2019 Reunion

Guédry & Petitpas 8th Reunion - Recap

2019 speakers

On a beautiful Saturday, 17 August 2019, ninety Guédry and Petitpas cousins and friends gathered together at the Slemon Hotel and Conference Center in Summerside, Prince Edward Island for our 8th Guédry et Petitpas Reunion. The accommodations in the Lancaster Room were superb with excellent seating and lots of space for registration, sales booths, exhibits and milling about.

As everyone arrived, they began finding old friends and meeting new ones. Small groups of folks conversing began to fill the room.

With 9:00 am approaching Marty Guidry made a few welcoming remarks and Rev. Mr. Ronald Guidry, deacon of St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans, Louisiana, formally opened the Reunion with a moment of prayer. Ms. Nathalie Geddry of Portuguese Cove, Nova Scotia then led everyone in the Ave Maris Stella - the Acadian National Anthem.

Marty Guidry provided an historical context to our meeting location on the grounds of the now-closed Canadian Forces Base Summerside - largely an air force training facility and air rescue center. He also discussed the history of the Guédry family on Île St-Jean (Prince Edward Island) in the 1750s. Today no Guédry's reside on Prince Edward Island although there are a few Petitpas families living on the Island. We then took an extended break so folks could visit with each other and rehash old times, discuss families and enjoy seeing each other again.

After the break everyone was toe-tapping to the sounds of Chére Mom - a Cajun family band (Christine Guidry Law, Wallace Law, Taylor Law, LeeAnn Law and Emily Simon) from Zachary, Louisiana. We even had a few couples waltzing and two-stepping to the music. Christine and band played many well-known Cajun classics and a couple of original songs that she wrote.

2019 chere mom

The aroma of lunch filled the air as the waiters began preparing the buffet tables so we all took another break to meet some of our new cousins and get to know them. After the tables were set, everyone enjoyed a great buffet of homemade soup, special salads, turkey, mashed potatoes, fresh vegetables, lasagna, apple pie as well as tea, coffee and water. After eating their fill, folks then relaxed and enjoyed sitting around their tables chatting with each other or visiting the many displays and sales tables.

As the afternoon rolled around, we regrouped and Noel Labine of Minnesota entertained us with several interesting and humorous Acadian tales from his youth. Noel grew up in the small Acadian/French Canadian village of Argyle in the far northwest corner of Minnesota. His superb presentation style and humorous anecdotes kept everyone on edge.

2019 set 1

As we traditionally do during our Reunions, we inducted six new members into the Les Guédry et Petitpas d'Asteur Circle of Distinction. To be inducted into the Circle of Distinction one must be a direct descendant of either Claude Guédry and Marguerite Petitpas or Claude Petitpas and Catherine Bugaret; must have any variation of the Guédry or Petitpas surname; must through their work, avocation or life have brought distinction to the Guédry or Petitpas name and may be living or deceased. At the Reunion we inducted Nathalie Geddry (Acadian vocalist & Radio-Canada cultural reporter), Christine Guidry Law (musician & promoter of the Acadian and Acadian-Mi'kmaq cultures), Greg Gerard Guidry (former Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court and currently Judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana), Eleanor Labine (award-winning screenwriter and playwright), Guy Labine (global recognition as CEO of Science-North & his government service) and Randy Pettipas (international recognition as CEO of Public Affairs and his government service). One can view the award certificates for these and all earlier inductees of the Circle of Distinction at our Guédry-Petitpas Family website.

2019 pousson

After another extended socializing break, we had planned to hear from Art Guidry and his presentation "My Journey in the Guidry Family"; however, two days before the Reunion Art had to enter the hospital due to a sudden illness. Dedicated as Art is, he initially wanted to Skype his presentation to the Reunion; however, the hospital facilities were not adequate. Art will present his presentation at the next Reunion. Art has recovered well from his illness.

Fortunately Adam Pousson happened to have his accordion available so he was called up for special duty and superbly played several Cajun songs to the delight of everyone present. Noel Labine then did double-duty entertaining us with another of his Acadian stories. Nathalie Geddry then graciously sang a beautiful song that had everyone's attention and ear. It is wonderful to have so many talented and willing folks in our family that can fill in when an "emergency" occurs. Thanks to each of you for pitching in at the last moment.

