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A tireless volunteer, Tim was devoted to his family and to Tadoussac Ballantyne, Tim A tireless volunteer, Tim was devoted to his family and to Tadoussac Back to ALL Bios Charles Colquhoun Ballantyne (“Tim”) Mar. 19,1931 to Feb. 6, 2005 Tim was born in Montreal to Charles T. Ballantyne and Rosalie J. Ballantyne. He was educated at Lower Canada College in Montreal and Bishop’s College School in Lennoxville. Tim attended university in Switzerland and at McGill in Montreal. Tim’s time in Tadoussac began in 1958 when he married Joan Williams whose family had summered in Tad for generations. Prior to meeting Joan, Tim was a loyal St. Andrew’s, New Brunswick, summer resident. As is no surprise to anyone, Tim was easily persuaded to spend his summer holidays in Tadoussac, and he joined Joan and their subsequent three children, Evan, Timothy, and Belle for a two-week vacation each year. Tim and the family enjoyed the ease and splendor of several summer homes in Tadoussac including The Barn, Tudor-Hart House, and Brynhyfryd. Tim, Joan and their children lived in Montreal, Canada until 1967. They moved to Scarsdale, New York, when Tim received a job transfer with Consolidated Bathurst Paper Company. Tim was a dedicated volunteer in his home community; he served for many years as the Captain of Scarsdale’s Volunteer Fire Company; he was a vestryman and eucharistic minister at the Church of St. James the Less. He coached school sports, was a troop leader for Boy Scouts, and taught Sunday school. When Tim chose to relax a bit, it was usually accompanied by something most people would find most unappealing, a WARM beer! Tim had an inviting and dazzling smile. He relished a keen wit, touched with sarcasm. Tim loved Tadoussac’s waters. For him, lake swims, a snorkel in the Saguenay, or a quick dip off Moulin Baude were all annual summer activities. The frigid temperatures never fazed him. When on land, Tim served the summertime population as Vice President of the Tadoussac Protestant Chapel. Tim was an avid reader who was especially drawn to historical works. When Tim became infirm, he could still be found in a cozy wicker chair or sunning himself outdoors accompanied by a book. Tim was often interrupted in his learned pursuits by his seven grandchildren romping about Brynhyfryd. Heather, William, Megan, David, Lauren, Timothy, and Trevor effortlessly caused Tim’s focus to waver! Tim is missed by his family and friends. Back to ALL Bios

Houses of Tadoussac Barn The Barn has a long history, it is about 150 years old! Built shortly after the main Rhodes house in the 1870's, the Barn has been Kitchen, Scullery, IceHouse, Maid's Quarters, Chicken Coop, and Summer Cottage! Text & Photos Reilley Cottage Built in 1922 by Dr James and Nonie Stevenson, parents of the 3 Stevenson sisters. Text & Photos

Owner of Spruce Cliff Cottage, Grace was a churchwoman and teacher, and a long-time president of the Tadoussac Chapel Scott, Frances Grace Owner of Spruce Cliff Cottage, Grace was a churchwoman and teacher, and a long-time president of the Tadoussac Chapel Back to ALL Bios Francis Grace Scott 1904 - 1993 Francis Grace Scott was born in 1904, in Quebec City. She lived there until the age of eight when her family moved to Kenmore, New York. She was the daughter of Mabel Emily Russell and Charles Cunningham Scott. Grace taught English at Kenmore West High School for almost forty years. Kenmore was a suburb of Buffalo. Never having married, she lived in the same house for her whole life, looking after her parents. Grace had a commanding presence and was strict and disciplined. Her niece, Susie recalls summers in Tadoussac were quite structured and very social. Grace loved to know what was going on in the village and the door was always open for people to come and visit. For many years she was the President of the Tadoussac Protestant Chapel. One of her lasting legacies is taking her niece, Susie, to church every Saturday morning to practice the hymns for church on Sunday. Grace also had high ideals and morals reflecting the times she grew up in. She was an avid reader and always liked to discuss what people had just read, current events and American politics! She was a devoted lover of dogs, and had several black cocker spaniels. She loved to sit on the back porch with a dog on her lap, looking at the view. Grace loved Tadoussac, and couldn't wait to get there every summer. She inherited Spruce Cliff from her mother Mabel Emily Russell Scott. When summering in Tadoussac, Helen Price, Lily Bell Rhodes, and Adele Languedoc would often stay with her at Spruce Cliff. Her niece, Susie (Scott) Bruemmer also spent many summers staying with her and eventually inherited the cottage. Grace died at the age of eighty-eight in 1993 in Kenmore, N.Y. And is buried in Mount Hermon Cemetery in Quebec City with her parents. Brian Dewart Susie Bruemmer Photos below Mrs Christine Scott, Nonie and Elizabeth O'Neill, Grace Scott Susie Scott (Bruemmer), Aidan O'Neill, Bobby Scott, Katherine and Patrick O'Neill Adele Languedoc, Grace Scott, Elizabeth Stevenson (O'Neill), Phyllis Humphrys, Russell Scott, Shirley?, Margaret Stevenson (Reilley) Back to ALL Bios

