Family and friends are keeping a local businesswoman’s dream alive.
Gracie Jane Genereux opened a boutique gallery bar in downtown St. Albert in February. It had always been the multimedia artist’s dream to combine her passions for art and bartending into a single enterprise.
Two months after this dream came to fruition, Genereux was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
As she receives cancer treatment, a network of volunteers lead by her daughter Jessica Jane Genereux and long-time friend Tammy Fry, is serving the drinks, stocking the fridge and keeping the bar’s sense of community alive.
“I love my mom and this is her dream,” said Jessica.
Fry reiterated the sentiment. She met Genereux 18 years ago and says the 65-year-old means everything to her.
“I do this for Gracie because I love her more than a mom,” said Fry. “This is her dream and I know this is her dream, that’s why I’m here.”
Bob Pavelich, a retired St. Albert native, has also been a big help around the bar. Despite only knowing Genereux for five months, he spends a few hours each day doing odd jobs.
“It’s as much for me as it is for (Gracie),” said Pavelich, who suffers from depression. “For me, I was more hiding here than helping.”
The first time he set foot in the bar on April 15, he felt that there was something special about the place. “You don’t see this everywhere and it just gave me the feeling that I needed to be here,” he said.
Many patrons feel the same way, saying going to Gracie’s feels more like sitting in a living room with good friends than drinking at a bar.
Genereux makes a point of introducing everyone and this has lead to many new friendships and a renewed sense of self for St. Albert senior Bette Pollon.
“I live at Chateau Mission and I used to sit there for days with no place to go,” said the 75-year-old. “I know everybody now … I’m so happy. My kids are happy for me.”
Despite Genereux’s absence, business is booming said Fry. The bar has been at capacity with 66 patrons every weekend for the past five weeks, much to Genereux’s delight.
“I wouldn’t have been able to keep my doors open without all this support. It’s overwhelming. I don’t even know how to put it in words,” she said.
On Thursday, Genereux got good news from her oncologist. Chemotherapy managed to reduce her 15-pound tumour to only three pounds.
She begins 20 rounds of radiation therapy next week.
“I’m going to beat this,” said Genereux, who continues to visit the bar and paint between treatments.
