NEWS
Count the blessings
of shrinkage
In the 1970s and 1980s, many young
So,whatdoyoumakeofthelatestcensus
people from eastern Ontario and western
figures? And will you hang around and
Québec could hardly wait to pile into a
turn off all the lights after everyone else has
jalopy and make a fortune in the oil patch.
gone west?
Hard work, good pay, good times. Summer
Just in case you do not have a
and Christmas were occasions to return
photographic memory, the numbers
home and show off the fancy new cars with
released by Statistics Canada lately
the Alberta plates.
confirm what most of us have suspected
Studies show that the average American
for some time. The east end of Prescott-
will move 14 times in a lifetime while the
Russell is experiencing shrinkage while
average Canadian will relocate ten times
the west end continues to grow.
before finally coming to rest.
The population of Prescott-Russell rose
On the other hand, for a high percentage
from 80,184 to 85,381 between 2006 and
of people, “move” is a four-letter word.
2011. Most of the growth took place in
Photo Gregg Chamberlain
You must admire those who have lived
Russell County while the populations of
in the same place all their lives and can
Working side-by-side in competition with and also assisting each other, Chefs
Prescott County municipalities dropped.
smugly declare that where they live is the
Vincent Croteau (left) and Camil Roy prepare to plate several of their culinary
Poor Hawkesbury — its population,
best place in theworld, ever. The other guy’s
which has been hovering at the 10,000
creations.
grass is never greener.
mark for decades, dipped from 10,869 to
Yet for a huge portion of the population,
10,551.
A succulent challenge
mobility is not a choice.
Interestingly, in Argenteuil, where the
Schools, jobs, a referendum on Québec
population went from 29,992 to 32,117, the
but the two factors involved is that La
independence, love, witness protection
gregg.chamberlain@eap.on.ca
population of the village of Grenville rose
Binerie has a large enough kitchen facility
programs – there are many reasons why
P LANTAGENET
from 1,398 to 1,577, and the number of
to accommodate such an event and the
people tear up roots.
people living in Grenville-sur-la-Rouge
Eastern Ontario locale provides neutral
One of the many benefits of being young
went from 2,721 to 2,746. This comes as no
Chef Christophe Caillaud will be
grounds close at hand for all the
is that moving is relatively simple. You
surprise because everyone knows that one
Québec’s champion at this year’s national
participating chefs.
don’thavealotofstufftopack,youhavefew
of the best things about Hawkesbury is the
Défi des Chefs competition in Halifax,
“And, for me, representing the Eastern
commitments, and not much “baggage” to
bridge to Québec.
Nova Scotia. Chef Caillaud was the
Ontario region, it’s also nice to the event
worry about.
But charming Montebello saws its
premier choice of half-a-dozen
come this way,” Chef Lepage said. “We get
One of the many challenges facing small
population decline a tad, from 987 to 978.
competitors who made their way across
to show off too, and it’s nice to see the
communities is the brain drain that is almost
OK, who wants to start the collective
the Ottawa River to star in the Third
support we get from the community.”
impossible to stem. Most young people who
wake?
Annual Défi des Chefs at Plantagenet.
leave small towns to pursue a higher
Despite the numbers, it would be
“It was a full success,” said Chef Jacques
education rarely return.
premature to put up “Ghost Town” labels
Lepage of La Binerie/La Cuisine Jean-
Job Fair
A vibrant economy is vital to the long-
on the east end of the Far East.
BernardinPlantagenet,thecontinuinghost
term vitality of any place.
For starters, we cannot become
site for the event.
The economy here has gone south in the
pessimistic, because negative vibes are
newsroom@eap.on.ca
“We had high-quality chefs and it was
past, and obviously, ghost towns have not
contagious and they hinder economic
H AWKESBURY
just fantastic,” Chef Lepage said. “When
been popping up everywhere, although a
development. Plus, figures cannot gauge
wecompareyearafteryear,we’re justgoing
ghost town would make a good tourist
intangibles, such as quality of life.
higher. It’s already agreed that we’re going
attraction.
Carl Hungerbuehler will be among the
Let us try to be positive about the fact
to do it again next year.”
In the 1980s, the closure of the Canadian
many employers taking part in the first job
that there are fewer people living around
Caillaud, chef at the Holiday Inn in
International Paper mill in Hawkesbury
fair to be held in Prescott County.
us.
