Chris Lowrey
QUEBEC CITY Nov. 22, 2017
A local volunteer, Richard Gratton, who helps seniors live a more physically active life has won an award in Quebec City.
Gratton was in the provincial capital on Nov. 22 to accept the Prix Hommage Aînés for his volunteer work with seniors in the region.
Gratton was one of 18 in attendance to accept a volunteer award as the representative from the Outaouais region.

The award was presented by Pontiac MNA André Fortin, Table de concertation des aînés et des retraités de l’Outaouais (TCARO) President Pierre Cousineau, and the Minister for Seniors and Anti-Bullying Francine Charbonneau.
The award is given out each year to a deserving volunteer who helps local seniors, and Gratton is a perfect candidate.
He runs a fitness class five days a week out of the basement of Bouffe Pontiac in Campbell’s Bay at 9 a.m. He leads seniors through exercises that include Tai Chi, mock boxing exercises and other low-impact movements.
The class normally features about a dozen participants but can swell to as many as two dozen depending on the day.
Gratton has been volunteering his time with seniors for a long time in the Pontiac. He served as the president of the Pontiac Organization of Seniors and Retirees for four years.
He also helped to organize an event that saw more than 500 seniors participate in a fitness class at the Fort Coulonge Arena a couple of years ago. He also works extensively with the Knights of Columbus.
Gratton isn’t a huge fan of receiving pats on the back for his volunteer work.
“I don’t like that stuff,” he said. “I like to be left in the background.”
However, after being convinced to represent the Pontiac by those who’ve seen his work ethic, Gratton decided to go.
“It was really nice,” he said. “It’s a big boost. You want to do more when you [come back].”
Gratton also said that the volunteer hours he puts in don’t really feel like work since he’d be active regardless of his commitments.
“I keep myself busy, I have to,” Gratton said. “I’d go crazy just sitting at home.”
Even with this award in hand, Gratton doesn’t plan on slowing down any time soon.
“As long as somebody needs it, I’ll be out there doing it.”