Glipmse of History
From the traditions of the Abenaki to the First World War to the installation of French in the region, the characters Édith and Jonathan take us on a lighthearted trip back through centuries of history and fascinating facts in a series of 10 four-minute videos.
This project was funded by the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’Habitation through component regional outreach support component of the regions and rurality fund.
Texts: William S. Messier
Research: Laurent Busseau
Director: Marianne Roy, Productions Traces et Souvenirs
English version: Lysanne Gallant and Cynthia Touchette
Voice: Ann-Catherine Choquette and François-Louis Laurin
Sound Design: David Elias
Mamlawbagak
Mamlawbagak, Namagok, Odanak... the Abenaki had a tradition of naming places after the role they played in hunting or transportation.What if we did the same thing today? Watch as Édith and Jonathan have fun renaming local place names.
Join them as they uncover the original names—and their meanings—of the towns, lakes and rivers in the Memphrémagog region.
Loyalist pioneers
Clearing the land, uprooting trees and moving massive boulders was all in a day’s work for the 18th-century Loyalists who settled in the untamed wilderness that would become the Eastern Townships. Find out how settlers loyal to the British Crown carved out the region’s first township amid the pristine forests.
Hyatt’s Mills gets a new name
Should Sherbrooke be pronounced in French or in English?Some say French, the language of the majority these days, while others say English, because of the city’s British history and as a nod to Sir John Coape Sherbrooke, former Governor of Canada.
It’s a great debate... What say you?
From Highlanders to Outlanders
Fancy a nice scotch to go along with your poutine? In Lingwick Township, where 3,000 Scottish immigrants settled in the 19th century, it’s possible! Descendants of the Highlanders are alive and well to this day, keeping the past alive and sharing stories of their ancestors.
Princess Salm-Salm
The characters in a novel have nothing on the incredible life of this Saint-Armand native. Princess Agnes Salm Salm was a bold adventurer whose life was filled with enough excitement for a Hollywood blockbuster!
Elves in the Eastern Townships
Mischievous leprechauns aren’t just the stuff of Irish and Scottish folklore. They can also be found in Granby Township, where they’re equally impish and naughty.
Before there was Madonna
Did you know that a flamboyant Quebecer, born in the Eastern Townships, rose to become one of the biggest vaudeville stars in history? At the height of her career, she was the most imitated and best-paid female artist of her time. Lady Gaga, who?
Escape to the Townships
The hills and mountains of the Eastern Townships are a dream playground for thrill-seeking mountain bikers and skiers. But we’re pretty sure the explorers and pioneers back in the day were less impressed.
Townshippers or Cantonniers ?
Pop quiz: How well do you know your Eastern Townships?
- Why was the Catholic Church so eager to have French Canadians move to the Eastern Townships?
- In which decade did the French-speaking population begin to outnumber the English-speaking population?
- What was the determining factor in this demographic shift?
Did you pass?
A lasting legacy
The First World War may have taken place overseas, but it left an indelible mark on the Townships Trail. Understanding the past gives us a better grasp on modern issues and debates.
