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Loyal to our roots

The Eastern Townships, originally populated by British and French settlers over time, shared their communities with other European cultures. Other than the difficulties of communication between these people of different languages, there existed also a disparity of allegiance, religion and tradition. Amicable exchanges between this diversity have characterized the region with distinct attributes such as architecture, cultural activities, and social fabric. This acquired cultural heritage is the fruit of passionate and animated exchanges rather than conflicts.

Historical articles published in Le Tour have related some of these labours that lasted a lifetime to obtain the railroad, a hospital, a school, a road...

Modern society is equipped with an array of tools such as the telephone, newspapers, television, and Internet that provide almost unlimited access to information. Spokespeople and a multitude of pressure groups seem infinite often making argumentation interminable and decisions difficult.

Too often however, the debates are led by a few individuals who use the media to publicize their own point of view as to appear to be of general consensus. Change is inevitable with regards to certain hard line trends. How does one conciliate the needs of the retired to those of young families and workers or the necessities of private property and conservation as opposed to tourism development - the mainstay of our regional economy? How must we accept the abandon of farms and their conversion to other uses without changing the landscape? How does one fulfill the needs of an aging population while undergoing a fall in the birth rate and the defection of youth from rural living? How do we insure the sharing of the road between vehicular use and that used for health and fitness purposes (cycling, walking, etc.)?

The challenges are raised by demography, environment and moral values rather than by concerns of language, religion or tradition. The constant evolution of this debate will result in what will become the conjecture we leave to the next generation who will accept it just as we have accepted that which was bestowed upon us.

As long as the exchanges remain civilized and loyal to our roots, it will be a great legacy.

Happy reading!

Denis Boulanger

My Friend Joop, The Unconquered Man

I met Joop in Vilnius, Lithuania, three years ago, on a crisp September Friday at my youth hostel. He and I were the only ones awake and, as we ate breakfast, we traded notes - where we were from and where we were headed. I was up early because, though I'd had a visa for Belarus since Tuesday, I'd done nothing aboutbuying a train or bus ticket to Minsk. He was up early, too, to study his map. He would be driving to Minsk in just a few hours and he was wondering how he would read road signs and the map, all in Cyrillic, as he drove. So there we were, the answer to each other's travel dilemma.

After some preliminaries, like making sure the other wasn't carrying drugs and agreeing how to hide the often-confiscated Lonely Planet guide we each carried, Joop also made sure I was OK traveling with a gay man. I said that I was and we agreed to meet a few hours later to set off for the border. I also offered to ask Aksana, the CouchSurfer I was meeting in Minsk, to try to find him a place to stay.

Joop is one year younger than I, at the time 51 to my 52. He is Dutch and lives in Amsterdam. I've been meaning to visit him ever since our short time together but I still haven't. He's had an interesting but somewhat painful life, a topic we wandered into and out of all the way to Minsk and for the next three days too. It started with my asking him about his tattoo, the one on the inside of his left forearm, easily visible as he drove.

Joop's tattoo reads “Joop 22 Juli 2002.” It's the day he officially changed his name to Joop, a Dutch variant of Johannes and, more significantly, the Hebrew Jacob. Joop is not Jewish, but he shares an affinity with the Jews - one of feeling singled out - one born of a complicated situation.

Joop was 17 when he and his sister learned bits of the truth of their beginnings. Joop's father, he learned, had been fout in de oorlog, Dutch for “wrong in the war” (i.e., on the wrong side), a mark of great shame in Holland even today, let alone in the 70's. He'd been convicted of collaborating with the Nazis during World War II and had served five years in prison for it. That Joop's mother was German now fit more easily. True, this was all before Joop was born, but it had been withheld from Joop and his sister. Finally they understood why their questions about the past had always been answered vaguely, with holes and inconsistencies.

