Philippe Barrette and Suzanne Fortin received the regional medal from Claire Bolduc, prefect of the MRC de Témiscamingue (left), and Martin Ferron, prefect of the MRC de La Vallée-de-l'Or (right).
Suzanne Fortin, for the year 2022, and Philippe Barrette, for 2023, are the new winners of the regional medal of the Conférence des préfets de l'Abitibi- Témiscamingue.
This medal highlights the commitment of citizens whose work contributes to the development of the region. The regional medal is awarded on an annual basis, but two winners were announced this year to compensate for a delay caused by the pandemic.
The ceremony concluded the gathering of elected officials from the Conference of Prefects, late Friday afternoon, in Landrienne.
Suzanne Fortin, former president of the Tour from Abitibi, was surprised to learn a few weeks ago that she was to receive this honorary distinction.
It is truly a source of pride to be recognized by your region. It's a medal of honor that I wear on behalf of my team, she says. It's a team medal, because we really were a team working all these years for the realization of the Tour de l'Abitibi, adds the Valdorienne, considered the person who saved the event during from winter 2010-2011.
Philippe Barrette, who was mayor of Témiscaming from 1993 to 2013 and prefect of the MRC de Témiscamingue from 1997 to 2005, traveled from Lac-Bouchette, in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, to attend the ceremony in person. .
Everyone who was there, I was surprised to see so many acquaintances, expresses Mr. Barrette
Martin Ferron, prefect of the MRC de La Vallée-de-l'Or, and Claire Bolduc, prefect of the MRC de Témiscamingue, consider these awards very deserved for the two winners.
C& #x27;is the entire region that comes out a winner from Suzanne Fortin's involvement. She took charge of the Tour de l'Abitibi when it was most in danger and she was able to raise it and ensure its sustainability, underlines Mr. Ferron.
The prize awarded to Philippe Barrette recognizes the commitment. And the word commitment takes on its full meaning when you see everything he does, adds Ms. Bolduc. When the logging company closed, he was one of those who left Tembec, that's something. He gave a lot. Today, we give back to him the love he gave to everyone.