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After a final break to socialize and make dinner plans with each other, Bernard "Bernie" Geddry of Peoria, AZ gave an outstanding presentation on his "Search for the Origins of the Guédry Family". This presentation resulted from Bernie's research over many years on how our Guédry name evolved and where our family began. This research not only included primary source and internet research, but also a trip to the Franche-Comté region of France and the town of Arpenans where he met the chief archivist for several days. His presentation was well-received evoking many questions and comments. It has opened up new avenues of research for us.

With the conclusion of Bernie's presentation we brought out the snacks, everyone grabbed a beverage and we all relaxed and enjoyed each other's company for an hour or so.

2019 set 3

Thanks to all who attended the Reunion and made it the success it was. Special thanks to Allie Guidry, who worked the registration desk and kept everything running smoothly throughout the day; to Jeff and Rachel Killingsworth for manning the sales tables and providing superb IT support; to Chuck Guidry for his help in setup and takedown and to all of the folks mentioned above that provided the entertainment and presentations. Without y'all, none of this would have happened.

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Guédry & Petitpas Reunion Update - August 17, 2019

In approximately 9 months we will gather again for another Guédry & Petitpas Reunion at Congrès Mondial Acadien 2019. It should be a great time for all of our family and friends to gather again, renew old acquaintances, meet new cousins and enjoy a great day together. Please register (see below) as early as possible so we can accommodate everyone and make the necessary plans. Thanks to all who have registered already. We really appreciate your timeliness.

2019 congres map

The Congrès Mondial Acadien 2019 will occur between 10-24 August across Prince Edward Island (PEI) and south-eastern New Brunswick (NB). The CMA 2019 planning committee anticipates having formal activities at PEI from 10-14 August and the remainder of the formal activities in the Moncton, NB area. Because the Guédry & Petitpas Reunion will be on Saturday, August 17th, we would encourage folks to plan their stay on PEI around this date so they can enjoy our Reunion and minimize the need to cross the Confederation Bridge. The formal CMA ceremonies include:

Visiting the area

Free visitor guides are available for Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.

2019 sights

If you are travelling to PEI via automobile, you must enter PEI either via auto ferry (Caribou, Nova Scotia to Woods Island, PEI) or the Confederation Bridge (8 miles; Cape Jourimain, NB to Borden-Carleton, PEI). Both routes cross the Northumberland Strait. There is no cost to take either means to enter PEI. Returning from PEI to the mainland, however, does have a toll. The 2018 toll for an automobile on the Confederation Bridge is $47.00 Canadian; the 2018 toll rate for an auto leaving PEI via the auto ferry is $78.00 Canadian. The Confederation Bridge is open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. View the ferry schedule .

The Spring 2019 Newsletter includes fantastic details on highlights to see when visiting Prince Edward Island, as well as in-depth information for getting around the PEI/NB area.


GUÉDRY & PETITPAS REUNION
2019 slemon When: Saturday, August 17, 2019 from 9:00 am until 4:40 pm. Socializing and snacks afterwards.

Where: Lancaster Room at the Slemon Park Hotel & Conference Center in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada

Register: Please click here to register as soon as possible so we can accommodate everyone and make the necessary plans. You may also register by mailing this form with payment ($20/person & $40/family - your country's currency)

I will need to turn in the final meal count soon so please register as soon as possible if you have not done so yet. We will accept registrations at the door; however, we cannot guarantee access to the buffet lunch for those registrations. We will do our best to get the buffet for you though. Remember that $10 of your registration fee will be used to help defray the cost of the buffet lunch. The total cost of the buffet is $24 per person Canadian, so you will be responsible for $14 Canadian for the buffet. Presently one dollar Canadian is 76 cents U.S.

Buffet Lunch: approximately $24CAD per person. SPECIAL OFFER: Les Guédry et Petitpas d'Asteur will pay $10 of the $24 per person cost as part of your registration fees!
Souvenirs: Reunion pins, pens, several different books related to our families, caps, money clips, etc. See note below under Displays if you have an item you would like to sell

Displays: We are also planning to have several poster displays and computer displays for everyone to view during the day. If you have a poster display on the Guédry and/or Petitpas family or a computer display you would like to bring and share with others, please let me know at guidryrmartin@gmail.com so we can have space available for it. If you have a book published related to the Guédry and/or Petitpas family and would like to display or sell it at the Reunion, please let me know.

Final Agenda:2019 ferry

Seeking Places Associated with the Guédry & Petitpas Families

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
SOUTHERN NEW BRUNSWICK
2019 water
NOVA SCOTIA
CAPE BRETON ISLAND