Martyrdom of Catherine Mercier and scalps - Ancestor families Mercier

Martyrdom of Catherine Mercier and scalps - Ancestor families Mercier

 

It is about the kidnapping and Catherine Mercier martyrdom in several books on New France. She married Jean Boudart in La Rochelle, France, in 1642. The young couple has happened in Montreal the same time as its founder, Sieur de Maisonneuve? Perhaps!

 

The first time referred Boudart of Jean and Marie Mercier in North America in 1649. On August 29, they were baptized in Montreal, a child's first name Mary, who died shortly after birth and was buried on September 1 this year.

This took place in 1651 in Ville-Marie, in sight of the Fort, the cruel death of Jean and removal to Catherine unawares by the Iroquois. On May 6, eight or ten of them surprise the Grand-Jean Boudart and one of its neighbors, Jean Chicot, clearing land on the edge of the wood. They set off in pursuit of the two settlers. In his flight, Chicot hides under a recently felled tree, while Jean Boudart heads to his home. Near his house, he met his wife and asked if the house is open.

 

No, she replied, I closed it.
Ah! then cries Boudart is our death to both of us!

Let us flee quickly! '.

Boudart Jean and Catherine Mercier head to the big race toward the house. The Iroquois seize the woman who can not run at the same speed as her husband. Made near the house and almost saved the Grand-Jean leaves moved by the screams and the voice of Catherine and retraces his steps to defend against their enemies. He jumps over the Iroquois with fists. Unable to get rid of the husband attacker or take him prisoner, the barbaric massacre on the same place. They cut off his head they will take as a war trophy. They hold captive as his wife and set off in search of Jean Chicot.

Once they discover it, the unfortunate companion Jean Grand-violently resist his attackers. He defends himself, even unarmed, against these barbarians with great force. He hits so hard and foot of the attackers fail to train with them, nor to take him prisoner. Fearing against-attack alerted French who come to the aid of Chicot, the Iroquois decided to scalping the companion of Grand-Jean.

Winners of this sneak attack on the pioneers of the young infant colony of Ville-Marie, the attackers are moving in speed toward the St. Lawrence, the old port of Montreal today with the scalp of Jean Chicot, including a small part of his skull, the head of Jean Grand-Boudart and unfortunate captive, Catherine Mercier. What spoils for these barbarians who return to their country!

The funeral of Jean Boudart took place the day after his beheading. The burial certificate written in Latin, contains the following details. The translation of Father Adrien Pouliot SJ

The year of 1651 Lord, May 6, Boudart Jean was killed by the Iroquois (Hirocis); his wife, Catherine Mercier, was made ​​captive. Both were of great virtue; both had received shortly before, they frequented the sacraments frequently. The next day May 7, the same John Boudart was buried in our cemetery Claude Pijart by me, a priest of the Society of Jesus.

"Or was the cemetery of the Jesuits in the Island of Montreal? How does one place has filed headless body of John Boudart took place the day after his beheading. The burial certificate written in Latin, contains the following details. Could the author to specify the exact place of burial.

 

The Scalp

 

According Faillon the scalped Chicot survived nearly 14 years without hair or a portion of the skull that the Iroquois had abducted him on May 6 1651.

The poor Catherine Mercier was put to death some two months after his abduction. She was still alive 5 July 1651. The Iroquois made ​​her die 'in ordinary punishments' which included mutilation and burning the body of the victim. On October 28, 1651, Father Paul Ragneau described his martyrdom  follows: A asFrench woman was taken in Ville-Marie, in May, for about fifty Iroquois, while at the sight of the fort, and taken captive. Since then she has been cruelly burned by these barbarians, after they had snatched her breasts, they had cut off his nose and ears, and they had unloaded on this poor innocent lamb, the weight of their rage, revenge for the death of eight of their men who had remained in a fight this summer. God gave courage and devotion to the poor woman; amid torments, ever she implored her aid. His eyes were glued to the sky and his heart was faithful to God until death. Exhaling, she still had to mouth the name of Jesus, invoked as long as it lasted sorrows.

'According Faillon the Iroquois war against the French and their Indian allies had all the religion to reason politics. Most indigenous of the residence in Trois-Rivières, newly converted to Catholicism, said under the same circumstances. It is to fight the enemies of prayer that we willingly expose our lives and if we die fighting, we believe die in defense of the Faith.

