“I am honouring Guylaine Barré, who died last week. She ran a flower shop in our community for 40 years. I send my condolences to her family and staff.”

“Mr. Speaker, last Friday, to her loved ones’ shock, Guylaine Barré breathed her last. This morning’s Courrier de Saint-Hyacinthe got it right: She was a “merchant of happiness”. Guylaine was a fixture in our region’s business community. It gave me great joy to interact with her regularly because my offices were located downtown near her shop, Rita Fleuriste, which she ran so passionately for 40 years. Few entrepreneurs could ever leave such a lasting impression on us. She was cheerful and energetic, and her smile was contagious. Listing all of her qualities would take much longer than my allotted time. Just as she herself adored flowers, Guylaine was surely a rose among thorns. On behalf of the Bloc Québécois, I extend my deepest condolences to her family and everyone at Rita Fleuriste. Make no mistake, an entire community has been mourning her loss for nearly a week. Farewell, Guylaine.”