For some, volunteerism means the occasional investment of time into one cause or another. For Ghislaine and Réginald Robert, giving back has always been their way of life.
On Sunday, September 20, the St. Adolphe Parish honoured the couple at an appreciation event held at Pioneer Hall. In deference to COVID-19 protocols, attendance had to be restricted. Even so, a memorable time was had.
Special guests at the wine-and-cheese event included many who have been directly impacted by the Roberts’ selflessness over the years. Addresses were made by the Archbishop of the St. Boniface Archdiocese, Bishop Albert LeGatt, Sister Doris Blanchette, Provincial Superior and Sister Rose-Marie Lambert, the Sisters of the Cross, Mr. Louis Boisjoli (representing the Knights of Columbus), and Ritchot Mayor Chris Ewen.
Father Gregory Kossi Djiba presented the couple with a customized plaque featuring a picture of the Roberts and the church they’ve faithfully served as well as a message of heartfelt thanks.
“St. Adolphe has an army of volunteers who keep the many facets of community life alive, active, and functioning like a well-oiled machine,” says Denis Robert, who helped organized the event. “You can hardly call a small town a community were it not for the volunteers who give it life and a culture unique to itself. The committee felt that Ghislaine’s and Reggie’s combined 69 years of continuous and sustained leadership… could not be ignored.”
To the church, Réginald was instrumental in the erection of three commemorative monuments and, over the years, he acted as president of the parish fall supper, the liturgical committee, and the pastoral committee.
For more than 35 years, he volunteered his own time and materials to maintain and beautify the parish grounds. He willingly provided handyman services for Sisters of the Cross and always saw to the comfort and well-being of the local parish priest.
During these years, Ghislaine kept herself busy as the director of the St. Adolphe church choir and participated as a Friend of the Sisters of the Cross. For 15 years, she worked with the elderly as a healthcare aide, and to this day she continues to visit and provide care on a voluntary basis for residents of the Heritage Life Personal Care Home.
To the community of St. Adolphe, Réginald was once known as Reggie’s Landscaping, a company which, for a quarter of a century, provided seasonal work for local students. He made town beautification his personal priority by raising donations for the community’s Main Street flowerpots, which he then installed and maintained for 12 consecutive years.
On top of all of that, Réginald has held an executive position on the Knights of Columbus council since 1967.
Thirty-six years after putting down roots in their small francophone community, the Roberts are headed to Winnipeg and will be missed by many in their hometown.
“There is no doubt that the wide array of committees and activities that the Roberts were involved with will create a temporary void,” says Denis Robert. “We are optimists and are confident that a good number of people with a great deal of talent will step up to fill this void… Small communities are made up of many gems and people’s talents, skills, and goodwill come to the forefront when need arises.”