Time for a Party… at Long Last!

The QFHSA’s 2023 Awards Banquet

Could we do it? Could we bring back a venerable tradition that was interrupted by the pandemic? We most certainly could!

On the evening of Friday, May 26th, an enthusiastic crowd of over 100 gathered for the 2023 edition of the Quebec Federation of Home and School Associations’ Awards Banquet. The event, which was held at the Novotel in Ville St-Laurent, united Home and School volunteers from the Eastern Townships, Laval, the Island of Montreal, and points farther west including St. Lazare and Gatineau.

The QFHSA was pleased to welcome some very special guests to the event. Noel Burke and Kate Le Maistre, the 2022 Gordon Paterson award winners, were present to finally receive their awards in person. Last year’s awards ceremony was a Zoom affair, of course.

It was great to welcome such a large contingent from the Lester B. Pearson School Board. Joining us were Commissioners Frank di Bello and Allison Saunders; Student Commissioner Kayleigh Paré; Parent Commissioners Alaina Charszan and Marium Hasanie; as well as Chair Judith Kelley. Also in attendance were a couple of alumni from the QFHSA board of directors, Liette Chamberland and Renate Sutherland. Renate is the current president of the Quebec Provincial Association of Retired School Educators. Other special guests included Cameron Gray of the Quebec Association of Geography Teachers and Global Educators and Katherine Korakakis, president of the English Parents’ Committee Association.

On the evening’s busy agenda were cocktails, dinner, an awards ceremony, and dancing! Our emcee as Board Member Leah Trineer, who took a break from her treasurer duties to welcome our guests and guide us through the evening’s activities.

The awards ceremony began with the presentation of this year’s major awards. Attendees heard about the impressive accomplishments of our prize winners:

Leslie N. Buzzell Award: QFHSA President Rosemary Murphy

Gordon Paterson Award: Jennifer Baltuonis, music teacher at St. Patrick’s Elementary

Volunteer of the Year: Nicole Fischer Gasser, Butler Elementary Home and School Association

Pat Lewis Environmental Award: Macdonald High School’s Bee Team

Newsletter Award: Cedarcrest Elementary Home and School Association (Nadia Piluso, Editor)

And then it was time to cheer the efforts of the Golden Torch leaders and Unsung Heroes from our local Home and School Associations. Several days after the event, the QFHSA got back in touch with our guests for their feedback. We learned that for most, a highlight of the evening was getting together in person with volunteers from their own Home and School and beyond. One attendee summed up the experience as follows: “Night out with amazing volunteers.” The other major highlight was the awards ceremony. Our guests enjoyed watching everyone receive their awards.

It was a night to remember.