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N U M B E R 2 7 ■ SPRING 2010 ■ $ 2 . 0 0 ■ SHATTERING THE MONOLITH By Patrick Donovan ■ RELIGION, ETHICS AND SCHOOLS By Louisa Blair ■ The Morrin Centre is managed by the Literary & Historical Society of Quebec ■ Published with the assistance of Canada Post EDITORS Simon Jacobs [email protected] Marie Rubsteck [email protected] DESIGN David Dupuis NUMBER 27 ■ SPRING 2010 www.frmrg.ca ■ PUBLISHER CONTENT Literary and Historical Society of Quebec 44, chaussée des Écossais Québec (Québec) G1R 4H3 Letter from the President 1 David F. Blair PHONE 418-694-9147 FAX From the Executive Director 2 Simon Jacobs 418-694-0754 GENERAL INQUIRIES [email protected] WEBSITE Transactions www.morrin.org Shattering the Monolith 3 Patrick Donovan ■ Religion, Ethics and Schools 5 Louisa Blair LHSQ COUNCIL David F. Blair, President Sovita Chander, Vice-President Library Pages James Haberlin, Treasurer Barbara Salomon de Friedberg, Honourary Book Review 8 Miriam Blair Librarian Book Review 9 Simon Auclair Peter Black Louisa Blair Books Purchased in 2009 10 William GK Boden Whislist 11 Steve Cameron Judith Dunn Gina Farnell Events & Activities Nathanial B. Findlay Imagination 2010: Ladd Johnson 12 Erin Zoellner Writers’ Festival Lisa Kennedy Rob Lemon Lorraine O’Donnell Tariq Qureshi Hélène Thibault [email protected] ■ DIRECTORS Simon Jacobs Executive Director [email protected] Barry McCullough LIBRARY HOURS Director of Administration [email protected] Sunday 12:00PM-4:00PM Marie Rubsteck Director of Development Monday CLOSED [email protected] FULL-TIME STAFF Tuesday 12:00PM-9:00PM Simon Auclair Wednesday 12:00PM-4:00PM Library Manager [email protected] Thursday 12:00PM-4:00PM Valérie Deslauriers Administrative Assistant Friday 12:00PM-4:00PM [email protected] Eve Dumais Saturday 10:00AM-4:00PM Permanent Exhibit Advisor [email protected] PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE AN ACTIVITY FOR KIDS Erin Zoellner Cultural Activities Coordinator IN THE LIBRARY ON APRIL 10 AT 2 P.M. [email protected] ■ The mission of the Morrin Centre is to share and foster English-language culture in the Quebec City region. The Morrin Centre is administered by the Front cover: Morrin Centre Library, Photo by Linda Ross Literary & Historical Society of Quebec. LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT A NEW BEGINNING and soul into the good governance of the Society. As Honorary Librarian, an ancient office created in the early days of the Society, Dear Members and Friends, Marie was in charge of the library’s book selection committee. She ran all matters relating to the library with a fair and even hand and Following the recent AGM, the Literary and Historical Society the quality of our collections and the workings of the library have embarks upon its 187th year of existence, a year with opportunities benefited very much from Marie’s touch. I wish her and her husband and challenges as we continue to build on the success and the every best wish as they move to a new life of retirement in Ottawa reputation of the Morrin Centre, while undertaking the completion near their grandchildren. I would also like to mention Diane Kameen of the restoration work in the building. who, although she stepped down during the course of the last year, occupied a pivotal role in the evolution of the Society over the last I wish to take this opportunity to welcome those new Members 15 years and has contributed a huge amount to the present who you elected to represent the interests of the Society on circumstances of the Morrin Centre and the Society. I would also Council and to thank those who have stepped down. like to thank Steve Cameron who has stepped down as Vice- President and Member of the Executive Committee, but as he New Members are Barbara Salomon de Friedberg (Honourary consolingly reminds me, remains an active Member of Council. Steve Librarian), Gina Farnell, Nathanial B. Findlay, Lisa Kennedy and Tariq has contributed and continues to contribute above and beyond the Qureshi who joined David F. Blair (President) Sovita Chander (Vice call of duty to the well being of the Society and brings his many -President), James Haberlin (Treasurer), Peter Black, Louisa Blair talents and insightful vision to the management of its affairs. (Secretary), William GK Boden, Steve Cameron, Judith Dunn, Ladd Johnson, Rob Lemon, Lorraine O’Donnell and Hélène Thibault to Finally, I would like to thank all Members of the Society for your form the Council for the new term. continued confidence in me as your President and I say welcome and thank you to all Council Members, new and old, for your Members of council who stepped down at the recent AGM are continued commitment to our charming and venerable Society, the James Donovan and Marie Tremblay, who was also the Honorary unique Lit. & Hist. Librarian and a long standing Member