On Saturday, August 10, at the Potton Multicultural Festival, the Potton Standing Stones Project will launch a beautiful colouring book entitled, “The Curious Story of Potton’s Standing Stones.” Described as a colouring book for adults and clever kids, the creators are: author, Murielle Parkes; translator, Michel Trudel; and illustrator, Elizabeth Parkes, who also happens to be Murielle’s multi-talented granddaughter!
In September 2011, under a contract with the Municipality of Potton, Michel Trudel prepared a tourism development plan for the area. He also came up with the stone seed concept as a facetious way to promote Potton, while giving a local non-profit group (The Ken Jones Centre), a novel way to raise funds. The Ken Jones Centre provides social integration and leisure activities for special-needs clients, particularly with intellectual disabilities, and respite for their families.
Murielle Parkes, author of the book, is the co-founder of the Missisquoi North Volunteer Centre and chairperson of the KJC. A creative spirit, Murielle loves to write and this was a project that she could clearly see involving her granddaughter Elizabeth. Elizabeth just turned 18. She is a graduate of Canterbury High School in Ottawa and is now enrolled in animation at Sheridan College; she loves to draw.
“In my humble opinion, the origin of Potton’s standing stones is a story everyone should know and to draw a colouring book of Potton’s standing stones has been downright awesome,” said Elizabeth. “Being able to team up with my grandmother to illustrate it has been a dream. You rock, Grandmum (pun definitely intended)!”
Michel Trudel is an Advisor for Kéroul, a non-profit organization devoted to making tourism and culture accessible to persons with limited physical ability. He is also the former promotion director of Tourism Quebec. Michel proposed the stone seed legend to the Ken Jones Centre and has been a vital force behind its promotion and success.
“Digging our soil and looking for stones makes us revisit the past,” said Michel Trudel, reflecting on the project and the creation of the colouring book; it’s yet another product celebrating his masterful ability to promote an area while implicating and uniting a community in the fun.
The Curious Story of Potton’s Standing Stones and stone seed byproducts are available at the Potton Public Market every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. from May to September at the site of the Round Barn in Mansonville. Other “stone seed” products can be found in some local businesses in Potton.
This Saturday at the Multicultural Festival, the Curious Story of Potton’s Standing Stones will be available for $8 at two kiosks: at the Public Market with members of the KJC and in the park with Michel Trudel.
By Mable Hastings, published in the Sherbrooke Record on August 8, 2013 (PDF)
Photo courtesy of Murielle Parkes