Camilla Faragalli, LJI Reporter
The Pontiac County Women’s Institute (PCWI) held its annual information day last Wednesday morning in the Shawville United Church hall.
This year’s speakers included Greg Graham of the Western Quebec Literacy Council (WQLC), Nicole Boucher-Larivière and Marie-Line Laroche of the CISSS de L’Outaouais, local dairy farmer Christine Amyotte of Beck Family Farms, and local farmer and mental health advocate, Chris Judd.
The PCWI, a non-governmental organization established in 1913, holds the public event each year to inform community members about a variety of relevant and timely subjects.
“We have four areas that we cover. Education, health, community living and agriculture,” PCWI president Elaine Lang told THE EQUITY. “We try to get a speaker from each one of those.”
Shawville resident Carole Valin said she has been attending PCWI information days since long before she became a member of the institute.
“I just love them, you always learn something new,” she said.
Admission was $15 at the door and included a hot buffet lunch, coffee and cookies.
Graham explained the literacy council’s purpose and scope, with anecdotes about past successful learners and staggering facts about literacy in the province.
“Literacy is important to me,” said event attendee Colleen Belanger following Graham’s presentation. “I read to my children, I read to my grandchildren. . . Our province is very low on the totem pole [for literacy] in Canada, it’s very sad.”
“He [Graham] is so animated, he made it so interesting it makes you want to help out in some way,” Belanger added.
CISSSO employees Boucher-Larivière, director for the Pontiac Health Network, and Laroche, a manager at the Lotus Clinic, provided a “health portrait” of the Pontiac that was chock-full of statistics, as well as details about local services and access, and a comprehensive explanation of the new local user committee established last fall to advocate for the healthcare needs of Pontiac residents living in CISSSO facilities.
“I was very interested in listening to Nicole. She’s a very valuable member of the healthcare system in this area,” remarked Allan Dean, vice president of the Hospital Foundation, who attended the event.
Amyotte’s presentation informed attendees about the new robotic milking system being installed at Beck Family Farms, explaining both how the current and new systems function, and highlighting the increase in production, value and benefits of individualized cow care the system offers.
She also brought along two assorted boxes of cheese, courtesy of the Agropur Dairy Cooperative, for the lucky winners of a door prize that were given out at the end of her presentation.
“I’m a retired dairy farmer, so I found it [Amyotte’s presentation] very interesting,” said Wanda Zimmerling, a Shawville resident who attended the event.
“Many mornings we woke up at four in the morning to go milk, and I used to say ‘I wish I had a robot,’” she said. “Now it’s becoming a reality!”
Judd managed to keep his audience engaged and chuckling, even as he discussed the heaviest of subject matters.
His presentation focused on raising awareness around the mental health of farmers, as well as farm-related accidents and suicides. He provided several local anecdotes to illustrate his message on the importance of prevention.
“It’s very shocking about all the deaths, the suicide, it’s very upsetting,” Belanger said, explaining that the Judds are her neighbours and she knows Chris to be very passionate about the issue.
At the end of the event, Zimmerman said that she was impressed by the amount of time local residents put into the community.
“Most people that live in Shawville are really interested in their neighbours and in the community. I really appreciate being here.”