A historical reconstruction at the Site de la Nouvelle-France before reopening

Soldiers and other characters straight out of the 18^e century are gathered in Saint-Félix-d’Otis this weekend. They are in fact members of the Quebec Garrison and have arranged to meet at the Site de la Nouvelle-France for their Soldier’s School. Closed since 2020, the site is coming back to life a few days before its official reopening, scheduled for June 25.

On Saturday, the muskets sounded while the Gaudarville Company was in training. Its members will take part in the reenactment of several battles in Canada and the United States over the coming weeks.

We’re going to Niagara, we’re going to Ticonderoga, we’re going to be on the Plains of Abraham also in September. We take advantage of our immersion in the New France Site to be able to revisit all of our maneuvers and weapon handlingsays François Gagnon, captain of the Gaudarville company.

These soldiers are actually passionate about history and historical reenactments. They come from all four corners of the province and come from all kinds of professional backgrounds. They participate each year in different activities with the Quebec Garrison.

We reenact battles, we create a character, we relive as in times past, we eat, we live in tents, we live in camps, in forts and then it’s a passion that allows us to escape from our daily. We don’t have technology, we don’t have phones, we don’t have television, we don’t have radiocontinues François Gagnon.

There are more than twenty of them taking part in this immersive weekend.

I find it a bit like camping, but very complicated. That is to say, you have to have period equipment. It’s quite difficult to find the right uniform, the right fabrics, the French soldiers’ tent, it’s not very well documented. So we’re going to look for pieces of information here and there. We put it together and then each year, we remember what we need, what is historic, what is not.mentions Samuel Venière, participant and historian at the Quebec Naval Museum.

For the whole family

Women and children are welcome in this timeless universe.

years that I have been in this environment. I learned how to make costumes from real fabrics, linen, cotton, silk, wool, no polyester, no rayon, no velcro and also how to attach them”,”text”:”That’s 28 years that I have been in this environment. I learned how to make costumes from real fabrics, linen, cotton, silk, wool, no polyester, no rayon, no velcro and also how to attach them”}}”>I’ve been in this industry for 28 years. I learned how to make costumes from real fabrics, linen, cotton, silk, wool, no polyester, no rayon, no velcro and also how to attach themexplains Jacinthe Tardif, who plays the apothecary’s wife.

We act like we’re back in time and it’s cool to see how it goes and everythingadds her daughter, Delphine Petit-Tardif.

Open in full screen mode

With the recent investments of 3 million dollars at the Site de la Nouvelle-France, the historical dive is optimal in the heart of the cinema sets.

It’s escape, it’s adventure and it’s also for pleasure. We are above all a group of friends who socialize, who have fun together. We play games after practice. It’s not just military training. It’s also fun. Canadian checkers games, three of a kind, which is a game that the soldiers played at the time, we play dice then we sing songs like in the time of New Franceconcludes Samuel Venière.