CALEB NICKERSON
SHAWVILLE Feb. 7, 2018
On Wednesday, dozens of schoolchildren gathered at Grace Community Bible Church in Shawville to compete in a long-standing community event as the Cornerstone Club held its annual Grand Prix.
The 40 or so youngsters that attended encircled the 35-foot track where model cars were competing in four-man heats and were quite vocal in supporting their chosen vehicle.
Organizer Joy Moquin explained that the event has been going on for years and is a highlight for the group, which is for children aged seven to 11 and meets after school every Wednesday from September to March.

“We pick up the kids at McDowell with a school bus, but we also have kids coming from Quyon and Campbell’s Bay,” she said.
Awards were given out both for speed and stylishness. Moquin explained that the day was a longstanding tradition, currently overseen by race officiant and local AWANA representative Mary Hamilton. The children are given kits in advance and design their vehicle to blow through the competition.
“The kids take their kits home and they work on them with their parents, grandparents or whoever, to build their car,” she said. “If they don’t have someone who can help them, we have a garage day and we help them [make their cars].”
Race results were as follows:
Speed: First: Ethan Lemay, Second: Riley Drummond, Third: Jody Poirier, Honourable mention: Abigail Nguyen.
Design: First: Faith Hamilton, Second: Noah Hines, Third: Chloe Trudeau.