Once again this year, the Archibald brewery and the Lauberivière refuge organized the Archidon event, which allowed 250 people in vulnerable situations to gather around a holiday meal.
It’s number 11e year that the event took place at the Archibald in Sainte-Foy. As usual, “star servers” from the media, Rouge et Or players and political figures, such as former Minister of Transport Sam Hamad and MP and Minister of Public Services and Supply, Jean- Yves Duclos, served the Christmas meal at the tables.
Sam Hamad, former minister and potential mayoral candidate, serves traditional holiday meals for people in vulnerable situations attending Lauberivière.
Photo DIDIER DEBUSSCHÈRE
Karine Gagnon, deputy director of information and political columnist at the Journal de Québec et de Montréal.
Photo DIDIER DEBUSSCHÈRE
Pierre-Antoine Gosselin, journalist at TVA Quebec.
Photo DIDIER DEBUSSCHÈRE
For the occasion, RTC buses were chartered to bring the participants to the site and a check for $10,000 was given to Lauberivière at the end of the event.
Photo DIDIER DEBUSSCHÈRE
Dinner
On the menu, holiday meal classics: small sausages wrapped in bacon, meat pâté, chicken breast with forest sauce and chocolate cake.
“We feel very privileged! It’s a lovely Christmas dinner with a lovely atmosphere!” exclaims Marie Viau. She and her two friends Chantal Picard and Krystelle Lavery met at the YWCA, which they “represent” today, in their words. They plan to celebrate Christmas together this winter.
Photo DIDIER DEBUSSCHÈRE
The participants were also moved by the welcome at the Archibald. A red carpet and a guard of honor awaited them. “I felt important to someone,” says Mark Ferlett. The man who has been a chef all his life says he had tears in his eyes when the applause rang out.
“Homelessness is all year round”
This year, such an event is even more important: there is an ever-increasing demand for services such as those offered by Lauberivière. “Homelessness is not just one day, it’s all year long,” says Éric Boulay, general director of the organization.
“Three out of four people knocked on our door this year who had never come before,” he adds. Homelessness increases by 7 to 15% per year, so it is important that people are there and support community organizations.”
