Attendance ramped up into the night, with well over 100 enjoying the music and fireworks. Photo courtesy Facebook
By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
Townshippers celebrated Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day in Fitch Bay June 23 in a relatively well-attended event held in Forand Park, despite the rainy weather. Free hotdogs and snacks, pontoon boat rides, live music, face painting, bouncy inflatables, and park equipment entertained attendees of all ages. Local police and firefighters set up kiosks and socialized with the crowd.
Organizer Kimberly Whitworth shared her reflections on the event with The Record the next day. “We could have had more people if the weather had been nicer, but for the kind of day we had, it was amazing,” she said. “I’m so happy with the turnout.”
The event, which has been running for three years under Whitworth’s leadership, benefits from the collaboration of small municipalities. “There’s Stanstead and a few others. We invite them because they are so small, and it makes the event more fun. Four municipalities coming together create a nice atmosphere,” she explained.
Whitworth emphasized the bilingual and multicultural aspects of the event, noting, “It is a French holiday, but all these municipalities are pretty much bilingual. The fact that everybody comes together like this makes it even more special.”
The festivities concluded around midnight, a testament to the event’s success. “I got home at 12:30, but some people were still there until about midnight. Considering the fireworks ended at 10, the fact that people stayed is a good sign,” she reported.
When asked about her dedication to the event, Whitworth expressed her admiration for Quebec’s unique character. “Yes, it’s a French province, but we live in Canada, and it’s fantastic. Quebec is amazing. We are so lucky to have two languages, share our religions, fun, and families. We’re a mixed culture, and that’s what gives us extra character compared to other provinces.”
In an interview conducted during the event, David Paquette, a resident of Fitch Bay, shared his reflections on the significance of the holiday and his experiences growing up in Quebec.
When asked about what Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day evokes for him, Paquette expressed a deep appreciation for his country and the freedoms it affords. “I like my country, I like our freedom, I like our freedom of speech,” he said, highlighting the values he cherishes most about living in Quebec.
Paquette, who works for the Ministry of Transport of Quebec (MTQ) and is also a member of the local fire department, reminisced about past celebrations. “Since I can remember, we always celebrated Saint-Jean. I remember back in the day we used to go to Magog, and they had one wicked bonfire on Merry’s Point. It was massive, a lot of people there,” he recalled fondly.
Despite the festive spirit, Paquette noted a perceived decline in local enthusiasm for the holiday. He observed that while celebrations in larger cities like Montreal still draw large crowds, smaller communities have seen a decrease in participation. “If you go to Montreal, you see all the shows and there’s over a hundred people that go… Right here, you know, it’s hard for anybody to come,” he explained.
Paquette also pointed out the cultural differences between regions within Quebec. “It’s more of an English community here. Canada Day is more celebrated. Next week, if you come to Georgeville, you’ll see it’s going to be packed full of people,” he added.
When asked about his favourite aspect of living in Fitch Bay, Paquette cited the tranquility of the area. “It’s very quiet. I lived right across from Blue Lavender, so there used to be a massive amount of traffic, but now since they’ve moved, it’s very quiet. I like it,” he said.
In between bites of hot dog, this reporter asked quite a few other attendees if they would like to speak on the significance of Saint-Jean to them, but many were too shy to appear named in print. One said it was a great day for everyone to celebrate and forget their differences. Another said he was a Canada/U.S. dual-citizen, and of all the places he could easily live, he chose the Townships.