WINTER LOGGING IN THE GASPÉ PENINSULA, 1909-1912 $10 Quebec

VOL 9, NO. 1 WINTER 2015 HeritageNews

Sunday in the Park with Oscar Walking Black Montreal Gleanings from Diaries From Waterville to Port Said Oh, You Beautiful Doll! Curator’s Tips on Caring for Artefacts QUEBEC HERITAGE NEWS

Quebec CONTENTS HeritageNews Editor’s Desk 3 EDITOR RODERICK MACLEOD War stories Rod MacLeod PRODUCTION Letter 7 DAN PINESE MATTHEW FARFAN Wrong chemicals Gerry Glavin

QAHN News 8 PUBLISHER THE QUEBEC ANGLOPHONE “OPERA” makes worst-case scenarios easier to manage Dwane Wilkin HERITAGE NETWORK 400-257 QUEEN STREET Curator’s Handbook 9 SHERBROOKE, QUEBEC War on grime Heather Darch J1M 1K7 PHONE Skiing to Grandma’s 10 1-877-964-0409 Clair Bernard’s school project, 1936 Daniel Parkinson (819) 564-9595 FAX Walking Black Montreal 13 (819) 564-6872 Oscar Peterson Park Ashlie Bienvenu CORRESPONDENCE [email protected] On the move! 14 WEBSITES Paul Holland Knowlton House finds a new home WWW.QAHN.ORG WWW.QUEBECHERITAGEWEB.COM Say it ain't so! 14 WWW.100OBJECTS.QAHN.ORG Grosse Ile Parish Hall demolition Jim Caputo

PRESIDENT Memories of a Gaspé logging camp 15 SIMON JACOBS Rebecca Lawson EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & WEBMAGAZINES EDITOR Protect and Share 18 MATTHEW FARFAN Arvida and its push for UNESCO World Heritage status Kevin Armstrong OFFICE MANAGER KATHY TEASDALE Good King Henri 20 New France’s Protestant project Quebec Heritage News is published quarterly by QAHN with the support of the Department of Canadian Heritage Chocolate Chip Cookies for Troubled Teens 22 and Quebec’s Ministère de la Culture et St. Lambert’s Alternate School Joseph Graham des Communications. QAHN is a non-profit and non-partisan organization whose mis- sion is to help advance knowledge of the Ministerial Leadership 26 history and culture of the English- The Presbyterian Church in Sherbrooke, 1864-2014 Marjorie Goodfellow speaking communities of Quebec.

Annual Subscription Rates: Kahnawà:ke 28 Individual: $30.00; Institutional: $40.00; Mohawks, Chateauguay, and the Irish famine Christine Zachary Deom Family: $50.00; Student: $20.00. Canada Post Publication Mail Agreement Number 405610004. Review

ISSN 17707-2670 Painters of a Landscape 30 PRINTED IN CANADA Hanging Fred and a Few Others by Nick Fonda Sandra Stock

Cover photo: Lumberjacks in the Gaspé, c.1910. Photo: courtesy of Rebecca Lawson.

2 WINTER 2015

EDITOR’S DESK War stories by Rod MacLeod

“Don’t mention the war. I mentioned it contemplate soldiers’ sacrifices, I con- firm the details, relieved to have the con- once, but I think I got away with it.” jured up an image of my father in hospi- versational ground broken. And he had –Basil Fawlty, “The Germans” tal, wrapped in bandages with limbs sus- other ways of conveying information: pended from pulleys like a car crash vic- my bedtime stories, emerging from his ike many people of my genera- tim – which at that point constituted the brain with enviable spontaneity, often tion (most of them older than worst harm I could imagine a veteran concerned a small boy called Abdul who, me, given that my parents suffering. though he seemed like me in most as- waited a long time before pro- As with other mysteries of life pects of his personal and domestic life, creating),L I grew up with the war. Not in (pregnancy, marijuana, politics), my par- lived in Port Said near the banks of the it. Not during the war – but with it. It ents were ready with answers but tended Nile and had all kinds of adventures in- defined my childhood, even though it to wait for my questions before launch- volving sinister figures and secret panels. was over a decade and a half before I These stories owed more to the books was born and half a dozen years before my father had read as a kid than they did my parents even met. My father had to his own experiences, but when I came “had” a war, as they used to say – not a to learn more about his months in “good” one in any conventional sense, wartime Egypt I felt as if I knew the but one full of personal high points and place. epiphanies. The war shaped him, gave What got in the way of absolute him emotional tools he would use the clarity about the war was his characteris- rest of his life. My mother, too, was per- tic modesty. My father was capable of manently marked by the war, in the dismissing his own military contribution course of which she found her way as an as inconsequential while also claiming to independent person – although she have singlehandedly wrestled Rommel would never have expressed it that way, into submission – the latter very obvious- having “only” been part of the war effort ly a joke, but one that I eventually began (Canadian Industries Limited). For me, to recognize as another form of self-dep- discovering who my parents were was in recation. Once I had begun to study large part a matter of understanding the twentieth-century history as an adult, and war. to get to know my father as a friend, I Long before I had any notion of came to appreciate his half-joking claim what my father often referred to as “the that his great contribution to the war ef- recent unpleasantness,” I knew what a fort was to have been out of action at key veteran was. That is, someone who peri- moments: the allies had been doing well odically checked into the Veterans’ hos- before he arrived on the scene, at which pital on Montreal’s Queen Mary Road to point they began to lose ground (to Rom- have his kidneys inspected over several ing into explanations. As social workers, mel) until my father was made a prisoner days and who sent his little son amusing they well knew the dangers of lecturing of war and their fortunes revived. I loved letters signed “Bed Pan Charlie” (a refer- to kids. I’m sure my father was torn be- the humour of this assertion, but reserved ence my mother had to explain to me) tween the desire to have me know of his my deepest respect for the part that was- full of crossword puzzles and stick-fig- experiences (mainly because they were n’t a joke, knowing that the man who ure doodles. My father’s “condition” – his, and therefore ours) and the concern could make such a claim about his own caused either by having eaten unwashed not to burden me with oversolemnity and limitations was a man who could under- fruit in southern Italy or by having licked thus turn me off. He was horrified at the stand underachievers and dropouts and the dew off petrol cans in the desert thought of coming across as a Colonel kids who didn’t fit the mold. Maybe (even as a young tyke I found that my Blimp type, endlessly pontificating about some teens need a Big Hero drill ser- mother’s explanations fell somewhat the horrors, and implicitly the glories, of geant to tell them to straighten up and fly short of the entirely satisfying) – was as the trenches. I learned about my father’s right, but many others need a calm adult close as I got for some time to grasping war mostly from my mother, who would to listen to them and not make them feel the horrors of war. On my first Remem- make references to his experiences bad for being angry, overimaginative, or brance Day at school, when we were (those petrol cans, the prison doctor, the gay – which is what my father did asked to remain silent for one minute and spy in the tent) and my father would con- throughout his professional career.

3 Initial Training School, Regina, October 1940. Photo: MacLeod family collection. QUEBEC HERITAGE NEWS

The war stories were finally fleshed heroism, and the lingering guilt at the circumstances, though no less genuine out towards the end of my father’s life thought of having fallen at all short. At for all that. When one is dying of thirst when he and I began weekly sessions the time, I was not able to explore these (as he was), an empty stomach is of little transcribing his diary, him in his La-Z- reactions with him, nor was I about to concern, but when one’s thirst is re- Boy flipping through the faded pages of spout platitudes about everyone doing lieved, hunger becomes all-consuming – this volume, and me with my laptop at their part – although that is a fundamen- until it, in turn, is relieved, at which point the card table erected for the occasion in tal truth about war. What I did do was re- a good night’s sleep may become one’s the centre of his room at the senior’s res- assure him by my keen interest that his prime concern, and so on. Looked at an- idence. This was no literary diary, merely story was worth telling. other way, a child’s despair over a bro- a glorified agenda, its pages divided into As a historian, I also strove to point ken toy (or a teen’s over a zit) is genuine, small rectangles in which he had scrib- out that sources, however accurate, only and cannot be dispelled by observing that bled each day’s two or three salient tell part of a story, and that what they do at least he or she isn’t dying of thirst. It’s events and the long-forgotten people not reveal is often more significant than no wonder that drill sergeants make very he’d shared them with. Much of our tran- what they do. The diary comes to an poor social workers, although many of scribing involved his annotating the abrupt end in early July 1942 (shortly af- them think they can be good parents. scribbles, explaining for example that ter Rommel retook Tobruk), when my fa- “PPU” meant “proper piss-up” (a cele- ther’s plane was shot down and he was * bration of worthy proportions) and that MIA for some weeks. The everyday “bats in the park” referred not to small quality of the earlier entries makes the The war began for my father in the flying creatures but to streetwalkers (or sudden run of blank pages all the more men’s room at the Chateau Frontenac. perhaps I should say parkwalkers). He striking – although, in fact, an attentive The Depression was still depressing would occasionally pull off his glasses reading (that is, when one is not trying to and employment prospects were not en- and shake his head, marvelling at how decipher handwriting, etc.) of the May couraging, so after some floundering much raucous socializing had gone on and June pages reveals a sharp increase about, my father, at 21, applied to do a despite the grim background of war. in notations like “Buckland shot down” one-year teachers training course at Mac- Or because of, I would point out. and “Charlie Williams missing” and donald College in St. Anne de Bellevue, Didn’t one feel the need to unwind “Jerry bombing and strafing like mad,” to begin in September 1939. Awaiting whenever the heat was off? Clearly the clear evidence that the war was already that, he and his friend Eric concocted a life of a fighter pilot involved a great starting to go wrong for these anxious if scheme to work their way over to Europe deal of anxiety, both during intense peri- fun-loving airmen. Arguably, the sim- for the summer on a cattle boat, shovel- ods of action and during the long hours plicity of these entries is more chilling ling manure – a plan quickly vetoed by waiting for the inevitable call. One ap- than a more drawn-out description. Eric’s parents, who had more than one preciated being off duty – and then the And if the rest of the war for my fa- eye on the worsening international situa- bars of London, or Port Said, beckoned. ther was essentially a matter of surviving tion. Instead, through connections, Eric Even so, my father found the evidence of steadily worsening conditions rather than landed the two of them summer jobs his diary distressing, as if he had been engaging in increasingly heroic actions, working at the Boule Rock Hotel in carrying around a much more heroic tale it left him with more practical life skills Metis Beach – in my father’s case, as in his mind for sixty years and the act of than additional combat would have done lifeguard and swimming instructor. On finally setting it down had turned it into – outside a career in the armed forces, of their way back home at the end of the something vulgar. This reaction, too, was course. In retrospect, my father was able summer, they stopped in Quebec City for part of war’s legacy: the inescapable to identify a great truth about human na- a quick rest, naturally making their way conviction that the only valid standard is ture: that our miseries are relative to our up to Dufferin Terrace and the hotel. Heading into the Gents, they saw a news- paper on the stand whose headlines screamed that Britain had just declared war on Germany. It was September 3, of course – 75 years ago, as I write. By the time Canada was at war a week later, my father had started his course at the School for Teachers, from which he graduated the following June. For once, he faced the real prospect of steady em- ployment, in the form of a teaching posi- tion at a school in Noranda. After weigh- ing his options, and perhaps his con- science, he made his way instead to the recruitment office on Bishop Street to enlist, hoping to join the RCAF. Called up some weeks later, he

