Honours Bestowed on The Trois Rivières International Poetry Festival
The Trois Rivières International Poetry Festival has received numerous awards over the years. In several instances, the honours – many from outside the country – have been showered on Founder and President Gaston Bellemare. Here, in reverse chronological order, is a list of these awards:
2006
Trois-Rivières Sans Frontière Award
2005
Downtown Achievement Award
“Merit Award in special events and promotion” bestowed to the Festival, rewards the most successful and innovative efforts in urban development. Trois-Rivières shares the award, ex-aequo with Los Angeles.
Hector Fabre Prize
Awarded by the Minister of International Affairs to an organization, which has most enhanced the international reputation of the region it serves— in this case, the Mauricie.
Source:
www.mri.gouv.qc.ca/fr/ouvrir_au_monde/prix_et_bourses/index.asp
Tourism Event of the Year (region 04)
Awarded by the “Grands Prix du tourisme québécois,” this prize honours an event, which has had the most impact on a region during the course of a year.
2004
Trois Rivières Personality of the Year
Highlighting his involvement in the organization of the festival, Gaston Bellemare was named Trois Rivières Personality of the Year in 2004.
Prize for the initiating the « Le français à l’affiche » Contest.
In 2004, the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society of the Mauricie region recognized the Trois Rivières International Poetry Festival as the event that did the most to promote the French language in the course of the year.
The Gérald Dame Prize
Established by the “Regroupement des Centres-villes et des Artères Commerciales” and awarded to a « professional or […] volunteer working within the milieu of SDCs, businessmen’s associations, or municipalities, who, through intense involvement, contributed the most to enriching the downtown core or commercial artery. »
(Source: www.centresvilles.qc.ca/freepage.php?page=113)
2003
Prize from the University of Quebec at Trois-Rivières
The highest distinction awarded by the institution was conferred on Gaston Bellemare, alumnus and former professor, in 2003.
2002
Officer of the Order of Quebec
The highest distinction conferred by the Quebec government.
Odyssey Prize for the “Literary Event of the Year”
Jury members include members of l’association du livre francophone d’Amérique (ALFA). The gala showcases literature, book-related trades, and the promotion and dissemination of literary works.
2001
Personality of the Week (as selected by La Presse)
Bellemare was so named by the French newspaper La Presse after his induction into the Académie des Lettres du Québec and the Académie Mondiale de la Poésie.
Académie des Lettres du Québec (Literary Academy of Quebec)
Gaston Bellemare, President and Founder of the Trois Rivières International Poetry Festival joined the honorary ranks of the Académie des Lettres du Québec, founded in 1944 by the likes of Victor Barbeau, poet Alain Grandbois and novelist Ringuet, among others. The Academy is made up of « a diverse group of writers dedicated to preserving the French language in Quebec and interested in shedding light on the work of other writers »
(Source : www.calq.gouv.qc.ca/publications/repcult_litt.htm#alq )
Académie Mondiale de la Poésie (World Academy of Poetry)
Bellemare was ushered into the Académie Mondiale de la Poésie, founded in June 2001 in Verona, Italy. Its main objective is to promote the world’s best poetry.
1995
Dessureault Leblanc Lefebvre Prize - Tourism
Awarded to the Trois Rivières International Poetry Festival during a gala event of the CEDIC and the Chambers of Commerce, for its extraordinary contribution to the development of tourism in the Mauricie region.
1994
Medal for Municipal Merit
This medal, awarded in June 1994 by the Minister of Municipal Affairs, recognizes Bellemare’s contribution—as a simple citizen— to the development, growth, and improvement to the quality of life of his municipality.
1993
Governor General’s Medal (Canada)
This honour was bestowed on Bellemare in recognition of his special contribution to the cultural development of his region.
1991
Marc Lescarbot Medal
Presented by the Canadian government to Gaston Bellemare for his contribution, as festival president, to the cultural development of his region, the Mauricie.
Order of Lavérendrye- for Community Service
Awarded to Gaston Bellemare for starting up the Trois Rivières International Poetry Festival. This is the highest distinction that can be bestowed on a citizen of Trois Rivières.
Adrienne Clarkson, October 7, 2000,