The European war mentality that prevailed for centuries overseas, she has was taken by the French and the English in North American land? Catherine Mercier Why is it not mounted on the altars along the Jesuits and their given Fathers were martyred about the same time in North American land and canonized at the beginning of this century? Probably because she was a woman and that she was married.

The scalp

The scalp hair is an enemy, taken after an incision around the scalp. It is a symbolic ritual practice of ancient Iroquoian societies.

The Indians believed that the mind, the soul resided in the scalp because the hair continue to grow after death. The scalp was a way for warriors to capture the soul of the dead, their vital energy. We were going to eat the brains of fighters for appropriating their strength. It was also to find some relatives, died in battle and eaten by enemies.

Sun, war and hair are intimately linked in the Iroquois belief. They are also designated by the same word. The skull's skin with his hair was attached to a hoop decorated with a wicker made ​​of ash slats.

"Like fur, scalp and even acquired a prisoner exchange value on the colonial market North American "with the arrival of whites.

The fate of prisoners

Prisoners who were not adopted were used as slaves or killed. Violent death was considered a bad death: ideally, you had to die with his family, after exhausting his forces. Torture would have been intended to overcome the resistance of the enemy. As soon as he showed his weakness, you could run it.

word Thecomes from the "Iroquois"nickname than "Irinakhoiw"their enemies and gave them meaning "snake languages." The Iroquois men were  fiercest thewarriors ofAmerica.

The disease, which has killed more than guns, has decimated populations, which forced the clans to undertake more wars.

The scalp practiced by Native Americans is not, contrary to what was long thought, a simple war trophy.

1622 Peace bequeathed by Champlain,gradually eroded over the thirty years while  Iroquois the obtain Dutch established Fort  ( OrangeToday Albany, NY), firearms in exchange for beaver pelts.  French, The for their part, refuse this kind of barter, or do so to a very limited with Hurons converted to Christianity. Eager to avenge the defeats they suffered at the hands of French, and is now equipped to do so,  Iroquois the are becoming increasingly hostile.

The latent conflict finally broke out in 1641,  Governor when Montmagny,accompanied by his entire Subsequently, part by boat to meet their leaders near Trois-Rivières,to parley with them. In true European style, it makes up in a canoe handlebars - the flagship of the company - and a herald. - The protocol messenger

"The canoe and handlebars, and the herald" are received with scorn by  who Iroquois,boo outfalls, shoot arrows on their boats, boast the scalp of an Algonquin allied with the French. Outraged "all these insolence" Montmagny responds by discharges swivel guns and muskets. This is the beginning of a quarter century of hostilities  The situation

...is at this point when, in May 1642, a group of settlers, led by a former officer, Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve, is travels to the island of Montreal to found an institution. This requires a good dose of recklessness, because the place, close to the territory of the Iroquois, is particularly exposed to their attacks. The newcomers built a fort and, the following year, it settled artillery. If the people of Quebec are experiencing relative security, it does not hold true for those institutions Trois-Rivières and Montreal, where one never goes out "without his gun, sword and gun" . In fact, the danger is such that every person must be his own advocate. It is not surprising that we prefer to ask the king of the settlers who are "all people heart for war," knowing use "trowel in one hand and the sword in the  The

other."defense of the colony is nonetheless organized. In August 1642, Governor Montmagny, France who received a contingent of forty soldiers, ordered the construction of a fort at the mouth of the Richelieu River, where now stands the city of Sorel to block the traditional route of the Iroquois invasions. In addition, the Queen of France, Anne of Austria, who is also interested in Canadian affairs, though especially from the perspective of the protection of missions, spends 100,000 pounds to raise and equip a company of 60 soldiers. This was done during the winter of 1643-1644. "Which company was distributed in different neighborhoods of this country," says a chronicle of the time.

