Contract 400119680 ESTABLISHED • MAY 1975 VOLUME 45 / NO 47, NOVEMBER 27, 2019 $1.50 (Tax included) Gesgapegiag honours the contribution of Native soldiers in both World Wars Frank Narcisse Jerome remembered for his remarkable contribution Gilles Gagné on the Canadian Forces Base in Borden. Narcisse Jerome GESGAPEGIAG – Remem- remains largely forgotten. brance Day in Gesgapegiag “Things are changing included something special though, at least in Gesgape- this year. There was a presen- giag. There is an awakening of tation in the afternoon at the the military heritage. There is cenotaph honouring the con- a plan in Gesgapegiag for a tribution of Native soldiers in heritage interpretation centre both World Wars. Emphasis or museum about the contri- was put on the remarkable bution of people like Frank contribution of Frank Narcisse Narcisse Jerome, John Vicaire Jerome. and Bernard “Barney” Mr. Jerome signed up as a Condo,” says Tom Eden. member of the Canadian Ex- The project is progressing peditionary Force in June, Photos: Jerry Martin and will be located in the new 1916, and he found himself in building, adjacent to the the trenches of Europe only a Luc Martin, William Jerome and Tom Eden took part in the Remembrance church. few months later, as a member Day service in Gesgapegiag. In the meantime, Tom of the 14th Battalion, the Eden is still looking for pic- Royal Montreal Regiment. After taking part in the Narcisse Jerome received have to realize that it was 100 tures of Frank Narcisse The presentation was made fighting in such places as his first Military Medal on years ago, in a regiment based Jerome. His efforts have not at 2 p.m. by Tom Eden, from Vimy, Passchendaele and the April 26,1918 but he is one of in Westmount. It was uncom- yielded results over the years. Gaspé Remembers, a non- Canal du Nord, Frank Nar- the rare soldiers who went on mon (given the fact that he He only knows that he mar- profit organization dedicated cisse Jerome not only survived to receive the honour on three was a Native). He was a capa- ried Saint Jules’ Rose-Anna to the preservation and aware- but he emerged as “one of the separate occasions. ble soldier, constantly brave. Vézina in 1926 and that he ness of regional military his- most highly decorated soldiers “Winners of the Military Some soldiers are brave on died in Gaspé in 1934. They tory. Dozens of Gesgapegiag on the Gaspé Coast, First Na- Medal who performed subse- one occasion. In his case, it had four kids but they were people attended that ceremony tions and Canadian military quent acts of bravery were was constant,” insists Tom not living together when he and presentation. history,” says Mr. Eden. awarded a silver bar which Eden. passed away. was worn on the medal’s rib- He has been advocating for “The family was dispersed. bon. 848 Canadians have won years for a better recognition My last track of the children is Gesgapegiag the Military with Bar. Only 38 of Frank Narcisse Jerome’s 1963,” he says, adding that veteran William Canadians have been awarded Jerome shows accomplishments. In Ontario, anybody with additional infor- replicas of Frank two bars to the Military for example, Francis Pegah- mation about Frank Narcisse Narcisse Jerome's Medal, the equivalent of hav- magabow, a member of the Jerome, or pictures, or the bravery medals, ing won the award three times. Ojibway Wasauksing First whereabouts of his medals can while holding a Narcisse Jerome was one of Nations, who was the most communicate with him at staff bearing those 38 Canadians,” explains decorated for bravery in Cana- [email protected]. different carvings Mr. Eden. dian military history, has been “It is a small world. We honouring the That second bar for Frank Gesgapegiag celebrated in books and songs, never know. (…) The courage veterans. Narcisse Jerome was ap- inducted into the Indian Hall he displayed, and the leader- proved by the King on July of Fame and the Canadian ship he clearly possessed, 23, 1919. Veterans Hall of Valour. He should have left some form of “He was a sergeant. We has a building named for him legacy,” concludes Mr. Eden. MILITARY MEDAL For bravery and devotion to duty near Avion on the nights of November 27th, 28th, 29th and 30th, 1917, wilst a member of a Lewis gun crew. Badly shaken twice by explosion of shells, this man continued at duty, assisted in repulsing two enemy raids, and later voluntarily formed one of a patrol to obtain identifications. His coolness under fire was a billiant incentive to all ranks. A.F. W. 3121 d/­ 5.12.19. Tom Eden’s presentation was preceded by a traditional song. Gaspé Peninsula businesses now have access to Eco-leader fund to improve environmental record and economic