A keen equestrian, Stephanie loved her family, her horses, her dogs, and her times in Tadoussac Leggat, Stephanie Jane A keen equestrian, Stephanie loved her family, her horses, her dogs, and her times in Tadoussac Back to ALL Bios Stephanie Jane Leggat - December 1, 1952 - December 24, 2008 Stephanie was born in Red Deer, Alberta. She was the daughter of Leonard and Anne Limpert. She was the youngest of three children; a sister, Elaine, and brother, Len Jr. Her father was a career member of the Canadian Air Force, and as a result she and her family lived in many towns across Canada. Stephanie's early years were spent in Penhold, Alberta and Comox on Vancouver Island. She settled for a while in Summerside, P.E.I. There she met friends she kept in touch with the rest of her life. The family moved to Halifax in 1962, where she attended Mount Saint Vincent Academy. She went to business school and then worked in developing child care programs. She eventually settled at the Royal Naval Dockyard in Halifax where she worked the remainder of her life as the executive assistant for the commander of the base. In 1971 she befriended Michael Leggat, a young travelling musician. Stephanie and Michael had a long-distance romance until 1973, when he moved to Halifax. They were married in June of 1976. In 1974, Stephanie spent her first summer in Tadoussac and loved it from the start. She never played tennis or golf but she could be found cheering her friends on. She also loved walking the beaches with her dogs, Sasser, Jane, Oliver and Livvie. Before having children, Stephanie's passion was for horses. She and her sister owned two and competed in many equestrian shows, winning countless ribbons. Each fall the two would attend the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto. They would stay all day and night watching the equestrian events, never tiring of it. She loved her many stays at White Point Beach Lodge and ski vacations at Sunday River. In 2006 Stephanie was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She passed away on Christmas Eve, 2008. She was survived by her husband Michael, and son Alexander. She was predeceased by her two sons, Mathew and Robbie. She will always be remembered for her love of life and infectious smile. Back to ALL Bios

"Uncle Art" was a legendary character and sailor Smith, Arthur Carington "Uncle Art" was a legendary character and sailor Back to ALL Bios Arthur Carington Smith 1875-1952 Arthur was born in Quebec City in 1875, the sixth son of Robert Herbert Smith and Amelia Jane LeMesurier. His older brothers were Robert, Herbert, Charles, George and Edmund. He also had two sisters, Edith and Blanche. He attended the Royal Military College in Kingston. He married Constance Naomi Hamilton also of Quebec City. They had one son, Hugh Hamilton Smith 1909 - 1974. Arthur played hockey for the Quebec Bulldogs and was a prolific goal scorer. He was influential in the introduction of netting between the goal posts to ensure the confirmation of goals scored! He served overseas in the first World War with the Royal Rifles. Arthur was a banker but ended up his career as a stock broker for Greenshields in Quebec City. As with all the Smith boys, his true love was Tadoussac and his boat the Empress of Tadoussac. He was the favourite uncle to a large number of Smith and Price offspring. To be invited to sail with Uncle Art was the highlight of the summer. The stories of adventures on the Empress are legends. Eve Wickwire Photos Jack and Doris Molson with Arthur Smith The Empresses of Tadoussac I and II Arthur Smith with Nancy?, Trevor Evans, Phoebe Evans (Skutezky), R Lewis Evans, and in front, Ainslie Evans (Stephen) ~1930's Back to ALL Bios