These soldiers arrived in Quebec City in June 1644. On 7 September, having traveled 1300 kilometers on foot and by canoe, twenty-two ( 22) of them succeeded "Hurons", that is to say to the mission of St. Mary, on the shores of Lake Huron, where they stayed with the Jesuits and shared their table. In September 1645, they returned to Ville-Marie, escorting a convoy of some 60 canoes "loaded quantity beaver" This expedition was remarkable in several respects. First, it was the first time a French garrison, or even European, was sent to defend a position as far into the west. Then the soldiers went up the guard not in a very solidly built, equipped with guns, but in a mission with a simple fence protected the Native mode. Finally, the economic impact of the fur convoy returned safely thanks to the vigilance of their escort, was considerable.

These "soldiers of the Queen" were however insufficient to guarantee the security of the French and their allies. After 1645, their detachment seems to melt into the regular garrison, as it is no longer mentioned. At that time, the colony has perhaps sixty soldiers, divided between Montreal, Trois-Rivières and Quebec.

 

January 31, 2016

Animals are mixed up as our politicians

Animals are mixed up as our politicians

Are more grumpy bears, moose attacked by ticks, deer stuff themselves with grass and white hares run for their lives like never before.

This unusually warm December disrupts the animal world.

Bears do not sleep, but there are more berries outside. Do they have enough food? They like to be buried by the snow under a fallen tree. "Unable to winter as well, as the snow has not covered all of Quebec.

Moose, deer Virginia, south-western Quebec are continually suck blood by winter ticks. The winter tick it continues to hold on and suck blood, since it is not paralyzed by the cold and buried in snow. Moose lose their hair by dint of scratching to get rid of. Some die.

As for hares, what they tremble with fear. Each late autumn, the coat of these small mammals turns white so they can hide in the snow during the winter. Results this year: they shine in snowless forests. Predators and hunters spot them from afar. Being a prey to white hairs these days "is not great", but they breed three or four times a year.

The deer and wild turkeys just have to bend down to eat grass, they do not need to scrape the snow. As against squirrels them gorge themselves so that some become obese this year. The soil is not frozen, herbivores still they continue to eat plant material on the ground, which will produce a hormonal imbalance animals.

New-France - prostitution in the inns and taverns

New France - prostitution in the inns and taverns

since the early history of New France, the population has always been influenced by the mobility of some of its members, travelers, soldiers, traders, etc. Of course, industry will foot the hotel industry. Several types of institutions exist, therefore see the nuances that distinguished ...

The inn was just a place where you could drink, eat and stay. The cabaret was the place where there used to drink in small quantities. While the hotel was furnished and comfortable setting that the inn, just as it is found there to drink, food and shelter.

These nuances distinguishing between different types of establishment were barely noticeable before Eighteenth century. So we do not explicitly will consider these differences.

The September 19, 1648, the Sovereign Council of New France gave to Jacques Boisdon authorization to operate a tavern. In a well framed by the Church colony, there were certain conditions for obtaining this permission: do not give way to drunkenness, to blasphemies, to gambling ... Sundays at the Mass the establishment should be emptied and closed. Establishing Mr. Boisdon was called, "the inn of the Golden Barrel".

The choice of where stood an inn or a tavern was inspired by a custom which required settling near the parish church. So that people can wait inside during bad weather. Apparently when the bell rang to announce the start of the service, the tenants had to be very convincing to bring out their customers.

While Montreal, having been founded by the religious zeal of the Sulpicians, was subject to strict regulations. For example in 1658, the governor of the city, Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve, had banned the entry of all alcoholic beverages. The following year, he eased by banning sale only. It was with the arrival of the Carignan-Salt regiment in the early 1660s, as Montreal attending the emergence of this industry.

The complaints against these establishments were numerous. Thus, the Sulpicians asked to Bouteroue steward visiting Montreal, to make use of his authority. Consequently April 2, 1669, Bouteroue édictait the following orders:

"We forbid all people residing in cities, towns and villages where cabarets and taverns, even those married and have families and households to go drink or eat in these places, and those who hold these cabarets and taverns to give them food, drink or play under any pretext whatsoever. We can only sell their wine to the pot then drink they will go in their family homes. [...] However, we can give them to drink moderately to passersby and those who stay will be forced to reside in this city for their business.

"In1672 in Montreal, one in twelve people gave the exclusive privilege of selling the drink, therefore to hold a beverage flow. The following year, Governor Frontenac continued in the same direction, to keep defending "cabaret" without permission. In short, these interventions were aimed at stopping the phenomenon of too many people practicing the trade.

