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| photo courtesy of Maine Running Photos |
When was the last time you ran a 100-meter dash or
ran/walked a 5K? For those of you who have – that’s great news. Next question.
When was the last time you did either (or both) in snowshoes? Intrigued and
wondering how one can go about participating in such a sport?
Whether you have competed in this form of sporting event
before or not, now is the time to either participate or try it for the first
time right here in Windham. The Le Club Montagnard-
Maine Snowshoers-Racquetteurs, which is collaborating with Windham Parks and
Recreation, is offering this popular Franco-American event for those who love
the great outdoors and wish to compete in a fun and challenging race that will
occur on Saturday, February 9 at the Lowell Preserve at 47 Falmouth Road in
Windham.
“Le Montagnard is the oldest snowshoe club in the United
States,” stated Denise Tanguay of Windham. Tanguay, who is in her early 50s, along
with her sister, Diane and brother, Danny have been members of the snowshoe
club since before they could walk. Their father, Roland, was the president of
Le Montagnard man’s section in the early years of its existence while their
mother, Monique, was the president of the women’s section. Both parents were
from Quebec where the original club began.
The Tanguay family lived and grew up in Lewiston where there
was a large immigrant settlement from the French-Canadian Provinces. In the
early years, as there is now among present immigrants, a level of discrimination
and outcast was experienced. As a result, in the early 1920s up to and
including the 1980s, the Franco-American population stuck together to support
one another. One way they did that is through the sports club that also acted
as a social support group.
According to a Sun Journal article written by Dave Sargent
and posted online on January 15, 2013, the Le Montagnard was founded by Louis-Philippe
Gagne. “[He] stood just 5 feet, 1 inch tall and weighed 110 pounds, but he was
a giant in the history of snowshoe clubs and Franco-American culture in this [Lewiston]
city. As editor of “Le Messager,” Lewiston’s French newspaper, he wrote
political commentary that was read throughout New England and Canada.
He was elected mayor of the city twice. In the early days of
radio, Gagne hosted live broadcasts
called “L’Oeil” (The Eye) on WCOU, and he
was responsible for bringing notable Canadian performers to Lewiston.
Two years after his arrival in 1922, Gagne had founded Le
Montagnard, which was the first organized snowshoe social club in the U.S. It
was named after Le Montagnard Club of Montreal, the first Canadian Club, formed
in 1895. Lewiston’s Le Montagnard Club adopted the original club’s gray and
scarlet uniforms, as well as the club’s motto, “Toujours
joyeaux,“ meaning ‘always happy.’” www.sunjournal.com/2013/01/15/river-views-newspaper-editor-founder-le-montagnard-snowshoe-club.
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| Denise Tanguaay |
Both a sport and a social gathering, the Le Montagnard of Lewiston continued the traditions of
parades and events each winter that included colorfully uniformed members from
many U.S. and Canada clubs. Many of the events were held in Lewiston.
“I remember playing the bugle in the parade we had each
year,” recalled Tanguay. “It was imperative among the parade participants to
have and wear as many snowshoes as possible. My dad made me wear snowshoes on
my back while playing the bugle just so our club could have the most snow shoes
in the parade. I always rolled my eyes. Now that I’m older, I understand his
level of commitment and love for this group.”
What Tanguay and her siblings really enjoyed were the ice
castles built every year. “Our family really enjoyed the ice castles built
during the sporting competition,” Tanguay said. “The ice came in blocks from No
Name Pond and we’d always be amazed at its creation.”
Tanguay’s father was so dedicated to the Le Montagnard club
and the sport of snowshoe competition that he worked to make snowshoeing an
Olympic sport. “I traveled with my father and
representatives from Canada to France prior to the 1992 Olympics to meet with the Olympic Committee to see if we could promote snowshoeing competitions as an Olympic sport,” Tanguay stated. “We discovered that at least three countries have to be involved to be a part of the Olympics.”
representatives from Canada to France prior to the 1992 Olympics to meet with the Olympic Committee to see if we could promote snowshoeing competitions as an Olympic sport,” Tanguay stated. “We discovered that at least three countries have to be involved to be a part of the Olympics.”
As far as attendance and membership in the United States, The
Sun Journal article continued by stating, “From its charter membership of 30
members, Le Montagnard’s rolls grew to 1,000 members by 1950. The club built a
large chalet at No Name Pond, and from those waters the ice was harvested for
ice palaces constructed in downtown Lewiston for numerous snowshoe club
conventions.”
Tanguay stated that at one point, snowshoe participation at
the International Championships was up
to approximately 5,000 members. But
after her father’s death, membership and participation significantly decreased.
“When the last race and parade happened in February 7, 2015, my siblings and I
knew we needed and wanted to continue this event and club as long as we could,”
Tanguay reflected.
As a result, she hopes to make a comeback with this sport by
having a race in collaboration with Windham Parks and Recreation.
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| Roland Tanguay |
“While I am always excited about the opportunity to offer an
additional recreational opportunity to our residents, I think that this event
is particularly exciting due to the history involved with the Snow Shoe Club,
as well as the importance of embracing our Maine winters,” stated the Director
of Windham Parks and Recreation, Linda Brooks. “Lowell Preserve is one of
Windham’s gems, yet many folks have not taken advantage of this wonderful trail
network and holding an event there may bring people out who may not otherwise
know it exists.”
To register for this event, visit the website at www.runinarace.com/MWPRSnowshoeChallenge/index.html
Sign up before January 24 and get a free t-shirt. The event
will begin at 9:30 a.m. with check in and late registrations from 8 a.m. to 9
a.m. Along with the 5K run/walk open to all ages, there will be a 25-meter and
50-meter race for those 8 and under and 100-meter race is open for nine and
over as well as a 200-meter for those 13 and over.
For more information,
contact Denise Tanguay or Diane Williams at montagnard@maine.rr.com.
The Lowell Preserve is over 300 acres of a forested
conservation area that has over 8 miles of trails for all types of users from
hikers to ATV users.
Whatever your endeavor in life, may you don a pair of snowshoes
and toujours joyeaux!
