"This is such a wonderful group of people living on the lakes in this region," Agathe explained. "Everyone gets along with each other and we are all so supportive of each other's needs. It has been a truly amazing experience for me to be President of the Valley East Ratepayers' Association for the past six years. I've always received help and assistance whenever it was needed. It is going to be sad to leave."

One of the elements of the Constitution that received considerable discussion was a proposal to investigate a "Name Change" for the Association.

Originally, the group was, and is still known in the constitution, as The Frenchman/Hanmer/Joe/Dixon Lakes Ratepayers' Association. Over the years, it has become known to many as the Valley East Ratepayers' Association (VERA).

Some members wanted to consider changing the name to better reflect the nature of the group, but a motion which would have initiated a year-long study to come up with a number of name options was defeated at the meeting.

Other things that were discussed included concerns among residents about keeping the taxes of property owners in line with the level of services being provided to the lakefront owners. While many feel that their services have improved a lot since amalgamation, others are not convinced that they are receiving full value for the amount of money they are paying in property taxes.  The condition of the roads leading to the lakes was also a problem that was expressed.

When it comes to people who are new to the community, there are two business owners who tend to meet them all. Of course we are referring to Mike Lemieux, who along with his brother, Mag Lemieux, own Hanmer Home Hardware, and Ken Desjardins, owner of Desjardins' Food Basics.

"Everyone moving in to a new home or apartment has a need for cleaning and repair supplies as well as start-up groceries," explained Mike Lemieux. "So Ken and I decided that we would put together a basket of 'goodies' to give as a gift to all newcomers to Valley East as our way of saying 'Thank You for choosing our town' and to give them a hand with settling in."

Ken Desjardins owns and operates one of the busiest grocery stores in the entire City of Greater Sudbury, so he has definitely noticed the impact of new home owners in the community. "When it comes to stocking up the shelves after moving into a new home, we know it is expensive. We also know that those first few days are days when you are constantly discovering additional items for your shopping list. The Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre is a great place to come to pick up just about everything you need to make your move complete, so we wanted to say thank you for your support."

Anyone who has moved into a new home; purchased an older home; or moved into an apartment in the Towns of Valley East or Capreol since July 1, 2006, is encouraged to drop in to see Mike Lemieux at Hanmer Home Hardware in the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre. He will answer any questions you may have about the community and make sure you receive your gift basket. Several other mall merchants will be adding to the gift basket with items of their own, including Dixie Lee Restaurant which will be providing you with a $25 gift certificate so that you can eat out after your move in.

For More Information on the Welcome Home Gift Basket
Call Mike Lemieux at (705) 969-7000
or email Robert Kirwan at robert@kirwan.ca 

   The "Keep The Spirit Alive Contest" was only introduced to the community during the month of June, and already it is picking up momentum as residents not only like the idea of winning valuable prizes, but they also are thrilled about the fact that they can do their small part to help improve the overall community spirit in Valley East and Capreol.

   Three community-minded local businessmen have teamed up to begin a “Keep The Spirit Alive Campaign” and they are inviting all residents to help them spread the message that Valley East is a great place in which to live!

   From left to right in the photo: Mike Lemieux, owner of Hanmer Home Hardware, Robert Kirwan, Publisher of the Valley East Today Community Web Site, and Ken Desjardins of Desjardins’ Food Basics announced the launch of the campaign during a press conference which was held at the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre.

   In explaining the purpose of the initiative, Kirwan explained, “We want to let everyone know that Valley East is a town where you can still find that “old style community spirit” mixed with a modern lifestyle that fits right in with the 21^st Century. There are a lot of good things happening in Valley East and it is about time that the rest of the people in the City of Greater Sudbury knew about it. Furthermore, it is also time to let the rest of the province know that if anyone is looking for a place to live and raise a family, or a place to retire within the City of Greater Sudbury , they need look no further than Valley East .”
  
   In order to help get this message out to the rest of the “world” the people of Valley East are being asked to take part in a massive communication strategy using the power of the internet. 