This industry enjoyed a bad reputation in some areas had to obtain a certificate of good character before making such a trade. Even in the eyes of the population, this industry was badly perceived ... The hotel industry could quickly grab meat and other foods of choice. While bakers feared that the cabarets and steal them their essential captive clientele. In 1676, the sovereign council édictait no innkeeper could make bread and then sell it. While bakeries could not sell any alcoholic beverage.

This Ordinance 1676 extended to the size of the settlement, the need to obtain the famous certificate of good character. Further restrictions were imposed on the industry: Prohibition give drink to the workers during working hours and not to serve anyone after 9 pm ... The cabarets will be able to buy the market before 8 am in summer and 9 am in winter ... It was also mandatory for each tenant to view orders regarding manners, swearing, profanity and other disorders.

Despite the severity of the orders, the taverns and inns were increasing constantly and always remained as frivolous. To prove all this, a character will furnish the judicial history of the time, it was Anne Lemarque. Called the Folleville, it drew a large and very loyal customer she knew compliment ... So much so that she became pregnant while her husband was away for a year! The latter was aware of the conduct of his wife differences ... but business was good! The Sieur Folleville in yet come to demand a divorce on the grounds to the authorities that his wife was a devil or at best a witch.

To ensure implementation of the orders, it was established at Montreal, an itinerant court. This tribunal was conducting rounds, during which we made ​​sure the taverns and inns are closed during public holidays and during the Sunday service.

We also watched the compulsory closing at 9 pm and the respect of weight and measurements. This itinerant institution had numerous brushes with the famous Folleville. In fact, here's a little episode demonstrating the power of this court. On 28 March 1678 during an inspection after the curfew of 9 pm, had surprised many notable people who drank and played cards in the Folleville. The court had been very discreet with offending customers ... but was content to scold the hostess.

It was not until 1688 with the Judge Migeon Branssat we legislate on the display of these shops. For all establishments selling drinks applied the obligation to affix a sign outside made ​​of pine branch, fir or spruce called "plug".

To use a type is specified branches which retains its greenness even in winter. This kind of teaching at the time meant the presence of a drinking establishment. This custom display and dates back to ancient Rome where it spread to France, England and Germany. It is known that the word "cap" was derived from a German word meaning "bush" among others.

The ecclesiastical condemnation not only was the fact of the disorders in the population caused by this trade. According to the clergy sold alcool was causing a great damage to the company evangelizing of Native Americans.

In the same offensive, the synod held in Montreal in 1694 showed how severe would treat tenants. Since we now refuse absolution to tenants of institutions that would play cards or dice.

To limit the "damage" caused among American Indians by the sale of alcoholic beverages, Raudot intervene ... He limited 9 the number of institutions having the right to sell to American Indians. Around the same time, there were in Montreal, 19 cabarets for a population of about 2000 people. While Quebec had a ratio of 12 per 2273 inhabitants in 1716 ... which 3 or 4 women held themselves their establishment.

In 1726, the civil authority legislate again, were forbidden to serve drinks to domestic and lackeys without written permission of their masters. While the soldiers could drink only moderately during their meal. It was also from this point, we required the tenants to view the distinction (or chronic early-mentioned nuance) of its establishment: tavern, inn or hotel Dupuy.

This order, enacted by Intendant  , required in addition to each hotel and innkeeper to provide a role with all the people who have stayed in their establishments; restrict access to family son, soldiers and servants; to serve their customers in a room in full view of passers-by; to ban smoking in every part of the property ...

The construction of the carriage road between Montreal and Quebec ended in 1734. Despite this, very few taverns and inns were established on along this road. This resulted from the fact that travelers preferred to use the waterways to move. Anyway, travelers were accustomed, when traveling on land, going to stay with "the locals".

Like the military who were also housed within the population due to lack barracks to house them. It was a common occurrence throughout the French regime since repeatedly sent troops to counter the Anglo-Iroquois threats. For the locals, which was compensated for this service, it was a good opportunity to make an easy profit.

This not working in hotels, it usually practiced another profession. While the innkeeper had this occupation and habitually resident in its own establishment.