efficiency Gilles Gagné Donald-Mathieu (Robichaud). He feeds his pigs and chick- CARLETON: – Management ens with our waste and he of Gaspesian businesses who sends his meat to the micro- want to improve their envi- brewery. We serve his meat at ronmental record and in- the brewery or at the bakery’s crease their economical café. Everybody finds an ad- viability now have access to a vantage to it. We cut 70 tons new fund, Eco-leader. It is fi- on our amount of waste and nanced by the Quebec gov- he sells close to his farm, in a ernment and it is endowed short-circuit mode that is with an envelope of $18.5 good for the environment,” million for the whole explains Mr. Valade. Photo: G. Gagné G. Photo: province. The Naufrageur also sends Zaineb Oubaita, of the Centre québécois du développement durable; Amélie Saint-Laurent The fund can supply up to Samuel, of Fonds d’action québécois en développement durable; Caroline Duchesne of the some beer by-products to the 50% of the expenses linked to Gaspé Peninsula and Magdalen Islands Environment Regional Council; Dominique Cyr, of Mie véritable bakery, a parent the implementation of envi- the Fonds Eco-leader; Sébastien Valade, of the Naufrageur micro-brewery; and Sébastien Pagé, company located next door, ronmentally friendly prac- of Quebec’s Department of Economy and Innovation, were on hand for the official launch of and they are used to make tices and technologies. the regional division of Fonds Eco-leader. beer bread. Tradition The money must be used could lead to reaching the determine where they must animals. The Groin dans le Bourdages, a Saint-Siméon to hire experts since other dual benefits referred to by start so to improve their foin, pig and chicken farm in food and alcohol producer, funds can be solicited when the people spearheading the record. Our goal is to reach Miguasha is one of those also sends some vat residues the time comes to buy equip- fund, since a better knowl- 20% of Quebec’s enter- farms. to the micro-brewery and ment or build new facilities. edge of energy consumption prises,” she says. “We send our micro-brew- they are used to make a A single company, and applying ways of reduc- The Fonds d’action ery waste called drêche, strawberry beer instead of whether it is a not-for-profit ing it will better the environ- Québécois pour le développe- which is full of proteins, to being trucked to the landfill. or a for-profit business, can ment and improve the ment durable (Quebec’s Sus- obtain as much as $30,000 for profitability of the company. tainable Development Action a project aimed at improving “That is why we say that Fund), provides support to eco-responsible practices, the fund is used to acquire ex- some of the projects submit- and $50,000 for a project pertise. There are other funds ted to the Eco-leader fund. aiming for the acquisition of for capital investments,” em- In the Gaspé Peninsula, clean technologies. phasizes Dominique Cyr. the Eco-leader fund team Companies can also re- The Gaspé Peninsula and would like to reach 500 en- group in order to submit a Magdalen Islands divisions terprises over the next few common project. In those of the Eco-leader fund was years. cases, the maximum amount chosen to house the two de- The number of potential reaches $300,000 for eco-re- velopment agents. Consulting initiatives that can qualify for sponsible practice improve- Dominique Cyr in order to funding is considerable, as it Photo: N. Sergerie ments and $500,000 for the progress in an eventual appli- ranges from waste manage- acquisition of clean technol- cation for funding is free. ment to packaging reduction, Gas: Competition ogy knowledge. Amélie Saint-Laurent and encompasses water man- “It is not only a fund, as it Samuel, director of commu- agement, sustainable devel- Bureau opens file is a way to be accompanied in nications and strategic devel- opment, circular economy Nelson Sergerie a process of acquiring knowl- opment at the Fonds d’action and eco-conception. Circular GASPÉ: - The Competition Bureau has opened a file on gas edge, or information about Québécois pour le développe- economy reverts to the use prices in the Gaspé Peninsula. The mayor of Gaspé, Daniel one’s enterprise. For exam- ment durable, thinks that the for productive purposes by a Côté, says he has received correspondence to this effect from ple, a company could use the fund will make up for recur- company of things that are the federal agency. The Town of Gaspé launched the regional money to carry out an energy rent problems encountered by considered waste by another movement by adopting a resolution in September calling for an audit if its management does- business owners and manage- company.