Community Recognition Program

The municipality recognizes that this citizen of Casselman honors the French heritage of our community across Canada and in several countries around the world. To learn more about her, click here.

We recognize that this Casselman resident brings honour to the vibrant Francophone community and entrepreneurial spirit of our municipality throughout Canada and in many countries around the world. Rhéal Leroux has a distinguished career, some highlights of which are as follows in this remarkable journey that began in Casselman. To learn more about him, click here.

Our first recipient, Aurore Crann, born in 1938, is from Eastview, better known as the Vanier neighbourhood. We recognize her today because she became involved in organizing Remembrance Day in Casselman 27 years ago. Let's first take a look at the life of this remarkable woman from Casselman. A former student of Eastview High School, she left in Grade 11 to work with her mother at the local laundromat, ironing sheets and pillowcases. This was just the beginning. She held several jobs, including at Bell Canada and in the Department of Agriculture as a punch card operator. The experience that shaped her and of which she is still proud is her participation in the Ordnance Corps of the Canadian Army. Her responsibilities included sending messages, participating in communications, and wearing the uniform. She will always be grateful to her uncle Royal, who convinced her to join the army. She met her husband, Jim, in 1968. He was in the Air Force and later, during his military career, was transferred to Sioux Lookout in northwestern Ontario. They lived there for nearly 30 years, raising their four children: Theresa, Sherry, Jimmy, and Anthony. After her husband's death, Mrs. Crann moved to Casselman, where her mother and sister, Rita, lived. She then worked at the Casselman pharmacy until her retirement at age 65. Since settling in Casselman in 1994, Mrs. Crann has been raising awareness about the sacrifices and contributions of Canada's veterans. There were no planned commemorative ceremonies in Casselman before Ms. Crann's arrival, and local veterans had to travel to Ottawa to participate in Remembrance Day activities. This prompted her to organize a ceremony, which, it should be noted, has become increasingly popular year after year. In 1998, she placed only 10 wreaths; today, there are 42 wreaths around the cenotaph. She organizes this event in collaboration with Normand Bédard, Marcel Cléroux, Michel Dupuis, and Claude Brunet, among others. Guests receive a personalized invitation by mail each year. She takes great pride in organizing Remembrance Day for Casselman and in having motivated the community to show its appreciation for veterans. Over the years, she has received numerous awards and recognitions for her dedication to veterans and seniors, including the Queen's Jubilee Medal and honorary certificates from Member of Parliament Francis Drouin and Member of the National Assembly Stéphane Sarrazin. Ms. Crann is not one to rest on her laurels. She enjoys painting in her free time and plans to publish a children's book soon. It is a true honour to present her with the Community Medallion from the Municipality of Casselman! After more than 25 years of service, it is well deserved!

Originally from Chute-à-Blondeau, Félix Saint-Denis is an artist, a mega-event creator, and a passionate cultural facilitator dedicated to Franco-Ontarian culture. As a teenager, Félix became involved with the Fédération de la jeunesse franco-ontarienne (FESFO), the Franco-Ontarian Youth Federation. At FESFO, he met an exceptional young woman from Casselman: Jacinthe Bergevin. Jacinthe profoundly influenced Félix's youth leadership and that of an entire generation with a key concept: “If you treat someone as they are, they will remain as they are. But if you treat them as the person they could be, then they have every chance of becoming that person!” Every day, Félix strives to help others shine. Félix worked at FESFO for 15 years. He brought to life the largest gathering of Franco-Ontarian youth: the Franco-Ontarian Games, held in Casselman in 1999. In 2000, inspired by the visionary Alain Dagenais, Félix joined a group of passionate individuals including Rhéal Savage, Suzanne Séguin, and Sylvain Charlebois. Their goal was to create a spectacular show to tell the story of local people and Francophones across America. Thus was born L’écho d’un peuple (Echoes of a People), which Félix had the privilege of creating alongside, among others, Lise Paiement, Brian St-Pierre, Carole Myre, and his father, Yves Saint-Denis. Among these pioneers was also Geneviève Ethier, who transformed 12 kilometers of fabric into 2,700 costumes. One thing led to another, and Félix decided to marry her! As artistic director of L’écho d’un peuple since 2002, Félix has collectively produced numerous shows and videos, both locally and internationally. To date, over 350,000 spectators have applauded the record-breaking 35,000 different performers! However, the most impressive spectacle of L’écho d’un peuple is what happens behind the scenes: the boundless dedication of dedicated volunteers! In 2017, Félix became the cultural coordinator for the 32 schools of the Conseil des écoles catholiques de l’Est ontarien (CSDCEO). With the CSDCEO, he loves empowering thousands of young people. He is an innovator in arts and culture, improvisation, various animation and leadership tours, intercultural celebrations, with the Groupe AnimAction FRANCO, and in video production, such as the one dedicated to La Caféthèque. Father of four beautiful children, Casselman is much more to him than a Gaulish village of indomitable Francophones singing "Mon beau drapeau!" Félix has made Casselman his home because it's a welcoming, forward-thinking community. Welcoming to children with autism and special needs, among others, thanks to Nathalie Lévesque and the Pavillon Saint-Paul. Casselman is his home, it's our home.

He is much more than a volunteer: he is a community builder, a mentor to countless people, and an inspiring example of what it means to dedicate one's life to serving others. Thanks to him, Casselman is now a stronger, greener, healthier, and more united community.Bernard Boulerice embodies the very definition of a community pillar: an exceptional leader, mentor, and volunteer whose work has left a lasting mark on Casselman and far beyond. His contributions encompass education, sports, social development, economic growth, and environmental protection, always guided by immense generosity and an unwavering commitment to others.

