Townshippers' Association

Townshippers’ Day 2004: Back to its Roots

TOWNSHIPPERS’ DAY 2004, slated for September 18, may be months away, but for members of the T-Day Organizing Committee, spring is a key period of preparation. With 10,000 people expected to attend this year’s popular annual festival, there is no shortage of work for this dedicated group of volunteers. A good picture of T-Day 2004 is already taking shape.

Townshippers’ Day 2004 - also known as T-Day – has a special significance as it also helps mark the 25th anniversary year of Townshippers’ Association, the non-profit organization that founded the one-day event in 1980. The first T-Day was hosted at the Orford Arts Centre.

This year’s T-Day has returned to the area. It will be at Merry’s Point, a popular park at the heart of the town of Magog. Flanked by Lake Memphremagog and the Magog River, endowed with age-old linden trees, and granting a magnificent view of majestic Mount Orford, Merry’s Point leaves nothing to be desired. “It’s one of the most beautiful sites in the Townships to host an event,” said Rev. Dr. Deane Moffat, a co-chair of the organizing committee. “The park itself is a historic site. It belonged to the Merry family who first settled the area in the 19th Century.” Co-chairs Rev. Dr. Moffat and Melvyn Bryant recently met with Magog mayor Marc Poulin to discuss logistics. “We were very pleased with the reception we got. The mayor is offering a lot of support and encouragement.”

Frequenters of Townshippers’ Day can expect an assortment of activities, entertainment, and exhibits that have shaped the event in the past. People visiting this year’s event will, however, discover a few changes. “Because of the size and shape of the park, space is a bit more limited than sites we’ve used before,” explained Rev. Moffat. “We will have five tents this year. One at the entrance, one for food, and three for exhibits.”

This means there will be fewer artisans than in previous years. Rev. Dr. Moffat further explained that the smaller space gives the advantage of better showing the exhibitors. Priority will be given to artisans and community groups from the Mempremagog area, including those from the French-speaking community. For the committee, the slightly smaller venue is a small price to pay for the convenience of having all T-Day activities at one site, rather than at various places around town.

Visitors can expect a more diversified music program that targets the tastes of every age group. Also, story-telling will be new this year. The emphasis will be on a variety of activities for all ages, with opportunity for socializing. “And there will be lots to eat,” added Rev. Dr. Moffat. This year’s committee is placing a strong emphasis on food services.

Townshippers’ Association aims, through this annual event, to showcase and support the English-speaking community of the Townships. As the community diminished in size over the years, a festival devoted to sharing the heritage, culture, and interests of English speakers in the region grew in importance and interest. Since its inception in 1980, the number of visitors has grown from 700 to around 10,000. This year’s theme “Living in Harmony” is reflective of living in the Townships. ”Yes, T-Day is about the English-speaking community, but also about the community in general, a time to celebrate what we have in common,” said Bryant.