Despite the hospitality of the locals, the cabaret and the hostel were the prime locations for fun until the end of the seventeenth century. With an overwhelmingly male population, these institutions were the only places where we could enhance the feminine presence. In addition, the customer is always amused firmly gambling despite numerous civil and religious prohibitions. It was difficult to enforce these rules when the elite of the colony did not give at all the example: the inclinations of Bigot to play and have to lose its was not a state

secret's.taverns and inns were counting on loyal customers, composed of explorers, merchants, woodsmen, militiamen and soldiers. For these customers it was the only time could have fun in good company. But it was also the place where rampant prostitution, betting, duels and fights among undeniable.

others,however, the influence of this mobile population was  Between 1670 and 1760, about 14,000 people were made ​​to draw up contracts commitments to Montreal only ... All these people had surely scramble to inns and taverns. While military frequented these establishments during their free time in the winter ... In short, they could warm up to it, meet colleagues and people of the country, eat and drink, play cards ...

Over the years, the reputation of publicans and innkeepers did not improve. It was known that some of them were playing their clients on the quantities sold. Sometimes we reduced water spirits with salt water ... even with urine on occasion! What was called to serve barrels "savages." To counteract corrupt practices, it was created in 1752 posts of inspectors and auditors. These officials are mainly occupied in verifying that all pots are stamped and the French flag ... that is to say, to standardize the units of measurements (pots) everywhere.

In the last years of French rule, the hospitality industry was declining. Montreal's authorities had found in 1759 that these types of establishments no longer had their reasons for being. So we ordered all shops to remove their signs and stop selling retail. During the same period of unrest, sounding money was becoming increasingly rare.

We were put into circulation a coin of "cards". This money was to be repaid by the French crown to traders who have cashed. However, as time progressed, it was clear that the war would be won by the enemy. In uncertainty, traders, the publicans and innkeepers refused to get paid with "maps"France.

http://www.stephanetessier.ca/aubergesetcabaretsenNouvelle-France.htm

Dr Bernard Lafrenière died on October 12 octobre 2015 A REAL DOCTOR - Dr. Bernard Lafrenière was not like the Industry Federations Doctors only Bait Gain is important but the patient, a human being with feelings and values - To all the Minister Gaétan Barrette Health and Family Physicians Presidents and Specialists of Quebec - As you say in the early years of study to doctors, they are beings superior to us all. We know that Dr. Bernard Lafrenière was much higher you to all of you including all doctors ministers

Dr. Bernard Lafrenière died October 12, 2015

He was the greatest doctor in the world, for him a patient was not money but a human being -

Alain Laprise

LAFRENIÈRE, Bernard 1942-2015 We regret to announce the death of Mr. Bernard Lafrenière, a family physician in Ville St-Laurent, for the past 48 years. He died in Montreal a few days after his 73rd birthday, surrounded by his family for his last journey.

He is survived by his wife beloved Lucie Benoit adored his children Alain (Patricia), Julie (Richard), Sebastian ( Karine), its treasures grandchildren Victoria Anne Sara Margaux, Simon Charles, Ariane, Sandrine Arnaud, Loïc, Delphine, his brother Raymond, her stepsisters Denise (late Jacques Vary), Monique (René Jacques) Thérèse (late Pierre Beauregard), Louise, the mother of his son Alain, Micheline Gohier, and many relatives, friends and colleagues. Bernard was a just man, kind and generous.

Crossing the road was a wonderful privilege, which leaves the memory of sweet moments of joy and love. He loved his family, medicine, travel, fine dining, life ...

The family will Monday, October 12 at 11 am at the St. Sixtus church, 1895 L Street Church, St-Laurent, to receive your condolences. A religious ceremony will follow thereafter at 13 h. A huge thank you to the team s anointed palliative hospital Notre-Dame-de-la-Merci, Quebec. Our gratitude is infinite.

A big thank you to the hematology-oncology team at the Sacred Heart Hospital of Montreal. Bernard, you touched a lot of lives that feel the emptiness that you leave. We will remember you. Your expression of sympathy can result in a donation to palliative care hospital Notre-Dame-de-la-Merci,or hematology-oncology unit of the Hospital of the Sacred Heart of Montreal. Direction: funeral Côte-des-Neiges

Stornoway municipality near Lac-Megantic, Eastern Township, Quebec, Canada

Stornoway

Stornoway, which we see the steeple on top of a climb, is well off the intersection of Routes 161 and 108, a natural crossroads now known as Village-Relais.

