Townshippers’ Days Past

Since its founding meeting in 1979, Townshippers’ Association has organized an autumn festival that became known as “Townshippers’ Day.”  Here is a list of the dates, the themes, the intrepid volunteers who led the annual T-Day organizing committee, and the host village, town or city.

October 17, 1979.  Founding Meeting. Wendall Sparkes, Lennoxville.

October 4, 1980.  Townships’ Day. Warren Grapes, Centre d’Arts Orford.

October 3, 1981. Townshippers’ Day. Warren Grapes, Hatley.

September 18, 1982. Townshippers’ Day. Warren Grapes, Stanbridge East.

September 14, 1983. Townshippers’ Day. Warren Grapes, Rock Island.

September 22, 1984. “The Way We Were.” Ron Creary & Jim Boule. Knowlton.

September 21, 1985.  “The Place to Be.” Clarence Blake, Sherbrooke.

September 20, 1986. “Rendez-Vous.” Janis Southam, Bromont.

September 19, 1987. “All Together / Ensemble.” Bev Smith, Danville / Shipton.

September 17, 1988. “Together / Ensemble.” Earle McCurdy, Sutton.

September 16, 1989. “Townships Then & Now.” Muriel Brand, Lennoxville.

September 15, 1990. “A Better Way of Life.” Ashley Sheltus, Bedford

September 14, 1991. “Townshippers at Work and Play.” Charles Davies, Ayer’s Cliff.

September 19, 1992. 1792—1992 Eastern Townships Bicentennial, “Sharing the Past, Sharing the Future! Ensemble hier, aujourd’hui et demain!” Heather Lunan Carson, Richmond.

September 18, 1993. “Reunited / Réunis.” Chris Cooper & Marilyn Graham, Brome Village.

September 17, 1994. 1979—1994, “Fifteen Years Young! Quinze ans déjà!” Pierre Barbeau & Jane Loiselle, Bishop’s University, Lennoxville.

September 16, 1995. “Celebrate—Participate. Célébrer—Participer.” Alison Hannan, Mansonville.

September 14, 1996. “Unity / Unité.” René Bourdon, Stanstead.

September 13, 1997. “Heritage.” Shirley Maynes Beakes & John Porter, Waterloo.

September 19, 1998. “Townshippers Pull Together. Les gens des Cantons ensemble nous travaillons.” Colin Grimson & Luc Rodrigue, Cookshire.

September 18, 1999. Townshippers’ 20.” Signy Stephenson, Knowlton.

Septembe 16, 2000. “Always in Harmony. Toujours en Harmonie.” Larry Mastine, Saint-Félix-de-Kingsey.

September 15, 2001. “Family Pride. Fierté Familiale.” Gladys Bruun & Lindsay Pocock, Waterville.

September 14, 2002. “Return to your Roots—Celebrate the Future. Revenons à nos racines—Célébrons l’avenir.” Nancy Beattie & Michael van Lierop, Sherbrooke.

September 13, 2003. “On y sera – Cowansville 2003 –The Place to Be.” Yvan Monast, Cowansville.

September 18, 2004: “Living in Harmony. Vivre en harmonie.” Rev. Dr. Robert Deane Moffat & Melvyn Bryant. Magog

September 17, 2005: “Weather or not… We’ll be there! Gens des Cantons, gens d’amitié.” Guylaine Beaudoin & Kevin Craft. Bedford.

September 16, 2006: “Sharing our culture, our heritage, our lives. Partageons notre culture, notre patrimoine, notre milieu de vie.” Gerald Badger & Roger Viens, Ulverton, Richmond, Melbourne Township and Cleveland Township.

September 23, 2007: “GO Ahead with Youth. Jeunes VERT l’avenir.” Mark McLaughlin & Jocelyn Molyneux. Bishop’s University, Champlain Regional College, Ville de Sherbrooke (Lennoxville Borough), etfs.

September 20, 2008: “Discover Sutton, Experience the Townships. Découvrez Sutton, Vivez les Cantons.” Kenneth Hill, Sutton

September 18-19, 2009: "Townshippers’ Day Ayer’s Cliff: Celebrating 100 Years of Harmony in the Townships / Townshippers’ Association – 30 Years Young" / « Journée des Townshippers Ayer’s Cliff – Fêtons 100 ans d’harmonie dans les Cantons / Association des Townshippers – Jeune de 30 ans »  Dr. Mary Pearson and Elaine Batrie, Ayer's Cliff