51st Volunteer Appreciation Brunch 2025 in Saint-Laurent

Montreal, October 19, 2025 – The tradition continues in Saint-Laurent, where volunteer recognition has been celebrated for the past 28 years. This Sunday, more than 300 volunteers were invited by the borough to a Volunteer Appreciation Brunch honouring their outstanding contributions to community life.

The event was hosted by Alan DeSousa, Mayor of Saint-Laurent and Vice-Chair responsible for sustainable development, environment, parks, and green spaces, along with borough councillors, who warmly thanked the participants for their dedication.Among the guests were six members of the Bahá’í community of Saint-Laurent. A slideshow presentation highlighted the remarkable achievements of the borough’s community organizations, including those of the Bahá’í community, which has long been active in the area.

The brunch also provided an opportunity to renew the bonds of friendship that have united the Bahá’í Community and the residents of Saint-Laurent for more than 26 years. Many volunteers from this community have long contributed to Montreal’s social vitality.One such example is Raymond Flournoy (1924–2015), who devoted 24 years of his retirement to volunteering at Saint-Mary’s Hospital. Other members have served as teachers, patient attendants, music instructors, sports team captains, and even in the Canadian Armed Forces.

With its remarkable cultural diversity — home to more than 66 ethnic groups and nearly 100 languages and dialects — Saint-Laurent continues to be a fertile ground for volunteerism. Among its notable volunteers was Suzanne Prud’homme (1933–2020), who dedicated her retirement years to serving the residents of Place Benoît, a neighbourhood known for its exceptional ethnic, cultural, and religious diversity. For 15 years, Suzanne managed the distribution of food and clothing to families in need — a true symbol of compassion and dedication.

Today, members of the Bahá’í Community continue to be involved in several local non-profit organizations, including CARI Saint-Laurent, the Centre d’Encadrement pour Jeunes Femmes Immigrantes (CEJFI), the Comité des organismes sociaux de Saint-Laurent (COSSL), Cégep de Saint-Laurent, the YMCA, the Maison des Parents de Bordeaux-Cartierville, and the Centre d’Action Bénévole (ABC).

At the close of this warm and convivial gathering, the Saint-Laurent administration expressed its deep appreciation for the tireless work of volunteers, whose ongoing commitment significantly enhances the quality of life and social cohesion within the borough.