September 14, 2014 - Cantley Tugboat Celebration ... a memorable occasion
The lively traditional fiddle music of six Barrhaven Fiddleheads and of Nathan Curry's trio kept toes tapping and some dancing. Children, many with freshly-painted faces, had a wonderful time trying the heritage games, making kites and then flying them, and everyone enjoyed traditional treats….all organized by the Cantley Lions who were dressed in period costume for the occasion. Many had fun playing Soccer Cantley's games in the soccer field and creating tugboat drawings at the La Petite Ecole craft table. Everyone admired the beautiful creations of L'Art de l'Ordinaire artists.
At 2 pm the bagpiper with his haunting music led the crowd to the tugboat. There, Cantley's first historic plaques were unveiled by eleven of Cantley's eighteen Gatineau River rivermen. When their much-loved foreman, Léo Vanasse, was asked to cut the ribbon he grabbed Armand Lepage's arm saying, “We have been together all of our career. We will do this one together. Come with me... - one of many emotional moments at the Tugboat Celebration. There was hardly a dry eye among the 250 spectators when these rivermen stood together proudly on the deck of the revitalized E. Champagne for the first time since logging ended in 1991.
The party continued while Mayor Brunette and Councillor Potvin served the beautiful cakes decorated with a boom full of chocolate logs and with E. Champagne.
If you missed this very special Cantley celebration, I encourage you to visit E. Champagne and the 5 newly-installed plaques in Parc Mary-Anne-Phillips anytime.
For more information about the Tugboat Project, see our Projects page.
Video from http://www.capitalgems.ca/tugboat-le-champagne.html.