Winter Wonders at Quebec’s Museums
Nathalie Lampron, museologist & writer
Put a log in the fireplace: winter traditions
In Souvenirs des hivers d’autrefois, Victoriaville’s Musée Laurier rekindles memories of winters past with displays of objects and images. The exhibition also includes oral reminiscences gathered during a cultural mediation project in the community. Bring along your parents and grandparents to share in the heart-warming memories!
Exhibition in French only.
Going further back in time, we have an opportunity to explore what winter was like in New France through a guided tour of the exhibition L’hiver à l’époque de la Nouvelle-France at the Maison Saint-Gabriel, in Montréal. A time when staying warm was a constant concern!
Guided tour in French only.
History trivia: What is it? What object was very useful in the past during intense cold weather? It is part of the collection of the Site historique du Magasin général Dumoulon, in Rouyn-Noranda. Warm coal was placed in a drawer on the side.  |
Hold on to your hat … it’s time for winter sports!
Skiing is a traditional winter sport. Take advantage of your outings to the snow-clad hills near Saint-Sauveur to visit the Laurentian Ski Museum. Did you know that the region is recognized as the cradle of skiing in Canada?
One of the exhibitions at Québec City’s Musée de la civilisation also attracts our attention: Come and play outside! 200 years of practising sports in Quebec City. Generation after generation has taken to the city’s slopes, rivers and wide open spaces for wholehearted enjoyment: skating, curling, skiing, ice canoeing, snowshoeing . . . It’ll put you in the mood for some outdoor fun!
Are you a snowmobile enthusiast? Head to the Museum of Ingenuity J. Armand Bombardier, named after the inventor of this mode of transportation that was skillfully designed to meet the challenges of Quebec winters!
Winter ... raw and glorious in the museum collections
You’ll want to listen closely during the new immersive exhibition at the Musée maritime du Québec, in L’Islet-sur-Mer. Imagine life aboard the sturdy Ernest Lapointe icebreaker, tossed about by gale-force winter winds as it broke through the ice-covered waters. The artist Caroline Gagné has designed an enthralling soundscape from archival excerpts and recordings made aboard the ship. It definitely won’t leave you cold!
John Y. Johnstone, Montreal 1887 – Havana 1930, Winter, About 1915-1920. Oil on canvas, 33 x 40,6 cm. Gift of Mr. Jean-Pierre Valentin. The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts / Photo : Christine Guest
Clarence Gagnon, Le Pont de glace à Québec, 1920. Huile sur toile, 56,7 x 74,5 cm. Collection du Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec
Henri Masson, Hockey, 1940. Huile sur toile, 55,6 x 66,3 cm. Collection Séminaire de Joliette. Don des Clercs de Saint-Viateur du Canada. 2012.035. Musée d'art de Joliette
At home The art of appreciating winter: The many shades of white! Choose a winter-themed painting from the online collections of Quebec’s art museums: explore the works at the Musée d’art de Joliette, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec. See if you can detect how the artist has represented the various shades of the snow and ice. This will let you sharpen your powers of observation! You can also take time to look closely at the snowy landscapes in your surroundings. You’ll begin to see winter in a whole new light. |
Life below zero
Aquarium de Québec / Photo : Julie Audet
Zoo Ecomuseum / Photo : Victoria De Martigny
Espace pour la vie / Photo : Claude Lafond
Curious about how northern animals adapt to the cold? Enjoy your chance to admire the polar bears, walruses and arctic foxes at the Aquarium du Québec, in Sainte-Foy. Meanwhile, the Montréal Biodôme takes you on an excursion to the land of the penguins in the Subantarctic Islands ecosystem. And as a bonus, you can warm up in the tropical ecosystem. All bundled up, head to the Ecomuseum Zoo, in Montréal’s West Island, to visit the outdoor zoo and discover Quebec wildlife in a natural setting. Spot and observe the otters, wolves, deer, lynxes and so many others!
At home Science experiments: Having fun with ice! Take advantage of a freezing cold day to create ice bubbles or, if you prefer to stay warm, watch the formation of ice crystals online. These fascinating experiments are available for viewing on the Montréal Science Centre’s website. |
Quebec’s museums are ready to welcome you in a safe environment! Be sure to inform yourself about the public health measures and the reservation procedure before you arrive.
