SAINT-JOSEPH-DE-BEAUCE (QUEBEC), January 13, 2009 - On behalf of Canada's Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Jim Prentice, Mr. Maxime Bernier, Member of Parliament for Beauce, today presented a plaque commemorating the national historic significance of the Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce Institutional Ensemble.
"This remarkable ensemble, consisting of the church, the presbytery, the convent, the orphanage, and the school, has helped to define the very character of the town of Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce. All of these buildings have had a strong religious and educational influence, locally and regionally," said Mr. Bernier.
A regional centre for religious, community, and educational services, this group of buildings forms a distinct precinct reflecting the desire of clergy, religious communities, and laity alike to structure French Canadian village life around Catholic institutions. Built between 1865 and 1911 in the popular styles of the day, these five well-preserved buildings are notable for their harmony of form and materials and for their exceptional site overlooking the Chaudière River. United by their history, function, and design, they constitute one of the most striking religious institutional complexes in Quebec.
"I am proud to call attention to the commemoration of a site that is so clearly linked to Canada's architectural, religious, and cultural history. The Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce Institutional Ensemble is a truly remarkable example of the important role Catholic institutions played in small-town Canada in the 19th and early 20th centuries, through the social organization and improvement of these communities," declared Minister Prentice.
The Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, established in 1919, advises the Minister of the Environment on issues relating to sites, people, and events of national historic importance. The presentation of a commemorative plaque represents official recognition of their value for Canadians.
Information:
Priscille Bourque
Communications Advisor
Office of the Director General, Eastern Canada
Parks Canada
418-648-4984
Backgrounder associated with this News Release.
Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce Institutional Ensemble