Both descended from Tadoussac families, Lewis and Betty wanted to be nowhere else in the summertime Evans, Lewis and Betty (Morewood) Both descended from Tadoussac families, Lewis and Betty wanted to be nowhere else in the summertime Back to ALL Bios Robert Lewis Evans 1911-1988 & Elizabeth Anne (Morewood) Evans 1922-1993 In 1911, Emily Elizabeth (Bethune) Evans, at age forty-six, gave birth to her only child, Robert Lewis Evans. Her husband, the Very Reverend (Dean) Thomas Frye Lewis Evans, was sixty-seven, father of five adult children and grandfather of two young ones. In 1922, Caroline Annie (Rhodes) Morewood, at age forty-two, gave birth to her second child, Elizabeth Anne (Betty) Morewood. Her husband was her first cousin, Francis Edmund Morewood, who was five years her junior. They already had a son, William Harold Morewood. In the summer of 1944, at the Coupe in Tadoussac, thirty-three-year-old Lewis asked twenty-one-year-old Betty to marry him. She said yes, and their lives came together in December of that year. Until the Dean died in 1920, the Evans family had spent their winters in Montreal and every summer in their house in Tadoussac, which at that time was the farthest east of the Price Brothers houses and would later be sold to the Beatties. After his death, however, mother and son moved to Toronto for the winters but still got to Tadoussac each year. Emily sent Lewis to Trinity College School – a boys’ boarding school in Port Hope, Ontario. Lewis liked the school and had positive memories of it. This is remarkable because, on a personal level, these were difficult years. At the age of fourteen, he was hit by a severe case of alopecia, an autoimmune disorder whereby one’s hair falls out, and over the next year or so, he lost all his hair. Between graduating from TCS and starting at Trinity College in Toronto, Lewis was taken on a European tour by his mother. They travelled extensively and visited many specialists in an effort to reverse the effects of alopecia. It was after this tour that Lewis chose to wear a wig, a decision he frequently regretted especially in the heat of the summer. Meanwhile, Betty, one of Col. William Rhodes’s many great-grandchildren, was growing up in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. She attended the Baldwin School for girls and subsequently Bryn Mawr and the University of Pennsylvania. Her family would spend time in Tadoussac most summers, renting rooms in Catelier House (now the Maison du Tourisme). In 1936, her father designed and built a house, now called Windward. From then on, she never missed a summer in Tadoussac. In 1948, Frank and Carrie Morewood sold Windward to Betty and Lewis for $1, and suddenly, Lewis, whose mother had died the year before, found himself with two cottages in Tadoussac. He chose to keep Windward, partly because it was newer, partly because it was politic, partly because of its view, but especially because he could see his boat at its buoy in the bay! At university, Lewis had studied English, graduating in 1933, and Betty had majored in business, graduating in 1944. Lewis followed through on his plan to be a teacher and started his career in 1934 at Bishop’s College School from which he retired in 1972. Any career plans Betty had upon graduation were trumped by her summer engagement and winter wedding... and in the fullness of time, by the arrival of Anne, Lewis, Tom, and Alan. She was of the generation when women were mothers and homemakers, and to these functions, Betty added the role of steadfast supporter of all that her husband did, and BCS benefitted from her unpaid and often unknown contribution. For the first eighteen years of their marriage, Lewis was a Housemaster. Betty knew all the boys and welcomed them into her home as a matter of course. Every teacher new to BCS was invited to Sunday dinner, and she frequently found herself hosting parties for faculty and friends. She has been called a world-class knitter and a world-class worrier (especially about her children no matter how old they were). Meanwhile, Lewis was completely immersed in the life of the school – teaching, coaching, directing plays, and running his residences. He was one of the pioneers of ski racing in the Eastern Townships and spent many hours freezing at the bottom of a hill, clipboard in one hand and stopwatch in the other. He was an example of service and character. When he died, one Old Boy remembered him as “an oasis of calm in an otherwise harsh and demanding school.” Indeed, he was. But his contributions went beyond BCS. From the mid-50s until his retirement in 1972, he spearheaded the Lennoxville Players, directing many plays from British farces to Broadway musicals. This was a group of amateur “actors” from all levels of the community who were, like their leader, looking for an enjoyable night out ... and all proceeds to go to a local charity. In 1972, Betty and Lewis retired to Brockville, Ontario. Here, they joined Tadoussac friends, Ray and Coosie Price and Jean and Guy Smith. From there, they travelled to Tadoussac – for many years by boat. An accomplished sailor, Lewis knew