Donald
Teuma-CastellettI
OTTER LAKE July 23, 2017
After a ten-year hiatus, a popular church bazaar returned to Otter Lake bringing together old friends and the community for an afternoon of socializing, activities and, of course, a big meal.
Hosted by the St. Charles Borremeo Catholic Church, the bazaar was planned in just six weeks, and the response was a tremendous success.
“I’m looking at the people that are coming out and I think, wow, we did what we set out to do,” said Joan Dubeau, event organizer.

Dubeau explained that as a church committee, they decided to revive the annual picnic, and received a lot of encouragement not only from their priest, Rev. Ghislain Ndondji, but the community, too.
While she explained that they initially brought it back because it would make for a great fundraiser, it soon turned out to mean much more.
“It’s not all about the money,” said Dubeau. “It’s about keeping people together and the spirit alive.”
Through a variety of donations, including a lot of the food, outdoor activities, and a raffle prize, the total costs for the bazaar were kept low. Dubeau said the total expenses for the outdoor activities didn’t amount to much more than $70.
And the raffle prize this year? It’s a bit of something different, but an excellent idea and wildly popular.
“Out in the country, you need two things,” said Colette Lafleur, a member of the liturgical committee. “A pick-up truck and a generator.”
Well, it wasn’t a truck being raffled off, but the 4,000-watt generator did garner half a garbage bag full of ballots. And at 99 cents, or six for $5, why not?
Lafleur, too, agreed the day was a great success, and a huge triumph in bringing the community together.
“We’ve seen people today that we haven’t seen in years,” said Lafleur.