LETTER

An incredible miracle of kindness

 

It all started with two concerned senior citizens presenting themselves to the 44 Eardley Service Centre of Gatineau, asking for sandbags to protect the end of Beaulac Street closest to Queen’s Park street… Serge Beaudry and his helpers Shawn and Max were very kind and happy to oblige. As promised, they sent trucks to deliver the precious bags… Thanks again, guys! And of course, City of Gatineau, Thank You!

We went back on location and, to our startled surprise, almost immediately received a first truck of sandbags. We started placing the bags as strategically as possible, carefully selecting the worse places, the ones that we thought the river would most likely select to invade that end of Beaulac; we were carefully selecting the spaces to block off, as between both of us, despite our best efforts, we would not be able to cover the wide opening of the river around that bay… The first four persons to show up were actually from Luskville and they continued helping till the end. In addition, we started noticing that, each time we turned to get other bags, new faces were still showing up… Most were persons we did not know, but who efficiently joined our efforts. Then, other trucks were arriving, with new loads of sand bags. As we continued our work with our new helpers, still, each time we turned to pick up a bag, new volunteers continued arriving to help. What an extraordinary demonstration of solidarity, compassion and cooperation! Everything was getting accomplished harmoniously, without raised voices, all participants remaining congenial and relating to others with respect and proper decorum. As the original two concerned senior citizens, we both felt we were witnessing a true miracle! The considerable shore of the river and its bay had been secured with a barrier of sandbags at least three bags high and three bags wide.

Efficiency and harmony remained the flavours of the day as, once the very large bay opening at that end of Beaulac Street was fully secured, the majority of those at least 50 valuable volunteers simply migrated to adjacent Cédrière street to continue securing other properties and houses from being flooded. What an extraordinary show of free, unselfish cooperation!

Again, harmonious coordination remained the theme of the day, as all participants, from young students to senior citizens, were interacting in utmost kindness, purpose and productivity.

Yes, the risks of flooding were high, but the good spirits and unselfish well-coordinated teamwork revealed even more forceful than the elements.

We feel extremely privileged for all the kind help that we and our neighbours received and, on behalf of the Beaulac and Cédrière residents, we wish to publicly transmit our heartfelt thanks to all participants.  

Meryl Scott and Lucette Santerre
Aylmer