Interview with Sister Fabienne Tremblay-Fradette
Photo: Sister Fabienne Tremblay-Fradette (Saint-Fabien) at the Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Conseil History Centre
Audio excerpt: 2011 interview
Source: Inventory of the immaterial religious heritage (IPIR)
Transcription :
How those kind hearts must have worked.
This is a true heritage. They left their mark on that land with their labour. It’s a kind of blessing. So much respect for what they created.
What kind of future can they be given with regard to what they did? And when I saw all that land, and I said to myself, “it’s been 32 years”.
I thought it was a kind of sin, socially. It was handed down to us. We have a duty to make that land produce, be productive, while respecting the environment and sharing. If we don’t need it, we have to share it. That’s how the community saw it, too.
The farm’s vision is to create an innovative agricultural model in the community through the amalgamation of agricultural, social, and educational activities. We are truly a different model locally. And we want to achieve top quality production. We envision the development of partnerships with our employees and local organisations.
The values we want to promote are mutual respect, environmental responsibility, solidarity, equity, open-mindedness, collaboration and mutual help. That’s what the farm is all about!
We are asking religious communities across Quebec to lend a hand because they uphold the same environmental values. The communities are very sensitive to the Earth’s cries. They have been generous. We were fortunate to have their support for our financial structure. It’s a religious community project. They are truly concerned with environmental issues, respect for the Earth.