The shame of it was one thing, but the betrayal of being lied to was something else. Soon after, Joop spoke a truth of his own, clearly and openly: he revealed that he was gay, and announced he was leaving home. Since then his mother had become a bit more forthcoming, but not his father. His mother's dying request, to care for his father, brought the issue to the fore, especially in light of his father's continued reticence.

So it was that Joop had set out to exorcise the demons on his own, to be loyal to truth and justice, and to atone as best he could for “the sins of the father.” On this, his fourth driving trip to visit battlefields and concentration camps around Europe, he was heading for Khatyn, 60 km north of Minsk. Here, in the spring of 1943, in revenge for ambushing a German officer, the entire village of Khatyn was destroyed and all its 150 inhabitants locked in a barn and set ablaze. Yuzif Kaminsky, the only adult survivor, is the subject of the site's only human sculpture, The Unconquered Man. Of the four children who survived, two later died in Khvorosteny, another of many villages to suffer similar fates. Today, the Khatyn site is dedicated to all the 2.2 million Belarusians, one in four citizens, who perished in the war. (See www.khatyn.by; not to be confused with the Katyn Forest massacre of the Polish Officer Corp by Stalin in 1940, 286 km east of Minsk, in Russia.)

Over the next few days we visited the huge monument to the Russian liberation of Minsk from the Nazis in 1944, as well as the marsh where, in 1812, Napoleon's Army, on thin November ice, was ambushed while retreating from Moscow. No wonder Belarusians have historically mistrusted visitors from the west. On Monday night Joop put me on a train to Kiev and we parted. He turned his car west to Brest and Poland for a few more visits, and then for home; he was caring for his father and didn't want to be away too long. Loyalty cuts in many directions.

I've kept in contact with Joop off and on since that long weekend nearly three years ago. We're each in contact with Aksana too, who has since immigrated to Canada and lives in Ottawa. Most recently we've emailed each other during the World Cup, discussing Holland's steady progress through the tournament, Joop sending me photos of an Oranje-draped Amsterdam and the Museumplein where thousands of fans watched on a big screen, and me commiserating with him over their loss to Spain in the final. Indeed, amazingly, more than mere coincidence can account for, I received an email from him just as I began writing this piece. He's off to Berlin. Holland had lost to Spain, but Joop is loyal to his convictions, and still unconquered in his quest.

Jay Sames
jay.sames@gmail.com

Quoi de Neuf?

Artisans appeal to the ‘Loyalty' of their patrons as they move to a new location this fall

The popular “Quoi de Neuf? Artisan Show and Sale'' is moving to a new venue at Les Rochers Bleus in Sutton. Formerly at the Knowlton Golf Club and held as always, the weekend after Thanksgiving - this October 16th and 17th will see the Quoi de Neuf? artisans set up on two floors and in five rooms of Les Rochers Bleus Golf Club on Route 139 overlooking Sutton.

Throughout the sixteen years of the show's public life, it has built up a very loyal patronage. People come every year to view the wonderful, high-quality crafts produced by the various artisans; to place their custom orders, to chat with the artisans, to find that “extra special” something for their homes or for someone on their list. Although the show organizers are always careful to add several new artisans and crafts to the mix to keep it interesting, they are equally happy to welcome back many long standing artisans who have been with them for many years. This consistent quality keeps both loyal crafts people and customers returning year after year.

