Matthew Farfan

Ray and Diana Baillie have just completed their third book, Imprints III: Discovering the Historic Face of English Quebec. Published in 2004 by Price-Patterson Ltd., the book is the third volume in a series of three featuring the historic landmarks of English Quebec. This latest book spotlights the Quebec City region, the Saguenay, the North Shore, and the Gaspé.

Two years ago, the Baillies released Imprints II, which focused on the architectural and historical landmarks of the Eastern Townships. The year before that, they published Imprints, which looked at Montreal, the Laurentians, the Outaouais, southwestern Quebec, and the Richelieu Valley.

Like the previous two volumes, Imprints III is divided into chapters, each corresponding to a geographical area. The book is lavishly illustrated with photographs, and each photo is accompanied by a brief text on the person, place, or event concerned.

Some of the landmarks featured are, like their builders, relatively famous; others are more obscure. For example, just about everyone has heard of Quebec City’s splendid Château Frontenac. Few, however, are familiar with the Tadoussac Tennis Club. Which is what makes this book interesting. Not all of the subjects are famous historic sites. Most, in fact, are quite modest. But each is interesting in its own way. There are barns, railway stations, blacksmith shops, churches, inns, factories, fortifications, office buildings, pioneer homes, lighthouses, shops, schoolhouses, and more.

The Baillies at a book launch. (Photo: Matthew Farfan)

At the beginning of each of their books, the authors state that their aim is not to write an architectural study, a travel guide, or a local history, but “to highlight the presence and culture of the English who helped to build communities in Quebec.” Their intent, they say, is to show that the English of Quebec were more than just politicians and bankers and captains of industry, as they are so often portrayed in the history books. They were also ordinary people “struggling to survive as labourers, farmers, shopkeepers, doctors and educators.” And they made their mark everywhere they went.

The landmarks the Baillies have chosen were selected not necessarily for their architectural importance or beauty, though many are important and beautiful, but for the historical contributions of their builders or occupants. For example, the Anglican Residential School in La Tuque, which has sat idle for years, with broken windows and weeds growing everywhere, is included not because it is particularly wonderful to look at, but because it represents an important though dark episode in our history when Native Canadian children were placed into church-run schools in an attempt to assimilate them. Forbidden to speak their own language or practice the ways of their people, many of these children emerged from these institutions scarred for life.

Anyone familiar with the Laurentians, the Townships, Montreal, or any of the other regions covered in the Imprints series will certainly notice omissions. It is important to remember, however, that these books are not meant as complete guidebooks to all of our historic sites, but as a sampling of some of the more historically important ones. The authors' purpose is clearly to create awareness, which is after all the first step towards education and ultimately preservation. In this they have succeeded.

Imprints III: Discovering the Historic Face of English Quebec (2004), by Ray & Diana Baillie, is published by Price-Patterson Ltd. Available in soft-cover, the book contains 255 pages, black and white photographs and maps, a table of contents, and a bibliography. Retail price (including s/h within Canada and GST) is $43.82.

Copies of Imprints, Imprints II, or Imprints III may be ordered directly from the publishers at: Price-Patterson Ltd., 310 Victoria Ave., Suite 105, Westmount, Qc, H3Z 2M9. Consult the publishers' website at: www.pricepatterson.com.