every cove and anchorage on the Saguenay, learned from his own experience, but even more, from local captains whom he respected and adored, and, it would seem, who held him in equal esteem. Over the years, his passion for boats gave way to his passion for fishing. There were many overnight trips up the Saguenay, often to the Marguerite, to fish the falling tide, then the rising, then up early to start again. One can still see him standing in hip-waders off the point above the crib, rod in hand, pipe upside down against the drizzle, as dawn was lighting the sky. Betty and Lewis were practising Christians, and while their church in Lennoxville tended to be the BCS Chapel, the one that they were most committed to was the Tadoussac Protestant Chapel. Betty’s great-grandfather had been instrumental in its creation, and Lewis’s father, the Dean, had, for decades, been the summer priest. In 1972, Betty undertook to organise several summer residents to needlepoint the altar kneeler cushions with images of local wildflowers designed by her close friend Barbara Campbell, and for many years, Lewis served as the secretary on the church committee executive. And then there was golf, which Betty loved, and Lewis tolerated, and bridge, which… Betty loved, and Lewis tolerated. For all their lives, home was where the family was, but Tadoussac was where the family was at home. Their love for Tadoussac is best articulated in Lewis’s memoir, Tides of Tadoussac, which included the Rudyard Kipling quotation: “God gave all men all earth to love But since our hearts are small, Ordained for each one place should prove Beloved overall.” His fascination with the history of the place was likewise revealed in his fictional book Privateers and Traders. Theirs was a great love, a love of each other, a love of family and friends, a love of people and community, and a love of place, and that love of place, of that place, of Tadoussac, has been inherited by each of their four children and by each of their families. William Lewis Evans Back to ALL Bios

Father Con Quinby, through his faith, lived a life of service to marginalized and less fortunate people. Quinby, The Reverend Congreve Hamilton – 1928 - 2018 Father Con Quinby, through his faith, lived a life of service to marginalized and less fortunate people. Back to ALL Bios Congreve Hamilton Quinby – 1928 - 2018 Father Con Quinby was born in Rochester, New York, to the late Henry Dean Quinby Jr. and the late Alice Hamilton Onderdonk on November 28, 1928. He attended Phillip’s Academy, Andover, Maryland, graduating in 1946. He matriculated to Williams College, Williamstown, Maryland, graduating in 1950 with a major in music. Con served in the United States Navy during the Korean Conflict as a naval intelligence officer, achieving the rank of Lieutenant, junior grade. While in the navy, he received the call to enter the priesthood in the Episcopal Church, a vocation he fulfilled with devotion, joy and wonder for almost 60 years. He attended Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, Evanston, Illinois, marrying Constance Louise Philp right after graduation on May 31, 1958 in the seminary chapel. They drove cross country on their honeymoon to his first ministry as vicar of St. Joseph’s Church in Buena Park, California. In 1962, Father Quinby was called as rector of Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Los Angeles. Serving in the inner-city during the tumultuous 1960s is when his social justice work truly took hold. He marched in Selma in 1965, registered voters, and advocated for fair housing laws. He was instrumental in building subsidized housing for senior citizens as well as the first center for independent living in an African-American community. He stood with the United Farm Workers in their fight for fair wages and supported the Black Panthers as they fed hungry children. In 1978, Father Quinby became Canon Pastor at Grace and Holy Trinity in Kansas City, Montana, and in 1982 became Priest-in-Charge at St. Augustine’s, also in Kansas City. He served as rector to Trinity Church, Potsdam, New York from 1985 until his retirement from full-time parish ministry in 1994. Father Quinby served fifteen years as a summer chaplain at the Protestant Chapel in his beloved Tadoussac, Quebec, Canada. In retirement, he assisted at parishes in Northern New York as part of the Regional Ministry of St. Lawrence County. For more than twenty years, he served one to two months each winter as Priest-in-Residence at the House of the Redeemer, a retreat house, in New York City. In 2002, Father Quinby and his wife moved to Burlington, Vermont, where he continued to serve as supply clergy in parishes throughout