Originally started as an invitational home show by Debbie Hornig and friends in her home in Brome some 20 years ago, Quoi de Neuf? has retained a long list of loyal artisans throughout the years. Debbie continues to exhibit her locally-grown beautiful dried floral creations. Judy Mullins, one of the originals, continues to enchant people with her one-of-a-kind and sometimes life-sized Santa creations, and also takes care of recruiting new artisans to the show. Anne Johnston's traditional braided rugs are an ‘old world' craft that is hard to find these days; Bonnie and Pete Claude return yearly with their rustic wood and tin bird house and mirror crea-tions; Doug Purdy entertains with his whimsical folk art wood carvings; Cornelia Schmoetzer with her rustic and wacky dolls; Monique Lemieux's intricately fanciful felted doll creations; Roger and Irma Côté, long-time stained glass artisans will be back again, as well as Roger and Marilyn Jacob with their creative use of recycled silver utensils in their “Spoon Art” creations. Hélène Lapointe continues to show us new pressed flower and “papeterie d'art” crea-tions, as does Barbara Sala with her intricate art naïf cards. Pottery and glass creations are covered by Kazuyo Kamada's Japanese pottery. Jocelyne Poupart brightens things up with her wonderfully happy-looking ceramic pieces; Denis Meunier continues to enchant with his lovely quilts and cushions. Last year, Brian Penning's beautifully wrought wood furniture and rocking chairs took center stage and found many a new home in the region. Working in wood as well, François Boisvert creates wooden toys and furniture, and Frederic Roberts' beautifully formed Ferron-nerie d'art adds a lovely art form to the home mix. Sylvie Therrien's wooden carved mirrors, bird creations and whimsical sculptures always enchant. Nicole Brunet-Moras warms us up with her recycled sweater quilts and dog products. Other wonderful warm and fuzzy creations are seen in Louise Lauzon and Ivan Steenhout's beautiful Angora pieces, and Eliane Saucier's whimsical felted hats. Susan Hill of West Brome creates wonderful personalized beaded jewellery. André Ouellet's leather creations are back as well as Mary Anne Martin's purses and totes, colourful silk scarves by Colette Groulx and Elena Morgan's fragrant homemade soaps, salts and bath mixes.

Of course one must remember the wonderful food samplings at the show. Lynn Matthews' famous fudge, Christine Hodge's crafts jam, and jellies and salts from her hundreds of roses, Jacqui Paull tempts us with her pickles, chutneys and chocolate candies, and Stacy Richardson loosens us up with tastings from the Vignoble Bresee vineyard!

Organizers try to remain loyal to the area's artisans when adding new ones each year. Some of the new additions will be Julie Larocque and her sister from Sutton, who create wonderfully crafted wooden utensils; Mont Echo Naturels creates a very beautiful and original line of skin care and gourmet products from their locally and organically grown sea buckthorn plants; Jane Livingston of East Hill Farm will be a newcomer this year with her yummy baked goods and preserved goodies; Isabelle d'Hauterive's polymer clay doll sculptures will delight as will Luce Gilbert's sterling silver and semi-precious stone jewellery creations. The new location will allow the show to add even more exhibitors so please just come and enjoy the event.

The show organizers count on the continued loyalty of their followers.

Saturday, October 16th from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 17th from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Les Rochers Bleus Golf Club
550, Route 139, Sutton

www.expoquoideneuf.com

Information: Debbie Hornig 450 243-0890 or debhornig@axion.ca

The Loyalists at the Bay

Heather Darch UE – Missisquoi Museum

In 1783 Daniel Secord (1756-1832) was listed on the muster rolls at Fort Niagara with Brant's Volunteers. He had left all that he knew and everything he owned behind him in Courtland Manor, New York when he chose loyalty to King George III rather than fidelity to the new American republic. In his Last Will and Testament dated April 13th 1818, Daniel Secord remained true to his loyalties and held fast to his acrimony even in death: “ To my eldest son Isaac Secord, for his disloyalty to his King, the sum of one pound Provincial Currency and no more – and the rest, residue and remainder of my estate real and personal, goods and chattel, lands and tenements, I give and devise to my sons Daniel Secord Jr. and John Secord to be equally divided between them”. Daniel's loyalty was so intense that when his eldest son chose not to support the King, he permanently turned his back on him.

The price of loyalty to the Crown also had penalties for Missisquoi Bay resident Christian Wehr (1731-1824). Christian Wehr joined General Burgoyne's army in 1777 and served in the “King's Loyal Americans” (Jessup's Rangers). He also served in Sir John Johnson's “King's Royal Regiment of New York”. His loyalty to the Crown cost him his fortune at a time in his life when he should have been resting on his life's accomplishments. Wehr listed his personal losses, which included a frame house, 30 acres of cleared land, 2 cows, 2 heifers, 18 sheep, 14 hogs,

furniture and utensils. Five “sleigh loads” of personal belongings were also removed from his house as well as a trunk of clothes he had hidden to bring to Canada. An American captain moved into Wehr's home and took possession of everything he had once owned.

