Sir George-Étienne Cartier National Historic Site of Canada

Activities

Theatre Performances / Reenactment for Regular Visitors

Come experience life in Montreal during the 19th century at the Cartier house.

• Lady Cartier's service
• Political Honeymoon
• Lady Cartier’s feast
• A Victorian Christmas

Lady Cartier’s service : Confessions of a 19th Century Servant

A bourgeoise household © Parcs Canada / Normand Rajotte

During this interactive activity, a servant steps directly out of the 19th century and asks the visitors to apply for one of the domestic’s positions at the Cartier family’s magnificent Victorian home. The “interviews” conducted at the Cartier House will start at 2:30 p.m. (1:30 and 3:30 in French) every weekdays.

When the visitors show up at the Cartier home for their “interview”, they’ll meet one of the servants of the house who, during a vignette, will allow them to share in the daily lives of domestics during the 19th century. It’s an excellent opportunity to glimpse the ups and downs associated with their duties, which may well become their own… Then, to wrap up, the servant will bring them in on a few secrets and anecdotes about his masters!

What position interests them most? Would they like to take over from the obliging, impeccably-mannered butler? Do they have the qualifications of a patient, gentle governess for Hortense and Joséphine, the daughters of Monsieur Cartier? Unless, of course, they’d prefer service as a docile, hardworking cook? Can they at least set a table correctly and fold napkins? Indeed, are they so much as able to look the part?

This activity is presented from July 3 to August 25, 2006, Monday to Friday at 2:30 p.m. (French visits at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.)
Length : 1 hour

Le salon de lady Cartier © Parks Canada

Political Honeymoon

During this interactive activity, a couple from Cartier’s entourage invites the visitors to take an active part in organizing Mr. Cartier’s electoral campaign.

George-Étienne Cartier, an eminent politician and businessman, pursued his career in the heart of an era marked by profound change: urbanization and industrialization characterized Montréal in the second half of the 19th century. This period of transformation would give rise to many challenges for politicians. For instance, how can one bring together and convince a broad range of electors such as Anglophones, Francophones and Allophones, Catholics and Protestants, rich and poor. How can one get citizens with different values or customs to adhere to a single cause and a single party?

During this amusing activity, visitors will try to find solutions and combinations to overcome these obstacles so that Mr. Cartier may pursue his honeymoon and win the next election. They will also discover the electoral manoeuvres and issues of the era, rivalries between parities, the role and hidden influence of women in politics, and much more! This activity is thus an incursion into the political and social world of the 19th century, while exploring the splendid Victorian residence of one of the fathers of the Canadian Confederation, Sir George-Étienne Cartier.

This activity is presented from July 8 to September 3, 2006, on Saturdays and Sundays, at 4:00 p.m. (French visits at 1:30 p.m. and at 2:45 p.m.).
Length : 1 hour

Lady Cartier’s feast © Parks Canada / Normand Rajotte

Lady Cartier’s feast: A taste of 19th century etiquette and bourgeois lifestyle.

Once you have participated in one of these theatrical re-enactments, in which representatives of the rising middle classes and servants brief you on all the social niceties, you will never be the same again...

Imagine the magnificent Victorian home of the family of George-Étienne Cartier, one of the Fathers of Confederation, Minister of Defence, lawyer for the Grand Trunk Railway, etc. Imagine being given a lesson in etiquette. Better still, imagine your neighbour or friend, or wife or husband, in a parlour where they had to put their new knowledge of social dos and don'ts into practice. A most edifying evening awaits you indeed!

This activity is presented from September 23 to October 29, 2006 on Saturdays and Sundays, at 2:30 p.m. (French visits at 1:30 p.m. and at 3:30 p.m.).
Length : 1 hour

A Victorian Christmas, a seasonal interpretation activity © Parks Canada / Normand Rajotte

A Victorian CHRISTMAS: Experience the magic of the holidays at the Cartier House!

For this occasion, the Victorian residence of George-Étienne Cartier’s family is trimmed with the most beautiful Christmas ornaments in vogue in the 1860s in Montréal. The Christmas tree in the living room is decorated, the mistletoe is hung at the entrance and the final preparations and the errands at the Bonsecours Market are done. The hosts are decked out in all their finery. The table is set and the meal is served; the only thing missing is you!

There’s nothing like a re-enactment at Cartier House to get you into the Christmas spirit! Every weekend, figures from the 19th century introduce you to how Christmas was celebrated by George-Étienne Cartier, a prominent politician in the 1860s.

The exhibition is presented from November 15 to December 23, 2006, Wednesday to Friday, from 10:00 a.m. to noon and from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Theatrical presentations on Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.(French visits at 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.)
Length : 1 hour

• Educational Activities
• Theatre performances for groups
• 2006 Calendar of Activities
• Exhibitions