Press Release**
Townshippers' Association
(**Written by Stevenson & Writers / Published as part of the Association's "Townships Success Stories" initiative)

A MULTIDISCIPLINARY SUCCESS
In an area as large and complex as the Eastern Townships, charting its history and culture can be an overwhelming task. And while certain Townships residents and groups have succeeded in documenting some aspects of the area, the Eastern Townships Research Centre (ETRC) continues to succeed in an even more daunting task: documenting the history, culture and population of the region as a whole.

The Centre's designation as a "Townships Success Story" is a great source of pride for executive director Marie Thibault, who sees it as an indication that the ETRC's recent direction has been a worthwhile endeavour. "We are very proud. In the last ten years, the Eastern Townships Research Centre has worked at being more visible. Not just academic, but also a resource that demonstrates information and is more accessible," she says.

At the "Success Stories" Awards Reception are (left to right): ETRC archivist Daniel Bromby, Townshippers' Association President Peter Quilliams, and ETRC Chairperson Wendy Durrant. (Photo: ETRC)

NOT JUST A HISTORY CENTRE
The Research Centre is often thought of as a history centre, focusing on archival information, but Thibault says that's not the case. "You can see our service to the public in terms of the archives - we're having more and more people use the archives for historical research - but there are also our conferences, and the Journal of Eastern Townships Studies, or JETS."

Published twice a year, the Journal of Eastern Townships Studies is an accurate reflection of the work of the Research Centre as a whole, in that it covers a broad range of subjects. "JETS publishes articles on the Eastern Townships - multidisciplinary and academic, but accessible to the general public," Thibault says. "People write about the history of Gilbert Hyatt, for instance, or articles on people like Marion Phelps. There are also more specific articles like one on flooding in the Eastern Townships. Two hundred people subscribe to the Journal, which comes out twice a year. Some articles are in French and others in English, written by professors and graduate students from across Quebec."

RICH CULTURE
While the diverse nature of the Townships population and culture makes it difficult to summarize or categorize, this is one of the Centre's strengths. "There's a very rich culture in the Eastern Townships. A lot of people have been able to write about this unique and diverse culture in terms of its history, sociology, and geography - both the physical and social landscape of the Townships," Thibault says. "The Centre touches all the humanities and social sciences. We give money for research… in history, in psychology, and in sociology."

Much of the ETRC's recognition still comes from its archives, however, and that aspect of its importance in the region continues to grow. "Lots of different groups entrust us with their archives," Thibault says. "We manage archives for Townshippers' and the Record; their history is stored with us. Since our goal is to preserve the history of the English-speaking people of the Townships, we get lots of family archives."

CONFERENCES
Another aspect of the Centre is its colloquia: national and international conferences on topics that range from transportation to rural communities to this year's subject, fresh water. "More than 100 people registered for the colloquium," Thibault says. "Much of our research is presented through these colloquia."

Like many public organizations, the ETRC's greatest challenge is funding. "We always would like to get more financing from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council." The Centre's other preoccupation, despite their constant inroads, is to increase awareness. "We would like more people to get to know and subscribe to JETS," Thibault says. "We need to make people know it's not just academic."