About Us
This historical web site of Notre-Dame is my personal endeavour and labour of love. It combines information found in books by local authors, newspaper clippings, old photos, event programs, church booklets, brochures, boxes of historical documents, internet research, etc.
All the material concerning the Union Church was compiled by Dawn Johnston Bray who was born and raised in Notre-Dame. Thank you, Dawn, for sharing your invaluable research.
For me, it is important to ensure that the past is not forgotten. Hopefully, this website serves as a reminder of our deep roots and all that we have accomplished.
Germaine Montague
Germaine Montague
Germaine Montague
By the age of 30, Germaine had worked in four Canadian provinces and had travelled extensively across Asia. A graduate of Université de Moncton, she studied Business Administration at a time when few women were in the classroom. Her faculty honoured her in 1999 during the Annual Business Banquet when she was named Alumnae of the Year. Her speech was met with great applause. She was a very good orator and often asked lead workshops and do presentations.
At the beginning of her career, she worked for the federal government in administrative positions and for the province of Saskatchewan where she headed the Finance Department of Correction Services in the 1980s.
Returning to New Brunswick, she became the Executive Director of the newly built Foyer Saint-Antoine. Simultaneously, she was opening a new catering business with her husband. Six years later, she changed gears and was managing the fast-growing company full time.
Being energetic, she took advantage of an opportunity to teach in the Business Department of the New Brunswick Community College, something she greatly enjoyed. She worked as an instructor for sixteen years, mostly in Moncton but also in Dieppe. She also taught Entrepreneurship for various agencies.
In 1996, the family business shifted focus and was transformed into a coffee roasting operation. Down East Coffee Roasters was born. This endeavour was one of her most cherished accomplishments.
Germaine was very active in the community and served on several boards regionally and nationally. She was the President of the Cocagne / Notre-Dame Chamber of Commerce, the Kent Economic Commission, the Local Services District, and the 50th anniversary school reunion. She was on the executive of the Kent Tourism Association, Revenue Canada Advisory Board, and RDÉE Canada. Locally, she was on the boards of the Notre-Dame Scouts, Moncton Farmers’ Market Co-op, Résidence Notre-Dame-de-Kent Inc., Golden Age Club, Parish Finance Committee, and Kent Regional Services Commission. All the while, she formed a youth organisation which managed a youth centre for many years. She was also a member of the New Brunswick Business Council for several years.
She was very devoted to her family and there was always time for travel. She wrote several articles and commentaries which were published in local newspapers. Now retired, she has finally been able to piece together all the material collected over the years and launch the historical site of Notre-Dame, her birthplace.