Northern New York and Vermont. His concern for the marginalized found new outlets as a volunteer with the Kairos Prison Ministry and co-founder Camp Agape Vermont, a summer camp for children with a parent who is incarcerated. He also volunteered through the Vermont Department of Corrections and Burlington Community Justice Center as a COSA team member helping prisoners reintegrate into the community. In his spare time, he gardened, created exquisite needlepoint, attended opera, cooked fine food, drank good wine and extended hospitality to all comers. Father Quinby was preceded in death by his brother, H. Dean Quinby, III; stepmother, Maud E. Quinby; and step-father, Lloyd B. van da Linda. He is survived by his wife of 60 years; two daughters, Edith L. Quinby (Paul Cochran) and Carol Q. Hunter (Richard); sister, Linda Q. Letson (Timothy); sister-in-law Elaine E. Quinby; grandchildren P. Quinby Hunter, Laura C. Hunter and Nathan J. Hunter and much-loved nieces and nephews. His funeral was held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, Burlington, Vermont. Constance Quinby Back to ALL Bios

Gordon Price was best friends with his brother, Bill, and devoted to his family. Price, Gordon July 23, 1958 – August 27, 2022 Gordon Price was best friends with his brother, Bill, and devoted to his family. Back to ALL Bios Gordon Price July 23, 1958 – August 27, 2022 Gordon "Gord" Price, son of Harold William Price and Phyllis Ann Mackay Smith, brother to Cynthia Ann Price and William Andrew Price, Born in Quebec City and raised in Montreal. Following family tradition, Gord attended Ashbury College and Bishop's College School (BCS), where he played First Team Football and Hockey. After graduating from BCS he continued his studies at Champlain Regional College in Lennoxville, Quebec. While at CEGEP, he played football and served as a student house parent for Grier House at BCS. Gord’s journey took him west to Alberta, where he enrolled in SAIT’s Hotel Management program. After graduating, he worked in the hospitality industry across Alberta, Vancouver, and Montreal. A dedicated sports enthusiast, Gord had a special love for football and was a lifelong, passionate supporter of the Montreal Canadiens. To his niece Katie and nephew Michael, and later to his great-niece Sophie and great-nephew Jacob, Gord was more than an uncle - he was a loyal presence, always checking in, always interested, and always cheering them on. His extended family was never far from his thoughts. Tadoussac held a unique and sacred place in Gord’s heart. Summers at the Pilot House were filled with adventure and laughter, particularly alongside his brother Bill. Inseparable and only 11 months apart, the two created memories fishing for crapeau de mer, racing to get haircuts before hopping on the Jamboree for a day of sailing, or scavenging for candy money from Granny. Days were spent swimming in the lake with the dogs, picnicking on the rocks with cousins, and enjoying bonfires on the beach. As the years passed, dinners at the Pilot House became a hallmark of Gord’s warmth and humor—his quick wit and infectious laugh bringing joy to every gathering. Gord remained a familiar and welcome figure in the village, often seen walking the dogs on the beach or stopping by to catch up with family and friends. In his later years, he found peace and joy sitting on the back deck of the Pilot House, sharing stories of his youth in Tadoussac with friends and loved ones. Gord passed away in the cherished House of Lords at the Pilot House. His ashes were scattered at his favourite spot by the river. He will be remembered for his kind heart, his deep love for family and dogs, and his unwavering connection to the Pilot House and the beauty of Tadoussac. Nicole Price Back to ALL Bios

Born in Canada but settled in England, Mally was very involved in politics in her adopted country Dobson, Marion Sarah (Smith) Born in Canada but settled in England, Mally was very involved in politics in her adopted country Back to ALL Bios Marion Sarah (Smith) Dobson 1907 - 1992 Marion, or Mally as she was called in Canada, was born in 1907 in Montreal. Her parents were George Carington Smith and Winifred Dawes Smith and she had one sister, Pixie. She grew up on Dorchester Ave. in Montreal and attended King’s Hall, Compton. Her summers were spent in Tadoussac with her many Smith and Price cousins. In 1929, in Montreal, she married Benjamin Arthur Palin Dobson and moved to Heaton Lodge, Bolton, Lancashire in England. She would live the rest of her life in England but made frequent visits to Canada and particularly Tadoussac. She and Ben had three sons. Bob was born in 1931, Chris in 1936, and