It is estimated that one-third of the population of the colonies were supporters of the King but at the conclusion of the American Revolution only 10,000 displaced persons wishing to remain loyal to the British Crown actually left the republic. These United Empire Loyalists chose to immigrate to Canada where they believed their devotion would be compensated with land.

Loyalists soldiers were encouraged to settle on land grants in Ontario or the Maritimes however, a small minority were familiar with the shores of Lake Champlain from their constant forays into the region during the Revolution and were resolved to live there.

Less than 1,000 people established themselves at the head of Lake Champlain at “Missiskoui Bay” (now Philipsburg) despite government directives that this land was to remain an unsettled buffer zone between the seigneuries and the United States. In addition, the lands around the Bay that they had chosen for settlement had already been granted by the King of France, and could only be held by seigniorial tenure. Missisquoi Bay was a part of the St. Armand seigneurie. Regardless of the orders, most of the men had gathered their families together in this region by 1784 and on the seigneuries to the west known as Caldwell's Manor and Christie's Manor.

As soon as the government knew about the presence of these Loyalists, they were ordered to remove immediately to another locality. Their refusal to move meant that their names were struck off lists of those receiving government assistance and all aid was withdrawn. Thus began a steady protest from the Loyalists to the Governor of Quebec requesting clear title to the lands around Missisquoi Bay. The petitions and the written responses by government officials to the Loyalists make this particular history of the Loyalists' in Canada very unique. Hundreds of petitions were submitted to the government over a period of ten years, requesting that the land be deeded to them. In the petitions, they asked that the land be granted in “free and common socage”, in-stead of under the seigneurial system that had remained as a concession to the French in the 1774 Quebec Act.

The Missisquoi Bay “squatters” were an annoyance to the government at the time but British legislators hoped to avoid a clash of cultures and thus, introduced the Constitutional Act in 1791 which not only divided Québec into two distinct provinces, Upper Canada and Lower Canada, it also provided the legal framework for the Loyalists to settle at the Bay.

On February 7th, 1792, a royal proclamation stated that the Crown Lands of the province were to be surveyed into townships and the land granted to settlers was to be held according to the British tradition; that is, free-hold land tenure, British laws, a Protestant establishment and representative government.

Meetings to consider applications for Crown Land and for taking the “Oaths of Allegiance” to the King were held at Missisquoi Bay from 1792 until 1797. By 1796 the first grant was awarded to Thomas Dunn for the Township of Dunham.

Today descendants of American Loyalists can use the post-nominal letters “UE” after their name to indicate that at least one of their ancestors was a Loyalist. The UE was an honour that Lord Dorchester conferred on all Loyalists and their descendants in recognition of the service they rendered in defence of the “Unity of Empire”.

Sources: Last Will and Testament of Daniel Secord 1818 GSI-586/5/2 Wentworth County; The Loyalists of the Eastern Townships of Quebec by Sir John Johnson Centennial Branch UEL, 1984; “Loyalists settled near Missisquoi Bay in 1784”, Jean Darrah McCaw, “Crossroads”, 1992; Contributions to the History of the Eastern Townships, Cyrus Thomas, 1866; The Loyal Americans of New England and New York: Founders of the Townships of Lower Canada, Jim Manson.

Be nice: Complain!

This is a true story. A friend of mine went to a restaurant for breakfast. The bacon tasted a bit unpleasant but he decided not to complain. After the meal, however, the waitress enquired if everything had been all right.

“Since you ask,” my friend said, “I think the bacon was off.”
“Oh dear,” replied the waitress, “let me tell the chef.”