of the Executive Committee. Diane Kameen also stepped down during the course of the last year Best wishes, as Council Member, Secretary and long standing Executive Committee Member. Thank you for your contribution to the Society David F. Blair I would like to pay particular tribute to both Marie and Diane, who President over the course of the past many years, consistently put their heart ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Our 186th Annual General Meeting took place on March 22nd, 2010, at the LHSQ library. About 50 members attended the meeting and were informed of last year’s achievements. Different reports submitted by Council members and by the Executive Director were read. The formal part of the meeting was followed by a wine & cheese and our famous magazine auction, with Louisa Blair as the auctioneer. Judging from the laughter this AGM ended with, quite an enjoyable and entertaining evening was had by all. You will find the list of the 2010/2011 Council members on the inside cover of this edition of the Society Pages. Our Annual Report is posted online at www.morrin.org. PAGE 1 SOCIETY PAGES FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Dear Members, ceived funding from Parks Canada to restore one of the jail blocks. We had also obtained $165,000 from the Since assuming the role of Executive Director, I have a Entente de partenariat régionale en tourisme de Québec been waiting for that time when the frantic pace would toward the restoration of the cell blocks, the chemistry abate. After the flurry of writing funding proposals in lab on the fourth floor and some of the safety concerns. the fall, I was sure that things would get quieter but We are still waiting for a decision from the City of then we had to start writing the applications for sum- Quebec and Parks Canada in regards to funding applica- mer students. Now there is the writers’ festival just tions. Let’s keep our fingers crossed! around the corner and I hope you will be able to attend at least one of the eight events! I look forward to the day everything falls into place and we will be able to better concentrate on our priorities: We are also trying to find the funding to be able to providing excellent historical interpretation services to complete all the restoration needed on this building, groups and individuals, providing the best possible li- once and for all. This has proved to be quite tricky, as brary services to our members and presenting out- multiple funding partners are required and quite often standing cultural activities, be it literary events, histori- what one gives is dependant on what the other gives. I cal conferences, pre-concert lectures and much more. am proud to say that we have received solid support To this end we are undertaking a survey and would be from our private donors, namely the Jeffery Hale Foun- delighted if you returned it to us along with any sugges- dation, the Howard Webster Foundation and La Maison tions you may have. Simons. Without their financial support we would not have started the ball rolling. As you may know, we re- All the best, PAGE 2 SPRING 2010 TRANSACTIONS SHATTERING THE MONOLITH SHOWCASING THE DIVERSITY OF QUEBEC CITY’S ENGLISH-SPEAKING COMMUNITY by Patrick Donovan In the past few decades, the English-speaking community in aware of their own history. We needed to show the Quebec City has moved from a perspective of mere survival underlying diversity, the complexity beneath all the simplistic to take on a more proactive role. A poignant example is the definitions. transformation of the then struggling 180-year-old Literary The Underlying Diversity and Historical Society of Quebec into the vibrant new Morrin This myth of a single Anglophone “bloc monolithique” that Centre. Before this revitalization, a yellowed sign printed in spans the province is revived at almost each election (or neat gothic calligraphy over the donation box in the Society’s referendum). Commentators point to quasi-monolithic voting library said “With your help we can survive.” Soon, through behaviours in a few Montreal West End English-speaking the leadership of energetic board members and determined enclaves, and then break off into broader generalizations staff, the goal was not mere survival but raising five million about Anglophones in Quebec. But is it fair to liken Montreal dollars to restore the building and set up a new cultural Anglophones garrisoned off in English-speaking municipalities centre. Personnel grew from a few underpaid part-time to those thinly spread out in overwhelmingly Francophone community members aided by dedicated volunteers to nearly Quebec City, along the Gaspé peninsula, etc.? If anything, a dozen full-time staff. many Anglophones outside Montreal have tried to affirm I joined this new growing team in 2004. At that point, their difference, and not just in terms of voting behaviour.