Matthew Farfan

The long-awaited grand opening of the new Granite Exhibit and Museum of Stanstead, or “GEMS” for short, took place yesterday at the museum, located at 14 Notre-Dame-Ouest in downtown Stanstead.


Several hundred dignitaries and guests were on hand for the event, which was hosted by GEMS President David Bourgon (right). Three years in the making, the new complex is part industry showroom / conference centre and part museum. It will be open to visitors seven days a week, and will be a much welcome addition to the list of attractions in this area.



GRANITE CAPITAL OF CANADA
Bourgon, together with his wife Sandra Bergeron, board members Robert Sheldon and Raymond Bédard, and local funders, addressed the crowd before officially opening the centre. Bourgon, who was visibly tired, said, “Stanstead is the granite capital of Canada. This complex will help people discover an important part of their history, as well as the expertise involved in an industry whose origins date back to the 1800s, and which has had to adapt to society’s ever-changing needs.”



LONG HISTORY
Granite has been the mainstay of the local economy for over a century. The museum’s artifacts, photographs and audiovisual material testify to that long history. With exhibits touching upon a range of themes, including the formation of granite, quarrying, cutting, polishing, sculpting, engraving, transportation, and major public monuments, visitors will learn everything they need to know about this durable stone.


CLASSY
By the reaction of the crowd yesterday, the exhibits and accompanying documentation are of a high calibre. And if the comments that were passed – comments like “classy,” “beautiful,” and “first-rate” – are any indication, the region’s newest museum is well on its way to achieving the success it deserves.


The Granite Exhibit and Museum of Stanstead is supported by the CLD Memphrémagog, the MRC Memphrémagog, the Town of Stanstead, the Caisse populaire de Stanstead, the Fonds de Solidarité de la FTQ, local granite companies and artisans, and many local donors and volunteers.

For more information on the Granite Exhibit and Museum of Stanstead, or for opening hours and entry fees, call (819) 876-5576. Or click here: http://www.stansteadgranite.org.

(Photos: Matthew Farfan)