4 No. 1 Service Flying Training School, Camp Borden, Ontario (my father is seated in the first row, at left). Photo: MacLeod family collection. WINTER 2015 headed by train and truck to Brandon, festive spots as the White Circle on De- socializing. For six weeks, my father was Manitoba, for basic training, the first carie Boulevard, the Old Mill on St. based in Heston, an aerodrome near what stage of the British Commonwealth Air Catherine Street, and The Maples in would later become the vast expanse of Training Plan. He eventually qualified Point Claire – all material for another ar- Heathrow Airport, where he practiced for air crew and was sent to the Initial ticle. On May 28, he took a train to Hali- flying (and landing, which needed more Training School in Regina (located, iron- fax, where about three weeks went by practice) Spitfires and occasionally going ically for him, in the former Normal before he was shipped out. During that on spectacular soars over the Thames School), where he made a point of going period, he spent no time, I’m sure, at Valley. London was only a tube ride to church every Sunday, as local families Dalhousie University, where he might away, ideal for 24-hour passes or even a would always invite the new recruits for well have run into my mother, who was free afternoon. But this training eventual- pursuing a degree ly came to an end, and, on September 15, in History there – he was sent by train to Cornwall, where although, know- the scenery was spectacular and the ing her, their flights (out of Predannack Air Base on paths may well the Lizard peninsula) challenging, re- have inadvertent- quiring taking off practically from the ly crossed in any edge of a cliff, usually at night. Although number of the work of defending England’s south- wartime dives. west coast from enemy attack was im- On June 18, my portant, there was an awful lot of sitting father boarded the around in the rain or waiting for the fog RMS Ausonia, a to clear. One of the diary’s rare complete dinner. Exams and interviews determined former ocean liner (2½ years earlier it sentences runs: “This life, though not un- that he should be a flyer (as opposed to a had carried American Spanish Civil War pleasant, is certainly not stimulating.” gunner or navigator), and, in January veterans home from France) converted Rumours abounded of airmen heading 1941, he moved on to the Elementary into an armed merchant cruiser at the off to more exotic spots, and eventually Flying Training School in Goderich, start of the war – only to spend several my father volunteered for a transfer to Ontario, to learn to fly on Fleet Finches. days docked in Sydney awaiting the for- the Middle East. On October 25, he I was amazed to learn that he flew solo mation of a convoy in which to cross the sailed from Greenock, Scotland, on the after only about eight hours of instruc- Atlantic. It took two weeks to reach Ice- Prince of Wales, bound for Sierra Leone. tion, remembering the hoops I’d had to land, an anxious time full of imminent In a letter to his brother Ken, he got go through before I could drive a car danger from U-boats and rough weather around the wartime censors by conspicu- alone, but my father pointed out that – yet not without its attractions: there ously (if randomly) referring to a “recent driving is actually a good deal more haz- was enough sun to burn plenty of fresh Humphrey Bogart movie” (High Sierra) ardous than flying, and that when up in a young faces, and on many warm days the and his favourite brand of chocolates plane there are (with the notable excep- servicemen gathered on deck to drink (Leonie) by way of divulging their desti- tion of the ground) far fewer things to and sing. Someone took a photo (I wish I nation. crash into. After 25 hours’ flying experi- could find it) of my father playing an up- The following ten days formed the ence, he graduated to No.1 Service Fly- right piano on the deck of the Ausonia highlight of my father’s experience over- ing Training School at Camp Borden, somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic. seas, basking on deck in increasingly near Barrie, Ontario, where he practiced One does not tend on single-engine Harvards. After nearly to do that sort of 38 hours in the air, 29½ of them solo and thing all that of- almost seven at night, he went through ten. his final assessment and was given the There were encouraging grade of “average.” He offi- good times ahead. cially became an RCAF fighter pilot in London – which May at the Wings Parade held in Toron- he reached via the to, attended by his mother and some SS Volendam cousins – who gave him a diary as a from Reykjavik, graduation present. His first entry, May and a train from 18, 1941: “Lunch at Queenston Heights, Glasgow – was Niagara Falls.” an eye-opener of a city despite the toll of balmy temperatures with gorgeous sun- There followed about ten days in the blitz. It boasted all the iconic sights sets and views of strange coastlines and which, back in Montreal, my father hung dear to English Canadians, from Pic- occasional passing sharks and flying fish, out with his older brother Ken (who was cadilly Circus to the Houses of Parlia- with almost none of the dangers of the writing material for the “Blue Bell Bul- ment – to say nothing of the infinite vari- Atlantic crossing. And the subsequent lets” review) and with various old friends ety of theatres, movies, service clubs, journey, via a series of bombers flying (including his sweetheart Jean) at such and other establishments for agreeable over the Gold Coast, Nigeria, and Sudan

Top: Spitfire. Photo: “Borough of Southgate.” Bottom: Prince of Wales leaving Singapore, December 1941. http://spitfiresite.com/2010/04/ presentation-spitfires.html. 5 Photo: Australian War Memorial. http://www.awm.gov.au. QUEBEC HERITAGE NEWS

to Khartoum, and then train and finally of his father. Aida was certainly dis- in London’s West End hadn’t been a friv- boat down the Nile to Cairo, served to tressed when the news came at the end of olous use of time! His tent-mate ap- remind him that he was an awfully long March that my father’s squadron peared to be familiar with this subject, way from the stuffy family apartment (No. 250) was to deploy west of the Nile but mysteriously pronounced Lucille back in Westmount. delta in an effort to stave off the ever-ad- Ball’s first name “Loocheelay.” My fa- Protecting the Suez Canal was more vancing Rommel. She wept on his shoul- ther then clammed up and the “British” satisfying than anything he had yet done, der, they had a final quiet evening to- fellow was taken away. and the fine weather meant frequent fly- gether, and, as far as I know, he never Soon after, my father was moved by ing. Life was good. He learned to wrap saw her again. A small photo of Aida I ship and truck to Campo 78 P.O.W. camp himself from head to toe in a sheet to found among my father’s things has near Sulmona, Italy, where he had a very preserve heat during frosty desert nights “Wonderful times, never to be forgotten” different kind of war until the Italian (a practice he still maintained when I inscribed on the back – a statement that Capitulation in early September 1943. was little, even though our house was tends to bring tears to my eyes for On the morning of September 8, the usually warm) and to empty his boots reasons I can’t quite identify. camp’s Italian commander informed the every morning to ensure they were scor- It was during one of the sorties out prisoners that they were free to leave – pion-free. Port Said, Alexandria, and of Sidi Aziz at the edge of the Libyan which a great many of them did, climb- even Cairo may not have quite had Lon- Desert that my father’s plane was shot ing up into the mountains south of the don’s range of entertainment, but they down and he had to play dead until the camp, hoping they could reach the ad- were certainly exotic. Also exotic was enemy pilot stopped strafing the crash vancing allies before the Germans caught Aida, daughter of an Egyptian doctor and site and flew off. My father wandered the up with them. Glancing back from the a British mother (brought back to Port desert without food or water (save, per- top of the mountain, my father and his Said from Edinburgh along with a med- haps, for that oil drum dew) for several fellow escapees saw German troops ar- ical degree), to whom my father became days until an Italian band of soldiers riving at the camp – talk about your nick fairly close during the winter of 1942. picked him up, gave him a drink, and of time! Unfortunately, despite his best My mother never referred openly to any took him to their base. He was put in a efforts as a fugitive and the kindness and of the other women mentioned in the di- guarded tent in the company of a rather heroism of Italian farmers over the fol- ary, but she did occasionally speak of Ai- hearty fellow who appeared to be a lowing six weeks, my father was eventu- da, suggesting that she acknowledged the British captive, and the two chatted ally taken by the Germans before he seriousness of this friendship with a cer- openly until my father began to wonder could reach the advancing allied army. tain respect. For my part, I imagined I why the fellow was asking so many He was shipped far, far into the north of had a half-sibling two decades my senior, questions about allied troop movement. the Reich, near what is now the Polish whom I pictured digging up ancient My father steered the discussion towards border. tombs and wondering what had become recent movies – proving that those nights He spent the rest of the war in Stalag Luft I – not the one where the Great Es- cape took place (that was Stalag Luft III, off by only two Stalag Lufts) but similar. His great difficulty by this time was that he was suffering from amoebic dysen- tery, and so, apart from being extremely weak, he was almost unable to retain any nourishment from the camp rations, themselves meagre compared to the starchy fare he had been given in Italy. A German doctor who made a grudging visit to the prisoners offered an unhelp- ful, if alliterative, diagnosis: “Blut und

Top left: “Port Said, 1940s.” Photo: http://www.ancient-egypt.co.uk. 6 Bottom: Campo 78, Sulmona, Italy. Top right: Aida visiting the Sphinx, 1942. Photo: MacLeod family collection. Photo: http://www.corrierepeligno.it/sulmona-ora-insieme-salviamo-il-campo-78/18611 WINTER 2015

Schleim!” Without antibiotics, my father was in very poor shape by the time the PROVINCE-WIDE Soviets liberated the camp on May 1, EXPOSURE 1945, although he was able to appreciate AT A GREAT PRICE!! the song-and-dance show (some of it in SPECIAL ADVERTISING RATES drag) the Russian soldiers apparently put 2015 on to entertain the prisoners. By mid- May, the Stalag inmates were transferred Purchase two or more ads of into American hands, and from there the same size, and receive 40% off each ad! back to England. At some point in the journey an American doctor gave my fa- Purchase a full year and receive an ther an injection that cleared up the worst additional 10% off! of his symptoms in a day or two, and af- FULL-PAGE ter thorough de-briefing he was sent to a hospital in Bournemouth for six weeks 10 inches (25.5 cm) high while the ulcers in his colon healed – ex- 7.5 inches (19 cm) wide cept that such things never fully heal: he $400.00 (Special: $240.00) was left with his “condition,” for which Back cover or inside page, colour he was regularly treated over the next $500.00 (Special: $300.00) sixty years. While in Bournemouth, his sage on its flyleaf expressing how much old friend (and future Best Man) having the diary had helped her deal HALF-PAGE Quentin, on leave from the Navy, found with her own son’s death. With impres- 5 inches (12.5 cm) high him “still functioning in the quiet haunt- sive stoicism, she wished my father all ed and shattered manner of the P.O.W.” the best, hoping that he would go on to 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) wide (to quote from Quentin’s published enjoy a long and productive life. $235.00 (Special: $141.00) memoirs). He took my father, who was Which, of course, he did. Colour $300.00 (Special: $180.00) mobile and restless, up to London for a End of story. night on the town, which Quentin felt THIRD-PAGE was exactly what was needed (as do I). (COLUMN ONLY) My father arrived safely back in Canada 10 inches (25.5 cm) high late in the summer of 1945, stronger than he’d been for three years and with lots of Letter 2.25 inches (5.75 cm) wide army pay in his pocket, facing that very Wrong chemicals $200.00 (Special: $120.00) peculiar but widespread dilemma of hav- ing the rest of his life before him with QUARTER-PAGE “The Original Bomb Girl” by Bill seemingly endless possibilities. 5 inches (12.5 cm) high Young and Ralph Simpson (QHN, Fall My father’s wartime diary had a cu- 2014) contains an error in what is other- 3.25 inches (8.5 cm) wide rious subsequent history. Having been wise a very interesting article. The au- $125.00 (Special: $75.00) left behind at the landing field near Sidi thors state that "DIL was a subsidiary of Aziz, it was put with the rest of my fa- Canadian Industries Limited, the name BUSINESS CARD ther’s gear, awaiting news. When none given to chemical giant DuPont's opera- 2.5 inches (6.5 cm) high came, it was added to the gear of other tions in Canada.” Canadian Industries pilots who had disappeared at that time, 3.5 inches (9 cm) wide Limited, also known as C-I-L, is a of whom there were increasing numbers $75.00 (Special: $45.00) Canadian chemicals manufacturer as the War in North Africa took a down- formed in 1910 by the merger of five turn for the allies. Somehow, my father’s Canadian explosives companies with FREQUENCY, DEADLINES AND diary found its way into the package sent headquarters in Montreal. It was until SPECIFICATIONS to the home in Australia of another mem- recently a subsidiary of Imperial Chemi- 4 issues annually ber of the squadron, a young man who Deadlines: Spring (early March 2015); cal Industries (ICI), a British chemical had been killed in action. I can only Summer (early June 2015); Fall (early Septem- giant. The relationships among ICI/CIL imagine his mother’s emotions as she ber 2015); Winter (early December 2015) and DuPont are quite complicated and read through the diary, searching for tid- Resolution required: Minimum 300 DPI several books have been written on the By email at: [email protected] bits about her son and gaining a notion subject. In any event, I enjoy reading of the kind of life he had experienced the QHN and pass it along to former prior to his last flight out. After the war, Quebecers. she made inquiries about the diary’s rightful owner and learned that my father Gerry Glavin had arrived home alive. She faithfully re- Ottawa, Ontario turned the volume, after adding a mes-

“Stalag Luft I: Snow covered guard tower in winter.” 7 Photo: Dana Harding collection.http://www.merkki.com. QUEBEC HERITAGE NEWS

