman continued with an overview of the 30th annual Pontiac Artists’ Studio Tour and Dale Shutt gave a summary of 2019, which marked the 12th year of exhibitions at the Stone School Gallery.

France Lamarche followed up with a report on the Pontiac School of the Arts. Valerie Bridgeman continued with an overview of the 30th annual Pontiac Artists’ Studio Tour. Dale Shutt gave a summary of 2019, which marked the 12th year of exhibitions at the Stone School Gallery.

After the report, Seifreid continued proceedings by reading the financial statements from the 2019 fiscal year – compiled by Peter Smith.

Seifreid said that the association’s financial health was sound.

Then, Seifreid presented the PAA’s budget for 2020, which he cited was possibly the largest budget the association has ever had.

Thanks to grants from Emploi Québec and the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Quebec (CALQ), the report states that the PAA’s 2019-20 budget stands $67,785 – compared to $42,230 in 2018-19.

Guay explained that the budget will allow the PAA to pay some of its artists for their work – something they’ve all been working so hard for.

“It’s fantastic to be able to pay for when they create, when they show,” she said. “This is what we aim for, for everything. But we don’t have the money to do that for everything. We’re considered more professional than before, which is important for the association.”

Proceedings continued with the election of five members for the PAA’s 2019-20 board of directors, which were taken by Nicole Lavigne, Linda Girard, Claire Taillefer, Guay and Genevieve Has.

The meeting proceeded with a contentious question period, which involved Dale Shutt suggesting that the PAA should put together a sponsorship committee and a discussion on how the PAA uses donated funds, before Guay drew the meeting to a close.

To finish the event in good fashion, the PAA presented Dupuis with the volunteer of the year award. Now in her final year with the association, the association’s members wanted to thank Dupuis for her long-time contributions to the association, Guay said.

“She worked in accounting for years and years and she was leaving this year,” she said. “I think it’s more like 13 years.”

Afterwards, attendees stuck around and socialized, while snacking on a tasty spread of wine and cheese.

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