Its name chosen by its Scottish founders reminds the capital  the island of of Lewis in Scotland. For the record, three cemeteries serve as a final resting place and a monument, opposite the church, unearths the history of the founding families.

The Catholic Church (1920) houses a superb statue of Saint-Alphonsus of renowned  Louis Jobin sculptor. At the intersection of Summit Drive, with stunning views of the mountains and the Frontenac National Park nearby, stop offers, in addition to information boards, a star finder light recalling the theme of the International Reserve starry sky  Mont of Mégantic.On Route 161,  the near river Legendre, a former flour mill.

Stornoway was founded  1858 in by the arrival of the Scots who came to settle there to escape famine and misery. Around 1860, the first French Canadian family, Legendre, is established. They successively built a carding mill (for spinning wool), a fulling mill (for cloth), a flour mill, a sawmill and manufacturing windows and doors. Around 1885 the Scots, for lack of work, leave the area and in 1912 the French Canadians permanently install it

The municipality of Stornoway was founded at the crossroads Lambton, St. Francis and Mégantic, in the 1840s In 1849, a first general store opened there.

Originally, the town was called Bruceville. In 1852, Colin Noble, a wealthy merchant and potash maker, settled there. It was the most prominent figure in the whole region. He was also justice, school commissioner and postmaster. He renamed the village Stornoway, in honor of a Scottish city, capital of the Lewis Island.

Tourist attractions

The village has several heritage monuments such as the four cemeteries that serve as the final resting Scottish settlers in Eastern Townships 'Is. A monument, located opposite the church, recalls the story of the founding families.

The Catholic Church, which dates from 1920, houses a superb statue of Saint Alphonsus, carved by the famous sculptor Louis Jobin.

Mont-Mégantic

A former flour mill, the mill Legendre, located at 495 Route 161, near the Legendre River, shows the arrival of French Canadians.

Part of the Frontenac National Park covers the territory of Stornoway. The thematic tour The Summit Drive, built in 2007, passes through the municipality.

The Winslow Valley Equestrian Centre is also located on the territory of Stornoway.   

Stornoway is a municipality in the regional county municipality (RCM) The Granit in Quebec ( Canada), located in the Eastern Township administrative region. This village has just under 600 inhabitants. It is located at the crossroads of two major provincial highways (Highway 108 and Highway 161).

The municipality is a member of the Federation of Quebec Villages relay. Indeed, on 1 October 2009, she was named "Village Bridge" by the Ministry of Transport of Quebec. This designation means that the municipality must provide services comparable to those of large cities (shops open longer, sanitary facilities available 24 hours over 24 hours, where sleeping, etc.).

The first French-Canadian family to settle in Stornoway is the Legendre family whose story is the subject of the book The age of the wood - Stornoway John O'Neilwood:.

Stornoway- The Age of  Author: JeanO'Neil,

Ellen  the mother died first and Joseph-Alphonse spent the rest of his life to get bored of it. One after another, Rose, Keenan, White, Peg, Ellert, Lou, Bonhomme, Pit and Bijou came to the cemetery to reach the top of the coast.

It remains Thérèse, who will often visit. Gerard with his nephew and his son Jean, she tells here the story of her family, when her father and uncles came to settle in Stornoway, in the township of Winslow, between Sherbrooke and Lac-Mégantic, between Beauce and the "United States", between the ages of fur and old beer, right in the age of the wood.

The history of Legendre is that of a hardworking and visionary family to a time when the Scottish pioneers, ffLandes and French-Canadian poorest invade the Eastern Townships.

The painter Gilles Archambault accompanied John O'Neil in this abrupt thirty countries and generated illustrations that take us in various places and moments of this adventure. The age of the wood awakens a past still palpable. Stornoway adds a component to the fresco of the country in the work of John O'Neil, with this authenticity that simplicity and humble greatness evocation that have become the same signature of the writer                                               ISBN:.2-89111-686 -0

Lac-Megantic - Investing in Lac-Megantic it pays and win fort the entire population and all Quebec

Investing in Lac-Mégantic it pays and win for the entire population and Quebec

Les Affaires

"We have the equivalent of 10 football fields to build," says Stéphane Lavallée Office of the reconstruction of downtown Lake -Mégantic.