QAHN NEWS “OPERA” makes worst-case scenarios easier to manage by Dwane Wilkin mall museums and other heritage groups seek- ing to shore up their defences against the risk of catastrophic loss have a new tool at their disposal. The Organized Planning and Emer- Sgency Response Assistant, or “OPERA” for short, is a planning tool and resources guide developed by QAHN to improve security for community historical sites and collections. “Security is the most important consideration for administrators of a museum or archives,” said Heather Darch, curator of the Missisquoi Museum. “But it tends to be quite low on the list of priorities. This tool helps heritage supporters confront risks and shows how to prevent emergencies from turning into disasters.” Each year across Canada, an estimated 30 fires break out in museums, fully a third of which result from break-ins. Flooding is another typical hazard fac- ing historic buildings and collections. Being prepared for these and other crises means, among other things, maintaining a degree of control over the response from pare for worst-case scenarios. And not just because of members of the local fire department who may other- the destructive potential of fire-hoses in well-inten- wise arrive on the scene without accurate knowledge tioned hands, but because, to be effective, emergency of site or the nature of objects housed inside. planning has to involve members of the broader local The idea for OPERA came during a series of con- community. ferences which Darch helped to organize as part of “Every museum has unique needs and circum- QAHN’s Security for Heritage, Outreach and Work- stances, and these have to be reflected in the planning shops Initiative (SHOWI) in early 2014. Hearing from process,” said Darch, who has begun writing a regular participants, it became apparent that heritage institu- column for Quebec Heritage News devoted to conser- tions compromise their own security by failing to pre- vation and security issues. “Knowledge and informa- tion needs to be shared.” Planning for emergencies provides an opportunity The for non-profit museums and heritage groups to relieve overburdened volunteers by asking for support from Quebec Anglophone candidates such as town representatives, firefighters Heritage Network and police. The first step, according to Darch, is to invites you to its bring together a small group of people willing to de- vote some time and thought to the planning process. 2nd Annual “One person needs to take the lead, and after that, asks such as reviewing past emergencies, assessing Wine & Cheese current risks and putting together an emergency re- Thursday, April 23, 2015 sponse team can be divided among other members of 5-7 p.m. the planning committee.” Venue: TBA In addition to providing users with interactive, printable forms for storing and retrieving crucial con- Guest Speaker: tact information, OPERA contains basic procedures for managing a variety of threats, a resources guide and an Dinu Bumbaru, Heritage Montreal extensive reading list for those who would like to delve more deeply into the extensive literature devoted to R.S.V.P. emergency management. Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network: Copies of the OPERA CD may be obtained by [email protected] contacting the QAHN office in Sherbrooke at: (819) or call toll free 1-877-964-0409. 564-9595 or toll-free in Quebec, 1-877-964-0409.

8 WINTER 2015

CURATOR’S HANDBOOK War on Grime How a little dusting protects historic artefacts by Heather Darch

was once invited to view a collection of wax dolls brush used with a gentle brushing motion will suffice to clean while tracking down antique children's toys for an most objects. exhibit about eighteenth-century life. Since wax is In some cases where objects have a very stable finish, an inherently weak material, such dolls are quite you can use a hand-held vacuum cleaner with a nylon brush rareI in Canada, and the curator in me thrilled at the attachment. For particularly fine or delicate pieces, a softer prospect. brush is recommended. Never let the vacuum touch an object; My hopes fell flat, though, when instead of finding relics instead, brush dust away from the surface and into the vacuum from the early colonial period, I came face to face with a hoard cleaner nozzle. of plastic dolls dating from Textiles too can be the 1970s, all of them cov- cleaned with a vacuum ered in a white waxy film. cleaner, as long as care is To this day, I can’t say taken. If fibres appear loose what disturbed me more: the or the fabric has decorative dolls’ blank stares or their elements, the vacuum nozzle ghostly pallor. What I do should never come into di- know is that very few sights rect contact with the materi- argue more convincingly for al. A good technique is to the merits of regular dusting keep a swatch of nylon win- than a Chatty Cathy or a dow screen between the Dancerina coated in a veil nozzle and area being of mould. cleaned. This will ensure that Wherever they’re col- fibres are held in place. lected, historic artefacts face Special care must be a wide range of physical given to such unstable fin- threats, not all of them ishes as wooden objects with cheaply or easily mitigated. But keeping objects free of grime flaking paint. Using a vacuum cleaner on these surfaces will is a practice that every museum, big or small, can certainly af- only cause further damage. Let common sense be your guide. ford to follow. If it looks like you might be causing more harm than good to Cleanliness, in fact, is a fundamental, if sometimes over- any artefact in the collection, stop right away. Some jobs are looked, element of good preventive conservation. And it best left to the pros. doesn’t require expensive monitoring and climate-control In general, cleaning with conservation in mind should be equipment: just a clean dust cloth, a soft-bristled brush and a mechanical, and never chemically based. Which obviously vacuum. rules out a trip to the dry-cleaner’s with your antique quilt. Dust is a stealth saboteur that harms collections in two In fact, deep-cleaning products of any kind should be important ways. First, it wicks moisture from the air and con- avoided. Conservators warn emphatically against water, soaps, centrates it on the surface of objects, which in turn causes met- solvents, oils or furniture polish. Reserve wet washing for als to rust, wood to swell, veneers to crack and, yes – vinyl those items that are impervious to moisture, such as glass and dolls to bloom with mould. Second, dust build-up acts like fully-glazed ceramics. fine-grain sandpaper, increasing the risk of accidental Remember, cleaning methods in a heritage collection scratching. should be based on the preservation needs of the artefacts Not surprisingly, heritage conservators take grime seri- rather than on their appearance. It's okay to leave objects the ously. A lot of restoration work boils down to careful dirt re- way they are and enjoy their slightly dulled or stained finishes. moval. The Canadian Conservation Institute offers an entire Just keep after the dust and you won’t find wax dolls turning workshop devoted to historic house-cleaning. Granted, the task up where they don’t belong. can seem daunting in an historic museum housing thousands of objects. The trick is to divide the work into smaller chunks. Heather Darch is curator of the Missisquoi Museum, a past A regular cleaning schedule with weekly or monthly activities director of the Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network set for different rooms or areas of your collection is a practical (QAHN) and a heritage consultant whose recent assignments approach. include co-managing QAHN’s Security for Heritage, Outreach Routine cleaning should, as a rule, be non-invasive and and Workshops Initiative (SHOWI). “Curator’s Handbook” is limited to dusting, sweeping and vacuuming. A soft bristle a new regular feature in Quebec Heritage News.

9 “Velvet,” Ideal Toy Corporation of Canada, 1970. Photo: Heather Darch. QUEBEC HERITAGE NEWS

SKIING TO GRANDMA’S Clair Bernard’s school project, 1936 by Daniel Parkinson

When my cousin Clair Bernard was resident at Grace. mother. After dinner [the noon meal] eleven years old, she was assigned a Llewella came and got me to go ski-ing school project by her teacher, Miss Ayer: Frances Ayer was the daughter of D. W. with her. I asked my mother and she said to keep a daily diary for the month of (Will) Ayer, a Waterville business man, yes. She went down a hill and I fell February 1936. She received 23 marks the proprietor of Riverside Garage, and down, but did not hurt myself. My ski out of 25 for her effort. his wife Bertha Walsh. Frances was came so Llewella and I went into my born in 1911 and married William San- Grandmother’s got a string to tie it on I have transcribed the diary as Clair with. When I came home I practiced wrote it in excellent and readable my music then had supper I prepared script, done neatly in black ink with a for Sunday and went to bed fountain pen on a soft paper scribbler. Miss Ayer made a few corrections in Clair’s grandmother, Jane Ellen red, which I have incorporated but I Smith Parkinson, died July 8, 1937. have not corrected other spelling, punctuation or grammatical errors. I Llewella Parkinson (my mother) had have provided annotations to identify married Clair’s uncle, Elton Parkin- individuals mentioned in the diary. son, in June 1935.

One is impressed with what a hardy Sun Feb 2 girl Clair was. The distance from the I got up helped mamma. And went Bernard farm, known as Milton Hill, ski-ing after I prepared for Sunday- to the village school was probably a school, but could not go as it was too mile and a half and the return trip in- cold. After dinner we had sugar on volved a substantial rise in elevation. snow. And I watched Clayton get it In 1936, the roads were narrow and ready. From 4 pm to 5 pm there was a gravelled, probably not ploughed but pretty sunset. It was a ultra-voilet rolled. [sic] ray colour. After supper I went outside and played with the rabbit Clair was a good child who loved her and puppie. When I came in I wrote a Grandmother, played hard but was letter and went to bed. dutiful to her school and music studies. born Smith of Waterville in 1932. She At eleven she was able to make supper was a much-revered teacher and ended Clair’s next older brother, Clayton Mon- for her father and brothers when mother her career as principal at St-Jean-sur- tague Bernard, had turned 13 on Janu- was out, or bake a cake. Richelieu. Note: she was still using her ary 28. Making ‘taffy’ for others was maiden name, which was unusual. I be- something Clayton enjoyed doing all his Anna Clair Bernard was born September lieve she was a graduate of Bishop’s long life. He died in April 2010. 22, 1924 at Waterville, to farmer William University. Bernard and his wife Ethel Ellen Parkin- Mon Feb 3 son. Clair graduated from the Sherbrooke D. W. Ayer was Clair’s uncle by mar- I walked to school in the morning. It was Hospital in 1945 and did post-graduate riage. When a widower, in 1931, he mar- warm the sun was bright. When I came studies in obstetrics in Winnipeg. She was ried Clair’s aunt, Mary Olive Parkinson. home the sunset was pretty went tobog- part of the founding team and first matron ganing skied some had supper. Studied of Grace Christian Home, Huntingville, in * my lessons practised my music and went 1957, and of Connaught Home, North Hat- to bed. ley, in 1970. In that year she married wid- Sat Feb 1 1936 ower Bert Fisk of Montreal. She retired in In the morning I went ski-ing to my Tues Feb 4 1989 but continued nursing for several Grandmother’s on a errand for my Walked to school was a little colder than years on a part-time basis and is now a mother. When I came home I helped my the day before. When I got out of school Front cover of the school note book Clair used for her project. 10 Photo: courtesy of Daniel Parkinson. WINTER 2015 the wind was blowing, the sky was al- in Waterville and lived with her mother sun was shining and it was not cold. At most black. When I got home I played and brothers on the Parkinson farm. noon hour a friend of mine died and his with the dog. Had supper and went to In 1955, she married her widowed frunel [sic funeral] was on Saturday. I bed about 8.00 o’clock. employer H. Stuart Ball. walked home after school.When I got home Mamma was not there she was at Wed Feb 5 Feb 11 Tues my Aunt Edith’s so I had to get supper. It was cold and the wind was blowing. It was not any warmer than the day be- After supper I made some valentines. That day Miss Ayer read us a story. fore. In the afternoon Miss Ayer read us Studied my exam and practiced my mu- When I came form [sic] school I prac- a story instead of singing. When I came sic. tised my music. I studied my lesson and home there was a paper from England went to bed. that was from my Aunt Rosa. It was all Edith Bernard was William Bernard’s sister and married to Frank Fisk whose Thurs Feb 6 farm was a few hundred yards directly Had breakfast went to school. On the south of the Bernard property, cross way home the snow was so deep that a country, where Flanders Road turns horse could not trot. I played with the south on its way to Route 147. Going on dog had my supper and went to bed. the road it would be about a mile away. Frank Fisk was not related to Clair’s Fri Feb 7 husband. I walked to school in the morning. The sky was all blue and the sun was shining I have been unable to identify who the bright. It was nice and warm out too. child was who died. Presumably, Clair Thelma and I walked home. After that meant the funeral will be held on Satur- her and I went tobogganing and I ski-ed day. home. Feb 14 Fri Thelma Loomis was Clair’s dear friend In the morning Miss Ayer read us a sto- and lived on the neighbouring farm. She ry. We had our exam in the morning in- was the daughter of Harold Loomis and stead of the afternoon. We had a valen- Verda Hammond and born 17 January tine mail box so in the afternoon the 1924. She had younger siblings Douglas valentines were given out. After school I (1925), Milton (1927) and Francis took my music lessons and walked (1929). home. After supper I fixed my skis and went ski-ing. Sat Feb 8 In the morning I went tobogganing with about the King’s death and about King Gladys Swanson (1893-1955) taught pi- Thelma and Douglas. We made holes in Edward the VIII. ano. She was the daughter of Oloff M. the snow. I came home I had dinner Swanson and Nellie G. Wyman. Oloff helped Mamma. After that I went out Rosa Bernard was a younger sister of was born in Sweden and was postmaster again played quite a while Went to my Clair’s grandfather Henry Bernard and in Waterville in 1911. The piano I have Grandmother’s and came home again. was born at Wells, Somerset, in 1853. At was purchased by my grandfather from this time, she lived at Torquay in Devon. the Swanson family in 1905 on the six- Sun Feb 9 She corresponded regularly with Clair teenth birthday of Mary Parkinson Ayer Had breakfast. I got ready for Sunday until her death shortly after the close of (Clair’s aunt; see above). school. When I got home I had dinner. I World War II. It had been Clair’s dream read a while after dinner. It was not very to visit her in England when she com- Feb 15 Sat cold but the sun was shining pleted her nursing studies. Went to my Grandmothers on an errand for my mother. I came home helped my Clair and her family attend the Water- Feb 12 Wed mother. After dinner I went to my Aunt ville United Church. It was cold. In the afternoon we had Edith I stayed for supper On the way drawing. When I got home there was home I saw Uncle Elton. When I got Feb 10 Mon some more papers from England I read home I practised my music Mamma took us to school and my Aunt them and after I cut out some cookies. went with us. After school daddy came After supper Aunt Llewella ski-ed up to Feb 16 Sun and got us. And it was very cold. see us she looked at the papers and went I walked to Sunday school on the way I home called at my Grandmothers. On the way Probably this was Bertha Parkinson, her home I met a lot of people I know. The mother’s sister, who was secretary-treas- Feb 13 Thurs. sun was shining bright and it was nice urer for the Dominion Snath Company I walked to school in the morning. The and warm. I went out and played after

