Dozens and dozens of Pilons from across North America gathered last weekend in the West Island for their annual tribute to the patriarch of the clan, Antoine Pilon, and to christen a park in his name.

On Saturday, 125 members of the Pilon family helped unveil a plaque erected in the newly-named Antoine Pilon Park located on the south side of Lakeshore Rd. at the border between Pointe Claire and Beaconsfield.  The plaque tells the story of the life of the patriarch, who arrived in New France in 1689 and settled in Pointe Claire in 1706.  Members of the family then made their way to St-Joachim Church in Pointe Claire Village, where another plaque has been placed on one of the pillars of the church.

Pointe Claire Mayor, Malcolm Knox was pleased to welcome the Pilon clan and help them celebrate their ancestry.  ìThey all originated from this first Pilon settler,î Knox said of the family.  ìI think itís great that these people want to come back here to celebrate.î

Antoine Pilon Park received the descendants of its namesake in style.  The City of Pointe Claire had placed a stone to hold the plaque, planted flowers and installed benches.  ìThe whole day was great.  It started at 9 oíclock in the recreation centre in Beaconsfield, where the Pilons could use computers to find their direct ancestorsî, said Jacqueline Pilon-Nadon, a Beaconsfield resident who sat on the organizing committee of this yearís reunion.  ìThe whole event was fine, nothing went wrong.î

Pilon-Nadon, a 10th generation descendant who is actively involved in the 225-member Association des Pilon díAmérique, thinks itís great that so many people of the same name could gather from across North America.  ìA few years ago, 40 Pilons came over from France.  We all made some new friends,î she said.  ìIt gave me good relationships with these people.î