On Sunday, 0ctober 30, 2011 (12p.m.), the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste of the Diocese of Sherbrooke organized a brunch-&-conversation event, at the Hôtellerie du Boulevard, in Sherbrooke. The highlight of this event was the presentation of the “Valmore Olivier Award 2011” to trumpet player Michael P. Tinker. Attending this special occasion were Micheline Dupuis - President and Marcel Bureau, Executive Director of the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste who were seated at the head table with Michael P. Tinker, CHRP, FCMC and his wife Diane Maheur, Germaine Paquin – artist from Windsor, Simone Roy - President of Service d’Entraide, Pauline Roy-Quintal, Gaston Quintal, Réal Beaulieu and Jeanne Laneuville, Réal and Denis Parent, Father Pierre Doyon of the Diocese. Special guests of Michael Tinker included his son, Stephen Tinker, organist Brendan McCoy and his wife Julie. Also attending were members of various branches of the regional Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste -- Sherbrooke, Windsor, Brompton, Rock-Forest, Magog, Chartierville, La Patrie and Stanstead.

A welcome speech was offered by Marcel Bureau, who was celebrating his own 85e birthday (October 30) as well as his long implication with the Saint-Jean Baptiste Society. Tables were placed around the room with numbers corresponding to the important steps of his biography such as1926 - his date of birth and 1951 - year of his marriage to Thérèse Martin. The benediction was given by Father Pierre Doyon, followed by a lengthy presentation, by Micheline Dupuis - President of the Society, on the distinguished career of Michael P. Tinker – an exemplary story of this gifted trumpet player who followed in the footsteps of his well-known father and jazz musician… the late Harry A. Tinker.

Michael P. Tinker was born in Sherbrooke (March 8, 1945), has succeeded in establishing two notable careers, one as a musician and the other as Management Consultant with Deloitte Consulting (Samson Bélair/Deloitte & Touche). From May 2003 to June 2005, he held the position of Executive Director of the International Institute of Managers’ Training at McGill University. He earned his Diploma in Psychology and Financial Administration at Bishop's University.  He currently sits on the Administration Board of the Sherbrooke Historical Society, of which he has already been Vice-President.

Michael P. Tinker has already experienced a brilliant musical career, of his own, which started with a virtuoso passion at the age of seven, piano studies in theory and notes with the Sisters of the Congregation of Jésus-Marie, in Sherbrooke.  It was really in 1957 that he began trumpet lessons, in earnest, with Jacques Langevin. In 1963, we find him at the Sherbrooke Symphonic Orchestra with his former teacher, Jacques Langevin, until 1967 when he moved to Montreal. To earn his living, he created the orchestra and dance group: '' Les Sharades''. When he returned to Sherbrooke in 2001, he joined the l'Harmonie de l'Estrie and, in 2007, he joined the Ensemble à vents de Sherbrooke, in residence at the Music School of University of Sherbrooke under the direction of François Bernier.  More recently, he can be found at the head of a ‘quatuor de cuivres’ with Daniel Doyon and member of a sextet which performs at the Marché de la Gare - with a musical repertory of the 40s to the 80s. For 2012, he will be collaborating on the preparation of a temporary exhibition, with the coordinator of the Sherbrooke Historical Society.

At the moment of his own tribute, Michael P. Tinker gave a vibrant testimonial in memory of his father, Harry A Tinker … “sharing the Valmore Olivier Prize with him”, while thanking the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society and asking himself the question “why had he been chosen to receive this award?” The only explanation that he could find was the fact that he had learned from crossing paths with a lot of the former recipients of this honour -- Sylvio Larachité (1968), Gilles Lefebvre (1971), Jacques Langevin (1986), Marc O'Reilley (2010) and a lot of others in the list. The happy winner of the painting by Germaine Paquin was Guylaine Gauthier of Magog.

Dr. Valmore Olivier (1885-1979) who gave his name to the prize which is given annually by the Saint-Jean-Baptist Society, since 1960, was a dentist from Sherbrooke who created the Saint-Jean-Baptist Society and transformed it into the '' Société Diocésaine'', in 1939. His passing ''leaves behind the memory of an educated man''.

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Photo 1: Michael P. Tinker honoured with an award and flowers

Photo 2:  Marcel Bureau, Director of the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste, welcomes his guests

Photo 3:  The Benediction by Father Pierre Doyon, from his place at the Head Table

Photo 4:  Guylaine Gauthier (winner of the painting by Germaine Paquin), Micheline Dupuis, Marcel Bureau and Germaine Paquin

Photo 5:  A peak at the guests

                              Photos by Myriam Sainson