The Journey’s End

On Tuesday 20 November 2012, we sit in the lobby of our hotel in Dieppe New Brunswick waiting to meet Paul Belliveau the Councillor for Ward #3 in the city of Dieppe, New Brunswick. While in Dieppe France in August 2012, we met Paul at one of the receptions commemorating the Dieppe Raid and decided to take him up on his invitation to visit his home town. Prior to our visit to New Brunswick I had offered a copy of “A Soldier’s Journey (1940-1945)” for whatever Association or Institution Paul believed was appropriate.
A car pulls up to the hotel and Johanne and I recognise our host Paul. He greets us warmly and we are off. Paul explains the agenda for the day and minutes later we arrive at City Hall. We enter the lobby where a small reception committee awaits us that includes the city’s Mayor Yvon Lapierre, Dieppe’s Veterans’ Association members Nils Lijemark & Art Cuthbertsome, and local Historian Ron Cormier. After introductions, we go to the Public Library and meet the Library Director, Nathalie Brun. His honour the Mayor takes me on a short tour of the impressive library while Johanne chats with the others in the group. A photographer, Diane Porlier, joins us and it is time for the donation. The process calls for me to present my books to Nils and Art who will then donate them to Nathalie for the Dieppe Library.

After the presentation, Art asks me to autograph the books. What a thrill for me! Nathalie receives the books and thanks me, as does the Mayor and Art and Nils. I am amazed and so blown away by their sincere appreciation for what I thought was just a simple act. I just gave them 2 books but they gave me so much more. Mindful of his schedule, Paul brings the event to a close and the Mayor and Nathalie leave us. We go outside to see Dieppe’s very unique cenotaph.

 It is made with les gallets (pebbles) from the beach in Dieppe France where the Canadians fought and died. Bricks form the rough outline of a soldier, tank, plane and ship while the stones from the beach signify the location where the various regiments landed and how many men died (913). A poignant reminder of another Dieppe.

We say goodbye to Nils, Art, Ron and Paul leads us back inside and gives us a tour of the City Hall’s social centre’s facilities available to artists and citizens. Quite exceptional. The City Council Chambers are first rate. Paul takes us to the 3rd floor for a view of Dieppe from one of the city manager’s offices. As we are leaving, the Mayor calls from his office and chides Paul for not having me sign the city’s visitor book. I go in and the Mayor describes how he negotiated to have Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip visit Dieppe in 2002. He shows me where they signed the visitor’s book.

He flips to a new page for me. WOW!

Paul takes us to lunch at a local Creperie and then we are off for a tour of Dieppe by car. I can’t say enough about this city that to us was just a name on a highway sign as we sped past on trips to and from Nova Scotia. It has something for everyone but is not resting on its laurels. The plans for development would make most cities envious.

Drawn by his conscience, Paul feels the need to takes us to Moncton for a brief tour of their rival sister city. It seemed like a much older sister with a less dynamic air about it.

To finish the day, Paul takes us to 2 golf courses, Fox Creek and Royal Oaks. From what we saw, these are going to be a reason to stop on our way to Nova Scotia. Wish I had taken photos.

We arrive back at the hotel and bid Paul a fond farewell. He has been a most gracious host. Before we part, I tell him that today’s events, though unplanned, mark for us the journey’s end of our much-loved book project.

How fitting that what started because of Dieppe France ends in Dieppe New Brunswick.