Andrew in 1942. She had five grandchildren, Richard, Caroline, Jonathan, Nick, and Alexandra (Alex). After Ben’s death in 1962, Marion continued to live in their family home, Whitestock, in the Lake District. Their son Bob took over the family home in the late 1970s or early 1980s and Marion moved to a cottage in the Cotswolds to be near Chris and his wife Pen. In 1982, she moved into a cottage on Chris and Pen’s property and was there until her death in 1992. Marion was smart and interested in everything, especially anything political. She was very politically astute. She rose up the ranks of the Conservative Party and eventually became Chair of the Northwest area of England. This was a huge volunteer job for which she was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1960 for “Political Services.” Her interest in, and knowledge of, politics never waned. She was also a volunteer for the Bolton Nursing Association, the Royal College of Nursing, and the Bolton Hostel Committee. To quote her daughter-in-law, Pen, “She was a wonderful, loving, caring woman.” Pen Dobson Back to ALL Bios

May Dawson played the Chapel organ for many years but not much else is known. Dawson, May May Dawson played the Chapel organ for many years but not much else is known. Back to ALL Bios May Dawson 1870-1967 May Dawson (1870 – 1967) played the organ and helped the community in many other ways. She’s described in the book In the Quiet of This Place as having a cognitive disability but that was the May Dawson who was born in 1908, sister of Doris Molson. Neither of the May Dawsons married. May Dawson of 1870 lived with Louisa Jane Burns in Toronto along with a grand niece and a grand nephew of Louisa’s, Carington D. Smith (18) and Noel Lavina Smith (16). Whether they were related to May is unclear. George Dudley Dawson and Elizabeth Crooks were the parents of: May Dawson (1870 – 1967) and her younger siblings, Aileen (1874 – 1952), Richard and Dudley. Back to ALL Bios

The life of the party, Sue spent many summers at Bayview Cottage with her parents, Lex and Mary Smith Robbins, Susan Ann (Smith) The life of the party, Sue spent many summers at Bayview Cottage with her parents, Lex and Mary Smith Back to ALL Bios Susan Ann Robbins (Smith) 1942-2015 Sue was born on December 8th, 1942, in Quebec City to Mary Isobel Smith and Alexander (Lex) Harcourt Carington Smith (brother of Guy and Gordon Carington Smith). She passed in 2015 at the age of 72. Sue married Keith Gardner Robbins in July, 1967 at Tadoussac, Quebec in the Tadoussac Protestant Chapel with a reception following at Dufferin House. Keith and Sue had two children; daughter Joanne Robbins-Smith of Vancouver, BC and son Craig Robbins of Guelph, Ontario. Joanne married Sean Smith and has one son, Zachary. Craig married Vicky Thompson and have two sons, Kai and Beck. Sue is a first cousin to Ann Van Alstyne, Pam McCarter & Penny Younger (daughters of Guy Carington Smith) and Harcourt Smith and Eve Wickwire (son and daughter of Gordon Carington Smith). Along with family connections to Tadoussac, Sue was a close, life-long friend of Jannie Beattie. Sue’s parents (Lex and Mary) were previous owners of Bayview Cottage here in Tadoussac now owned by the Stairs family and as well for a while co-owned the museum house at the lake in Tad. Sue is remembered as being a fun-loving, charismatic, and wonderful person. From wacky hats and bad puns at family bonfires on Indian Rock, kooky custom poems penned for birthdays and family dinners, to dancing on tables with her skirt tucked into her undergarments at fancy lobster dinners, Sue was always herself and the life of the party. Sue also loved others without judgement. She made people feel comfortable without expectations. Sue radiated love. No matter what life threw her way she handled it with unshakable grace, characteristic poise and indomitable positivity. She was loved by all who met her. Sue loved Tadoussac and the family and friends who call it their second home. Photo below ?, Lewis and Betty Evans, Enid Williams, ?, Barbara O'Halloran, Guy Smith, Susan Smith Back to ALL Bios