Longueil, was one of three veteran
sent shock waves through the region. But
“In our field, we are experiencing a
Foronething,iftherearefewerresidents,
competitorsfrompastDèfidesChefsevents
the town’s population remained stable.
scarceness of skilled personnel,” says the
there ought to be more space for the rest of
inPlantagenet.Alsoreturningtothevillage
Amoco later left and over the last few years,
president of Elpa, a L’Orignal-based
us.
over the Feb. 18 weekend for another go at
biggies such as the Duplate windshield
specialized machine shop. “The
There will be less traffic. The air will be
becoming Québec’s representative at the
factory have been shuttered. When you look
Employment Services Centre has helped us
cleaner, the roads will be safer, the water
national event were Chef Stéphane Paquet
at the number of huge empty industrial
in our search. They also put us in touch
will be clearer, the rain will fall only at
from Gatineau-Hull and Chef Sébastien
facilities, it is awonder the town did not lose
with other organizations that can help us
night. Therewill be less garbage to process;
Gadeau of Montréal’s St-Thomas Club.
more than 318 people in a five-year period.
fill our short-term and long-term needs.”
we will find less garbage illegally dumped
Challenging them were newcomers Chef
Yes, there is activity in the “industrial
The centre is organizing the job fair that
in country ditches. There will be fewer
VincentCroteauofSaumoninQuébecCity,
park,” but most of the development is
will be held March 3, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Hawkesburgers to complain about
Chef Hugo Drouin from the Museum of
commercial.
at La Cité Golf Club, 850 McGill St.,
everything.
Civilization in Hull, and Camil Roy of the
Wring those hands about the future of
Hawkesbury. It is a unique event in the
It will be easier to get a good spot at a
Chateau Roland near Sherbrooke.
the Far East, people.
region, bringing together job seekers and
parade, and line-ups everywhere will be
For three hours the six chopped, diced,
New stores are all very good.
local employers looking to hire. This is the
shorter.
mixed,stirred,flambéed,andbrûléedunder
But locals will not be able to spend more
idealopportunityfor jobseekerstonetwork,
Hawkesbury would have a ready
the admiring eyes of more than 50 walk-in
at these new stores if their incomes do not
stand out, and get the job they are dreaming
excuse for everything. A request for any
spectators through the kitchen area of La
increase, and the people who are
of. So far, the community has shown a lot of
improvement could be quickly dismissed
Binerie. Many of these lovers of fine food
unemployedorunderemployedcannotland
interest in the fair with many employers
by pointing that the town simply no longer
came from all over Eastern Ontario and
more lucrative jobs.
confirmingtheirattendance.Infact,Murielle
has the critical mass to do any better.
Western Québec to watch these chefs vie
However, let us not go all doom and
Huneault Pilon, Job Developer at the
Hawkesburgers would be even cooler
for the honour of going on to the nationals.
gloom over a few population figures.
Employment Services Centre, says spaces
than they are now because there would be
They also got to sample some of the results
It is probably too early to ask who will be
are almost all reserved. Among others, the
fewer of them. “You live in Hawkesbury?
of each chef’s efforts, a hint of what would
the last one to leave, and who will turn the
following organizations will be present:
You’re kidding! That is so cool! I didn’t
star in a five-course banquet later that
lights off.
Beau’s All Natural Brewing Company, the
know anybody lived there anymore!”
evening at the Plantagenet Municipal Hall
Prescott-Russell United Counties, Dart
Of course, population shifts are all part
for 120 ticket-holding diners.
Bowling For Seniors
Aerospace, Elpa, Green Beaver, Groupe
of the evolution of a community, a nation
The one condition for the Saturday
Here is something that might be right up
Convex, Montebello Packaging, Propane
and a continent.
competition is that each chef has to work
your alley : An invitation to join the Joyeux
Levac, Studio de Lettrage 2001, Tulmar
Over the years, although the economic
with local ingredients. La Binerie provided
quilleurs, for bowlers 60 years of age and
Safety, and Valoris for Children and Adults
engines of North America have
chicken and pork loin, and produce from
over, every Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the
of Prescott-Russell. The job offers are just as
traditionally been centred in the east, the
its suppliers throughout the Prescott-
Hawkesbury lanes. Call 613-675-2903 if
varied, includingmechanics, welders, truck
raw materials of the west have drawn
Russell region along with a selection of red
you want to give it a roll.
drivers and labourers, as well as openings
masses, stirred bywanderlust and the need
and white wines from area vintners.
Volunteers Needed
in administration, information technology,
for money and adventure.
La Binerie has been the site for la Défi
The Hawkesbury Meals On Wheels
social services and health care. In addition
“Go west!” It may refer to a trek to
des Chefs for Québec for three years now.
program seeks two volunteers to deliver
to employers looking to hire, several
California, the Klondike, Calgary, or
Chef Lepage agreed that it seems a bit
meals to elderly, handicapped and
organizations are contributing to the fair by
Kanata. But, regardless of the destination,
unusual for a village in Eastern Ontario to
convalescing people between 11:30 a.m.
sponsoring the project. For more
a move is always a rush.
be the site for the competition that selects
and 12:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. Call 613-
information, visit www.csepr.ca. No
Have you ever joined a modern-day
Québec’s champion for the national event
632-0939 for more information.
registration is required for job seekers.
exodus?
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