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The Citadelle, Saturday, June 28, 2008
“Si j’avais les ailes d’un ange, je partirais pour Québec!” If I had angel’s wings, I would fly to the City of Québec. So begins the song “Les ailes d’un ange” by Québécois singer-songwriter Robert Charlebois.
And who could blame him?
The City of Québec has never been as animated, as vibrant, as dazzling as it is this year, the year of its 400th anniversary.
It is such a pleasure to walk its streets, to discover its charms and history!
As you know, this beautiful city was founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain. Through his actions, the very cradle of French civilization in North America was established.
And over the last four centuries, it has become a centre of Francophone political, literary, artistic and economic life, not only in Quebec but throughout Canada.
The City of Québec now stands as a beacon of La Francophonie in North America.
And without a doubt, the Citadelle is one of its jewels.
It is the only military fortification in North America that remains intact.
If its walls and ramparts could talk, they would recount our military past under different regimes.
They would tell you of the challenges of setting down roots in a new land of harsh extremes.
They would describe the sometimes brutal meeting of civilizations, cultures, languages, lifestyles and viewpoints.
They would whisper the details discussed around the table between Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt and William Lyon Mackenzie King, as they developed their martial plan to defeat the Axis powers during two historic conferences, held right here.
And they would boast of the Royal 22e Régiment, Canada’s only entirely Francophone infantry regiment.
My husband Jean‑Daniel Lafond and I are so fortunate to be able to stay and work here, for behind the ramparts sits the governor general’s second official residence.
Today, we would like to share with you our pleasure at being here and our joy to be celebrating 400 years of history and French presence in the Americas.
We have been getting ready for these festivities for a long time.
Beginning in November 2005, at the request of Mayor Boucher and the Société du 400e de Québec, my husband and I agreed to serve as ambassadors and as a link with France.
Whenever and wherever possible, we took every opportunity to invite all Canadians to be a part of the celebration.
And then, in 2007, we were invited by the President of the French Republic to travel to France to celebrate the friendship that has united us on both sides of the Atlantic for four centuries.
That visit was a very proud moment for us.
We were deeply moved by the welcome we received, particularly the gift presented by the cities of La Rochelle and Rochefort and the Agglomération de Royan Atlantique: Le Grand Livre de Champlain, which evokes Champlain’s voyages in New France.
It is a brilliant work on display not far from here, within the Citadelle, in the Cap-aux-Diamants Redoubt.
And speaking of which, I invite you to re‑discover the Redoubt, just recently restored. It is located on the west bank of the promontory and is one of the rare remnants of the City of Québec’s earliest fortifications and one of Canada’s oldest military buildings.
After years of hard work and with the collaboration of several partners, we have succeeded in transforming it into a cultural space in which we can showcase our heritage, and I am so proud of this accomplishment.
As part of the anniversary celebrations, we are also presenting two exhibits that I encourage you to see:
The first features the pioneers of this city who have received national honours, along with the coats of arms and flags of the various regimes.
The other brings together some of the extraordinary works from the Peter Winkworth Collection, entitled Early Impression of Québec.
It is with great enthusiasm that my husband and I have been involved in these projects and in many others, including the Grande Traversée, a voyage that began in La Rochelle and ended this week with the arrival of the flotilla.
The majestic Belem—a 112-year-old three-masted barque—left La Rochelle at the same time as the flotilla and will be sailing into port on July 3. This is something you won’t want to miss, believe me—we were there, my husband and I, when it left France!
Of course, the Citadelle is a vital part of the history of this city and a heritage site that is well worth seeing.
Which is why we have opened its doors to you today, so that you might discover and enjoy all that it has to offer, and we hope that you will take in some of its rich and colourful summer program, highlighting four centuries of achievements.
Have a wonderful visit! And now, Jean-Daniel, if you please.