Jules and Cecile Aubin and family of Guy accepting the 2007 Northlands Park Farm Family Award with their family (front row from left) Marc Aubin, Cecile Aubin, Jules Aubin, Memere Cecile Aubin, Christine Aubin; (back from left) Francois Roy, Chantal Roy, Teri Meunier (Robert’s fiancé), Robert Aubin, Daniel Aubin, and Dunvegan - Cental Peace MLA Hector Goudreau.

Working together as a family has earned a Guy-area family provincial recognition. Jules and Cecile Aubin and their family were the Smoky River region winners of the 2007 Northlands Park Farm Family Award presented in partnership by the Alberta Motor Association. They were one of 14 recipients in northern and central Alberta honoured Nov. 10 in the prestigious ceremony and banquet during Farmfair International in Edmonton. “I was pretty surprised we were nominated,” says Jules. “When we volunteer, we don’t expect anything in return, we just do it.” “This award recognizes that we work as a family and in our community,” adds wife Cecile. Witnessing the presentations were Municipal District of Smoky River Councillor Luc Desaulniers and his wife, Lorraine, who were very impressed by the respect shown to the recipients. Dunvegan – Central Peace MLA Hector Goudreau and Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach were among several hundred people celebrating the awards that promote the contributions of farm families every two years. “One of the key factors in working as a family is good communication, being open and respecting each other’s ideas,” says Jules. As a family, the Aubins demonstrate an enviable sense of respect towards each other and ensure they put aside time for family. They hold a get-together nearly every week either at the farm, or at the lake, and hold family meetings regularly to discuss any issues. “Keeping communication open maintains the harmony,” says Jules. Winners of the 35th awards were nominated by area or county Agricultural Service Boards north of Red Deer and were then selected by the Northlands Park Farm Family Awards committee based on a review of farming expertise and community involvement. Winning families received a commemorative metal sign for their farm and gifts from AMA. “These awards recognize outstanding northern and central Alberta families who best represent the values of the family farm within their rural communities,” says Kimberly Evans, public relations coordinator for Northlands Park. Family Operation history The Aubins farm about 5,000 acres eight miles south of the Hamlet of Guy, producing canola, wheat, oats, and clover. Although they bought the land in 1971, they have operated under Aubin Ventures for six years. “Cecile is a big asset to the farm,” says Jules. As a registered nurse in McLennan, she takes her annual holidays during harvest in the fall. While their son, Daniel, works full-time on the farm, their extended family also pitches in, including Daniel’s wife, Christine, son, Robert, of Edmonton who recently got engaged to Teri Meunier, daughter, Chantal and Francois Roy, and son, Marc of Edmonton, along with five young grandchildren. As a family, their farm and faith help keep them together, with their church roots planted firmly in the St. Guy Roman Catholic Church. “I’m fairly spiritual and I want to keep the church active,” says Jules, who surveyed the Guy Cemetery when the new decorative fence and gate were erected in fall 2005. “To keep the community and the church alive, you have to give of yourself,” adds Cecile. Over the decades, the Aubins have remained active in their communities and Smoky River region. Jules serves as a director on the church board, Guy Sports Committee for over 30 years, a director and member of Smoky Applied Research and Demonstration Association, Falher Co-operative Seed Cleaning Plant, and is a former director of Caisse Horizon Credit Union in the 1980s and Falher Minor Hockey Association. Cecile has been involved in teaching Sunday school and with Smoky River Palliative Care Society. Daniel currently chairs the SARDA board and began playing for the Falher Pirates in the North Peace Hockey League this season while wife, Christine, chairs a committee of Falher Recreation Development Society that has established a fitness gym in the old Falher arena. The nomination is made by council of the Municipal District of Smoky River, but the final decision rests with the Northlands organization, which scrutinizes each nomination to make certain the family is worthy of this prestigious award. “Obviously, there was no question that this family was very worthy,” says Normand Boulet, agriculture fieldman for the Smoky River region. Some of the qualities Northlands looks for are family involvement in the farm, innovation and technology use in the farm operation, community involvement of the family members and what types of things the family does together. “I had the pleasure of completing the nomination papers with Mr. Aubin, and although I have known the Aubin family for many years, I was still amazed by their community and discovered an interesting multi-generational continuation in the involvement of Jules and son Daniel with both SARDA and minor hockey,” says Boulet. “Please congratulate the Aubin family as recipients the next time you see them.”