Back in 2021, the Table de concertation des aînés et retraités de l’Outaouais (TCARO) (Roundtable of Seniors and Retirees for the Outaouais) called out to the community looking for nominations for “Outstanding Seniors”. More clearly, they asked for candidates who “have had a positive impact in his, or her community and who, in the eyes of younger people, have done exceptional things, whether it be volunteering for a non-profit organization in the Outaouais, growing a garden in his or her backyard and sharing the harvest with his or her community every year, donating blood on a regular basis for several years, tutoring young people in their schooling, or other exceptional actions.”

Not surprisingly, they received over 200 nominations and found 120 nominees who agreed to have their stories printed into a collection appropriately titled “Outstanding Seniors of the Outaouais 2023-2024” (Aînés d’Exception en Outaouais 2023-2024). On October 17, TCARO officially launched their book in Fort-Coulonge at Bryson’s Bistro du Bucheron, located within the well-known Spruceholme Inn.

In all, there are five geographic areas represented in the book: MRC de Pontiac, MRC de Papineau, MRC de la Vallée-de-la-Gatineau, MRC des Collines-de-l’Outaouais and la Ville de Gatineau.

The goal of TCARO, founded in 2001, at the outset of the project was to highlight the social, civic and professional commitment of Outaouais seniors, and the project coordinator, and Deputy Executive Director of TCARO, Patricia Gougeon, was delighted with both the response to the call out and the, at times, emotional experience of having interviewed the contributing seniors.

MRC Pontiac has an aging population. According to Statistics Canada, the MRC Pontiac had a population of 14,765 in 2021. Of that population, 26.5 per cent were 65 years of age or older and 50 per cent of the population were over the age of 52. As one might imagine, this demographic is an increasingly substantial part of our community and this was emphasized by Warden Jane Toller in her opening remarks. The timing of the provincially-funded project seems prescient.

On hand for the book launch were three of the six MRC Pontiac seniors recognized in the collection of stories: Richard Gratton, Lise A. Romain and Mona Durocher Davis. They were joined by current president of the Table de concertation des aînés et retraités du Pontiac (TARP), Emile Vallée, who is also recognized in the collection of Outstanding Seniors for the City of Gatineau. Absent were Charlotte Boucher, Rénald Ferland and Adeline Mantha.

It is difficult to summarize the stories presented for each Outstanding Senior. There is a common theme, however, and that is one of community. Across pages and pages corresponding to summaries of the many interviews Gougeon and her team undertook, one can not help but see a devotion to community. A dedication to the idea that every little bit matters and that, together, we can be more.

The humility of the event as a whole and of the persons recognized in the pages of the collection stood out. At one point, Romain, no stranger to the spotlight (or to being in charge of a volunteer effort, or to be representing a larger group of retirees or even being a part of municipal and provincial governance), blushed when Fort-Coulonge Mayor Christine Francoeur spoke additional words of appreciation for all that she has done and continues to do. “We have such confidence in you, Lise, keep it up”, Francoeur beamed.

One of the peripheral goals of the collection is to provide inspiration for others so that they might recognize that they too can have a role in community and that there is a very broad definition for what constitutes “outstanding”. Reading the collection of stories provided by 120 Outstanding Seniors, one can’t help but feel that the project has not only met that goal but gone beyond and has helped buoy a sense of what it means to be a part of that place we very affectionately call home: The Pontiac (and more broadly, the Outaouais).

Phase II of the project hopes to receive funding and create opportunities for seniors to intermingle with other generations providing both opportunity and inspiration for all involved.

The Outstanding Seniors of the Outaouais collection is available at the MRC library, online or via paper copy. Contact Patricia Gougeon at dga@tcaro.org or go to tcaro.org for more information.

From left to right, Recognized Outstanding Seniors Emile Vallée, Lise A. Romain, Mona Durocher Davis and Richard Gratton.

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