ASA Annual meeting

The annual gathering offers a wonderful opportunity to meet the Séguin of America. In fact, we come from the provinces of Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick and even the United States. Everyone is happy to see each other. This year, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu had the honor of bringing together the Séguin family.

Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu is a town in the Suroît region, some twenty kilometers south of Montreal.

It is located on the banks of the Richelieu River which receives the waters of Lake Champlain. In addition, this city is in the middle of the most productive agricultural lands in Quebec thanks to the humus left by the Champlain Sea when it retreats.

For those who came by bus from Hawkesbury to the rendezvous, the meeting had already started on the bus by singing a few response songs and listening to supposedly true stories.

Blazon of the Association made of wood and metal given as a gift
to Raymond Séguin # 002, treasurer since the foundation of the Association.

After the welcome, our patient driver, François Séguin # 970, skillfully steers his huge bus guided by the cicerone Nicole Poulin, president of the Center d 'histoire de Saint-Jean. It was the Loyalists (Americans who wanted to remain loyal to the Crown of England upon independence from the United States) who founded Saint John. There are still some Victorian-style buildings that are trying to restore. The Chambly Canal, which runs along the Richelieu River, was for a long time an important navigation route for importation and exportation with the United States. The Johannais had to roll up their sleeves when the Singer company, a manufacturer of sewing machines, decided to move to the United States. The federal government also struck a blow by closing the Military College. However, the International Balloon Festival which takes place in August brings a positive note. In addition the Johannais knew how to take up the challenges; they have developed other manufacturing activities and the biofood industry is emerging more and more.

The statutes of the Association require one general assembly per year. This is where we get the pulse of the health of the Association, which is doing very well. The president, Pierre-Paul Séguin # 368, first welcomes everyone and we then proceed to the report of the president and the various committees. The board of directors needs five more members. We call on the Séguin to fill this void. Then follows an excellent supper served with diligence.

The 140 Séguin present are impatiently awaiting the presentation of the FRANÇOIS: a r ecognition for one or a Séguin who left his mark on his community by his example in any field.

The first recipient is Father Edouard Séguin # 144. This generous man has dedicated his life to teaching at the College of Rigaud. It is with great emotion that Father Séguin receives the FRANCOIS. After the many photographs, Father Séguin reveals interesting details of his life. His many nieces and nephews got together for the occasion. Our congratulations to Father Séguin. You will find a short biography of Father Séguin in this issue of La Séguinière on page 15.

The second recipient is a young artist who is already very famous: Yannick Nézet-Séguin.

First a concert pianist, he then studied orchestral conducting which propelled him among the great conductors. All the Séguin would have liked to meet him; being retained in Europe, his sister, Sylviane Séguin, receives the FRANCOIS in his name (see La Séguinière on page 17).

After the presentation of the FRANÇOIS, our genealogist André Séguin # 006, author of the Séguin dictionary, presents us with a slideshow on our origins and the life of the Association. It is good to renew our cells which tend to forget. On behalf of the Séguin, I would like to repeat this initiative. After such a successful day, we could not leave each other without a few dance steps, wishing to meet next year at the Manoir Alpine in Sainte-Adèle to celebrate the 15th anniversary of our Association. Many thanks to André Séguin # 261 and his team who prepared this memorable day.