For over 33 years in education, including 22 as a school principal, Bernard has guided generations of young people with wisdom, empathy, and vision. As principal of Ontario’s largest French-language elementary school, he helped shape the leaders of tomorrow while representing Ontario internationally as a member of the International Association of School Principals. He participated in exchanges in Europe and Africa to share best practices in education. He also served as president of the Association of Francophone School Principals of Ontario, a testament to his leadership and dedication to education.

In the sports world, Bernard was a tireless advocate for youth development and community recreation. He presided over Casselman Minor Hockey during one of its most challenging periods, when the arena was closed from 1982 to 1985. He also served as head referee coordinator, overseeing their training and organization, as an AA-level coach, and was one of the four founders of the Pirates AAA Hockey Club in 1992. For nearly 20 years, he ran a summer hockey school that welcomed over 200 young athletes annually, instilling in them both athletic skills and self-confidence. He also organized countless tournaments, helping to make hockey a central part of community life.

Bernard’s impact extends far beyond community service and social development. At just 18, he joined the Knights of Columbus, an organization of which he remains an active member at the age of 76. He served as Grand Knight, attained the 4th degree, and organized the Knights of Columbus’ 75th anniversary celebrations in Casselman. In 1979, he also founded the Casselman Optimist Club, providing young people with numerous opportunities for personal growth and community involvement. He continues to serve on the board of directors of the Deguire Community Centre, ensuring that donations are directly reinvested to benefit local residents and organizations.

His contributions to economic development and environmental protection are equally remarkable. Bernard operated a plant nursery and landscaping business that helped green Casselman while providing employment for many young people in the area. A passionate arborist, he dedicated his career to planting trees and raising public awareness about the importance of sustainable environmental management. From his youth, working on farms baling hay, in butter-packing factories, as a forest firefighter, bus driver, or cook in a remote area of ​​Northern Ontario, Bernard already demonstrated the values ​​of hard work and service that have guided his entire life.
Even today, Bernard continues to give back to his community in a profoundly selfless way. He transports Casselman residents to their cancer treatments, offers comfort and support by delivering eulogies at non-denominational funerals, and generously lends his energy to municipal projects, including supporting arena operations during significant transitions. A recipient of the King Charles Medal for Volunteer Service, Bernard Boulerice fully deserves the respect, admiration, and recognition of all who know him. He is much more than a volunteer: he is a community builder, a mentor to countless people, and an inspiring example of what it means to dedicate one's life to serving others. Thanks to him, Casselman is now a stronger, greener, healthier, and more united community.

In February 2005, he founded the 2804 Casselman Cadet Corps. The new organization needed a place for its meetings and activities. No problem! For several years, but especially in 2009-2010, Mr. Bédard actively contributed to the revitalization of the Paul-Émile Lévesque Centre, where the cadets still meet today for their training sessions. Mr. Norman Bédard is a native of Saint-Charles, a small village in the Sudbury region of Northern Ontario. Born into a farming family, he attended elementary school in Saint-Charles and then completed his secondary education in Sturgeon Falls. As a young adult, he joined the Canadian Armed Forces. His inspiration: an uncle, Ernie Thibert, returned wounded from the Second World War. A shell had severed a nerve in his neck, limiting his head movement. Six years old at the time, this powerful memory convinced him to join the regular army (to see who had hurt his uncle). He ultimately served in the Canadian Army for 34 years. Egypt, Greece, Germany—Mr. Bédard certainly served in many countries and travelled extensively during his military career. He was recognized for several of his overseas missions and was promoted to the rank of sergeant. Among his various missions, the most significant was in Vietnam in 1967 and 1968. A young Canadian soldier deployed on a peacekeeping mission under the auspices of the United Nations, Mr. Bédard experienced the Tet Offensive, the peak of unprecedented violence during several months of conflict. It is for this defining mission, and more broadly for his entire military career around the world, that Sergeant Bédard is owed the utmost respect. Upon retiring in 2002, Mr. Bédard moved to the Prescott-Russell area. It was there that his involvement with Casselman began. In February 2005, he founded the 2804 Casselman Cadet Corps. The new organization needed a place for its meetings and activities. No problem! For several years, but especially in 2009-2010, Mr. Bédard actively contributed to the revitalization of the Paul-Émile Lévesque Centre, where cadets still meet today for their training sessions. For the past 20 years, Mr. Bédard has been a member of the Ontario Cadet League, serving on the 2804 Support Committee and actively engaging with cadets through his presence, encouragement, and dedication. With a passion for youth leadership and the establishment of discipline, this is an organization he will always cherish. Thanks to his tireless support, over 20 years, more than 450 young people, aged 12 to 18, have had the opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills to face life's challenges, improve their confidence, and be better prepared for the transition to adulthood. As a result, cadets have the opportunity to attend summer camps and have unforgettable experiences. Last summer, for example, two young people from Casselman were selected from among 53,000 cadets across Canada to complete parachute training in Trenton, Ontario. Mr. Bédard's commitment doesn't end there. He has organized several Remembrance Day ceremonies in Casselman in close collaboration with Ms. Aurore Crann and Mr. Marcel Cléroux in front of the Cenotaph on Main Street. This ceremony is very important to him. That's why, in 2006, he spearheaded the renovation of the Cenotaph site. Finally, Mr. Bédard not only dedicated his time to youth, but he also looked after the well-being of seniors by organizing several activities, including trips with the Casselman Senior Citizens' Club between 2010 and 2015. In addition to the numerous accolades Sergeant Bédard has already received and fully deserved, he is an ideal candidate to receive the Casselman Community Service Medallion today! Throughout his life, he has demonstrated altruism and courage. Generous with his time, he expects nothing in return. He is a role model for all the citizens of our community. Congratulations, Mr. Bédard!