Dumont's celebrate 50th Anniversary

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George and Anne Dumont celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Friday, September 5, at the Canadian Native Friendship Centre in Edmonton. They were actually married on December 27, 1936, but they felt the winter months were not a time for celebration because of the cold weather.

George and Anne have the proud distinction of being parents to 10, grandparents to 37 and great grandparents to 15 more.

The eldest of 10 children, George was born on September 29, 1901 in St. Paul de Metis, or, as it is known now, St. Paul.

Fishing was his maintstay for over 40 years, and although much of this time was spent pulling nets and reading the lakes of Alberta, he still found time to become involved with the Metis Association of Alberta (MAA) when it was still searching for its grassroots.

Always proud of his Metis status, George has been a member of the MAA for over 50 years.

His friend and colleague, Pat McDermott, openly boasted to the almost 100 people present at the banquet that George was one of the chief catalysts of life-saving programs on Edmonton's skid-road in the late '60s. He was in fact the president of one such program: The Boyle Street Native Brotherhood Society.

President of Zone 4 of the MAA Ben Courtreille recalled the first time he met Dumont 23 years ago. Courtreille and his brother-in-law were fishing when the boat they were using capsized. They suddenly found themselves helpless in the "icy waters" of Lac St. Anne. But to their surprise and good fortunate, George happened by shortly after the accident occurred with hot coffee and blankets.

The 86-year-old has played the part of a lifesaver more than once. He saved the lives of three people from certain death when he spotted them six miles from the nearest shore in Great Slave Lake. The incident occurred in the fall about 21 years ago as George was leading his 36-foot fishing boat home.

He recalled excitedly, "there was a big bang, and ...a ball of fire!"

"I didn't want to get too close to them because of all the fire...so I threw them a rope with a lifesaver on it. I had to lend one of them my clothes, it was freezing out that day. Another one was burnt pretty bad, but they all lived."

His son, George, Jr., said of him, "I always called him my idol...and today he's still my idol."

These words echo what many others feel for George, Sr., as was apparent on his golden anniversary. Plaques, gifts and awards were given to him and wife from friends, family members, guests and admirers alike. Bruce Gladue, assistant director of Local 1885, presented the Dumonts with a beautifully inscribed silver and gold trimmed tray.

The night belonged to George. He went up to the makeshift stage downstairs in the friendship centre and said "thank you everyone," and brought them to a roar of laughter as he jokingly addressed them with his down-to-earth sense of humor. He said, "I like everything I got tonight, but I still like women more."

He then escorted his wife upstairs and danced with her as he might have 50 years ago in High Prairie when they were newlyweds.

Good Luck Mr. and Mrs. Dumont. See you in 10 years on your diamond anniversary.