What wonderfully talented boys and girls and what wonderfully talented and dedicated educators Associate Janine Lefebvre  has gathered together at “La Maison des Enfants” in Beauharnois! With music, dancing, and acting, on the evening of December 3, the boys and girls, ages 4 to 13,  entertained as many as the hall could hold, including Sr. Beverley Wattling, member of the Province Leadership Team, several Sisters from Sainte-Martine and some Associates.

They presented a history of the presence of the Irish in the area in the 1840’s. The backdrop for the play was a present-day Irish flag lent by a member of the St. Patrick’s Society of Montreal. The play, an adaptation of the book, La Sueur des Autres, focused on the unbelievably difficult life of the early Irish immigrants. The men were hired to build the Beauharnois Canal and worked from 4 a.m. until 10 p.m. every day except Sunday. Living in unsanitary and crowded conditions, with little food, they often saw their children die. Because, at times they were paid with food and liquor, rather than cash, alcoholism became a great problem.

How enlightening was this presentation!

Roland Viau, the author of the book was actually present for the play and was so impressed that he wants the children to go to the CEGEP in Valleyfield to present it in the near future!
 
                                                                                                 Janine Lefebvre
                                                                           Maison des enfants Marie-Rose
                                                                                                 Beauharnois

The text was translated and adapted.