{"id":4569,"date":"2025-10-17T00:20:47","date_gmt":"2025-10-17T00:20:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/namma.org\/?p=4569"},"modified":"2025-10-17T13:53:05","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T13:53:05","slug":"a-new-home-port-foyer-des-marins-trois-rivieves-celebrates-its-annual-meeting-and-inauguration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/namma.org\/a-new-home-port-foyer-des-marins-trois-rivieves-celebrates-its-annual-meeting-and-inauguration\/","title":{"rendered":"A New Home Port: Foyer des marins Trois-Rivi\u00e8ves Celebrates Its Annual Meeting and Inauguration"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On October 16, the Foyer des marins Trois-Rivi\u00e8res gathered a full house of volunteers, partners, and community representatives for its annual general meeting and inauguration of its new location. The meeting, held in a spirit of warmth and thanksgiving, marked a significant moment in the organization\u2019s long history of service to seafarers. The event was not only an administrative gathering but also a heartfelt celebration of hospitality, commitment, and renewal. Board members, long-time volunteers, and new supporters filled the room, joined by representatives from the port authority and local community, all united by a shared mission\u2014to make the port of Trois-Rivi\u00e8res a place of welcome for those who spend their lives at sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The session began with greetings from President Maurice Blanchette, who spoke with deep gratitude and conviction about the meaning of the new space. \u201cThis place you have entrusted to us is not just a space,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is a home port for those weary from the sea.\u201d He went on to describe the Foyer as “the quiet but essential setting for a thousand gestures of welcome, comfort, kindness, and fraternity.” His words carried through the room, touching the many volunteers who have, over decades, offered warm coffee, clean clothes, a few minutes of conversation, and a prayer to those far from home. \u201cIf these stairs [of our former locale] could speak,\u201d he continued, \u201cthey would tell of thousands of passages, thousands of encounters, and just as many departures.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the president\u2019s remarks, Deacon Paul Racette, who has led the Foyer\u2019s pastoral and operational work for over a decade, thanked the crowd for their steadfast support. \u201cThis new space is yours,\u201d he said. \u201cIt belongs to all those who care about the well-being of seafarers. May it be a place of welcome, rest, and renewal for all who cross its threshold.\u201d He expressed special gratitude to the volunteers whose dedication sustains the daily rhythm of the Foyer, from ship visits and errands to preparing the space for arriving seafarers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among the invited guests was Port Director Ga\u00e9tan Boivin, who offered generous praise for the work of the Foyer. \u201cI haven\u2019t seen many facilities as welcoming as this one,\u201d he said, commending both the dedication of the volunteers and the spirit that animates their service. \u201cSometimes it\u2019s the smallest gestures that make the biggest difference when you\u2019ve been far from home.\u201d His remarks highlighted the close partnership between the port authority and the Foyer, a collaboration that has allowed this mission to thrive in the heart of Trois-Rivi\u00e8res\u2019 maritime community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The business portion of the meeting was held, with reports from the previous year presented to members and guests. The treasurer summarized the year\u2019s finances, noting that despite challenges and the loss of some traditional income sources, the Foyer ended the year in a good position thanks to new partnerships and careful management. The meeting also highlighted the invaluable contributions of Alcoa, which has generously covered electricity costs for the new premises, and of local supporters who have provided supplies and maintenance help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A particularly touching part of the meeting came when volunteers introduced themselves one by one. Some had joined only recently, while others had served for twenty or even thirty years. Their stories reflected the heart of the Foyer\u2019s mission\u2014ordinary people offering extraordinary care. From veterans who have welcomed thousands of seafarers to newcomers eager to learn the ropes, the sense of continuity and family was palpable. \u201cOur youngest volunteer is only a few months into his service,\u201d said one board member proudly, gesturing to a young volunteer, who attended with his mother. The audience broke into applause, celebrating both experience and renewal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following the formal agenda, attendees witnessed the inauguration. The new facility stands as a practical improvement\u2014more accessible, comfortable, and adaptable\u2014but also as a symbol of enduring mission. President Blanchette said in closing, \u201cMay this new space continue to be, for a long time, a house of friendship, solidarity, and humanity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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