15 years of local development - worth celebrating!

Over the years, local development month has become a privileged occasion to pay homage to the men and women who have worked hard to bring prosperity to Verdun. Close to 200 people participated in the 14th edition of this Gala, this year's theme being "J'ai le cœur à Verdun, j'achète à Verdun" (My heart rests in Verdun, so I shop here). Three persons shared the guest of honor position of the evening: Mayor Claude Trudel and president of the group, Maurice, Luc Maurice who worked in collaboration with the president of the Services de placement Télé-Ressources, Johanne Berry.

This year's event was marked by the "comeback" of the first concessionaire of Verdun fiefdom, Zacharie Dupuis. Many Verdun residents have not seen this gentleman since Verdun's 125th anniversary celebrations back in 2000. Zacharie Dupuis introduced the speakers for this Gala, after which the Dinner Gala was held - made more festive by two marvelous opera singers and a pianist. Using the same successful formula of last year, the individuals in charge of local development month hold two major events in November: a Gala Dinner and Recognition Night for the "Coup de chapeau." The Gala Dinner held on Tuesday night honored some individuals and companies who made worthwhile contributions to our community, as well as the year's business personality.

By the same token, the very select club of Great Verdunites was enriched by the arrival of one or two candidates that an independent jury chose from among members of the public who worked in Verdun for numerous years. This gala will be followed by recognition night which will be held on Wednesday, November 29. On this occasion, several residents will be honored, either because of a remarkable deed or because of an exceptional accomplishment of an innovative project that had much impact this year.

Between the entrée and the main course served by the competent waiters of L'Excellence, a caterer of L'Île-des-Soeurs, the first winners were announced. The names of the two Great Verdunites who were selected for 2006 were revealed: Georges Bossé, Verdun's former mayor, and Maurice Desmond Quinn, former director of Verdun's Fire and Safety Department.

Coming from a large and beautiful Irish family, Maurice Desmond Quinn made Verdun his home in 1922, and finished his career as Director of Verdun's Fire and Safety Department after 35 years of excellent and faithful service. Since he retired, Mr. Quinn has been working even harder to demonstrate his commitment to the community. One only needs to think of the humanitarian organizations that he helped - such as the Canadian Association for Muscular Dystrophy, Centraide and Assistance to Burn Victims. He also served as vice president of the United Irish Societies of Montreal and as president of the St. Lawrence Optimist Club. He has no intentions of throwing in the towel and withdrawing from the Verdun neighborhood he knows so well. Maurice Desmond Quinn will pursue his activities to collect funds and satisfy the needs of young people today.

To these three awards were added three special awards to acknowledge the exceptional contributions to local development in the last 15 years: medical clinic, Physergo of the south west, Caisses Populaires of Verdun (Atwater-Centre, Île-des-Sœurs, Verdun) and the Foundation of Local Development of Verdun.