Joseph et Rita ont réuni la communauté de Tadoussac pour partager la culture de leur époque. Joseph and Rita brought the Tadoussac community together to share in the culture of their time Villeneuve, Joseph & Rita Gingras Joseph et Rita ont réuni la communauté de Tadoussac pour partager la culture de leur époque. Joseph and Rita brought the Tadoussac community together to share in the culture of their time Back to ALL Bios Joseph Villeneuve 1904 – 1960 et Rita Gingras 1917 - 1979 Joseph Villeneuve a épousé Antonia Olsen le 24 septembre, 1929. Antonia était fille de Gunder Olsen et Antonia Dallaire à Tadoussac et Joseph était fils de Mathias Villeneuve et Domitille Vezeau. Tragiquement, Antonia et son fils mourront, tous les deux, à la naissance de l’enfant. Ils étaient victimes d’un médecin qui ne savait rien des accouchements et aimait la vue du sang. Certains disent qu’il n’était pas médecin, mais brancardier pendant la Première Guerre Mondiale et qu’il avait appris à couper bras et jambes pour abrégner les souffrances des blessés. Plusieurs personnes plaignirent des mauvais traitements de cet homme. Il opera à froid de l’appendicite un jeune garçon de Tadoussac, les jours de ce jeune homme étaient comptés. Il a échappé à la mort par miracle et surtout grâce aux bons soins d’une infirmière. Joseph se remaria dix ans plus tard avec Rita Gingras. Rita Gingras est née le 5 février, 1917. Son père était René Gingras et sa mère Annette Morin de Sacré-Cœur. Dès l’âge de sept ans, elle prend des leçons de piano avec Madame Louis Jean et Mademoiselle Antonia Olsen, la première épouse de Joseph Villeneuve. Comme professeure attitrée, c’est Mère Marie-Laure-de-Jésus, des Petites Franciscaines de Marie, excellente musicienne, qui lui fera passer ses diplômes de musique au Conservatoire de Chicoutimi. A quinze ans, elle obtiendra son diplôme de brevet supérieure qui correspond aujourd’hui au bacchalauréat. Rita était reconnue pour son talent d’accompagnatrice. Elle pouvait suivre n’importe qui à la note que ce soit un chanteur, un accordéoniste, un violoniste ou un musicien quelconque … Elle pouvait donc transposer n’importe quelle pièce musicale dans une autre tonalité et les chanteurs et musiciens appréciaient cette grande souplesse plutôt rare chez les pianistes. Elle épousa Joseph Villeneuve le 30 septembre 1939, il était veuf depuis 1929. Elle aura six enfants : René, Reine, Gaby, (bien connu comme historienne local et auteur du livre d’où provient cette biographie) Roland, Gilles, et Chantale. Rita joua un grand rôle au sein de la communauté Tadoussacienne. Elle était très près des gens, elle jouait toutes les messes du dimanche, les mariages et les funérailles. Elle exerçait le choeur de chant pour les évènements importants de l’année tels Noel, le Jour de l’An, Pâques, les mois du Rosaire etc… Elle était partout, dans les pièces de théâtre, à l’école pour les fêtes d’enfants, dans les concerts et même dans les bars. Joseph était autodidate – il a appris plusieurs métiers par lui-même. Il a été gérant de la Banque Nationale pendant plusieurs années. Il avait appris son métier de technicien en lisant dans les livres et en s’instruisant auprès de son bon ami, électricien, Jos Brisson. Il réparait radio, grille-pain, fer à repasser, bouilloire électrique, télévision etc …Il a ouvert une salle de cinéma où il passait des filmes de Tino Rossi, Fernandel, Bourvil, Laurel et Hardy, et les premiers filmes américains en couleur - ça coûtait .50 pour les adultes et .10 pour les enfants. La salle était inconfortable, mais les gens s’engouffraient trois fois par semaine pour voir les « petites vues », du vendredi au dimanche. Il a travaillé aussi au magasin chez Villeneuve et Frères. C’est d’ailleurs là, derrière le comptoir qu’il est mort, foudroyé par une crise cardiaque. C’était en 1960 et il avait seulement 56 ans. Toute sa vie, Rita notera les principaux évènements de la paroisse, les baptêmes, mariages et décès. Les gens se fiaient sur elle et ils avaient raison de le faire, elle était toujours dévouée et à son poste, prête à rendre service. C’est ce qu’elle fera jusqu’à la fin! Elle joua son dernier service funéraire le 14 septembre, 1979, alors qu’elle était très malade et décèdera le 11 décembre de la même année. Comme aimait à dire les gens du village après sa mort : « Elle en a marié du monde et elle en a enterré ». Elle accumulera la correspondance la plus importante et gardera précieusement les photographies de famille. Malheureusement, lors de l’expropriation de sa maison en 1971, beaucoup de ces documents précieux furent brulés dans la cour de la maison. Toutefois, elle a pu sauver les plus importants comme sa collection de partitions musicales. Rita savait communiquer à sa famille l'amour du passé, l'amour des choses anciennes, des traditions et des ancêtres. En 1979, l’abbé Jean Chevalier, curé de Tadoussac, avait demandé au Pape Jean-Paul 1er, de lui envoyer sa bénédiction papale en remerciement des 50 années qu’elle avait données à la paroisse. Il ne l’a reçue qu’au printemps, il était trop tard, la mort était déjà passée, même si, comme elle l’a dit pendant qu’elle était malade, elle avait encore des choses à faire... De : Les Vielles Familles de Tadoussac 1850 – 1950 par Gaby Villeneuve Joseph