Brysonfest becomes homecoming:    The annual Brysonfest has turned into a homecoming event, says organizing committee chairman Ed Gutoskie.

“It has developed into a homecoming where family come back to say hello to friends and share a lot of fellowship,” he says.

Gutoskie credits volunteer work and the community for making this year’s Brysonfest a smash hit. The entire community, the fire department, the Lions Club, the recreation association, the council, the Brysonfest committee, the Golden Age Club and the CWL contributed.

Gutoskie says the “months of work and preparation” paid off with large crowds for the three-day event which opened Friday night with a fastball tournament, live music by 5th Street and the biggest fireworks of any Brysonfest yet.

Laurentian buys Scotia branches: The Campbell’s Bay and Fort Coulonge branches of Scotiabank have been sold to the Laurentian Bank of Canada. Laurentian Bank, seventh in the rankings among Canadian Schedule One banks, will take over the new branches Nov. 1.

“The purchase will substantially increase the number of branches in Laurentian Bank’s network in Quebec,” said Henri-Paul Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Montreal-based bank.

Robert L’Écuyer, vice-president of the Quebec network of Scotiabanks,  said customers can be assured there won’t be a turnover of management or staff, nor will there be any other inconvenient changes invoked in the takeover.

“The only thing that will change, really, is the colour of the sign,” he said.