Elton Parkinson, Clair (aged about 8), and Ethel Bernard. 11 Photo: courtesy of Daniel Parkinson. QUEBEC HERITAGE NEWS dinner. some snow fell off the barn and it was touching eves [the Feb 17 Mon eaves]. I walked to school and Mamma took us to school. We in the afternoon we had draw- played all recess because it ing. was so nice outside. After din- ner I went to Lennoxville and Feb 27 Thurs. from there to Sherbrooke. I I walked to school. After saw two Aunts in Lennoxville. school I took my music and af- We left Lennoxville at 5 min ter mamma came and got me. past 5. and we got home at 8 When I went home I studied pm. my exam. It was nice in the morning but in the evening the There is much to speculate wind began to blow. about here. Which aunts did ma and I went to see Grandma. We were they encounter? Did they go by car or at my Auntie Edith’s for a oyster supper. Feb 28 Fri. possibly on the train? Sherbrooke was The wind was blowing it was cold and about ten miles away. Richard Mason wrote about oyster din- the snow drifted. After school I went to ners at Milby and Sand Hill, 1904-1914, the World’s Day of Prayer. When I go Feb 18 Tues in Cyclone Days: Plowing Planting and [sic got] home I made a cake. At 7 pm It was cold the wind was blowing hard. I Parties, the Journals of Sarah Alice Ma- my cousin had a baby boy borned. slid at recess with Louise. After school son Copping. “A barrel of oysters daddy came and got us. It was warmer in packed in seaweed keeps quite well in Feb 29 Sat the afternoon and in the evening it got colder weather. Oyster suppers were a In the morning I went to see my Grand- colder. popular social event up to at least the mother I came home help Mamma. In 1950s, which seem to have spread from the afternoon I got the eggs and then I believe this was Louise Brunell, born the USA in the 19th century… [due] to played. August 25, 1925, daughter of James and the Grand Trunk line to Portland, Myrtle of Waterville. Maine.” Daniel Parkinson was raised on a farm in Waterville. A resident of Toronto since Feb 19 Wed Feb 23 Sun 1972, he is racing to complete Up To I went to school in the morning and at In the morning I went to church and af- Rawdon, the story of the early settlers of recess I slid. I walked home from school ter church I went to Sunday School. I Rawdon Township, with an emphasis on with Thelma, Milton and Francis came walked home from Sunday School. After family history. home with Haines and stayed for supper. dinner I went to Grandma’s and stayed for supper and Uncle Elton Raymond Haines Bernard was Clair’s walked halfway home with eldest brother and born June 2, 1920. me. He died March 4, 1999. Feb 24 Mon. Feb 20 Thurs It was cold and in the I walked to school. In the afternoon we evening the wind began to had singing and walked home. I studied blow. After school the my exam and practised my music. It was Loomis children came over not very cold and the sun was shining. to sell seeds and so Mamma bought some. Feb 21 Fri Mamma took us to school. We played all Feb 25 Tues. recess because it was nice out. After The night before we had a school I went for my music lesson after dust storm from the southern school I walked home. When I finished states. When I came home supper I went out and played. from school I shovelled off the end of the veranda. It Feb 22 Sat rained in the afternoon and In the morning I stayed in the house and got a little warmer. worked. After dinner I went out and played. Then Clayton helped me get a Feb 26 Wed latter [sic ladder] so I could shoiled [sic In the morning I went to the shovel] off the veranda roof. At 4 Mam- barn and outside there was

Top: Diary sample with Clair’s writing. Bottom: Llewella Parkinson, 1935, at Rawdon. 12 Photos: courtesy of Daniel Parkinson. WINTER 2015

WALKING BLACK MONTREAL OSCAR PETERSON PARK by Ashlie Bienvenu

ome take a walk with me as I explore the area what possibilities could be in their future, and the Black footprint in Montreal's urban land- good things that had come out of Little Burgundy. scape. Many people are unaware of how Oscar Peterson (1925-2007) was a famous, Montre- many city parks, streets, and monuments al-born, jazz pianist. He grew up in the English Black Chave been designated to commemorate the deep roots community of Little Burgundy, not far from the present- of Blacks on the island. day Oscar Peterson Park. His parents were immigrants from the West Indies, and his father, Daniel Peterson, worked for the Canadian Pacific Railway as a porter. Oscar’s father was the first to instill within him his love of music, especially the trumpet and piano. His sister, Daisy (Peterson) Sweeny, however, was his first piano teacher, and the one to teach him classical piano. Oscar’s career took a big step when he joined impre- sario Norman Granz’s labels. He later became involved in various duets, trios and quartets. The list of artists he played with includes: Ray Brown, Coleman Hawkins, Roy Eldridge, Ben Webster, Milt Jackson, Herb Ellis, Barney Kessel, Louis Armstrong, Stéphane Grappelli, El- la Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Clark Terry, Anita O'Day, Fred Astaire, Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, and Stan Getz. Later on in his career, he moved to composing and teaching, mainly in Toronto. In total, Oscar Peterson won eight Grammy Awards during his lifetime. He was also inducted into the Cana- My first stop is perhaps the most famous of the dian Music Hall of Fame in 1978, as well as the Juno Canadian honours. I speak of the world-famous, the best Awards Hall of Fame and the Canadian Jazz and Blues jazz pianist of our time, Mr. Oscar Peterson. The park is Hall of Fame. In 1999, Montreal’s Concordia University located a short walk from Georges-Vanier Metro, with named their Loyola campus performance hall the “Oscar Saint-Antoine Street to the north, Saint-Jacques Street to Peterson Concert Hall.” Recognized as an important fig- the south, des Seigneurs Street to the east and Georges- ure across Canada, Peterson was made an Officer of the Vanier Boulevard to the west. The park contains a play- Order of Canada, a member of the Order of Ontario, a ground, a baseball field, basketball courts and many Chevalier of the National Order of Quebec, and an offi- benches on which to sit and relax. However, while aes- cer of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres of France. Always thetically pleasing, this park also has an important history in demand, he met with kings and queens, presidents and within the English Black community of Montreal. statesmen alike. At one time, the Prime Minister of The park was originally named Campbell-Centre Canada called him “the most famous Canadian in the Park after a lawyer named Charles Campbell, who left money after his death, in 1923, for the development of parks and music concerts for the general public. The name was changed to Oscar Peterson Park in 2009 after the failure to rename Lionel-Groulx Metro in Peterson’s name the year before. A mural was painted in 2011 by artist Gene Pendon on a building on the corner of Saint- Jacques and des Seigneurs streets; at the corner of Oscar Peterson Park. According to a CBC news story, the resi- dents of Little Burgundy were excited to have a visual representation of Oscar Peterson’s roots within their community. It would be a reminder to the youth of the

13 Oscar Peterson Park in Montreal. Photos: Ashlie Bienvenu. QUEBEC HERITAGE NEWS world.” Say it ain’t so! Oscar Peterson Park is a fitting reminder to the com- Grosse Ile Parish Hall munity of a man whose legacy and influence began in demolition the southwest of Montreal.

Ashlie Bienvenu, a student in public history and anthro- by Jim Caputo pology at Concordia University, is interning with QAHN in 2014-2015 in collaboration with Montreal’s Black As board member of the Quebec Anglophone Heritage Community Resource Centre. This article is the first in Network, my area of responsibility is the Gaspé Peninsula, the her series chronicling Black Montreal. Magdalen Islands and the Lower St. Lawrence regions of Quebec. Though large in area, the English speaking population Sources: here is truly very small – but it has certainly played a signifi- Cyrstal Chan, “Montreal park renamed in honour of Os- cant role in the political, economic, civic and religious devel- car Peterson,” Scena Blog, May 18, 2009, opment of the region. It is important that the contributions of http://blog.scena.org. this group be recognized and that efforts be made to ensure the preservation of its history and traditions – including its built “Montreal committee to find ways to honour Oscar Pe- heritage, such as churches and other religious buildings and terson,” CanWest News, August 14 2008. schools. Unfortunately, the English-speaking population in these areas is steadily shrinking, as is its physical presence. “Jazz Legend Honoured with Mural,” CBC News, Sep- Often little is done to preserve the remaining buildings. The re- tember 15, 2011, http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada /mon- cent destruction of St. James Church Hall in Wakeham, Gaspé, treal. is a case in point. No support came from the municipality in the effort to preserve this building. The scars remain, as so Wikipedia, s.v. “Oscar Peterson.” much misinformation was put forward. It should have been simple: at the very least, enough time should have been al- ON the Move! lowed for the funds to have been raised to preserve the build- Paul Holland Knowlton ing as a living history museum and community centre. Not complicated at all. House Finds a New Home It would seem that history does repeat itself. A group in the Magdalen Islands, Heritage Grosse Ile, is striving to pre- The historic 200-year old log home of the founder of serve the local parish hall. Money has been raised towards this Knowlton was moved this past October from its original goal, petitions have been initiated for further financial contri- site to the grounds of the Brome County Museum. The butions, and the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Quebec, work entailed excavating for a new foundation, as well as owner of the building, has been contacted for his support. Her- the stripping off of the many layers of exterior siding and itage Grosse Ile has requested that the demolition date for the interior wall and ceiling claddings. The original 16-inch building, December 31, 2014, be extended. high logs date to 1815 or earlier. According to the con- As I understand it, the diocese has offered to sell the tractor, they are in astonishing shape, having been so building for the sum of $1, with the condition that the building well protected over the years. be moved from its current site to a new one owned by the dio- The P. H. Knowlton House Committee would like to cese (sale price for the land: $6,500, in addition to notary fees). thank its many donors and contributors and remind Considering that the cost of moving the building would be everyone that this is just the first phase of the house’s roughly $35,000, and the move would have to take place by restoration. The roof needs to be rebuilt and reinstalled, December 31, 2014, it is unrealistic to expect that this amount the floors refinished, and doors and windows found. The of money could be raised in such a short period of time. My committee is grateful for all contributions. question is: why does the building have to be moved from its present site to a new one – both sites being owned by the dio- cese? Indications are that communication between all groups has been less than satisfactory. I will be contacting all groups again and hopefully a mutually acceptable resolution can be found for all involved parties. It is often the case that these small structures, considered insignificant by some, are extremely important to local people. They are an important part of the fabric of the community. One may say they represent the soul of the community. They were built by determination, sacrifice and hard work, just like the communities around them. They represent the common folk, not the wealthy or the powerful. These structures should be recognized and their memories cherished.

