'Put family first'
Published Friday January 2nd, 2009
New year | Last levee for lieutenant-governor
New Brunswick Lt.-Gov. Hermenegilde Chiasson says people need to renew their focus on family and community in the new year.
"I'd like to see that in 2009 people have found intimacy and developed a real rapport with their loved ones," Chiasson said.
"In the past, the value was put on money. That's disappointing us now. People are hearing so much about the possibility of recession, that our financial systems are failing. Together, we can rebuild our communities to what we want.''
Chiasson made the comments as he held the only New Year's Day levee by a lieutenant-governor in the Maritimes.
That's because lieutenant-governors' open houses in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island had to be cancelled due to a blizzard that didn't affect New Brunswick's capital.
"I'm holding the fort," Chiasson joked as chilling winds blew outside.
The levee - which usually attracts up to 2,000 visitors from across the province - will be the last for Chiasson. He's into the sixth year of what is traditionally a five-year appointment.
And as visitors sipped cider and warmed their bellies with fresh chowder, Chiasson spoke about the coming year and what he hopes people will find in a time when much of the focus is on economic uncertainty.
Fredericton resident Liz Burge was among those who attended.
She said it's a nice event, but being in Government House and talking to Chiasson is the highlight.
"He has helped a lot of New Brunswickers reflect on what it means to be a New Brunswicker."
And being inside the building is a highlight too, said Burge, president of Fredericton Heritage Trust.
"It's like a good step forward. It refreshes the soul."
Eric Kok, an international student studying business administration at the University of New Brunswick, attended his first levee. He said it was a great way to ring in the new year.
"It's nice that they do this."
He was particularly taken with the history of the building.
"It's an experience, you get a lot of knowledge from visiting here."
The lieutenant-governor's was one of several receptions held Tuesday.
To kick-off its 50th anniversary celebrations, the Beaverbrook Art Gallery held its first new year's levee.
It was also a time to rally together as the gallery awaits the outcome of the dispute with the foundations that represent Lord Beaverbrook's heirs, who claim ownership of a number of artworks in the Fredericton gallery's collection.
Margie Clark of Fredericton has her new year's wish.
"I'm hoping that the art gallery wins the appeal," she said.
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