On Saturday, June 14, Parc Barron in Lachute was the gathering place for new residents who had moved to the Argenteuil region within the past five years. The festival was the first of its kind in the region and welcomed new residents of all ages.
Guests were encouraged to inform themselves about regional organizations and offerings, speak with long-term locals, and enjoy numerous free activities and food throughout the day.
The Lachute Fire Department and the Sûreté du Québec offered tours of their vehicles to families and discussed common safety practices with residents.
The festival was formed in collaboration between the Municipalité régionale de comté (MRC) d’Argenteuil, Inspirer-Respirer Argenteuil, and the Québec government to bring together new and old residents in a diverse, welcoming environment.
Québec folk music filled the park as guests explored kiosks including from the MRC’s townships, 4Korners, Carrefour jeunesse-emploi d’Argenteuil, and the Société d’horticulture d’Argenteuil, among others.
Musée Régional d’Argenteuil Director Robert Simard spoke about the region’s flora and fauna, the Indigenous people who lived in the area before European contact, and the geographical origins of local place names.
The program included an unveiling of new artwork by local artist Sophie Stella Boivin, who presented her work, “Une murale à ton image” (“A mural in your image”) alongside Mayor of Lachute Bernard Bigras-Denis and Centre d’intégration en emploi Laurentides (CIEL) representatives.
Boivin explained that the mural incorporates references to numerous peoples and cultures, while remaining rooted in the natural environment of Argenteuil.
Financial support for the mural’s creation was provided by Aire Ouverte, the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux (CISSS) des Laurentides, and the CIEL.
Bigras-Denis said, “This work carries a strong message: one of living together and collaboration. We wanted a space that reflects the richness of our journeys, the diversity of our history, and above all, what we can build collectively when we have chosen openness, listening, and respect.”
Photos by Philip Oddi:
