Fort Chambly National Historic site of Canada

Activities

Special Events: Fort Chambly Puts on Its Sunday Best! - Summer 2006

Musket-firing demonstrations Every weekend in July and August

Chambly in the days of New France. © Parks Canada / 2002

Sunday, May 7 – The Maypole Ceremony

Relive an old tradition: when spring arrived, settlers stripped the branches off a tree, decorated it, and planted it in front of the seigneurial manor. Then, as part of a ceremony, they blackened the trunk with gunshots! This activity presented in collaboration with the Société de reconstitution historique du Québec , a local historical re-enactment society.

Habitants blacken the maypole with their musket in front of the fort © Parks Canada / Sandra Fabris

Sunday, July 2 – Francoeur, the gunsmith,– From the sword to the musket

Gather round this savvy craftsman and learn more about the making and care of the weapons our ancestors used, such as the sword, the sabre, the bayonet and firearms of all kinds.

Sunday, July 9 – La Compagnie franche de la Marine

Witness 18th century military drills and musket practice, as conducted by the Stewart Museum’s Compagnie franche de la Marine. For the benefit of visitors to Fort Chambly, this military re-enactment society stages a dress parade and a changing of the guard, complete with fife and drum, and gets in some shooting practice.

Sunday, July 16 – Crafts and skills of New France

Step up and meet a host of tradesmen and –women straight out of the days of New France: an innkeeper, a lace-maker, a cheese-maker, an apothecary and a cutler. Each has a unique story to tell you and your family.

Musket firing demonstrations every weekend in July and August © André Corbeij

Sunday, July 23 – La Compagnie franche de la Marine

Witness 18th century military drills and musket practice, as conducted by the Stewart Museum’s Compagnie franche de la Marine. For the benefit of visitors to Fort Chambly, this military re-enactment society stages a dress parade and a changing of the guard, complete with fife and drum, and gets in some shooting practice.

Sunday, July 30 –Doing Business in New France

Chambly’s storekeeper bids you to come inside the King’s magazine for an introduction into commerce and trade as they were carried on by Canada’s colonists circa 1750.

Sunday, August 6 – Archaeology Month: Small things, great memories

See how objects of everyday use have developed over time. To aid you in your discovery, two Parks Canada specialists present an assortment of artifacts uncovered during various archaeological digs.

The cedar shingles craftsman © Animation d'autrefois

Sunday, August 13 – La Compagnie franche de la Marine

Witness 18th century military drills and musket practice, as conducted by the Stewart Museum’s Compagnie franche de la Marine. For the benefit of Fort Chambly’s visitors, this military re-enactment society stages a dress parade and a changing of the guard, complete with fife and drum – and gets in some shooting practice to boot!

Sunday, August 20 – Chambly in the 18 th century

History comes alive in a variety of tableaux interpreted by costumed characters at different locations throughout the fort’s inner courtyard. Among the many activities on tap, you’ll be treated to a demonstration of musket and swivel gun practice, pewter spoon casting, pottery-making, not to mention a special army recruiting drive for children.

A peasant woman in period costume © Parks Canada

Sunday, August 27 – Profession: King's Engineer

In the company of Emmanuel Nivon, a costumed history interpreter, take a peek into the world of 18th-century military engineering. You’ll come away with more than a few insights into the principles and methods involved in building fortifications such as Fort Chambly’s.

Sunday, September 3 – the cedar roof shingles craftsman

There’s more to making cedar shake (shingles) than first meets the eye. As you watch and listen to this craftsman as he goes about fashioning this important roofing material, you’ll also get an introduction into the story of how traditional French houses underwent a series of adaptations to make them better suited to the rigors of the Canadian climate.