Community Grandioses
The Grand Falls Regional Municipality wishes to express its appreciation for its outstanding citizens. The Recognition of Community Grandioses policy aims to recognize three groups of people.
The Grand Falls Regional Municipality commits to:
-
Monthly recognition of up to two volunteers from the municipality during public meetings who have distinguished themselves through their serivce to others.
-
Recognize an ambassador or hero during a public meeting when appropriate. A summary of their achievements will be presented.
Council members are responsible for identifying deserving volunteers, ambassadors and heroes, and the community is also invited to submit names by filling out the nomination form.
*The masculine form used below includes women, men and non-binary individuals. The masculine gender is used without discrimination for the purpose of the text simplification.

Volunteers
Definition: Any individual, regardless of age, who freely offers their time, energy, and skills to a cause or activity that enriches the lives of their fellow citizens in the Grand Falls Regional Municipality. This policy also encompasses volunteers working with external organizations that provide services to the municipality's residents.
The Grand Falls Regional Municipality wishes to pay tribute to individuals who stand out through their volunteer work. They graciously contribute their time and expertise to carry out activities and provide community's population. These citizens wholeheartedly support the development of our municipality by dedicating numerous hours to serving their peers.

Ambassadors
Definition: Any individual, team or group whose achievements reach the provincial, national, or international level and contribute to the reputation of the municipality. Recognized individuals must either reside in the Grand Falls Regional Municipality or be native to it.
Many citizens make their mark at the provincial, national, and international levels, thus contributing to the global recognition of the Grand Falls Regional Municipality. According to this initiative, the municipality not only wants to acknowledge the extraordinary achievements of these individuals, teams, or groups but also wants to thank them for being worthy representatives of the Grand Falls Regional Municipality.

Heroes
Definition: An individual who stands out for his bravery, his actions, or his role in a precarious situation, and whose intervention has made a significant difference.
Some citizens occasionally perform acts of heroism. Through their actions, these individuals save lives and prevent unfortunate events. The municipality wishes to recognize this extra effort.
Grandioses 2024-2025

This essential service provided by the large group of volunteers who dedicate countless hours to offering residents, especially those with fewer means, a place where they can access essential goods with dignity and at an affordable price is truly remarkable.
Thanks to donations from the public, the group works tirelessly to receive, sort, and clean used clothing, shoes, furniture, toys, and various other items, which are then resold at exceptionally low prices. Open six days a week, their establishment remains a true pillar of our community and an indispensable resource for many individuals.
From the founding members to today’s volunteers, their dedication has allowed the Comptoir to thrive over the years, remaining a meaningful touchstone for numerous people and families in the region. Their contribution goes far beyond offering an essential service: the group also supports our schools, community programs, and several local initiatives through annual donations, thereby significantly strengthening their positive impact within the community.
The Municipality is proud to highlight the generosity and compassion demonstrated by the group. Our community is deeply grateful for their invaluable commitment and the legacy of solidarity they have built over the years.

At the end of his studies at Polyvalente Thomas-Albert, he chose to invest in the future of the institution that shaped him by becoming head coach of the improv team, a role he has carried out voluntarily for more than 25 years. Under his leadership, the team won two provincial championships and was awarded several times the title of “most sportsmanlike team,” an honour that holds particular meaning for Éric as it reflects the values that shape him: respect, attentiveness, and teamwork.
Éric has been recognized many times for his exceptional contribution to improvisation, both as a respected mentor and as a builder of the provincial network. His leadership earned him eight nominations as a coach. In 2012, he was inducted into the New Brunswick Improvisation Hall of Fame. The following year, he was invited to play in the National Improvisation League, where he earned the 2nd Star of the Game. More recently in 2024, he received the PTA’s Prix Thomas Recognition Award, followed by the Community Support Award at the provincial Éphémères Gala in 2025.
Through his warm and caring approach, Éric has deeply impacted generations of students. He has created a safe and supportive space where young people can express themselves, build confidence, and grow both artistically and personally. His journey illustrates the strength of true passion and solidifies his place as a prominent figure in the cultural area of our community and across the province and the nation.

Without any personal connection to disability, he chose to dedicate his time and energy to offering individuals living with intellectual, physical, or other challenges the opportunity to thrive through sport.
For nearly ten years, he has volunteered tirelessly to guide, motivate, and support these extraordinary athletes, helping them develop a sense of belonging, accomplishment, and pride. Thanks to his commitment, many have had the honor of representing our region at the Provincial Special Olympics, proudly carrying the colors of our community.
In addition to his hands-on involvement, Mr. Rivard also coordinates numerous fundraising activities, ensuring the program’s continued success. His journey reflects genuine commitment and exemplary kindness. He demonstrates compassion, empathy, and respect, always seeking to support others with pure intention.