Lac-Mégantic passes to phase three of its reconstruction following the tragic explosions which have shattered in July 2013. The first two phases involved humans. The third focuses on the economy with the establishment of 11 reconstruction projects of the Municipality of 6000 inhabitants.

Of these projects, the magnetic center, an incubator and collaborative space for self-employed, which hosted, October 9 a hundred entrepreneurs at the boot camp "Reinventing Entrepreneurship". This initiative echoed "Reinventing the City", citizen consultation held in the last year.

"We had talked enough, it was time to act," says Bernard smiling Ark. The youth board for over a year on the magnetic Centre project, with Cécile Branco-side, like him young graduate of McGill University, in cooperation with local development actors.

The boot camp marked the official launch Magnetic Centre. It was attended by 12 speakers who joined three clienteles. First, the self-employed and start-up, about the creation of the brand. Second, micro-enterprises, who learned more about innovation and corporate culture. Finally SMEs, with whom Sébastien Gagnon, General Manager of Operations at Aldo, discussed watch market and international development.

Interestingly, this boot camp was addressed not only to Lac-Megantic entrepreneurs. "We welcomed entrepreneurs from other regions, says Bernard d'Arche. Following the tragedy, Quebecers gave generously. Lac-Mégantic now needs to invest in its  "The

revival.boot camp concluded with the announcement of the beta version of the magnetic center. It will be housed in a room of 1400 square feet on top of the Caisse populaire des Hauts-Cantons, waiting to slip into a reconstruction projects of the new downtown.

Eleven reconstruction projects

The magnetic center is the a reconstruction of the 11 projects selected by the participants of the exercise "Reinventing the city." There are among these projects, a hotel and a convention center, a cultural center and a knowledge center.

"We will develop educational tourism, says Stéphane Lavallée, executive director of the new Office of Reconstruction downtown Megantic lake. The tragedy has allowed us to develop expertise in crisis management, and citizen participation in psychosocial intervention, for example. On railway safety, too.

"For their part, the training of the future knowledge center are part of the economic diversification efforts of the municipality. "We have the equivalent of 10 football fields to build, said Stéphane Lavallée, a native of the area where still lives half of his wife.

"The Monday following the explosion, I said to my  "I'm leaving a few days there. " I stayed there a few months and I returned this fall, "said the former publisher of Les Affaires.

The reconstruction of downtown office coordinates the third stage of the recovery. The first revolved around a temporary Musi-Café which hosted 24 shows in 45 days. "We needed to be appeased, says Stéphane Lavallée. Culture soothes.

"The second phase focused on the encounter and exchange. The people of Lac-Megantic needed to talk. Was manufactured boardwalk surrounding the place of the tragedy to reclaim the place and cause meetings with visitors. The route is lined with signs telling the history of the municipality.

Two challenges

The city's reconstruction from the perspective of economic recovery. This is to rebuild basic infrastructure, such as the headquarters of the MRC, as well as add new ones.

This third phase poses two challenges. The initial challenge is investment. "The first capital are local, says Stéphane Lavallée. The provincial government announced that every entrepreneur reinvests will receive a sum equivalent to the insured value of his business the day before the explosion. A budget of $ 40 million is available. It is expected a strong positive response. But Lac-Megantic also needs external capital.

"The second challenge is to maintain citizens' consultation to ensure the continuation of the recovery. "We must co-construct with the community, said Bernard d'Arche. It would be a mistake to let outside investors dictate the next steps. We must come here without pretending to know everything right  

Adresse :

5527, rue Frontenac

Suite 200

Lac-Mégantic (Québec)

Canada  G6B 1H6

Phone : 819 583-2441

Fax : 819 583-5920

General information: info@ville.lac-megantic.qc.ca

Lac-Megantic Astrolab

Diane Bérard Journal Les Affaires, Les Affaires Newspaper

http://www.lesaffaires.com/secteurs-d-activite/immobilier/lac-megantic--passer-des-dons-aux-investissements/582229/2