i b : THE NORTH & WEST VOICE - December 1996 With smiling faces and in the companionship of old friends, the members of the “Centre Bel Age”, Tuesday, the 26th of November, enjoyed a delicious lunch prepared by certain volunteers. Every Tuesday, the hall is set up with colourful tablecloths like a restaurant, and the tables arranged to allow easy conversation and the sharing of a good meal. While waiting for lunch to be served, here and there, to the right and to the left of me, I could hear fragments of | conversations about their daily lives. Animated and lively, their overheard conversations were no different than those overheard in the halls of any university from students heading to their next classes. Among the 20 or so mem- bers assembled in the hall, I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Jean Lambert, a parishioner of Our Lady of Fatima and the president of the Branch 86 “Golden Agers”, for the last 4 years. Our Lady of Fatima’s fiftieth anniversary is ofparticular importance to Mr. Lambert. He actually took part in its foundation, he has invested time, energy and hard-earned money to help build this parish from the bottom up. He has participated in every aspect of the parish and has not only seen the parish blossom, but has built his life and his family life around it. Before our delicious lunch, Mr. Lam- bert took a few minutes to share a few memories which the upcoming 50th anniversary brought to mind. Mr. Lambert left Saskatchewan towards the end of the *30’s, to come and establish a home in the ‘West’. He is awed by the changes in Mallardville since his arrival in B.C. He remembers the huge trees and the dense forest that surrounded the 2 small houses which sat on a 5 acre parcel they bought in 1946. “There were trees everywhere- and so much underbrush that you had to get out of your car to see where you were going!” Mr. Lambert has fond memo- ries of each and every one of the French-Canadians who sat on the different committees and took part in the start of the new parish. He will never forget Fr. Ovila Meunier, 0.m.i., who worked alongside all these people to develop Our Lady of Fatima parish. “I remember,” he confided with great candor, “ Father Meunier, taking off his “barrette’’(a style of hat) during our card parties to collect money. None of us could refuse him, he had such a way about him, with his big smile, he was a renowned preacher and had the gift of the gab.” Mr. Lambert remembers be- ing amazed at donating fifty dollars which at that time was a large sum of money. He also recalls Fr. Meunier going “Congratulations” From all of us at C est LA MODE _ Specialists in Hair vx Nails vx Skin 939-1818 door to door many times to raise funds for the new church. He has engraved on his memory, the successive presence of Oblate pastors and assistants, who over 40 years, have strug- gled with the parishioners. By the sweat of their brow and their monetary generosity, our pioneers have made Our Lady of Fatima a solid institution. Mr. Lambert has always held dearly the French lan- guage. He acknowledges, “ It hasn’t been easy to preserve our language and many times we’ve had to do battle to keep it alive in our community”. French is certainly a minority language in British Columbia, but our valiant builder is happy to have devoted himself to the cause and to see the success of French immersion schools in the District, as par- ents realise the importance of speaking two languages. Our Lady of Fatima parish is much more than a few memories, than a gathering of people or a couple houses, it’s fifty years of community life. The Lambert family is only one of many families who have passed down from one generation to the next, the spirit of fraternity and the value of parish life. Volunteering is an integral part of his daily life. In 1952, Mr. Lambert participated in the crea- tion of a Knights of Columbus council, and in 1955, he started a French Scouting troop. Two years later, his wife Suzanne, along with Mrs. Alice Gamache, began a Scouting group for girls, les Jeannettes. I had only a brief conversation with Mrs, Lambert on the phone, but she shared with me the different associations she has volunteered for over the years, namely the C.W.L, (Catholic Women’s League), the P.T.O. parish library and Red Cross. The dedication and involvement of the parents could not help but influence the choices of their descendants. Mrs. Diane Johnston their daughter, is an example of the reflected transmission of traditions and parish heritage. Diane is a Scout leader herself in Maillardville trains new leaders in the province, volunteers in the parish library and is presently helping to organize the 50" anniversary activities for the year. I had the opportunity to meet with Diane and she is very happy to be involved with this great event. To her, this celebration is very special. She sees it as a way to thank all those pioneers who are so devoted to their Catholic faith. She is proud to carry on the traditions and the organisation of the 50th is only a small way to repay these people. Mr. Lambert helped to organize some of the events for the 25th and the 40th anniversaries of the parish. Now, in 1996, Mrs. Johnston states that there is a d namic parish life at Our Lady of Fatima, as in days of old. Her children are Scouts and will be actively helping in the organization of this celebration. She considers the parish to be like an enormous family where you always feel welcome. In hearing her ONE PIONEER, ONE FAMILY, THREE GENERATIONS bert confided in me that he had never had a chance to at- tend university but that he was very proud of his accom- plishments in his parish and I’m sure that hundreds of his fellow parishioners feel the same way about their own serv- “LES SCOUTS FRANCOPHONES SCOUTING IN FRENCH” COMITE DE PARENTS DE MAILLARDVILLE FOR Boys & Girts 7yrs - 2OyrRs GROW IN THE SCOUTING ENJOY CAMP G, TEAMWORK, CRAFTS MEETINGS HELD WEEKLY AT SALLE ST. ANNE 858 LAVAL SQUARE, COQUITLAM CONTACT MARIE-ALICE BOYER 937-O9T75 i — - XONTPATYAATIONE Hotiday own POM AAA OD YE COQUITLAM Join us in our e ENCORE DINING ROOM ¢« COZY SQUIRE LOUNGE Tel: 931- 4433 Fax: 931- 4250 631 Lougheed Hwy BETTER BATHROOMS Madeleine Leonard BATHROOMS SHOWROOM MANAGER “Your Complete Bathroom Centre” 822 HENDERSON AVENUE, COQUITLAM, B.C. V3K 1P2 suenenenetiimiets qumbemmeaethcncenceb-eeeets eamasarte “canemiaraninnerteceathcenscaineonseemcaarenaens ates coe os ene ac RT a a en Ee speak, we get the feeling that Our Lady of Fatima parish is a wonderful place not only because of the dedication of the pioneers but also because of the involvement of suc- ceeding generations. There are certainly numerous other families who have shared the same experience as the Lam- bert’s in participating in the development of the parish by serving on various commit- tees and councils. Mr. Lam- CREDIT UNION Maillardville a | Branch 1013 Brunette Avenue Coquitlam, B.C. 525-3331 Villge Interactive Centre 526-4922 To our First time Customer only We offer a special 20% Discount Heritage Mountain Branch 1001 H Austin Ave., Coquitlam off our HAIR & SKIN Services We G Hi LO i 140-221 loco Rd., E UARANTEE A FIG UALITY 469-9422 & Friendly Service” Votre caisse populaire est heureuse de souligner le cinquantiéme anniversaire de la paroisse Notre Dame de Fatima FELICITATIONS Village Credit Union is proud to vile Commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Parish of our Lady of Fatima Notre caisse populaire a Maillardville Congratulations