Dear Editor:

Margaret Bernier’s obituary in last week’s QCT highlighted the remarkable life of this longtime Quebec City resident, a wonderful woman who had such a positive influence on my life during the four years I was a member of the First Quebec Guide Company. Mrs. Bernier was our Guide captain. I had no idea until her funeral this week that her first year as Guide captain was also my first year in Guides. She was a remarkable leader, softspoken and kind. Our weekly meetings in the auditorium at St. Vincent’s School were very well struc- tured. As I was only 10, I didn’t know she was a physicist, but her scientific background certainly shone through in her preparations for those gatherings: every minute was planned out. I credit Margaret with my memory – thanks to the weekly Kim’s Game we played. She also nurtured my love of nature. My first hikes were under her care – including a memorable walk across the Quebec Bridge to Betty Greig’s St-Romuald home where we cooked “hobo” dinners on an open fire. There were many other hikes and camping trips and badges to work on. Every meeting ended with a “campfire” where we sang songs she taught us in her beautiful soprano voice.

I moved on from Guides to Pathfinders at the age of 14, but those memories are still with me today, 50 years later. Margaret Bernier gave freely of her time and expertise to young girls in the Quebec City region for more than 30 years. I had the chance to thank her personally a few years ago, and now as we mourn her passing I’m grateful for the chance to thank her publicly in these pages.

Karen Macdonald*

Greenfield Park, Que. 

*The writer was the co- owner and publisher of the QCT from 1993 to 2007.