It was with great joy Evelyne Bergeron joined in the square dance during the celebration of Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day at Lheidli T'enneh Memorial Park Sunday afternoon.
Bergeron swung her dance partner and friend Monique Rheault Carlson round and round as Folklofolie a duo from Gatineau, Quebec played the fiddle and guitar.
Evelyne said it was very important to honour her cultural heritage.
"I lost my husband a year ago," she cried.
Her late husband is Gerald (Gerry) Bergeron, whose dedicated volunteerism impacted the community so greatly it inspired Le Cercle des Canadiens Francais de Prince George to honour him by recently naming their multipurpose room in his memory.
Evelyne, who was married to Gerry for 47 years, said to come out and celebrate during Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day was an important way to stay connected to the community that held her husband in such high regard.
"So yes, we must dance with joy," Evelyne said, despite the tears. "It is a very happy moment for me. Saint Jean Baptiste we celebrate every year and Gerry was very involved, and so was I, ever since we moved here in 1978. So I came out today because I think it's important to celebrate my French Canadian roots and Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day is our day."
The celebration, which included music and story telling, was presented in partnership with Le Cercle des Canadiens Français de Prince George and the Metis Community Association to celebrate the francophone and Metis cultures, languages and history.
"We are really proud of the event because of the partnership we've made with the Metis Community Association, and we are happy to have Folklofolie from Gatinenau, Quebec here to help celebrate," Martine Belanger, new executive director of Le Cercle des Canadiens Français de Prince George, said. The count mid-afternoon was already at 330 people in attendance.
The afternoon included activities for the children, and treats for everyone including, Montreal smoked meat sandwiches, bannock, maple syrup infused cotton candy and snow cones. There was a bouncy castle, face painting, games and crafts along with a display of a canoe created by UNBC students in celebration of Canada's 150th.