What sets Jessie apart is that he acts without seeking recognition. Whether it’s sharing his passion or keeping the skate park welcoming—like when he took the initiative to remove graffiti—his goal is always to create a family-friendly, positive, and safe environment for everyone.
Through his spirit of helping others and his generosity, Jessie inspires the entire community and serves as a positive role model for the younger generation of Grand Falls. His ongoing commitment and sincere desire to make a difference make him a truly deserving recipient of this award.

Since 2021 alone, thanks to their commitment, nearly 800 people have benefited from this essential service. But their work goes back much further. The free tax clinic has been offered at the library since 2015, and some of these dedicated women were already providing this service before that, through the local food bank.
Their volunteer work is not only compassionate, but far-reaching. It puts money in the hands of those who need it most. And thanks to this program, the library receives provincial funding that supports the purchase of new books and the development of activities and programs for the whole community.
The Grand Falls Municipal Council extends its sincere gratitude to Nanette, Beatrice, Céline and Nathalie. Their commitment, generosity and spirit of collaboration make a real difference every year, and they are the very embodiment of community spirit.
It is with deep appreciation and admiration that council presents them with a Community Grandioses award in the volunteer category. They fully deserve this recognition, not only for the hundreds of people they help, but also for the human warmth and sense of duty they bring to our community.

He devoted around fifteen years to this non-profit organization that is deeply close to his heart and without him, the dream of an animal shelter in our community would not have become a reality so quickly.
From his many duties as president to his active involvement in the day-to-day running of the shelter, he has certainly held several key roles within the organization. Thanks to his sustained efforts, hundreds of animals have been given a second chance at life. Even after stepping down from the board of directors recently, Michel continues to volunteer actively in various activities organized by the shelter, including the well-known Spaghetti Sauce fundraiser, which has become a beloved local must-have.
Michel’s commitment goes well beyond the SPCA as he has also been involved in the Richelieu Club and played a role in the development of the region’s cycling trail.
Through his optimism, determination, and generosity, Michel Lang truly represents the spirit of volunteerism, and his lasting impact on our community is one that deserves to be celebrated.

Tanya's involvement goes far beyond numbers. She opens her heart - and her home - as a foster family for pregnant and post-partum cats. Thanks to her, over a hundred kittens have been born into a safe and loving environment. This gesture of tenderness is priceless.
Always present at fundraisers such as Spaghetti Day, BBQ Day, spaghetti sauce production days, and active in the various daily tasks at the shelter, she is an indispensable pillar of the team and a very dedicated volunteer. Her constant commitment makes a real difference, both to the animals and to the community as she has also been an active member of the scouts and guides movement for over 15 years.
With this well-deserved recognition, council thanks Tanya for her immense heart, invaluable time and unwavering commitment. This award reflects the impact she has had - and continues to have - on the lives of so many animals and other volunteers.


He contributed to the great success of the Guignolée Richelieu, served on the municipal council from 1992 to 2001, was a member, president or even founder of community groups including the Regional Association for Mental Health, the Planning Commission, the Foyer École Sacré-Cœur, Toys for Joy, the Association for Community Living, the Oasis Youth Center, and the list goes on.
Morel has served on the boards of the New Brunswick Association of Social Workers, the Canadian Association of Social Workers and the International Federation of Social Workers. To this day, he remains an active member of local organizations such as the Club Richelieu, the Knights of Columbus and the Toys for Joy committee. At the provincial level, he has been representing the Northwest region as a member of the Board of Governors of the Université de Moncton since 2019 and represents North America on the Nominating Committee of the International Federation of Social Workers, as well as the Commonwealth Organisation for Social Work, where he continues to exercise important responsibilities.
Many awards of distinction have been presented to him which include those from the Canadian Association of Social Workers, the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Canadian Senate Community Service Award.
All in all, it's impressive to see a person offer his skills and time in the service of others, with a passion that never wavers. The Grand Falls Regional Municipality congratulates you and thanks you sincerely for your exceptional commitment.

Alain stands out nationally as an ambassador for the MealExchange program, in which he focuses on promoting food security. Internationally, he has traveled to Paris this past October, where he was named First Youth Representative at the Francophonie Summit, where he had the opportunity to advocate for youth perspectives on education and even met with the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau.
Alain's great sense of leadership is the driving force behind every project he undertakes in the various aspects of his life. His ability to balance all of his different academic, sport, and cultural responsibilities makes him an ideal candidate, and it's a great pleasure to present him with the GRANDIOSES AMBASSADEUR AWARD.

With her collaborative spirit, Judith never misses an opportunity to acknowledge the dedication of her team members (Specially Antoinette Tsoi who has been by her side since her journey began), as well as the support of the many partners in the various projects she leads. Judith also stands out on other committees on which she sits, namely NOW - Network of Women and the ACL - Grand Falls Association for Community Living Inc.
For all her accomplishments and commitment to her community, we are delighted to recognize her with this prestigious GRANDIOSE VOLUNTEER AWARD











