July 2003

Convention 2003

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A Memo from Sir John Coape, Sherbrooke

Subject:  Your invitation to the special events planned for Friday, September 19th, 2003 at your NATIONAL CONVENTION to be held in Sherbrooke.

Québec, and in particular, the Eastern Townships is renowned for its mountains, lakes, forests and the products harvested from its land, such as maple syrup.

Maple syrup is an all-natural substitute for refined sugar.  It is obtained by gathering the sweet sap of the maple tree, which runs in the spring and boiling it down through a process called evaporation.  This boiling process, which gradually turns the watery sap into syrup by boiling off (or evaporating) its water content, is a crucial step in the production of maple syrup.  The syrup can then be transformed into maple taffy, maple butter, and soft and hard sugar.  Did you know that 75% of the world's maple syrup production comes from Québec….?

Under the theme of "The Sugar Shack" we invite you to join us for a feast of maple syrup products at the foot of Mount Orford near Lake Memphremagog.  This unique gastronomic adventure will be followed by music and a dance we call the "quadrille" (instructors will be on hand to guide you!).  We invite you to join us dressed in your jeans and a warm, plaid shirt.  When you arrive you will be given an authentic "ceinture fléchée" - literally an "arrow belt" [just like ones worn by the coureurs des bois (runners of the wood) long ago - if you remember your history..]

We await the honour of your presence….

I look forward to meeting you in September!

SIR JOHN COAPE, SHERBROOKE

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