If you live in the community of Val Therese, or if you
happen to shop at the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre, you have seen a man
carrying garbage bags full of empty pop cans and beer bottles. You may not
have paid much attention to this man. I know I never gave him much thought
until recently when I found out that his name is Roy St. Jacques, and what
he is doing with those garbage bags is truly remarkable and he should be
an inspiration to all of us.
Roy
is a Special Olympics 5 Pin Bowler from the Bonaventure Lanes Challenge
League in Val Caron. This is a Tuesday Night League that helps
developmentally challenged individuals enjoy the sport of bowling. The
collection of aluminum pop and beer cans is the major fund-raiser for the
league and is put towards the expenses of the members.
Roy
has going door to door collecting over 25 bags of cans for over a year in
the area near the shopping center and around Val Therese. He is very
appreciative of the support he has received from residents as he walks his
route up and down the streets collecting the cans. The mall has also
provided him with the loan of a shopping cart to help with the
project.
Despite his busy schedule,
Roy
is never in too much of a hurry to say hello or to stop and talk for a few
minutes. He is never too busy to give you a smile or ask you how your day
is going.
Roy
may not be the president of a large multi-national company. He may not
drive around in an expensive car or ever run for election. But what he is
doing is certainly adding to the character of this fine community and he
is definitely making a difference.
The head coach for the Valley East
Ontario Special Olympics Team is Claude Poitras.