To highlight Montreal’s 375 th anniversary, we visited the « Maison St-Gabriel » next to the
land where our ancestors André and Jean lived.
46 participants from the provinces of Québec and Ontario as well as the USA visited the
beautiful farmhouse, dating back to 1668, from the basement to the attic as well as outbuildings.
The “Filles du Roi” resided and trained here. They became the well-educated and devoted women
whose values were passed down to us.
The “Nouvelle-France » lunch enchanted everyone and reminded us of the words of
Marguerite Bourgeoys "I will give them soup and bread". The new garden of origins, protected by
the mythical turtle, is in homage to aboriginal women.
Together, we lived unforgettable moments which immersed us for a short moment into the
lives of our creators/builders ancestors. To conclude the day, we walked to the nearby YMCA to
share some food before going our separate ways. When we are together we truly feel our shared
inheritance.
Attached are some pictures illustrating the day.