14 The Knowlton House before the big move. Photo: Kathryn Lexow. WINTER 2015

MEMORIES OF A GASPÉ LOGGING CAMP

Rebecca Lawson of Maryland wrote to us recently seek- home in Petersham, Massachusetts, in the summer of ing information about her grandfather’s work experience 1906. When he was advised to take an outside job after in the Gaspé peninsula a century ago. We are pleased to recovering from scarlet fever following college, he trav- run a series of photos from her collection over the follow- eled to the Gaspé Peninsula of Canada to work in a lum- ing pages. ber mill that was owned by the father of a Harvard room- mate. There he tallied lumber, scaled logs and became a I have discovered a collection of photos that my foreman. I remember seeing a log marker that was a stick grandfather, Rufus Sargent (1885-1962), took around with a fitting to hold the crayon. He tells the story of how 1910 when he worked as a scaler in a lumber camp in he took only one bath all winter. That once, he caught Canada. My mother remembers that it was in Gaspé. The cold, so he followed the example of the other loggers and photos are contact prints that I made about 30 years ago, did not take another. He had to wear three pairs of then put away and forgot. The original negatives, now woolen socks, and water proof moccasins to keep his feet kept by my sister, are about 6 x 8 cm in size. warm. Rufus told stories of rowdy dinners around a large Here is the extent of information that I have about table. One of the men at the camp became ill and Rufus my grandfather's experience in Canada: volunteered to look after him. Unfortunately, he contract- Rufus Sargent wrote in his 1920 alumni notes (he ed typhoid fever. He returned to Massachusetts and began graduated from Harvard in 1908) that he worked in the a long career in the shoe manufacturing business.” lumber business in Canada for three years (1909-1912) It would be wonderful if readers could identify any and returned home after a severe illness. of the locations or people, or a more specific date in any My mother's memoirs of him include these notes: of the photos. “Rufus had logged trees at the Harvard Forest near his

15 QUEBEC HERITAGE NEWS

16 WINTER 2015

17 QUEBEC HERITAGE NEWS

PROTECT AND SHARE Arvida and its push for UNESCO World Heritage status by Kevin Armstrong

n the middle of the twentieth centu- Support for the UNESCO project To Morisset, it is about more than a ry, Arvida, a company town under goes through various channels, with sup- town achieving World Heritage status. the aluminum giant Alcan, was port from both natives of Arvida as well It is also about linking the town to a renowned worldwide as the largest as from outside the town. Lucie K. world community beyond its legacy as Iinternational producer and supplier of Morisset, a professor in the School of an aluminum city. It is about getting aluminum. Today, the citizens of Arvida Management Sciences at the Université back the recognition Arvida once had, reach out internationally, hoping linked not solely to an industrial to put their community on the project from the twentieth centu- world map. ry, but as an international voice in Arvida is now a part of the the twenty-first century that re- city of Saguenay, the conse- ceives feedback from around the quence of a series of city merg- world. “The community is believ- ers that began in the 1970s. De- ing more in this identity dream... spite these mergers, the citizens They want to go over the Sague- of Arvida have not lost their nay boundary and reach out to the sense of community, and are world, to reach out again,” working towards the recognition Morisset says. of Arvida as a UNESCO World Recently, Morisset compiled Heritage site. Progress is steady, a series of interviews in a project and positive results are showing called “Memories of Arvida,” in as Arvida, through its continued which Arvidians from the town's commitment in Quebec and days as a major aluminum pro- abroad as a significant beacon of world de Québec à Montréal (UQAM), noticed ducer during World War II talked about heritage, earns recognition and acco- press releases regarding Arvida that their experiences as workers and citizens lades. One came from Heritage Canada, came out of Saguenay. She was drawn to of Arvida. Former “potmen” (those who which awarded Arvida its 2012 Prince of Arvida's story after researching its worked with the large aluminum Wales Prize for Municipal Leadership. unique method of town planning, smelters) had few complaints about their This achievement represents another stunned by the level of detail that went old lives. According to Morisset, some stepping stone towards the goal of into that planning. were “reduced to tears” when recollect- UNESCO World Heritage site status, but “Arvidians are citizens of the world. ing these times. These interviews consis- the enormity of the task ahead does little They want to be, again, citizens of the tently paint a picture of Arvida as an to dissuade those associated with Arvi- world,” Morisset says regarding Arvi- idyllic utopia. da's UNESCO project. da’s drive towards the UNESCO project. “Arvida ambassadors” have estab-

18 An aerial view of Arvida, 1945. Photo: courtesy of Rio Tinto Alcan. WINTER 2015 lished contacts far and wide to campaign tive of Arvida whose parents were both there is a pervading optimism and a for Arvida, spreading awareness and de- employed at Alcan, works hard to pro- strong sense that progress is being made, voting time and energy to heritage vide a liaison between the Arvida project in small but steady increments. Ambas- projects. While Morisset speaks to and Anglophones outside Quebec. He is sadors are motivated to realize Arvida's UNESCO representatives about the proj- in the process of translating Arvida's goal of reconnecting with the world. ect, Arvida ambassadors have contacted website (arvida.saguenay.ca) into Eng- Many, like Terry Loucks, have personal the board of trustees of the Arthur attachments to the town, and delight Vining Davis Foundation, a philan- in exchanging stories. Keeping the thropic body originally established by memory of Arvida alive is a central the eponymous founder of Arvida it- idea of this project that is not lost on self. The foundation, based in Jack- Arvida’s ambassadors. It may not be sonville, Florida, is a significant con- long before this spirit can be shared tact. Arvida ambassadors wish to se- with the world at large. cure funding for a project to honour the founder of their town. There are Kevin Armstrong, a student in public plans to contact Lunenburg, Nova history at Bishop’s University, in- Scotia, another historic Canadian terned with QAHN in 2014. town that has succeeded in its own campaign to achieve UNESCO World Editor’s note: In September 2014, Heritage status. And members stress QAHN offered its support to the citi- the importance of lobbying the federal zens of Arvida in their quest to attain government. lish in his free time. Recruiting English UNESCO World Heritage status. QAHN While spirits are high with regards speakers has become a priority. Compli- cited Arvida’s “unique history and an to the UNESCO project, there are also cating the issue further is Arvida's cur- important architectural heritage,” not- challenges. Arvida’s ambassador pro- rent status as an amalgamated part of the ing that of all the company towns that gram is a grassroots organization, com- city of Saguenay; the risk of its voice have been built across North America, prised primarily of volunteers. Terry being obscured by its political position “none, we believe, is of the calibre of Loucks, one such ambassador, is among in the amalgamation is a considerable Arvida, and none has survived intact to the few bilingual members of a largely source of concern. such an important degree.” Francophone organization. Loucks, a na- Regardless of these challenges,

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19 Lucie K. Morisset discusses Arvida with the author. Photo: Terry Loucks. QUEBEC HERITAGE NEWS

GOOD KING HENRI New France’s Protestant project by Joseph Graham

Henri, Prince of Navarre in the south of to the war occurred when Jean-François younger brother, the new king, Henri III, France, was a Prince of the Blood to the La Rocque de Roberval, who had tried an extroverted homosexual who would French Crown. His mother had him tu- to set up a permanent colony in 1542 never have an heir, found himself fight- tored as a Huguenot, rejecting the with Jacques Cartier, was slaughtered ing an attempt by the de Guises to oust Catholicism of early sixteenth century with his whole congregation when they him. In a strange twist of events, the France. His father, Antoine de new king called on Henri of Bourbon, was less committed to Navarre to help. The end of their rejecting Catholicism or at least long alliance came when the king less consistent in his beliefs. He was mortally wounded in 1589 dragged the family to Paris and and, on his deathbed, named Henri tried to re-educate Henri as a his successor. It was an almost im- Catholic, but the decision led to possible situation. The Huguenots the breakdown of their marriage were already vastly outnumbered and, even though he had been and, over the next nine years, Hen- separated from his mother, Henri ri would have to reconquer all of stubbornly maintained his France in order to take the throne Protestant beliefs. In 1562, when as King Henri IV. he was only nine, his father was Henri’s first action was to di- assassinated and Henri became vide his limited forces in three, the King of Navarre. Admiral forcing the enemy to do likewise. Gaspard de Coligny, the leader He took one third to Dieppe, in the of the Huguenots and the man north, and found an ideal defen- who tried to establish non-de- sive position in nearby Château nominational French colonies in d'Arque, awaiting the inevitable the New World, became one of attack of the superior Catholic his mentors. When he turned 18, League forces. With 8,000 troops, Henri was betrothed to Marguerite de left their Calvinist services one night in he was outnumbered four to one, but he France, sister of the French king, in an Paris in 1560. had chosen the north because, as a attempt to bring the wars of religion to After the marriage and de Coligny’s Protestant, he had called upon Elizabeth an end. assassination, Henri, Prince of the Blood I of England to send assistance. When The wars were the French experi- and King of Navarre, was effectively a the battle began in September of 1589, ence of the Reformation. In broad prisoner of the French king, Charles IX, Henri IV's strategic position protected strokes, it set the Catholic League, most- and was forced to convert. His arranged him for the first week, but heavy losses ly in northern France, against the marriage was a failure from every angle. spelled doom. At the beginning of the Huguenots in the south and west, and it Not only did it not bring the wars to an second week a small contingent of Eng- was a fight for religious freedom. The de end, but Marguerite had wanted to marry lish and Scottish troops arrived and was Guise family and Catherine of Medici, one of the de Guise family, the soon supported by their main force, to- the Queen Mother and regent to three staunchest enemies of Protestantism. talling 4,000 men. This allowed Henri kings, were the principal players on the King Charles lost his mind over the ac- IV to turn the tide and soon he was chas- Catholic side, and the de Guises would tions the de Guises had involved him in ing the withdrawing League forces. stop at nothing to eliminate the Protes- that led to the disastrous Saint Henri noted a particularly brave and ca- tants. It was they who murdered Admiral Bartholomew Day's Massacre. He be- pable soldier within his ranks by the Gaspard de Coligny and initiated the came ill with tuberculosis and died two name of Pierre Dugua de Mons, a fellow Saint Bartholomew Day's Massacre, years after the event, declaring his sor- Protestant who shared the King's desire which lasted a lot longer than a day and row to Henri until the moment of death. to achieve religious tolerance in France. spread across France, killing thousands It took Henri two more years to escape It would take a further nine years for of Huguenots in their homes. Along with the Court and rejoin the Huguenots in them to defeat the Catholic League, and the Admiral's initiatives in the New the south, returning to Protestantism. even then, the only way he could finally World, another New France connection In the meantime, King Charles's end the bloody conflict was to reconvert

