The same message was passed to welcome centres and organizations, such as the Open Door Society, Regional Newcomer Gateways, and so on.
We were sort of comparing the nature of rural communities at the beginning of the century and today. I’m not sure if things have changed. For example, I visited the school in Bellegarde, a pretty little community in the southeast of the province, for the graduation of eight students. The gym was so full that I was afraid firefighters might have to come. There were at least 400 people when there are usually 150 people in that small community. You need a bigger gym for graduation or other celebrations; otherwise, things aren't up to their normal standards. You get the idea of the level of enthusiasm in a situation like that.
In Bellegarde and Gravelbourg, it is always amazing how involved people are.