Magnificent event to mark 100 years of French-language health care in Moncton
100th anniversary organizing committee • Moncton, Wednesday, May 3, 2023 – It’s to say thank you that the organizing committee for the festivities marking the 100th anniversary of the Dr. Georges- L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre (UHC) is holding a magnificent celebration of gratitude on Friday, May 19. This unique and dazzling event taking place at the Notre- Dame-de-l’Assomption Cathedral in Moncton will feature an impressive number of artists from various disciplines.
Gilles Beaulieu, chair of the 100th anniversary of the Dr. Georges- L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre (UHC) organizing committee
“The time has come, with the 100th anniversary of French-language health care in Moncton upon us, to express our pride. That’s why we’re holding a grand reunion of the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont UHC family on May 19. Together, we will celebrate our accomplishments and successes. The evening will be a one-of-a-kind opportunity to express our thanks,” explained Gilles Beaulieu, Co- Chair of the organizing committee for the 100th anniversary festivities. For her part, fellow Co- Chair Dr. Chantal Arsenault pointed out that the public has been unceasingly generous over the past 100 years. “Whether by volunteering or participating in various fundraising campaigns, the public has always stood by us: that’s what has truly marked the success of our French-language health services. Over the years, our hospital has become a cathedral of health – a monument built by people’s generosity. Celebrating our 100th anniversary in the cathedral on St. George Street will be symbolic and at the same time majestic,” she said.
Dozens of artists on stage
Artist Mélanie LeBlanc will be the artistic director of this great event taking place on Friday, May 19 at 7 pm. The tickets will be free of charge and a great number will be set aside for the public. The remaining space in the cathedral will be reserved for the staff and volunteers of the hospital, including physicians, nurses and retired staff members, the CHU Dumont Foundation, the Centre de formation médicale du Nouveau-Brunswick and other hospital partners.
Christine Melanson and Sébastien Michaud are among the artits that will rock the house at the Cathedral on May 19th.
The participating artists will include Marie-Jo Thério, Hubert Francis, Christian Kit Goguen, Louise Vautour, Mathias Goguen, Sandra Le Couteur, Monette Gould, Isabelle Bujold, the group Écarlate, the Jeunes chanteurs d’Acadie, the troupe DansEncorps, circus artist Yves Landry, dancer Jalianne Li, Pierre-André Doucet, Imad Elalami in collaboration with Jisr and authors Sonia Malaborza, Jean-Philippe Raîche and Georgette LeBlanc. Dr. Chantal Arsenault is an accomplished family physician, and also an artist of great talent. She will interpret the theme song for the centennial year which she composed for the occasion. Musical Director Sébastien Michaud along with musicians Denis Surette, Christine Melanson and François Émond will make up the inhouse orchestra for the event. The production team supporting Artistic Director Mélanie LeBlanc will consist of Production Director Mylène Comeau, Technical Director Jacques Dugas, and Stage Manager Nicole Léger Blockley.
“We have assembled an amazing selection of very talented artists appealing to all ages and all tastes. We’re going to be treated to a spectacular event on May 19 with a glimpse of our shared past, present and future”, said Mélanie LeBlanc. The organizing committee for the 100th anniversary festivities wanted to involve a new generation of artists to build their sense of belonging to our hospital. The show that we’re putting together will feature talents appealing to all ages and all tastes,” Gilles Beaulieu indicated.
Tickets for the event
Tickets for the event will be available from www.epasslive.com/greniermusique starting at noon on Wednesday, May 3.
100 years of history
It has always been very important to the Moncton community to have French-language health services available. Everything began with the establishment of the hôpital Hôtel-Dieu de l’Assomption on Church St. in October 1922 by the congregation of the Sisters of Providence; in 1928, a new hôpital Hôtel-Dieu opened its doors at the current location. In 1967, the government announced the construction of the future Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont Hospital, which opened its doors in 1975 and became a university hospital centre in 2010. The Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont UHC is, of course, Vitalité Health Network’s flagship facility. This 302-bed hospital provides primary, specialized, and tertiary care using cutting-edge technology. It also provides services in both official languages. The Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont UHC serves patients from New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. It is a provincial referral centre for its highly specialized services. As a teaching and research hospital, it maintains close ties with several of the country’s universities and colleges. A 65-bed lodge also welcomes cancer patients originating from outside the immediate Moncton area.
“Over all these decades, we have always felt and fostered people’s engagement and sense of belonging to our hospital, a now 100-year-old institution that we cherish. In this magnificent evening of gratitude, we will thank you for the compassion and vision you have shown,” Gilles Beaulieu concluded.