Anonymous, “Entrance of Henri IV in Paris, 20 1594.” Champs de Bataille, 2010. WINTER 2015 to Catholicism. May 14, 1610, the passage of the king's rabble stormed the mausoleums of the One of Henri IV's first actions as carriage was stopped by two carts, one rulers at Saint-Denis, dragging the cas- the undisputed monarch was kets of the kings into the streets to declare the Edict of Nantes and destroying them one after an- in 1598, a document that other. would allow for freedom of When they came upon the casket worship across most of the containing the remains of Henri realm and would become his IV, still known as Le Bon Roy greatest, if not longest lasting, Henri, the orgy of destruction legacy. stopped. The revolutionaries filed His longest lasting legacy past his preserved corpse for two was to support Pierre Dugua days, paying their respects, de- de Mons's project to establish claring that he had been the only French colonies in Acadia and good king. Finally, their leaders Canada. Named a Gentleman arrived and ordered the men to of the King's Chamber, Dugua complete the destruction of the de Mons visited Tadoussac, a caskets. Mi'kmaq and Innu (Montag- In a macabre postscript to the nais) town near the Gulf of Saint carrying hay and the other wine, tem- story, King Henri's head is said to have Lawrence. He wanted to study the po- porarily blocking Rue de la Ferronerie in disappeared and to have been passed tential for creating permanent French Paris. In those few moments, François among private collectors ever since. As colonies in the New World where there Ravaillac managed to climb into the recently as 2010, it was rumoured to would be a guarantee of freedom of wor- king's carriage carrying a knife and stab have been found and identified, although ship. Upon his return and his report to him. The assassin was a man of some genetic tests have not confirmed its au- the king, he was awarded exclusive trad- education who was considered unbal- thenticity. ing rights in order to carry out his objec- anced and who swore he was acting tives. In 1604, he returned with colonists alone. There are conflicting stories about Joseph Graham ([email protected]) and experts, including Samuel de Cham- whether he was or not, but, like Lee is the author of Naming the Laurentians: plain, a cartographer. Their first settle- Harvey Oswald and the assassination of A History of Place Names Up North and ment attempt, in what is today the state President Kennedy, it is highly unlikely a forthcoming book on the history of the of Maine, proved disastrous and they he was acting alone. In fact, one of the Laurentians. moved to a new location in the Annapo- stories suggests a Jesuit encouraged him lis Valley. In the meantime, with Dugua and told him he would become a hero Sources: de Mons working hard to create a settle- for his actions. He was drawn and quar- James W. Casavant, Henri IV et l'Edit de ment in Acadia, merchants back in tered on May 27, less than two weeks af- Nantes, https://sites.google.com/site/ France kept petitioning the king to can- ter the assassination. casavaniajwm/trivial-importance/henri- cel his exclusive trading rights. Finally, Both Pierre Dugua de Mons and quatre-et-l-edit-de-nantes. in 1607, those rights were withdrawn Samuel de Champlain knew that the and the colonists were forced to return to death of the king spelled disaster for Henry IV (2014), http://www.biography. France. New France. Their fundamental premise com/people/henry-iv-9335199. Dugua de Mons knew he could con- of freedom of worship was at risk and vince the king to reinstate his trading ex- with it any possibility of appealing to Catherine Delors, Versailles and More, clusivity, but he also knew he would non-Catholic French emigrants. 14th of May 1610: assassination of King have to remain in France to protect his 183 years after the assassination, at Henri IV, http://blog.c atherinede- interests and his new colony. He had the time of the French Revolution, the lors.com/14th-of-may-1610-assas- sent explorers to identify an easi- sination-of-king-henri-iv. er site to defend and his cartogra- pher Champlain identified Que- Les Bourbons (XVI° - XIX° siè- bec as an ideal spot. Once he had cle), http://www.histoire-fr.com secured a new exclusive trading /bourbons _henri4_2.htm. agreement, Dugua de Mons fi- nanced the creation of the new Cornelius J, Jaenen, Les colony, giving Champlain all the huguenots de la Nouvelle France, necessary powers and money to http://www.erq.qc.ca/stmarc carry it out. /huguenots.html. King Henri IV managed to return France to prosperity, but religious distrust boiled under the surface of his administration. On

Top: Commemorative stamp, Pierre Dugua de Mons and the 400th anniversary 21 Bottom: Monument to Henri IV in Saint-Denis Basilica, of the foundation of Acadia. http://www.frontenac-ameriques.org. France. Photo: Rod MacLeod. QUEBEC HERITAGE NEWS

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIESFOR TROUBLED TEENS St. Lambert’s Alternate School by Stephen Lessard

n the early 1980s, two young problem that seemed to be ignored by the ing in their favour: regular high schools women set out on a voyage that greater educational community: the grow- were not chomping at the bit to take these would transform the educational ing number of high school dropouts. Stu- students back. Some even felt that re-inte- landscape of the South Shore of dents told them about youth on the South grating dropouts would “contaminate” IMontreal. They embarked on this in- Shore (brothers, sisters, friends) who were mainstream students. Teaching during the credible endeavour with only a few doing nothing with their lives. Teens who day, Judi and Carol spent their evenings years of teaching experience under their had dropped out of school; young people fleshing out ideas and possibilities. They belts and no clear idea where they were who spent their days “just hanging out.” headed out to shopping centres, fast-food headed. Their legacy would come to be And worse: some, with too much time on restaurants and pool-halls meeting with known as The Alternate School (TAS). their hands, creating a nuisance in the com- Anglophone teens who weren’t in school, As a model for alternative trying to determine what might education, it would receive bring them back to the class- national and international room. They soon realized that recognition including ac- they couldn’t be everything to claim from a Prime Minister everyone, so they began to plan and the Queen. a programme that would ad- Judi Leonard and Carol dress the needs of most. Judi Marriott were always known and Carol recall that it was a as a pair of keeners – some time they spent listening, not would say visionaries. Teach- just to the words, but to the ers in a high school in Green- hearts and the pain behind the field Park, they transformed words; it was a time when they the impersonal environment of heard stories that made their a typical cement block second- skin crawl, that made them an- ary classroom into something gry, that spoke to them of great more appealing to youth. They injustice. But the stories also decorated, hung student work, gave them the hope and deter- and created reading nooks with mination necessary to pursue couches and cushions and lamps. Heaven munity. Always interested in the disenfran- their quest for a programme – perhaps even forbid – they even wanted to wallpaper! chised – their “bleeding heart” side – Judi a school – for these young people. A place They embraced differentiated learning and and Carol decided to tackle this problem. they could call home. team-teaching. But most importantly, they The young women knew they needed School had lost its relevance for many opened their classrooms to students at to develop an action plan that would bring dropouts. They felt isolated in the large lunch-time, recess, and after school, some- these teens back to school. And they had to comprehensive high school environment thing rarely done at that time. Their class- sell that plan to someone at the school with five or six different teachers a day. rooms soon became informal drop-in cen- board. Sure there were dropouts, but would They just didn’t fit in. They had difficulty tres for teens across the school. the board be willing to find funding to sup- connecting to other students, to their teach- Informal discussions with students port their cause? After all, the district grad- ers. They found it all too top-down. They drew the young women’s attention to a uation rate was already high. Coming from soon lost respect for the system and started special education backgrounds, and with acting out. And many had personal and the energy and naïveté of youth, Judi and family issues they hadn’t dealt with. But in Editor’s note: This article is the last Carol began to put to paper a plan for an spite of the dark clouds these kids seemed in our StoryNet series, a QAHN environment conducive to bringing these to gather, Judi and Carol felt a calling. project carried out in partnership young people back to school. The compli- From what they saw and heard, they knew with the Quebec Writers Federation cation was that it needed to be flexible, a that these students needed a school built on in which emerging non-fiction writ- work in progress that would eventually close relationships (student to student, stu- ers were matched with professional evolve and gel into something spectacular. dent to teacher) and that it needed to be a mentors to produce stories on a Not an easy sell to the powers that be at the safe place where these young people could variety of topics. board! believe in themselves once more. A school But there was at least one thing work- scaled down, more human in size, where Judi and a group of graduating boys, 2011. 22 Photo courtesy of Stephen Lessard. WINTER 2015 expectations were high and where young Taschereau Boulevard in Brossard. Then, TAS grew into a school that provides people could achieve academic success, in 1999, a reorganization of board build- a made-to-measure learning environment step by step. A school based on mutual re- ings saw TAS move into 276 Queen in a “downright homey atmosphere” for spect. Boulevard in St. Lambert. hundreds of struggling teenagers. In fact, Soon they had set up a meeting with The long hours and the commitment many say they could never have graduated then Director of Secondary Schools, eventually became too much for Carol, a without the support of the school and its William (Bill) Johnson, to pitch their proj- young mother at the time. “It’s a needy dedicated staff. Smaller class size, follow ect. They spent a year in talks with Bill. clientele,” she explains, “and I had a young up and consequences for inappropriate be- Impressed by their resolve and knowledge, family. I suppose the evening it all came to haviour, mandatory community service, he helped them come up with a detailed a head was over my babysitter, who, be- teaching methods adapted to a variety of plan. They had found a champion! cause I was often late due to some crisis at learning styles, and, of course, attention to And like the clientele they wanted to school, threatened to quit. And later that the curriculum: these are the basics of edu- serve, Judi and Carol just needed to be giv- week, a student who was a victim of incest cation at The Alternate School. As a former en a chance. told me about it on my way out of school. administrator of the board I cannot count That chance came in 1981. But Bill My heart went out to her but I kept watch- the number of times students (past and Johnson reminded the women that they had ing the clock and thinking of the babysitter. present), parents, and educators have used to find their own students; none of the stu- It was then I realized I just couldn’t juggle the word “home” or “homey” in describing dents could be taken from existing pro- the life of mother and teacher in this de- TAS. Homey, yes. For sure. But there are grammes. Bill provided a space to teach, manding programme. So I moved on. But I also non-negotiable, no-nonsense elements but it would be at a time when no other stu- did so with a heavy heart.” of what I would call “boot camp” woven dents were in the building. This meant late into the fabric of the school. That would be afternoons and evenings. Judi and Carol the “tough love” approach espoused by Ju- scrambled to beg, borrow or steal text di and her staff. books and materials, taught all subjects to But, of course, the programme is cost- two groups of students, and spent late ly: classes are small (15-20) and students hours dealing with problems that some- are housed in a separate building that never times hadn’t even occurred at school. At takes in more than 100 students. On the times they felt like a pair of innocents set other hand, without the programme, there loose in a world they were unprepared for. is a social cost to the community. Although They befriended local police officers and expensive to run, TAS provides at-risk stu- social workers. Carol describes those first dents with an alternative to the loneliness years as “madness and mayhem of the and isolation that they experience in main- most magnificent kind.” stream schools. The programme brings They soon realized that, although sup- them back to school. Moreover, it keeps ported by some key players at the board, them in school. It provides important social they were really on their own. This put connections in a rich environment with a tremendous pressure on their shoulders. strong focus on the curriculum. And it gets But the women remained positive and results, both social and academic: 75% of tenacious. They ignored fellow educators its students pursue further academic stud- who scoffed at their idea; some even called ies, a statistic the school is particularly it a waste of taxpayers’ money. However, proud of. what started out as a pilot programme soon Judi stayed with TAS and became the Furthermore, TAS has credibility and became a growing phenomenon. Enrol- school’s teaching-principal and the motor has been featured in newspaper articles and ment was up, student retention was good, behind the success and the expansion of television news programmes across Que- and some students from the programme the school. In her self-effacing manner, she bec. Named one of the best Canadian even wrote and passed provincial exams. claims that the school is successful “be- schools by Maclean’s magazine, it was Judi and Carol were doing something cause there is a passionate team behind it.” awarded a Queen’s Jubilee Medal, and has right! She maintains that being a teaching-princi- won the Prime Minister’s Award for Teach- Given this success, the programme pal is the only way to go. “It’s the teaching ing Excellence. And perhaps the greatest soon moved to a separate space within an part that keeps me real, that gives me cred- compliment of all: other school boards existing school, operating during regular ibility with staff, students and parents.” have tried to replicate what it does, some school hours. Furthermore, Judi and Carol Without a class of her own, she would nev- more successfully than others. could now accept students who were strug- er “feel the real pulse of the school; every- But not everyone succeeds here. Judi gling in regular classrooms and who fit the thing would be second-hand information.” would be the first to admit this. “Some stu- at-risk profile. Numbers continued to grow And teaching also gives her insight into the dents can’t take the discipline, the intensity. and TAS moved to its own premises, be- concerns she hears from the staff. “How Some just aren’t ready to accept the fact coming a full-fledged school (no longer can I provide support and give advice if that they need to be responsible for their just a programme) in 1989. That first I’m not really experiencing what my col- actions. That it isn’t someone else’s fault. school was a rented space in a strip-mall on leagues are experiencing?” That it’s time to get over the ‘pity party.’”

