Mr. Speaker, last Thursday, some 50 musicians of the Ménétriers d'antan did us the honour of giving a concert of traditional music in the rotunda of parliament in Ottawa.
These musicians from Laval-Laurentides-Lanaudière, most of whom are retired seniors, had been invited by the member for Rivière-des-Mille-Îles and had accepted the invitation with alacrity.
Founded in 1988 by Jean-Pierre Paiement, this group of volunteers, now under the direction of Jean-Paul Desjardins, brings together musicians playing traditional music in an effort to revive the tradition of the strolling players.
They perform in public places, churches, shopping centres and seniors' residences, Saint-Jean-Baptiste celebrations and festivals. They have made three compact disks, which are available on the market.
In this international year of older persons, we pay tribute today to them and their leader. May they continue to impress their audiences with their dexterity and their playing.