Renaissance Lac-Brome: Same mission, new name

“Volunteer planting team” (left to right) : Robert St-Pierre, Lorraine Gatien, Hélène Rochon, Patrick Binckly, Don Joyce, Eddy Witcher, Jean-Pierre Pilon. Not appearing in the photo: Martin Lepitre. Photo courtesy of RLB.

By Taylor McClure
Townships’ Daily News Bits
CIDI 99.1 FM

On October 20, members of Renaissance Lac-Brome (RLB) and volunteers from the community came together to take part in a tree planting initiative here in Brome Lake.

It’s one of the many projects the group has spearheaded over the years to ensure the water quality of Brome Lake and to protect the environment.

In other news, RLB is rebranding. Don Joyce, member of the board for RLB, gave CIDI 99.1 FM all the details.

“We planted 36 trees on the banks of the Quilliams stream. (…) Our biologist Anaïs Renaud chose the spots and the trees. It was in areas where the stream was susceptible to gain speed and cause erosion,” said Joyce.

With three board members and the help of five members from the community, silver maples, red maples, black space, and tamarack trees were planted along the stream.

RLB received financial support in the sum of $3,000 from the Organisme Bassent Versent Yamaska (OBV Yamaska), whom take care of the Yamaska watershed, to make the tree planting initiative possible.

“For us, it was a great initiative because it let us stabilize the banks, but also the trees do a great job in offsetting carbon. (…) Based on the 36 trees, we can offset about 5 tons of carbon, which is the equivalent of an SUV travelling over 15, 000 kilometres,” Joyce noted.

As the group gets set to wrap up its projects for the winter, it is slowly preparing for the launch of its rebranding.

“When Renaissance was founded over 20 years ago, the lake was in a lot worse shape than it is now. The whole idea of “renaissance” and “rebirth” was chosen. Unfortunately, now those ideas have kind of been lost in the fog of the past and some people think that RLB takes care of used clothing (referring to the Renaissance thrift stores),” explained Joyce.

With a new name and a distinctive logo, Joyce said that RLB will stick to its mission, but hopes to bring more clarity to exactly what that mission is.

“We wanted to make sure that our mission was clear and that anybody that saw anything that came out from the organization, that it gave a clear idea of what we do. After a lot of deliberation, check in with friends, and what people thought would be good, we are going to be rebranding as Conservation Lac-Brome,” he announced.

For more information about RLB

Listen to the full interview below:

Renaissance Lac-Brome