Sophie Kuijper Dickson, LJI Journalist

The MRC Pontiac hosted its third annual fundraiser breakfast for Centraide Outaouais on Wednesday morning at the RA centre in Campbell’s Bay in celebration of the charity organization’s 80th anniversary.  

The event raised $9,700 for Centraide, known in English as the United Way, which this year gave over $200,000 to the seven non-profit social service organizations it supports in the Pontiac region. 

Those organizations are Bouffe Pontiac, Centre Serge-Bélair, Comptoir St-Pierre de Fort-Coulonge/Mansfield, Le Jardin Éducatif du Pontiac, Les Maisons des jeunes du Pontiac, Maison de la famille du Pontiac, and Le Patro Fort Coulonge/Mansfield.

Centraide Outaouais offers not only financial support, but also emotional and training support to the staff at the community organizations it works with in this region. 

MRC Pontiac’s financial contribution of $9,700 to Centraide surpassed its original goal of raising $8,000 for the charity as a contribution to its annual fundraising drive. 

“I think it’s very important because whatever we raise here, they return the benefit to us by eight times,” said MRC Pontiac warden Jane Toller. 

“I think when we have a breakfast like this it increases the awareness of these organizations and I think everyone feels good about spending $20, which is going directly to Centraide.” 

Feeding the 200 or so breakfast attendees was a team effort on the part of the MRC, with economic development staff member Rachel Soar Flandé leading the organizing committee, and the MRC’s new assistant director general Terry Lafleur flipping french toast in the kitchen the morning of, to name but a few of those who contributed to making the event happen.

Leading the kitchen effort was Elsa Taylor, former owner of La Jonction restaurant in Campbell’s Bay, with the help of her mother Edie Taylor and her sister Keri Taylor. 

“Mentally, I’ve been up since 1:25 this morning,” Elsa said, as the breakfast was winding down. 

“But to serve this many people, and so many old customers I got to see, I just love it.”