Quebec Group News and Events

Quebec Group 60th AGM - Québec City - 25 April 2009

The 60th Annual General Meeting took place on April 25th 2009 at the Officers Mess of the Québec Citadel. The meeting was hosted by 302 (Québec-Valcartier) Wing and the reception and facilities provided by the Officers Mess were nothing short of superb! Many thanks and congratulations to the organizers from 302 Wing for an outstanding job!

The guest of honour was LGen (Ret'd) George Macdonald, Honourary National President of the Association.

We were also honoured to have a special 302 Wing member among us: The Honourable Gilles Lamontagne, PC, OC, former Lieutenant-Governor of Québec shared some valuable insights with the members assembled and contributed in a very special way to our meeting. Mr. Lamontagne was a Wellington Bomber pilot with 425 (Alouettes) Squadron during WW-II and was also a German POW. It is interesting to note that many 302 Wing members affectionately address Mr. Lamontagne as "Monsieur le Maire" as his political career began as Mayor of Québec City. He then became Postmaster General and subsequently Minister of National Defense before being appointed Lieutenant Governor. He also served many years as Honourary Colonel of 1 Tactical Aviation Wing in the 1990s (the days when 1 Wing consisted of 1 Tactical Aviation Support Squadron, 401 (City of Westmount) Operational Training Squadron, and 438 (City of Montreal) Tactical Helicopter Squadron).

Attendance was exceptional with some thirty delegates and observers from 302, 306, 338 and 394 Wings.

Every odd-numbered year sees the elections of the Group Executive Committee (GEC) for a two-year term. The following were elected by acclamation:

Group President: Guy Vallières (394 Wing)

1st Vice President: Graham Batty (306 Wing)

2nd Vice President: Jean-Claude Duclos (338 Wing)

Secretary: Lyna Boivin-Smith (306 Wing)

Treasurer: James Young (394 Wing)

Special Events Chairman: Pierre Turgeon (338 Wing)

Outgoing Group President André Labelle (394 Wing) remains on the GEC as Immediate Past President.

The duties of Webmaster will be shared by Jim Young and Pierre Turgeon.

A few days after the AGM, Group President Guy Vallières was proud to announce that Brigadier-General (Ret'd) John (Jack) Henry, CD will return to the GEC as Honourary President for the 2009-2011 term.

To conclude, this was an extremely successful AGM that saw the emergence of many good ideas and a strong resolve to work together towards a brighter future for Quebec Group and all its Wings.

Thanks and congratulations to André Labelle and the outgoing GEC for a job well done and best wishes to Guy Vallières and his team!