Taisha Hampden graduates from TAS, receiving diploma and bursary from 23 William (Bill) Johnson, 1994. Photo: courtesy of Stephen Lessard. QUEBEC HERITAGE NEWS

The school also has credibility with every visit, the many challenges facing stu- teacher. Soon, students from TAS were the Ministry of Education. In the late dents, parents and teachers seemed to un- learning to cha-cha and meringue and sam- 1980s, it received a visit from Michel Pagé, fold before my eyes. There was magic in ba. Later they were seen waltzing their way the then Minister of Education. Pagé was the school – that much I knew – but I across the dance floor in a local dance concerned with Quebec’s high dropout rate couldn’t really pinpoint how that magic show and then on CBC news. But best of and had heard of TAS’s success in working came about. I was just glad someone like all, by the time the grant money had run with at-risk youth. He wanted to see first- Judi had taken on the task. Visits to The Al- out, Judi had learned enough ballroom hand what was going on. Never one to en- ternate School made my belief in the pow- technique to keep the programme going by joy the spotlight, Judi was visibly nervous er of public education even stronger. doing the teaching herself. the day of that visit. She sat him down in And there is the building itself. The Sometimes things run full circle at the wicker room – a kind of Zen space with brown brick façade anchoring the school to TAS. Taïsha Hampden spent two years at white wicker furniture, books and paint- a street of manicured lawns and shady TAS as a student in the early nineties. An ings, used for intimate discus- introverted teenager, she feels sions with students and parents. that it was here she came out of No sooner was he seated than her shell. “At TAS, my teachers he lit up a cigarette. Judi was helped me to critically engage flabbergasted. No one had ever in my learning, told me that it smoked in her school. But was OK to disagree as long as I common sense prevailed and presented my arguments she decided it was best not to thoughtfully and respectfully. ruffle any ministerial feathers. And, best of all, they suggested After all, the man had come to that instead of complaining, I see how TAS was keeping take action when confronted teens in school. with injustice. I began writing Much to the dismay of his letters to politicians; I devel- aides, the minister, who was oped a real love for learning.” only scheduled for a 45-minute Taïsha has strong memories of visit, ended up spending the being transformed by the vol- whole morning at TAS, speaking informal- trees, a feeling of solidity and respectability unteering she was required to do. A stint at ly with small groups of students. He kept so typical of St. Lambert. And inside the the Montreal Chest Hospital was a real asking the students, “What do I need to do building: couches and bistro tables and eye-opener. “I remember in particular an to keep teenagers in school?” Judi beamed reading nooks and motivational quotes older woman talking to me about death. when she heard some students suggest he pinned to the walls. Photos of past gradu- Here she was at the end of her life, and “make more schools like TAS.” Some of ates everywhere: cap and gown and wide mine was just beginning. It made me more the ideas the students shared with him smile – how motivational is that! No sensitive to the needs of others, more found their way into the Plan Pagé, the first staffroom. No Principal’s Office. Teachers aware of not only the need to contribute to ever stay-in-school initiative from Que- eating in their classrooms with students. society, but of how giving brings you clos- bec’s Ministry of Education. And, of course, the large central kitchen, er to others and teaches you a lot about During my tenure as an administrator the hub of life at the school, the hub of life yourself.” of Riverside School Board, I often came in a home. And when I’d compliment Judi Taïsha now teaches at TAS. “I love the into contact with students, staff and parents and the staff on the great work they were challenges these students present. Of of TAS. I was always in awe of the staff’s doing, Judi would have none of it. “Oh, course, it can be overwhelming at times. passion, their willingness to help any strug- stop it, Stephen,” she’d quip. And then: It’s a constant tug and pull as I try to move gling student, no matter what the problem. “Have another chocolate chip cookie.” them to a place of possibility, a place where I was struck by how the school played a Due to shrinking budgets, Judi took on they can really develop as critical thinkers. leadership role in promoting best practices the role of grant writer – at which she ex- Sometimes their psycho-social needs are so and organizing across-the-board work- celled. Even today, her ideas and requests high, sometimes life presents so many shops for teachers, administrators and stu- know no boundaries; she always thinks challenges to them that we can’t always dents. And I was particularly amazed to see outside the box. And when she believes in move together in the direction that we Judi and her staff teach the students “good something, she is a fervent advocate and an want. Even a bad weekend can be a major old-fashioned values,” manners and life incredible salesman. It’s never easy saying setback for some students.” skills, as well as interview techniques like no to Judi. Having studied dance, she felt Part of the fabric of the South Shore shaking hands and introducing themselves, that students could benefit from any kind since its inception in 1981, TAS has grown looking people in the eye, dressing up on of movement that would reduce anxiety, to become a beacon for alternative educa- Friday. But I have to admit that I really had make the students stand tall, give them tion within our community. Yet, in Septem- no in-depth understanding of why they poise and self-assurance. She soon had her ber 2014, the school will close its doors at were so successful or how they managed it students interested in ballroom dancing. 276 Queen Boulevard in St. Lambert and all. However, I was smart enough to realize Within weeks she had applied for and re- reopen in classrooms in two of the larger it was a great place for a reality check. At ceived funding to hire a ballroom dance Riverside high schools. With dropping en-

24 Ben, Hisham and Judi behaving badly. Photo: courtesy of Stephen Lessard. WINTER 2015 rolment across the board, there is room in that in a regular high school. That’s where mention the course of study) than the thir- these high schools to accommodate the they came from and it just won’t happen.” ty-some in her Grade 7 class in the com- students. In retirement, I became a volunteer at prehensive high school where she spent her So why would a school with such a the school. It was then that I really saw last teaching days. She considered the large proven track-record be losing its building? TAS in action: the long hours, the unrelent- high school with all its bells and whistles a One factor could be that Teaching-Princi- ing dedication, the incredible support the miserable failure compared to her little pal Judi Leonard, the heart and soul of the staff provides not only to students and par- one-room school. school, is retiring. Another is the cost of ents, but also to each other. And the stu- “Oh, stop it, Stephen. Have another maintaining a separate building. There is dents: so many amazing and engaged chocolate chip cookie.” also no doubt that mainstream high schools young minds with incredible stories to tell. have evolved and are now more ready than It really is a community of learners: stu- With thanks to Judi, Taisha, Ben, ever to provide a stimulating learning envi- dents and teachers coming together, learn- Hisham and Patrick for always being ronment for all types of students. ing from each other, celebrating their suc- where they are most needed, to Carol for Many feel that this change will work cesses, and figuring out how to learn from insight on the early years, and to Gilles as there is a real willingness on the part of the failures. It is the humanity of the place for the idea. the receiving high schools to make it work. that really comes to the forefront. But some in the community are not so sure. In a way, it reminds me of stories my Stephen Lessard is a retired educator They feel that with the building gone, the mother, Lily, told us as children about her who writes about local history and programme won’t last for long; that with- first teaching job. She was barely eighteen childhood experiences. In 2012, he was out a home of its own TAS can’t survive. and it was in a one-room school on Whin- short-listed in the CBC-QWF short story Others counter that the building is just field Mountain, behind Calumet, Quebec. competition. bricks and mortar. But to some, especially Lily was convinced that her fifteen-or-so students, the separate building is part of the students in that little school, ranging from programme. “The students need a home,” a Grades 1 to 8, had learned a lot more about former graduate explains. “They won’t get life and respect and community (not to

25 QUEBEC HERITAGE NEWS

MINISTERIAL LEADERSHIP The Presbyterian Church in Sherbrooke, 1864 - 2014 by Marjorie Goodfellow

ne hundred and fifty years challenge. Accordingly, ago, a tiny Presbyterian con- he was ordained and in- gregation met in Sherbrooke ducted in October 1869. for the first time. The de- Within a short time, Mr. mandO for a missionary and later a minis- Tanner decided to change ter had been present and growing since his career path for that of the early 1830s. The prospering of the education. His resigna- woolen mills and the arrival of Scottish tion was accepted in Sep- workers experienced in that trade in- tember 1872. creased the numbers of Presbyterian ad- Reverend Peter Lind- herents in the town. During an August say, an experienced man 25, 1864, meeting of the Presbytery of from Mons, Ontario, was Quebec at St. Andrew's Church in Que- inducted on October 29. bec City, the first item on the agenda He took up the round of was a petition signed by 45 residents of congregational, local mis- Sherbrooke. It asked for a congregation sionary and Presbytery to be organized and was accompanied work. All involved travel by a call in favour of the Reverend on primitive roads. It is Joseph Evans of Litchfield in Renfrew. small wonder that he, too, succumbed to gregational, Methodist and Presbyterian In the face of this determination, the ill health. His request to retire was ac- churches for some time. Early in 1912, Reverend Mr. Smith of the well-estab- cepted in July 1878. St. Andrew's congregation received ba- lished Melbourne charge was appointed Next was Reverend Andrew F. Tully sic information on church union and a to organize the congregation and to who came to Sherbrooke from Peterbor- vote was taken that was generally moderate a call to Mr. Evans on Septem- ough, Ontario. He stayed until January favourable. However, by November ber 12. A little over a month later, Mr. 1882. The charge was vacant until July 1915, another vote by ballot showed that Evans was inducted to the pastoral when John C. Cattanach arrived from the tide had turned against union. The charge of the congregation of Sher- Dundee in the Presbytery of Montreal. topic was left in abeyance for a time. brooke at the town hall. Four years later, he left for a charge in The United Church of Canada Act To Mr. Evans fell the task of putting Halifax. His replacement, Reverend became a Statute of Canada in 1924. De- the Presbyterian congregation in Sher- Archibald Lee, from Russeltown, was cisions had to be made at the congrega- brooke on a firm footing. The original inducted in July 1886 and remained until tional level. In February, a congregation- name, “First Presbyterian Church,” soon November 1890. al meeting decided not to join the union- became St. Andrew's. For a time, servic- Under Reverend Mr. William Shear- ists. Unlike many other Presbyterian es were held in the Sherbrooke town er, who replaced Mr. Lee in June 1891, congregations, St. Andrew's retained its hall. Thanks to the support of Alexander St. Andrew's prospered. He asked to be church property and most of the congre- Tilloch Galt and his wife, Amy Gordon relieved of increasing pastoral demands gation. Although shaken, the Presbyteri- Torrance, a property on Factory Street and left the pulpit in January 1905. His an Church in Sherbrooke carried on, de- (now Frontenac) was made available and work both with the congregation and spite the loss of some stalwarts. the congregation had a home. among others with whom he interacted Reverend Mr. Bright led St. An- In addition to the home church re- during his fourteen years in Sherbrooke drew's throughout this critical time, en- sponsibility, Mr. Evans worked with the was praised. suring continuity of leadership. He incumbent of the Melbourne church, his There was a return to frequent ar- stayed until 1928. predecessor in the Eastern Townships, to rivals and departures. Reverend C. W. Mr. Joseph Cordner's short ministry carry out the “home mission.” This in- Nicol left in October 1908 because of ill (1928-1930) was followed by a pulpit volved sustaining Presbyterians in sur- health. Reverend J. C. Nicolson, served vacancy for several months until the ar- rounding villages. as minster from 1909 to 1915. With the rival of James Richard Graham in De- Ill health caused Mr. Evans to re- arrival of Reverend Alfred Bright in cember 1930. It was during his time that sign in September 1869. The congrega- May 1915, stability returned and the another critical period in the life of the tion wished to have Charles Auguste church grew. church and indeed the nation occurred. Tanner, a son of the area, take up the There had been talk of uniting Con- At the start of World War II hostili-

