CALEB NICKERSON
QUYON May 29, 2019
On May 29, the Quyon Lions Club invited a group of local business owners for a dinner at the local legion hall along with a featured speaker and entertainment.
The evening began with some networking over drinks before dinner was served. Attendees were introduced by Lion Laurie MacKechnie, and made up a wide selection of occupations and ages from throughout the area.
The guest of honour and speaker for the evening was Cindy Presser Benedek, Director of the Camp B’nai Brith Of Ottawa, located just outside Quyon.
Having attended the camp for 12 summers in her youth, Presser Benedek said she was fortunate enough to come back and work for the organization that was such an important part of both her and her husband’s lives.
The camp was originally located in Dunrobin, before moving across the river in 1946. The first few summers, campers slept in tents before cabins and other infrastructure were added. Presser Benedek said that members of the McCrea family including the Frank and the late Lorne, were long-time supporters of the camp.
She said she was eternally grateful for the opportunity to come to camp and thanked the members of the community for their support. She also showed some brief promotional videos for the camp.
As entertainment for the evening, local artist Kate Aley gave a live demonstration of watercolour techniques.
The evening closed with the Lions honouring the McColgan family, represented at the dinner by Don McColgan alongside his sons Eddie and Ralph, with a Community Appreciation Award for 63 years at the helm of the Quyon Ferry.
Mayor Joanne Labadie gave an address and thanked several businesses for their selfless contributions during the flooding in the area.
