Presentation by BHS students about the group BHS Music Memories, a program to bring music to seniors, a therapeutic support.  The students have initiated a program to get music to seniors at a particular home (MP3 Player, & Songs).  The program has been very well received with potential to expand to an additional seniors home

Giles Deveaux Rotary President shown with: Britany Gray, Meagan Hodnett, Cindy Hornibrook-Doucet

Cindy Hornibrook Doucet, with students, Jenna Coture,Taylor Godin, Kara Branch, Tyler Duguay, Brittany Gray, Meagan Hodnett

Donald Aubé, Operation Nez Rouge Chaleur Operation Red Nose

Operation Red Nose is a free non judgemental and confidential designated driver service that attempts to reduce drinking and driving on holiday weekends in the Chaleur area. The customers, plus their vehicle if they wish, are taken to their requested location, free of charge. Though, accepted donations go to youth organizations. Teams of three people are sent out to each call, an escort driver, a volunteer driver and a navigator. Donald stated that 369 people used the service in 2014 and he anticipates 500 will do so in 2015. He commented that the operation will probably need 200 volunteers this year. The service runs from 9 pm to 3 am on November 27 and 28, and 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 26 and 31 December. The contact number to volunteer and request rides is 547-7510. Links to more information are;

www.operationrednose.com  and  www.facebook.com/ONRChaleur

GUEST SPEAKERS:  Sylvie Nadeau, Robert Allain and Dr. Clément Arsenault; the Mgr. Henri-Cormier Lodge and the Dr. Leon-Richard Oncology Centre, Moncton.

Sylvie and Robert discussed aspects of the Mgr. Henri-Cormier Lodge and the Tree of Hope fundraising campaign. The Mgr. Henri-Cormier Lodge, opened in September 1993, provides accommodation free of charge with reduced meal costs for out-of-town patients receiving cancer treatment at the Dr. Léon-Richard Oncology Centre. The intent of the lodge is to reduce financial stress for the patients and enables them easy access to the Oncology Centre. The Lodge can accommodate a combined total of 65 cancer patients and companions at any one time. This past year, the Lodge has accommodated 1849 guests. Dr. Arsenault, a physicist, discussed the Oncology Centre’s radiation equipment and how they go about properly filling the radiation therapy prescription. Sylvie stated that they hope to raise $1.7 million in donations for this coming year’s Tree of Hope campaign, of which 86% goes directly towards the Lodge and Oncology Centre projects. Here are links to more information.  Sue Stever Bathurst Rotarian was testimony to the wonderful services provided by the lodge in 2014 during 6 weeks of Radiation Treatment in Moncton.

http://www.vitalitenb.ca/en/service-points/hospitals/dr-georges-l-dumont-university-hospital-centre/oncology/mgr-henri-cormier-lodge

http://www.vitalitenb.ca/en/service-points/hospitals/dr-georges-l-dumont-university-hospital-centre/oncology/unit-4d-oncology-unit

Guest Speakers: Dr. Clément Arsenault, Robert Allain & Sylvie Nadeau, shown Carl Kenny

GUEST SPEAKERS: Michel (Chico) Doucet and Emily Whalen, Nepisiquit Volunteer Travel Group

The Nepisiquit Volunteer Travel Group, under the umbrella of the Free the Children organization, is a group whose intent is to travel to underdeveloped countries to empower communities to lift themselves out of poverty through a holistic, sustainable international development model, Adopt a Village. The five pillars of education, clean water, health, food security and alternative income are applied as guidelines. Michel and Emily gave a brief presentation of their previous travels to Kenya, Ghana and Ecuador. Their next destination, in 2017, will be Tanzania. They hope to raise funds through the sale of lottery calendars to assist with travel expenses.

http://www.freethechildren.com/

In Photo:  Rotarian Silvana Bosca with Emily Whalen and Michel Doucet

CHAIRPERSON: Bernie Cormier

GUEST SPEAKERS: Political candidates for the 19 October 2015 Federal Election, riding of Acadie – Bathurst: Serge Cormier, Liberal Party; Jason Godin, New Democratic Party and Dominique Breau, Green Party.

All three candidates were each given five minutes to present their election platforms and five minutes to field questions.

Guests shown with Rotary President Gilles Deveaux, Bernie Cormier and Riba Riordon

Rotarian’s had the opportunity to meet and hear from Sylvain Couturier, former Junior and NHL Hockey Player, now General Manager of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan.  His son, Sean Couturier played Junior Hockey with the Acadie-Bathurst TItan and has just recently signed a 6-year extension to his contract with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Sean, a member of Team Canada; gold medal winners at the 2015 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship, gave a brief talk of his experience. He also commented on his off season routine and his opinion that the Philadelphia Flyers will be in the playoffs this coming NHL season. Sylvain gave a brief synopsis of the Titan’s rebuilding process.

Father and Son Couturier shown with Bernie Cormier, Bathurst Rotary President-Elect

Josée-Anne Doucet with Al Cotton (Rotarian) and Chairperson

Josée-Anne Doucet, Coordinator, Chaleur Community Inclusion Network (CIN), created by the Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation (ESIC), a Province of New Brunswick Crown Corporation.

The ESIC was created to develop, oversee, coordinate and implement initiatives to reduce poverty and assist thousands of New Brunswickers to become more self-sufficient. Josée-Anne stated that the goal of the CIN is to reduce poverty in the Chaleur area. Present local priorities are transportation, community learning and wellness. Josée-Anne receives $100 K yearly for community projects. Examples of recently approved CIN projects are “Get Moving for my Health”, “Bathurst Literacy Bridge”, “Girls of Action Program” and “Business Succession”. Josée-Anne also requested that no longer used bicycles be dropped off to the Bathurst Youth Centre to aid in the Recycle My Bicycle program. The link to ESIC website is included.

http://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/esic.html

Paul Lacroix with Wendy Gionet-Landry Guestspeaker

Wendy discussed the Atlantic Education International Homestay Family Program. International students, between the ages of 11 and 18, from countries such as China, Brazil, Mexico, amongst others, live with a host family, attend classes with New Brunswick students and participate in extra-curricular and community activities.  Fully immersed in the English language, international students develop their language skills and create new and lasting friendships.  Wendy commented on the various activities and lifestyle changes experienced by these students in the Bathurst area and shared their perspective having been involved for 8 years.  Since 1998, over 2000 students have participated in Atlantic Education International’s study abroad programs in New Brunswick. For further info, their website link is included.

http://www.aei-inc.ca/nb-international-student-program/