St-Albert has twice written its name in history, thanks to an initiative led by François Latour, a passionate collector of antiques and a native of St-Albert.These events not only highlighted the community’s determination, but also contributed to noble causes.
2015 : The first conquest of the Guinness record
In 2015, François Latour launched an audacious project: to simultaneously operate 111 antique threshing mills in the fields behind La Fromagerie de St-Albert. This project, carried out with the help of a dozen people, not only set a new Guinness record, surpassing Saskatchewan’s in 2013, but also reinforced the sense of pride within the community.
Grain from the event was sold, generating significant funds for the Friends for Life Foundation, which helps cancer victims. This first experience highlighted the community’s solidarity and commitment to essential social causes.
2019 : A second victory and an exceptional contribution
Four years later, in 2019, François Latour and his team pushed their own limits by running 243 antique beating mills simultaneously for 5 minutes. The rival group in Manitoba had stolen their title and set a new record with 139 machines in 2016. The event was a testament to the community’s commitment and allowed St-Albert to reclaim the title of world record holder.
The grain collected on this occasion was once again dedicated to a noble cause, breast cancer research. This time, the initiative raised $100,000 for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.
A community united despite the challenges
The announcement of the victory was followed by a moving statement from François Latour, recalling his wife Suzanne’s personal battle with breast cancer, and her death from the disease. However, Latour’s hope is that St-Albert will retain this title for a long time to come, symbolizing the community’s strength and resilience.
Despite an unsuccessful attempt to break a second Guinness record in 2019, aiming to form the largest human pink ribbon, the spirit of the St-Albert community has not been tarnished. François Latour recalled the success of the beating mills and the $100,000 raised for breast cancer research.
The enclosed register contains the genealogies of numerous parish families, going back several generations. This work required many hours of research. Despite all the care we have taken, there may still be inaccuracies and omissions. We apologize for any inconvenience.
To contact us: here’s the address of the St-Albert Community Group: gcstalbert@gmail.com
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