Headlines from this weeks SPEC

July 28, 2002

Headlines should continue now that SPEC holidays are over.

More clients and higher revenues in 2002 for VIA
Gilles Gagne

After having lost more than 5,000 passengers between 1997 and 2001, Via Rail officials expect to present better statistics in 2002, for ridership as well as revenues.
The first six months of 2002 have been good in both fields, says Benoit Laporte, spokesperson for the marketing department of Via. For the first five months of the current year, revenues were up by two percent, $886,000 in 2002 compared to $868,000 in 2001, but the month of June was very good, and the increase in income reached 13 percent.
Groups of Americans taking the train under tour operators such as Tauck Tours and a new client, Brennan, have been contributing to the good results despite the temporary loss of Maupintours, under restructuration since the September 11th events.
"Thirty groups from Tauck Tours are taking the Chaleur this year between Montreal and Perce, and 10 groups from Brennan are taking it between Perce and Montreal. We would like to find more groups for the return trip. For now, we would add more sleeper cars in order to receive groups between Montreal and Perce, and there are none available", explains Benoit Laporte.

Goodbye Party for Hugh Matheson and his family

July 22nd held many smiles and many tears for one special family. Local Anglican priest Hugh Matheson and his family attended a goodbye party in their honour to mark their passing from the community and the church in this community.
The Mathesons are on their way to Kanora Ontario, which is part of the Diocese of Keewatin. Their goodbye event was planned by a team from various areas of the parish, including Gracie Annett, Joanne Miller, Vera Patterson, and Edna Cunning.
Arrangements for the lunch provided at the event were organized by the various ACW's in the Greater Parish, who divided it among congregations. The goodbye cake was made by Marjorie Patterson from Wakeham and each ACW donated money for the wine. Organizer Gracie Annett commented that the event was "going wonderfully, there were more people than expected". Over a hundred people showed up to say goodbye to the family and give their thanks.

Antique Car Show a Success

An antique car show was held in Gaspe this past weekend. Cars and trucks of all makes and models were on-hand at C.E. Pouliot Polyvalent on both Saturday and Sunday. The large crowd that showed up to check out the vehicles were impressed by the beautiful paint colours, the amount of chrome to be seen and the original parts that were found on so many of the antique vehicles. The cars also took a tour around the Gaspe Bay on Saturday afternoon, giving the owners a chance to show-off their wares.

Firefighter Combat Challenge to be held in Gaspe
Charlene Eden

The Firefighter Combat Challenge is once again coming to Gaspe. The competition, which has been organized by the Gaspe Fire Department, will give firefighters an opportunity to test their strength and endurance, and potentially qualify for this year’s national competition in Windsor.
Firefighters will have the opportunity to compete in a number of events. The two main events will be the individual and relay competitions, with the results determining who will go to this year’s National competition from Eastern Quebec. A go hard or go home competition as well as a mixed relay are also scheduled, but these events are just for fun. All four events will take place on August 3^rd and 4^th between noon and 4:30 pm.
The course that will be used for the event is composed of five main tasks. "You start at the bottom of a five floor tower in full-gear. You put a high-rise pack on your shoulders and go up the tower. Then you have to hoist a donut roll of hose up to the top of the tower. You then go down the tower stairs. At the bottom, you arrive at the forcible entry simulation, which is a hammer of nine pounds and a steel beam of 165 pounds. You have to hit it five feet. You then run through 140 feet of cones, and arrive at the hose pull. You put it on your shoulder and you run with it until you get to a door. You then open the water and have to hit a target. Then you go to the mannequin, which is 175 pounds and drag him walking backwards about 100 feet," explained Tasha Adams, one of the event’s organizers.