26 St. Andrew's Church, c.1900. Photo: Marc André Brignone Collection, #IP414 CPN 13E 1 2752, Société d'histoire de Sherbrooke. WINTER 2015 ties, session agreed to Reverend Gra- Mr. Garland left for Montreal. Their architect designed a building in ham's request for an eventual leave of Reverend Alex. M. McCombie, ar- the style of St. Andrew's. One of the absence. He took advantage of this in rived early in 1963. He brought in- beautiful stained glass windows that had 1939 to serve as military pastor. For two creased emphasis on home missionary graced the church was presented to years, the church functioned under a work, with young people in mind. A adorn the new building. It shows Jesus Stated Supply in the per- holding a child, an ap- son of W. R. Northridge. propriate choice. A However, the war painting of the former dragged on, and the con- church by the artist gregation suffered from Charlène Pelletier the lack of a full-time hangs beside it. minister. The situation The congregation became critical. When decided to build anew Reverend Northridge al- in Lennoxville. There, so became a military the 150th anniversary pastor, student supply was celebrated on the speakers were not what weekend of October 26, was required. Mr. Gra- 2014, with the current ham was asked to resign minister, Reverend so that the church could John Barry Forsythe, replace him. He agreed assisted by a former and Reverend Mr. Bright responded to youth camp site was established in 1967. one, Mr. McCombie. the appeal to take charge. He left in June 1968. In order to trace 150 years of St. The church's vitality returned under With Donald L. Campbell (Septem- Andrew's, the choice was made to fea- Mr. Bright's care but the burden was ber 19, 1968 to April 1, 1975), the radio ture the ministerial leadership, omitting great. He died after 5 months of service broadcasts that had been shared by a coverage of musical worship, session and the congregation went through number of churches became the sole re- and board of manager functions, social spring and summer without a pastoral sponsibility of St. Andrew's. As well, activities and groups, Sunday Schools leader. French language ministry became a pri- and many other important aspects of the Reverend E. A. Wright was induct- ority. church's life. ed on September 5, 1944, and remained The next incumbent, Kalman Dezso in Sherbrooke until Easter, 1950. A dea- Toth, suffered from ill health early in his The assistance of the Bélanger Gardner coness, Helen Ross, was engaged. She Sherbrooke ministry and retired in 1978 fund in researching the history of and the elders formed committees to as- when it became obvious that he did not St. Andrew's is hereby gratefully ac- sist with pastoral duties and the church have the strength to carry on. knowledged. continued to pick up strength. Reverend Blake Walker (1978 to Reverend W. Ross Adams came to 2002) had a long and successful min- Marjorie Goodfellow is a long-time ad- Sherbrooke from Owen Sound. Church istry, despite the decline of the English- vocate for health care in the Eastern life began to adjust to the societal de- speaking population. His energy kept the Townships and winner of the Quebec mands of the post-war era with an em- congregation active. However, on July 5, Community Groups Network’s 2009 Vic- phasis on young people. A Canadian 1999, a violent storm struck Sherbrooke, tor and Sheila Goldbloom Community Girls in Training group (CGIT) was severely damaging the church building. Service Award. launched as was a Men's Club. Slight He accompanied the congregation as changes in the order of service were in- they dealt with this crisis. stituted so that the congregation was With the con- more involved. However, Mr. Adams gregation’s decision had to return to be closer to family and to demolish the so he accepted a call to Fergus, Ontario. damaged building, The Adams family left just before Sherbrooke lost a Christmas 1953. historic site and a Small Press, Reverend Sidney George Garland church home of Tremendous Books! was inducted on April 29, 1954. Even long standing, as more outreach to the community took well as a valued place, including participation in radio venue for musical 23 rue Ste-Anne broadcasts of church services. A memo- performances. The Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 1L1 rial fund was created. One of the first property was pur- [email protected] 514.457.5733 projects approved was the installation of chased by a chil- www.shorelinepress.ca a carillon in the church tower. It was dren's centre called dedicated in August 1962, just before Les Petites Puces.

27 Anniversary service, 1950s. Photo: Marjorie Goodfellow Collection. QUEBEC HERITAGE NEWS

KAHNAWÀ:KE Mohawks, Chateauguay, and the Irish famine by Christine Zachary Deom

The Jeanie Johnston Education- ton’s men. The Gazette also de- al Foundation led a project in clared “that the Okas and 2012-13 to bring to the attention Caughnawagas were the real of the Ministry of Education, heroes of the campaign and that and of the student population, their services ought to be com- the importance of the Battle of memorated.” the Chateauguay in October We’ve been soldiers in 1813. This battle defined the both the World Wars, and our history and the future of Cana- men and women continue to da. This initiative entailed the serve in the American and co-operation of Parks Canada, Canadian Forces. Canadian his- the Department of Defence, tory may minimize the signifi- Regiments of the Royal 22nd, cant contributions of the Black Watch, Grenadier Kahnawà:ke Mohawk, yet there Guards, Glengarry & Dundas remains a proud past which is Highlanders, Voltigeurs, and the cherished by our Kah- City of Valleyfield. As a result, nawàkero:non (People of Kah- the federal government named nawà:ke). water here that drives our athletes to excel in a ship under construction in Vancouver 2012 saw the canonization of Kateri sports. We have fine figure skaters, gymnasts, “HMCS Chateauguay” in honour of the souls Tekakwitha as the first Native North Ameri- lacrosse players, hockey players, and ca- lost in this battle. can saint. Her tomb, located here at the St. noeists seeking to achieve excellence. Francis Xavier Mission in Kahnawà:ke, has Modern times may have thrown a cloak –Leo Delaney, Chairman, welcomed at least 6,000 pilgrims to her site of invisibility over our community and most Jeanie Johnston Foundation during this past year. The Kahnawake Mixed of Canada is unaware of the significant part Choir sings every Sunday at the 10:45 a.m. Kahnawà:ke has played in Canadian history. he Mohawk Community of mass, and visitors are welcome to attend. Our people have had a historic and a military Kahnawà:ke, with a population Our small community has always had liaison with the French and the English over of 8,000 persons (6,500 nor- an international view and outgoing personali- the 300 years of colonization, and we have mally resident on the territory), ty. Our international outlook was also signifi- played a tremendous role in the protection lies on the south shore of the St. cantly recognized when in the nineteenth cen- T and establishment of Canada. We have a war- Lawrence River, directly across from the tury the Irish were experiencing their Potato rior past, and we’ve been commissioned for city of Montreal. It is connected to the Famine. Our community was not affluent, missions to Egypt to save General Gordon at island of Montreal by the Honoré Merci- but according to a strong oral tradition, it col- Khartoum, as well as to join the 1812-1815 er Bridge, over which students and lectively made a small contribution to Irish battles of the War of 1812, specifically the working people make their daily com- famine relief. It is said that our community Battles of Lacolle, Chateauguay, and Beaver mute into the city. 80,000 of them a day felt distressed over the privations of Irish Dams. make Kahnawà:ke and the Mercier Bridge families during the famine and sent money Approximately 200 Mohawk warriors key access points to Montreal. Students from through the Catholic Church. were at the Battle of Chateauguay, some serv- Kahnawà:ke attend many of the city’s private In 2009, Tom Hartley, the Lord Mayor ing under the command of Captain J. M. high schools, and are noted as athletes and of Belfast, Ireland, visited Kahnawà:ke Mo- Lamothe. Lamothe and his Caughnawagas scholars. As in the past, many of our men con- hawk Territory to meet with the Mohawk were deployed at the right front of the Cana- tinue to work in various cities of the U.S. on Council of Kahnawà:ke and to pay his re- dian line and were involved in the fiercest steel construction projects, while a significant spects to the community. He had been invited fighting. All acquitted themselves “with dis- number live in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and to visit our community by a local Kah- tinction” in both the preliminary skirmishes Manitoba for months at a time earning wages nawà:ke businessman, Wayne Rice, who had and in pursuit of the defeated Americans over as ironworkers. We are also the home of two met Hartley while he was visiting in Mon- a period of days. An account published in the Olympians, one a gold medalist in kayak treal. Hartley mentioned during the meeting Montreal Gazette of 1895 claimed that De (1984) and the other a team captain in water with the Mohawk Council that he had wanted Salaberry did not pursue the enemy but that polo (2000). Given our small population, peo- to extend the good wishes of his Sinn Fein the Indians cut off several of General Hamp- ple remark that there must be something in the Party to Kahnawà:ke, and to share our 28 James Inglis, “Caughnawaga Lacrosse Team, c.1867.” Photo: McCord Museum, MP-0000.2294. WINTER 2015 people’s common experiences throughout our history. It was also a time to remember, recognize, and to thank Kahnawà:ke for the relief afforded the Irish. Our people are travelers and have been noted as canoeists, lacrosse players, and dancers. We were invited to attend celebratory events either as dancers or lacrosse players at the request of Queen Victoria. We greeted the Prince of Wales to Kahnawà:ke via a canoe flotilla in the late nineteenth century. We assisted in the development of the sport of lacrosse in Blanchard ad Ireland. In 1876, Kahnawà:ke played an exhibition game of lacrosse in Belfast along with the Montreal Lacrosse Club. This was the beginning of lacrosse in Ireland. Ten years after the exhibition games in Belfast, an All-Ireland team arrived in North America. The New York Times reported the names of the Irish players and their clubs, mentioning several club teams that had developed in the decade since the 1876 visit to Belfast. The Irish team played the New York Lacrosse Club, before travelling to Montreal, where they played three games: against the Shamrock Lacrosse Club, the Caughnawaga (Kahnawà:ke) Indians, and another Canadian team. The Irish won one game against the Shamrock Lacrosse Club. So we are a gregarious people and we are welcoming! We invite tourists to our Kateri Shrine and to visit our com- munity generally. Please join us especially in July, when our annual Pow-Wow occurs and Kahnawà:ke invites the whole of Montreal to come and eat and dance with us.

Christine Zachary Deom is Chief of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke.

29 QUEBEC HERITAGE NEWS

REVIEW PAINTERS OF A LANDSCAPE Hanging Fred and a Few Others: Painters of the Eastern Townships by Nick Fonda Baraka Books, 2014

ick Fonda’s trator (and his works were used for countless Christmas cards, Hanging calendars and book illustrations) does appear to dominate the Fred and a “fine” artist, Coburn holds his own within the long, long tradi- Few Others tion in Canadian art of painters of snow: Kreighoff, Harris, Nis in many ways a A.Y. Jackson, Suzor-Coté, and many others. Much Inuit and unique discourse about the other aboriginal art also shows this chilly theme directly and art and artists of the eastern indirectly. It seems to dominate art produced in Eastern, Townships, past and pres- Midwestern and Northern Canada. However, the Coburn pic- ent. Fonda is an articulate tures are also specific to a rural Quebec, now gone, of logging, writer who obviously en- small farms and the dominance of the horse. They are nostal- joys and appreciates this gic, peaceful, even cosy – a Quebec that's gone, but that is still subject. His approach and an image we hold in memory. tone are more that of a local Unfortunately, Fonda's book does not have reproductions social and cultural historian of Coburn's paintings – just some photographs taken by him than that of an art history professional. We learn about the fam- later in life of neighbours, family members, and of a profes- ily backgrounds, the homes, the memories of neighbours, sional dancer (stage name: Carlotta) who was his friend (pla- friends and relatives, the interests and occupations of Town- tonic – a different age and mentality then) and model. It would ships artists of the past – most notably Frederick Simpson have been helpful to have had at least one example of the work Coburn – as well as Fonda's own impressions about contem- of the other artists Fonda describes, especially the other land- porary artists in the area. scape painters who were influenced by Coburn, directly or in- The connecting and rather rambling theme to Hanging directly, as they are inspired by the same natural milieu. Fred and a Few Others is, of course, Fred. Frederick Simpson Even with this limitation, and a few editing oversights, Coburn (1871-1960) was born in Upper Melbourne in the this is definitely an enjoyable read. Through his writing, Fonda St .Francis River valley into a well-off, long-established family comes across as having been friendly, not intrusive, with the of United Empire Loyalist origin. Fonda traces Coburn's very many artists he met and describes. We feel we'd like to see early success, first as an illustrator, then as a painter, and his their work and meet them, as well. Their works are shown at formal art training in Montreal and Europe. Unlike the arche- regional art galleries and especially at the Musée des beaux- typal artist, Coburn never starved and never struggled. He arts de Sherbrooke. Definitely obtain this book and then do seemed to demonstrate a strong practical streak and a Presby- your own research and gallery visits to learn more about these terian conscience that saw him comfortably through his long current landscape artists of the Townships. life. He was also a gifted linguist – fluent in French, German and Dutch – and, for his time and place, socially sophisticated. The tragic death of his wife, Malvina Scheepers, also an artist, Reviewed by Sandra Stock whom he had met in Belgium, was probably the darkest event of his life. Theirs had been a middle-aged marriage and there were no children. The other Coburn family connections were not particularly close to Fred, although in his last years, and af- ter his death, they did realize his artistic importance. His nephew's wife, Evelyn Lloyd Coburn, produced a biography of Fred with reproductions of some of his works. (See Evelyn Lloyd Coburn, F. S. Coburn, Beyond the Landscape, 1996). Coburn was most recognized for his paintings of the Eastern Townships landscape, featuring the Quebec winter. The red cariole with its white horse and brown horse team appears in nearly all of his well-known works. His winter skies and his rendering of snow are exceptional. Although the illus-

Frederick Coburn, “Winter Landscape, 1930.” 30 Photo: McCord Museum, VIEW-25935. WINTER 2015

31 ©

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