A few moments later the chef appeared in front of my friend brandishing a slice of raw bacon at him whilst shouting, “How dare you say the bacon is off! It was fresh this morning. You don't know what you are talking about.” Needless to say, my friend has never returned to the restaurant, and he's told many people, other than just me, about his humiliating experience.

This story made my blood run cold. Not because, as the owner of Gîte Vert Le Mont B&B, I happen to cook many breakfasts, as well as quite a lot of bacon. Rather, I was shocked because of the response of the chef. Didn't he know that unhappy clients tell far more people about their bad experience than the happy ones tell about their good one? I was taught that a satisfied client informs about four people while the dissatisfied one passes on the bad news to ten or more. Nowadays, in a world where the Internet is our portal to the world, that negative report can rapidly reach thousands of people. Many customer-review web sites have become hugely popular and very influential due to reviews of hotels, restaurants, products, services, etc., written by people like you and me. A slip in service can be potentially ruinous to a business, especially if the client says nothing. In my bacon example, my friend said something, and so at least gave the owner an opportunity to put things right. All too often however when we have a bad experience and the waitress enquires “Was every-thing all right?” we nod, smile and say, “Delicious! Thank you.” Then we go home and tell our friends how much we hated it, and maybe even write a review on Trip Advisor.

I consider myself fortunate to have developed many loyal guests who return to the B&B year after year. It is easy to have a loyal clientele when everything is OK, but the real test is when something goes wrong. If a guest doesn't come back, I like to believe it is for a good reason but what if the bacon was overcooked, the bed too hard or perhaps the toilet paper too thin? I certainly hope that is not the case but if a guest doesn't complain, then I don't know and, worse, I have no opportunity to put things right. So, next time you are disappointed or things aren't up to scratch, be brave and make a clear and specific complaint. Give the owner a chance to fix the problem. They should thank you for your concern and put things right. Then you can reward them with your continued patronage, and if you were delighted then maybe even a glowing review online. As for me, I promise never to wave bacon at you, no matter what you say about it!

Lynda Graham

Loyalty To Your Local Store

In this day and age, with technology allowing us to buy whatever we need with the click of a mouse, it has become increasingly difficult for local stores and businesses to thrive and even survive. Sure you can find whatever you need – sometimes at a bargain on-line, but there is something to be said for quality personal service.

For instance, it is not unusual for the very people who have purchased these great on-line deals to show up at my shop asking me to install the new piece on their bike. I'm happy to oblige, but since the part didn't come from my shop, I must charge for my time… and just like that, gone is the good deal.

Without the loyalty of our customers, local shops couldn't survive. Last Spring during a nasty incident,

I repaired hundreds of flats and drove around the countryside to come to the aid of stranded cyclists. My customers were quite happy that I wasn't an on-line store somewhere in Arizona. By supporting local shops, you will in turn be supported when you need something to be fixed or serviced.

As a bike shop owner, I am always ready to be of ser-vice to my loyal customers. If they drop in because they need a small adjustment, I am happy to help them at no charge. Recently, one of my most loyal customers arrived at my shop exhausted, complaining of leg cramps. She couldn't finish her bike ride and her car was back in Sutton so she simply jumped into my van for the drive there. When she asked if she could pay, I answered, ‘It was out of the question - I wouldn't even think of charging one of my most loyal clients for this small service.'

This kind of “loyalty to a bike shop movement” has taken off all over America. Even on Facebook many people are asserting their support to their local bike shop. Many articles like this one are showing up in magazines from bike shop owners like me promoting local purchasing. Why? Because, no business can sur-vive without loyal customers.

If you have been lucky enough to find an excellent local bike shop, or any other local store for that matter, that offers personalized quality service, continue to support it. No click of a computer mouse will ever buy that for you.

Stephan Marcoux
Velo-Zoom

Loyalty is not blind

Well Hello, My Dear Design Friends... it's your peripatetic Greta von Schmedlapp again!