   Everyone participating in this campaign will have a chance to win a “Grand Prize” consisting of 100 Lotto 649 tickets for the New Year’s Eve Draw on December 31, 2006 . What a way to celebrate the New Year by winning the big prize with one of those tickets!

   Runners up will receive other valuable prizes, including “two” mountain bikes donated by Hanmer Home Hardware, $300 in groceries from Desjardins’ Food Basics, More prizes from other local merchants may be announced in the coming weeks before the contest ends. 

   In order to qualify for these prizes, all you have to do is register to receive the Valley East Today Weekly Online News Magazine. Every month from July until the end of December, ten names will be drawn at random from all of the people registered to receive the publication. Those ten people will qualify for our final draw which will be held on Christmas Eve. The winners will be announced in the December 26 issue of Valley East Today!

   Once you register, the Valley East Today Online Weekly News Magazine, which is currently being received by over 2000 people, will be sent directly to your email address every Tuesday.  Not only will you qualify to win the 100 Lotto 649 tickets or other runner up prizes, but more importantly, you can help us  “Keep the Spirit Alive” by forwarding Valley East Today to everyone on your own personal mailing list. By using the power of the internet, we can let tens of thousands of people know about Valley East every week.

Nestled in the heart of Greater Sudbury, the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine is celebrating its 100th Anniversary in the year 2007. The Grotto, was commissioned by a mining explorer from France, Frederic Romanet du Caillaud, as a tribute to Our Lady of Lourdes for the recovery of his wife from an illness in 1907. Situated on 5.1 acres of beautiful parkland, the Grotto provides visitors with a retreat from everyday life and an opportunity to explore the Judeo-Christian heritage, a history of humanity. The official celebration will take place on August 15, 2007. 

There will also be a calendar of centennial events posted on the official web site that will take us through the entire year. You can visit the web site here >>>>>

The little monuments you see along the side of the hill above are devotions to special events that occurred in the life of Our Holy Mother, Mary.

Through the power of God, Our Lady of Lourdes offers comfort, hope and often healing. Bernadette returned to the Sacred Grotto many times to witness Our Lady of Lourdes' presence. Local residents and visitors to the Greater Sudbury Region can now turn to Our Blessed Mother time and time again, seeking her presence and her quiet strength. She is with us, always knowing our pain and fears - always embracing our needs.

The cement path winds its way along the magnificent garden, bringing you closer and closer to the Grotto site.

Frederic Romanet du Caillaud, made his residence in Sudbury between 1902 and 1914. A native of Limoges, France, he owned vast parcels of land in downtown Sudbury. One day, as his wife lay seriously ill, he promised to build a grotto in Mary's honour if she was cured. A bronze statue was commissioned from the Denonville Founderie in France. A 20 foot grotto, containing a nine foot magnificent statue of Mary was completed on August 22, 1907.

An iron fence was constructed in front of the statue which contains the name:  Regina Gallorum (Queen of the Gauls)

The statues of The Stations of the Cross were erected by the Rosary Club in 1954. During the 1950's thousands of people gathered to pay homage to the Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine and walk among the statues erected on the site overlooking Lake Ramsay and the City's downtown section. 

It is a tranquil retreat and a powerful reminder of the dramatic events that surrounded the life and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The mile long gravel trail winds its way among statues and peaceful garden scenes where one can focus their spiritual thoughts and to reflect upon their personal condition and needs. The hill is crowned with a monumental crucifix embedded in a concrete platform. 

The Grotto is an artistic and historic site which is a must to see by everyone who travels through this city. Not just for its religious significance, but for the sheer beauty and magnificence of the area. One finally arrives in front of Our Holy Mother to experience the sense of peace and inspiration that so many others have felt for 100 years at this very same spot. The vision of St. Theresa kneeling in prayer at the foot of the Grotto is in itself inspiring.

FOR MORE PHOTOS AND INFORMATION
WWW.GROTTOSUDBURY.COM

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