Prime Minister Stephen Harper touring Saint-Louis Forts and Ch??teaux
Prime Minister Stephen Harper on December 16th announced support for the restoration of three important historic landmarks in Qu??bec City, with a view to preserving their heritage and culture for generations to come. He was joined by Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, Steven Blaney, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Jacques Gourde, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, for Official Languages and for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, and R??gis Labeaume, Mayor of Qu??bec City.
This support will contribute to the restoration of the historic walls around Old Qu??bec City, rehabilitate the Dauphine Redoubt military fortification, and restore elements of the Maillou House National Historic Site. Activities will include repairing and stabilizing the masonry in walls, strengthening foundations and improving cladding and drainage.
Restoration activities will help ensure that the history, culture and beauty of Qu??bec City are respected and preserved for the enjoyment of Quebecers, Canadians and international visitors for years to come. The fortifications being restored surround Old Qu??bec. This is part of the Old Qu??bec historic district which has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Restoration activities will also generate more than 500 jobs and promote economic development and tourism.
Cultural resources management experts (architects, archaeologists, historians and engineers) from Parks Canada and Public Works and Government Services Canada are involved in the planning process and the drafting of project specifications. These experts will help ensure the historical integrity of these iconic sites.
The restoration projects, which are being managed by Parks Canada, will be funded using a portion of the infrastructure investment announced by the Prime Minister on November 24, 2014.
These investments are the latest of many projects that the Government has supported to ensure that Qu??bec City remains one of the most beautiful cities in the world and one where communities thrive. Other examples include the restoration of various components of the Fortifications of Qu??bec National Historic Site, specifically the Kent, Saint-Jean and Saint-Louis gates, Maillou House, the Dufferin Terrace, the Saint-Louis Forts and Ch??teaux, Montmorency Park and the Governors??? Garden, the expansion of the Mus??e national des beaux-arts, the renovation of the Monast??re des Augustines, the rebuilding of the Voltigeurs de Qu??bec Armoury (formerly the Grande All??e Armoury), the year-round opening of Gilmour Hill, the expansion and renovation of the Pavillon de l’Education Physique et des Sports at the University of Laval, and the construction of an indoor soccer complex in Parc Chauveau. – pm.gc.ca