So happy you enjoyed my approach to the last issue's special theme word: PROBITY.

Our brilliant Editor has chosen a less obscure theme word this time: LOYALTY. This word is often used in a glib manner and I am concerned that it is cheapened with common usage as in: ‘being loyal to a brand' or, especially these days with the on-going FIFA TV broadcasts: ‘being loyal to a sports team.' I guess it's OK but I sometimes bridle about such an over-kill usage. Too often I over-hear the expression, «Luv ya", or at the end of a phone conversation, a perfunctory «I love you". Love is too complex and profound a word to use casually. Casual usage demeans the impact of a word, and I find that LOYALTY is slowly sliding in that direction.

So my dear design fiends, I must be brutally honest with you! Please sit down in your favorite chair, and turn off your various electronic devises for a few moments. As I said to Aurelien following a day of visiting suppliers and construction sites: "My life is a series of fragmented and overlapping events!" These days with everybody interrupting themselves and others with buzzing, pings, and blips from their gadgets of communications, it's a rare event to have quiet time to read or even think without distraction. So here goes: LOYALTY IS NOT BLIND: IT MUST BE EARNED. It must also be re-earned in comparison to other similar events, or things. As you might know by now, I, Greta von Schmedlapp, cultivated and worldly-wise as I may be, do regularly try to re-asses my so-called loyalties. I am constantly exploring the design (and the gourmet) world with my "Partner-in-Crime" Aurel.

You know my loyalty to the Quintessence of Stress Reduction: the classic gin Martini! However, when we were in Peru last year, I did explore the various recipes for their famous Pisco Sour. Although I did relish it in Lima, Cusco, and the sublime Sacred Valley, back in Montreal, it wasn't quite the same. In May, we were in Venice and Florence. There the local potion is the classic of Harry's Bar: the Negroni. I love the complex bittersweet flavours combining all the herbal essences of gin, red vermouth, and Campari however I remain loyal to the superb balance of my classic Hendrick's Gin & Noilly Prat vermouth...hopefully garnished with an excellent olive. Having explored other options, it is still the most suitable for me. Now my dears, I don't mean to use the word LOYALTY lightly but this does describe my approach.

On another more spiritual level, Aurel told me of his long ago University experiences of exploring various religious denominations with the encouragement of his Philosophy professor. His room-mate at the time was a very orthodox Roman Catholic who said his rosary every night under the covers (!). One Sunday, Aurel having forgotten his Sunday newspaper at the nearby Anglican Church, asked his friend to go along with him to fetch it. His dorm-mate refused from fear of being seen leaving the vicinity of the Anglican Church and being thought DIS-LOYAL!!! If his faith was so easily challenged, his LOYALTY WAS NOT STRONG. Every one's integrity, beliefs, and loyalty are challenged daily. LOYALTY IS NOT A HABIT: IT IS AN IDEOLOGY.

Currently Aurel & I are working on a marvellous 3-story house up in Lake Ashton, near Esterel. We often discuss the ideology and design concepts that he and the architect have created and caution their clients to remain loyal to the design integrity of the home. So when we see a door handle that does not respect the simple straight lines of the whole house, we try to discourage its purchase. Our client has wonderful large paintings for which we are already planning the lighting even before the electrician has started the wiring. We are also creating a special display space for his extensive collection of the "real" McCoy ceramics that will not compromise the general simple lines of the house but show them off. It's nice to have a bit of baroque style, but in this house, please not a classical English chesterfield! We must respect the design integrity, and be LOYAL TO THE DESIGN. I must repeat: it's all about the context. We designers and architects must be ever vigilant and LOYAL TO OUR PRINCIPLES. Elegant chesterfields with deep tufting may be rather lovely in Westmount, but definitely not for a modern house that "sweeps down the cliff" to the lake.

I do hope that you, dear readers, have not been bored with my preachy letter. I would love to hear from you about your favourite challenges to being LOYAL.

Colourfully yours,
Greta von Schmedlapp

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