AAMS at work in the Community: Earth Day tree planting at Villa St. Joseph du Lac -- April 23, 2019

On Tuesday April 23rd, at 1:30 PM, the Association des Acadiens-Métis Souriquois (AAMS) joined with the Villa St. Joseph du Lac in a tree planting ceremony in celebration of Earth Day.  Thanks to former AAMS director Robert Muise, the Nova Scotia red spruce's journey from Quinan to Villa St. Joseph was safe and uneventful.

AAMS Earth Day 2019
Tree Planting at Villa St. Joseph du Lac

AAMS Past President, Paul Tufts explaining the meaning and significance of Earth Day. In the background, Robert Muise, Pam Crowell, Michael Deveau and Brian Doucet.

Carl Deveau plays the flute with attentive onlookers while the tree is being planted.

AAMS President, Joseph Jacquard, welcoming two long standing AAMS members Victor and Joan Comeau to the 2019 Earth Day tree planting ceremony. This picture is taken in the Villa St. Joseph board room where AAMS board meetings are held.

Joan Comeau, long standing AAMS member, being smudged by AAMS director Carl Deveau. The smudge is a cleansing / purification ceremony.

From left to right; Carl Deveau, Julien Muise, female Villa employee, Hélène d'Eon (Villa Secretary), female Villa employee, Villa resident (wheelchair), AAMS Past President Paul Tufts, Victor and Joan Comeau, Chris Atkinson (Villa employee) female Villa employee, Rick Atkinson (Villa Administrator).

1st view: President Joseph Jacquard and Robert doing the actual tree planting at Villa St. Joseph du Lac seniors home in celebration of Earth Day 2019.

Chris Atkinson, Villa St Joseph employee, being smudged by Carl Deveau with Victor and Joan Comeau looking on.

Michael Deveau (AAMS Treasurer) being smudged by Carl Deveau. Standing by from left to right Robert Muise, Pam Crowell, Brian Doucet and Marcel d'Entremont (AAMS 1st vice).

Robert Muise being smudged by Carl Deveau with President Joseph Jacquard (on the left), Pam Crowell, Micheal Deveau (AAMS Treasurer) drumming and Director Brian Doucet (former AAMS 1st vice) looking on.

2nd view: President Joseph Jacquard and Robert doing the actual tree planting at Villa St. Joseph du Lac seniors home in celebration of Earth Day 2019.

The fruit of our labors; a well planted red spruce.

AAMS President Joseph Jacquard getting smudged by Carl Deveau with former AAMS director Robert Muise in the background.

AAMS President Joseph Jacquard being smudged by director Carl Deveau while Robert Muise (past AAMS director) and Pam Crowell (Villa St. Joseph employee) wait their turn for the smudge.

Heart beat drumming during the smudge. From left to right; Julien Muise (Villa St Joseph employee), two female Villa employees , Villa resident (in wheelchair), female visiting her ageing mother, Paul Tufts (Past President) and Victor and Joan Comeau (AAMS members).

Nova Scotia red spruce tree ready for planting in celebration of Earth Day. The hole was pre-watered by a preceding week of rain. The red spruce can grow to a ripe old age of 300 years. It is the official tree on the Province of Nova Scotia.

Carl Deveau putting the ashes of the sage smudge around the newly planted red spruce.

Earth Day 2019 photos and videos courtesy Joyce MacIsaac, member, AAMS, and published with permission of Rick Atkinson, Administrator, Villa St. Joseph du Lac.