Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré
Le Cyclorama

Speaker: Hélène Jasmin
When: Thursday, October 16, 2025, 19:30 - 21:00
Where: Centennial Hall,
       288 Beaconsfield Blvd, Beaconsfield, H9W 4A4

Lecture in French followed by a bilingual question period

The Jerusalem Cyclorama, a tourist site of invaluable heritage and artistic value, continues to inspire admiration from visitors of all faiths. This cyclorama is the largest in North America, measuring 14 metres high and 110 metres long.
Inaugurated in Montreal in early 1889 during a large exhibition, then relocated to Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, the building had to close in the fall of 2018. The following year, the government of Quebec designated it as a heritage monument. Today, visits have resumed, in small groups
This 360-degree painting was originally admired in Montreal (at the corner of Sainte-Catherine and Saint-Urbain, now the Place des Arts). A unique work in Canada. We are in the era of 'panoramas', long before film projections.

Hélène Jasmin, author and speaker, was educated at UQAM in Sociology; at École de radio-télévision Pierre Dufault in Montréal; and Violin private class with Master Eugène Bastien, member of MSO. Her professional experience includes: freelance journalist for many specialised newspaper: Le Compositeur canadien, OUR CANADA; freelance radio program host, Radio-Canada FM, Montréal; assistant curator for different exhibits; author of books on the history of theatre, arts and gardening, including on Elsie Reford, Frédéric Back and Père Émile Legault. She is Vice-President of the Quebec cultural enterprise La Belle Amérique.

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250th anniversary of the Province of Quebec liberation attempt by the USA

Speaker: Jean-Pierre Raymond
When: Thursday, September 18, 2025, 19:30 - 21:00
Where: Centennial Hall,
       288 Beaconsfield Blvd, Beaconsfield, H9W 4A4

Lecture in English followed by a bilingual question period.

In 1775, an invasion of the Province of Quebec occurred. The Lotbinière family got involved on both sides of the issue. The father in law Chaussegros de Léry, while dead since 1756, had built Fort Chambly, part of Fort Niagara, the Montréal ramparts and the Québec ramparts all involved in the events. The son of de Léry built Fort St-Jean in 1748 and was part of Carleton's staff. De Lotbinière's son was a British artillery officer during the siege of Fort Saint-Jean and was taken prisoner in Philadelphia. His daughter lived with a British officer; they fled to Massachusett and he became an American officer. The brother of Lotbinière who was a Recollet joined the rebellion and retreated to New-York where he became the first Catholic Chaplain of the US Army. Finally, Michel Chartier de Lotbinière was sent by France to Boston to support the rebellion with his knowledge of artillery manufacture.

Jean-Pierre Raymond is a retired engineer and history buff who studies the first Canadian engineers..

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Our lectures take place on the 3rd Thursday of the month, starting at 19:30.