A great figure of English linguistic rights of West Quebec is stepping back

Mr Noel Frank Walter Gates will be delivering his last report to the regular meeting of the Education and Rights Committee of the Regional Association of West Quebecers (RAWQ) this week.  Mr Gates has served as the RAWQ liaison to the Linguistic Rights Support Group and the Court Challenges Program of Canada for many years.   

Mr Gates had also been elected for many terms as the RAWQ President and prior to that the RAWQ Secretary of the Board of Directors. In those capacities, Mr Gates prepared and presented RAWQ briefs to committees of the National Assembly of Quebec and the Senate and the House of Commons on Parliament Hill. Mr Gates was awarded a Certificate of Merit by Seniors Action Quebec for his advocacy in favour of seniors’ rights. On retiring as RAWQ President, a Special President’s Award was presented to Mr Gates by then RAWQ President James Shea for Mr Gates’s many years of dedicated service to RAWQ members and the West Quebec community at large.

Mr Gates will be stepping back from his role of liaison to pass on his leadership to the younger generation. However, Mr Gates has agreed to remain on as a member of the RAWQ Education and Rights Committee where his advice and knowledge will be much sought after.

Sincere thank you, Noel!

Arthur Ayers, President  
Brian Rock, Executive Director