These are the people in our neighbourhood

Nite on the Town Entertainment Series Organizer, Natalie Labbée

by Karina Hunter 

Natalie Labbée's shares her sultry vocals at the Christmas Community Showcase this past December.

If you’ve attended any local arts productions, you’re probably familiar with Natalie Labbée.  The proud mother of two sons, Luc 9 years old and Evan 6 years old, has a love for music that is insatiable, singing lead for local band Six Pack, directing the Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School Children’s Chorus, or singing for staff or patients at Manitouwadge General Hospital might seem like enough to fill anyone’s calendar but Labbée is not your typical volunteer.  Since moving to Manitouwadge in December of 2007 from Wawa, she has worked diligently with the Nite on the Town Entertainment Series of the Arts, resurrecting the popular showcase of performance and musical arts most recently welcoming a full house when they presented He Sang, She Sang, NOTES is also hosting a Kids’ Lip Sync competition and Adults Cabaret Night during Frosty Days this coming weekend.  

Labbée’s career interest have often mirrored those of her volunteerism; during her residence in Blind River she spent 9 years as coordinator of special events for the Municipality of Blind River, while living in Wawa she was employed by the township’s Cultural and Heritage Department and she also worked for 4 years as a district area manager for Katimavik. Of course in both Blind River and Wawa, Labbée was very well known for her volunteer efforts giving her time to the Ladies’ Hospital Auxiliary, Girl Guides of Canada and Minor Hockey just to name a few.  

Last summer, many may remember Labbée’s work coordinating a very successful Relay for Life in Manitouwadge which welcomed groups of volunteers from across the Northshore to our community’s ballpark in honour of those lost from and winning the battling against cancer.  She has also been an active volunteer and contractual employee with the Liberal Party in our riding of Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing.

Since moving to Manitouwadge just over 2 years ago she has volunteered sharing her beautiful voice in more locals than can be mentioned here; caroling door-to-door during the holidays with her family and others to raise funds for the food bank, leading Six Pack, singing annually at the Golden Age Club, at the MGH Bocce Ball tournament and at the Relay for Life event.  Labbée hasn’t limited her volunteerism to musically inspired organizations however; she also finds time to attend Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School several times a week helping out at the Lunch Stop and in 2009 received training to work as a volunteer with Superior North Victim Services.  

Labbee with Royal Wood who performed for NOTES in 2009.

Like many volunteers, her passion began young, Labbée was just 9 years of age when she first volunteered and she is committed to teaching her kids the value of sharing their time with others.  “I want to ensure that my children have those values” said Labbée adding that “I want them to see how important giving back is and how good it feels to volunteer and get involved”.  Speaking with her, Labbée’s community pride is quite evident and it seems that no matter how busy she is, she finds time to get involved. Labbée is not shy about sharing the credit for her volunteerism however, as she explains that her husband often works away from home, she is quick to add that “Without such supportive friends and neighbours to look after my kids, I couldn’t be involved at the level that I am”. 

What’s next for Natalie Labbée? Well, she hopes to start a book club soon for which several ladies have signed up, she has a Children’s Entertainment Series in the works for 2010-11, long term she hopes to assist Manitouwadge
in hosting a two-day music festival, these are successful elsewhere on the Northshore so why not our town? Finally, the Christmas Variety Show which she and friend Elizabeth Paynter organized was such a success they have already scheduled a follow up, Spring Fling Variety Show on Sunday May 16^th, and encourages any local or regional talent to contact her at 826-3927 if they are interested in participating.  We have so many wonderful volunteers in Manitouwadge, if you know of one that you’d like to see featured, email me at karina@theecho.ca, that we might recognize all of the special People in Our Neighbourhood!

Submitted to The Echo, 01.07.10