Musée de la Vieille École

The old school has been part of the architectural and cultural heritage of Natashquan since 1913. Over the years, the school had several vocations. It was renovated, expanded and moved several times. Despite it all, today it continues to elicit a sense of respect for all those who attended classes in the humble building.

The school was inaugurated by Father Garnier in the fall of 1913. It was a cause for celebration in the village; everybody was so proud of Mr. Hilaire Carbonneau, who had supervised the construction of the school. The village children could now get an education in a brand new building.

The schoolchildren of those days have kept vivid memories of their school: “It was one singe classroom. We would sit in rows of five on the wooden benches.” Some years later, it was expanded to accommodate two classrooms. A furnace in the centre of the room provided heating during the cold winters.

The old school is where poet Gilles VIgneault received his primary education, from 1935 to 1942, with his fellow classmates Paul and Fernand.

In 1951, the school was replaced by a more functional building and became a parish centre. That is, until 1962, when the four classrooms of the brand new school proved insufficient to accommodate the growing student population. The old school then became an annex to the main building, providing two additional classrooms.

In later years, the old building became a shelter adjacent to the community rink. It was then moved again and abandoned, as if waiting for it’s next mandate. “We have kept it as a souvenir”, sing Vigneault.

In 2006, the old school project was inaugurated. At last, the historical building had been given it’s ultimate purpose: it was to serve as a sort of memory lane where Gilles Vigneault’s mythical characters could tell theirs stories and showcase their creator’s incredible talent.