Villeneuve 1904 – 1960 et Rita Gingras 1917 - 1979 Joseph and Rita brought the Tadoussac community together to share in the culture of their time Joseph Villeneuve married Antonia Olsen on the 24th of September, 1929. Antonia was the daughter of Gunder Olsen et Antonia Dallaire in Tadoussac, and Joseph was the son of Mathias Villeneuve and Domitille Vezeau. Tragically, in childbirth, both Joseph’s wife, Antonia, and their son died. They were the victims of a “doctor” who knew nothing of birthing and was said to have loved the sight of blood. People said that he wasn’t a doctor, but had been a stretcher-bearer during the First World War and that he had been taught to amputate arms and legs to lessen the injuries of the wounded. Several people complained of bad treatments from this man. He operated on the appendix of a young boy in Tadoussac who nearly died as a result. The boy barely survived, mostly thanks to the good care of a nurse. Joseph was a widower for 10 years until he married Rita Gingras. Rita Gingras was born on February 5th, 1917. Her father was René Gingras and her mother was Annette Morin of Sacré-Cœur. From the age of 7 Rita took piano lessons with Madame Louis Jean and Mademoiselle Antonia Olsen, Joseph’s first wife. As a regular teacher it was Mother Marie-Laure-de-Jésus, of the Petites Franciscaines of Marie, an excellent musician, that helped her pass her diplomas of music at the Conservatoire de Chicoutimi. At 15 years old, she obtained her Superior Brevet Diploma which is the equivalent of a Baccalaureate today. Rita was recognized for her talent as an accompanist. She could follow any note from a singer, an accordionist, a violinist or any musician. She could transpose any piece of music into another tone and the singers and musicians appreciated this great flexibility which is rare among pianists. Rita married Joseph Villeneuve on the 30th of September, 1939, after he had been a widower for ten years. They had six children: René, Reine, Gaby, (well-known as a local historian and author of the book this biography came from) Roland, Gilles, and Chantale. Rita played a big role in the heart of the Tadoussac community. She was very close to the people and she played for all the Sunday Masses, the weddings and the funerals. She ran the choir practices for the special events of the year like Christmas, New Year’s, Easter, and the months of the Rosary. She was everywhere, involved with the theatre productions, at the school for the children’s partes, in the concerts, and even in the bars. Joseph was self-taught and learned many different trades by himself. He was manager of the National Bank for several years. He learned how to be a technician by reading books and by having instruction from his good friend, Jos Brisson, an electrician. He repaired radios, toasters, irons, electric kettles, televisions and other small appliances. He opened a movie house where he showed films of Tino Rossi, Fernandel, Bourvil, Laurel and Hardy, and the first American films in colour. They cost 50 cents for adults and 10 cents for children. The room was uncomfortable, but people filled it three times a week to see the "little shows", from Friday to Sunday. He also worked in the store at Villeneuve et Frères. It was there behind the counter that he died, struck down by a heart attack. It was 1960 and he was only 56 years old. All her life Rita played for the main events of the parish: the baptisms, the weddings and the funerals. People relied on her and they had reason to. She was always devoted to her work, ready to offer service. She did it right up until the end! She played her last service – a funeral – on the 14th of September, 1979. Then she became very sick and died on the 11th of December of the same year. As the people in the village liked to say: “She married everybody and buried everybody!” Rita kept a collection of the most important correspondence that she received and the precious photographs of the family. Sadly, during the expropriation of her house in 1971, many of these precious documents were burned in the heart of the house. Fortunately, she did save the most important pieces including her music. Rita passed on to her family her love of the past, her love of ancient things, and the traditions of the ancestors. In 1979, Fr Jean Chevalier, the priest of Tadoussac, asked Pope John-Paul 1st to send Rita a Papal Blessing and thanks for her 50 years of service to the church. It wasn’t received until the spring – it was too late – her death had already happened, even though as she said while she was sick, she still had things to do! From : Les Vielles Familles de Tadoussac 1850 – 1950 by Gaby Villeneuve Back to ALL Bios