Author: Achille Fortin (0082)
Photos: Courtesy of Michel Fortin (0148)
Last update: april 18, 2017
Email: info@afafortin.com

Summer 2017 is just around the corner, and the Association des Fortin d’Amérique, also known as the AFA, is about to celebrate its 15th anniversary. For this special occasion, it invites all its active members and their families to participate in its annual reunion, to be held on July 7, 8 and 9, 2017, at the Le Montagnais Hotel, 1080 Talbot Boulevard, in the City of Saguenay, a region where so many Fortins have thrived since 1842.

Leaving the Charlevoix and Côte-du-Sud regions laite in the middle of the 19th century, Many Fortins came together in the Saguenay/Lac-St-Jean region, colonizing this new domain. As early as 1842 and for generations to follow, they settled wherever growth was inviting in the Saguenay region (Grande-Baie, Anse-St-Jean, Chicoutimi, Laterrière, Bagotville, etc.), or moved further north to the Lac-St-Jean region (Hébertville, Lac-à-la-Croix, Metabetchouan, Roberval, etc.).

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The “saguenéens” are a proud people, as well as an enterprising and welcoming one. The distance separating them from major cities, such as Québec City and Montréal, was never an obstacle for them to achieve their dreams and to pursue careers in diverse provincial, national and international fields. They strive on challenges and don’t fear the necessary efforts required to bring them to fruition, a distinctive quality willed to them by their ancestors.

Saguenay, our 2017 host city, and its vicinities offer a great deal of tourist and cultural attractions. Only 2 hours away from Quebec City, it can be reached via the safe, panoramic and magnificent four-lane Highway 175 spanning the Laurentides Park and Wildlife Reserve. Whoever decides to come to our reunion by traveling that route will surely be stopping along the way to admire its breathtaking scenery, suggesting relaxation and reverie.

This annual Association des Fortin d’Amérique reunion is an event highly motivated by the desire to meet with Saguenay Fortins from all walks of life, to fraternize and celebrate with them and their families on this special occasion of the AFA’s first 15 years of vital existence.

A word from the President
Claude-C. Fortin (0472)

Last July, the Association of the Fortin of America celebrated its 15th anniversary in the Saguenay region. The organized festivities of the hand of master may not have attracted as many people as desired, however, the Members present greatly appreciated their stay.

At the annual general meeting, we were informed of the departure of several directors who for the most part assumed the task of President of the association: Jean-Pierre Fortin (0008), founder and first president of the Association from 2001 to 2004; André Fortin (0043), President of 2006 to 2009 and registrar; Charles Fortin (0459), President of 2011 to 2015 and Muriel Fortin (0603), president of 2015 to 2017. The departure of Monique Fortin (0297), who had been on the board of Directors since 2011, was also highlighted. To all these people we express our sincere thanks for their involvement and dedication within the Association.