Outstanding Citizen of the Year
Roland Gallant
 Born in Saint-Louis-de-Kent, Roland is the son of Jean-Baptiste and Aurore Gallant. Sixth in a family of nine children, Roland has three brothers, Jean-Guy, Michel and Louis-Paul and five sisters, Marielle, Janice, Chantal, Florella and Raymonde. After finishing his studies at l’École secondaire de Saint-Louis, he obtained a B.A. in Physical Education at the Université de Moncton and a teaching certificate in 1980. In 1982, Roland began teaching in Pointe-Sapin and Acadieville. He taught physical education in both these schools until 1995. Since then, he has been pursuing his physical education career at l’École régionale Baie Sainte-Anne.
Roland was initially involved in the community because of his role as a teacher and coach of school sports like handball. Over the years, his involvement has intensified. He became a member of the Jeux de l’Acadie’s Regional Committee in 1982. In 1992, he joined the Saint-Louis-de-Kent municipal team, as town counselor. He was a member of the Organizing Committee of the Kagibouguette Festival from 1993 to 1999 and was then involved in his municipality’s Kite Festival Committee from 2000 to 2002.
Since 2000, Roland is on the board of directors of Les Amis de la Kouchibouguacis, whose role is to protect the river watershed. Since 2001, he is a member of the board of directors of the AquaKent Centre. Whether it be Canada Day or Acadian Day activities, Roland is always there to lend a hand. He says that the flexibility of his work has allowed him to get even more involved during the summer months.
Though he gives a lot to his community, this family man still finds time for his three daughters: Mélanie 21, Marylene 19 and Josyane 17. Actually, he trained them all to play softball when they were younger. “I think he really deserves this, because he has always been involved everywhere and yet he was always there for us”, insists Mélanie. One of Roland’s most memorable experiences as a volunteer had to be when the girls’ softball team, which he was coaching, won the regional championship in a boys’ league at the time his daughter Mélanie was still playing.
His involvement in the Congrès mondial acadien activities in 1994, also provided him special memories and a sense of pride. “To be able to do volunteer work, you have to love being involved”, explains Roland. Personal satisfaction and seeing things being organized in Saint-Louis help motivate him to continue giving of his time to the community. For Roland, some of the biggest challenges are to bring people together when it’s time to organize volunteer activities and the exodus of young people moving to the city. He is nonetheless very enthusiastic as he realizes that there seems to be a new wave of volunteers, ready to take over in the community.
Since 2000, Roland and two other partners have undertaken a few business ventures in the region. The RLCL Group operates the canteen and canoe rentals at Kouchibouguac National Park. They have also acquired an old club in Saint-Louis and have converted it into an apartment complex. In his free time, Roland enjoys playing softball and badminton, but his real passion is still golf. When he retires from teaching, in six years, he hopes to be able to spend more time playing his favorite sport.
In 2005, Roland’s dedication was recognized when he was given the Volunteer of the Year award in Kent Region, for his involvement in Les Jeux de l’Acadie. This evening, Enterprise Kent would also like to recognize Roland Gallant’s generous involvement in his community.
Congratulations Roland! |
