Local musicians Chris Gardner and Kathy Neville entertain the crowd at the Residence Meilleur fundraising event, June 6.
Peter L. Smith
Local musicians Chris Gardner and Kathy Neville entertain the crowd at the Residence Meilleur fundraising event, June 6.
Peter L. Smith
L‘ISLE-AUX-ALLUMETTES – The official launch of the Residence Meilleur du Haut Pontiac fundraising campaign began June 6 at the Upper Pontiac Sports Complex with a musical extravaganza of well known local entertainers including Louis Schryer, Eli Boucher, Gail Gavan, Debbie and Maggie Bechamp, Chris Gardner and many others. Over 350 people attended the event, which raised $7,500; the campaign’s goal is to raise $800,000 with about $400,000 raised to date.
L’Isle-aux-Allumettes Mayor and project treasurer, Winston Sunstrum, introduced the board members who have been working on the senior’s residence project and expressed his appreciation to all those who attended or assisted in the event.
Pontiac MP Mathieu Ravignat stressed the importance of the Residence Meilleur
project as well as the community’s dedication to realizing it: “Success comes from heart, blood and effort. You, the
people of the Upper Pontiac, have an
abundance of it to make this project a success. The Government needs to step up and invest for seniors, especially in rural areas, who need to be close to families and loved ones.”
Kerry Fortin, an art teacher at Dr. Wilbert Keon School, and his students created a special mural that was donated to the Residence Meilleur project.
The project was first discussed in 2010 when William Archambault and George Picard presented the idea to Sunstrum. Since then, meetings have been ongoing and the Residence Meilleur du Haut Pontiac Not-for-Profit Corporation was established. The total cost for the project is $2.2 million, with a 50% grant available from the government; the process to obtaining the grant is 85% complete.
Committee members noted work could begin this fall or early in 2016. The facility will feature nine, one-bedroom apartments and three, two-bedroom apartments; the 2.68 acre lot will allow for future expansions.
