2010 Price Family Reunion

Following an extraordinary build-up, with daily family historical episodes generating amazing enthusiasm, the 2010 Price Family Reunion got underway on Friday, June 25th. While the Organizing Committee had tried to take some pressure off the registration process by pre-registering those who had been on the Saguenay Tour, the scene at the registration was nevertheless one of pandemonium – but no one seemed to mind. Never had so many family members gathered under one roof at one time, helped of course by the fact that the Auberge Saint-Antoine was booked entirely by Family.

Cocktail hour found the lobby of Auberge jammed, with a decibel level commensurate with the size of the multitude. In particular, the young adult crowd appeared to have no trouble in making each others’ acquaintance, the emphatic part of their presence being highlighted by a couple of them lugging a case of beer through the lobby, doubtless in anticipation of continuing the party in one of their rooms.

Dinner that evening was on an individual basis, but many family members took the opportunity to get together with other members of close family at the various splendid eating establishments in the immediate vicinity. The younger crowd, of course, hightailed it for Club Maurice, and anecdotally we note that they sampled a couple of other watering holes in the area as well.

The walking tour of old Quebec, highlighted by a visit to the old Price Brothers executive offices in l’Edifice Price, was the usual nostalgic event for those of us who spent our early years in Quebec, and an educational visit for the younger crowd to have a chance to see an area which played a central rôle in our Family’s history.

Early afternoon found us at Vignoble Ste-Petronille on the Island of Orleans. Driver for the first bus got a bit disoriented on the way out and initially delivered its occupants to a cider orchard, perhaps being unaware that the culture of wine making has finally arrived in Quebec (assisted by skillfully engineered vines to adapt them to the winter climate). With absolutely gorgeous weather, and aided by an impeccable buffet (catered by the Auberge) and the local wine which was consumed in quantity, the Family spent a wonderful several hours in this lovely setting overlooking Montmorency Falls.

Saturday evening found us in l’Espace Quatre Centième building (which had been renovated for Quebec City’s 400th anniversary celebration) at the Old Port of Quebec overlooking the harbour, replete with marina, and across from which stood a vast wall of grain elevators. After a gala reception, dinner was served, and we were then treated to Robert LePage’s “The Image Mill” light show using the grain elevators as a huge horizontal screen. Following this, we were serenaded by the “Urban Cowboys,” a loud band to which even those not so inclined were persuaded to follow the rest on to the dance floor. And again, the twenty-something crowd took off for the clubs, having obviously discovered the previous evening that the local watering holes held fun times in abundance.

Sunday morning brought, once again, nostalgia for the older generation in the gathering at the Cathedral of Holy Trinity, with the service honouring the Family. Following that, family pictures were taken, en masse, as well as of individual generations (for the first time).

That afternoon, some of us visited two adjacent locations in Valcartier which, many years ago, played a significant rôle in the summers for the Williams and the Arthurs, respectively the Polo Club and Aunt Bessie’s summer cottage on the Jacques Cartier River. Both were essentially unchanged by the passage of time, well taken care of by their current owners, les Frères Maristes. For those of us who used to stay at these lovely places, this was an unusually reflective experience.

The closing reception Sunday evening emphasized to all how quickly our time at this wonderful event had passed, but we nevertheless were all at it trying to get in our last face-time with so many of the Family, many of whom we had not seen in years. This was followed by the closing supper in Le Panache, anchor restaurant in the Auberge, at which we enjoyed the superb cuisine for which it is rightly celebrated.

Then on to the “This Price Is Right!” quiz in the auditorium where we all displayed our knowledge (or otherwise) of Family events, history, places, and on and on. Sadly, it was too soon over, and we were left with our memories of this amazing experience held in honour of our founding father, William, who arrived in Quebec 200 years ago.