The Beginnings of the Fêtes du Vieux Saint-Eustache

Your neighbour’s bedroom is in the basement. So, you tap on her window. She lets you in through the back door. You’ve hardly got your question out of your mouth when she exclaims:

You’ll love it. On top of which a friend of my dad’s, Gilbert Gardner, organizes the event!

A black and white photograph of three men standing behind a desk. Guy Bélisle and Paul Tardif are wearing suits, while Gilbert Gardner sports an arrow sash. Behind them we can see the coat of arms of the City of Saint-Eustache.

Left to right: Gilbert Gardner, organizer, Guy Bélisle, mayor, and Paul Tardif, organizer, 1978

She tells you the history of the Fêtes du Vieux Saint-Eustache. In 1973, Gilbert Gardner, director of social and cultural activities for the City of Saint-Eustache, and Paul Tardif, recreation director, organized a pilot edition of the event. They wanted both to bring city residents together and at the same time revitalize Old Saint-Eustache, which had been the heart of the village but had lost many of its businesses and become somewhat forgotten.

A black, white and green poster announces the Grand Festival Western Molson sponsored by the Molson brewery. People are invited to gather at the Saint-Eustache arena at 8:30 p.m. to see Paul Brunelle, le Père Gédéon, Marcel Martel, Marie King, Monsieur Pointu and Ti-Blanc Richard.

Poster for the Country and Western Festival at the Fêtes du Vieux-Saint-Eustache, 1973

Since Gilbert Gardner was responsible for the city’s playing fields, he timed the Fêtes to coincide with the young people’s end-of-summer celebrations. With the help of local organizations, the two organizers succeeded in putting together a week featuring a wide range of activities. From the wrestling gala to the country and western concert to the “Olympics”, the public came out in droves: 16,200 people attended. So that was that: the Fêtes would be back in 1974!

A black and white photograph. In the foreground, around ten muddy children who look to be about twelveyears old appear to be whistling. In the background, we can see around twenty other young people.

An activity at the playing field in Saint-Eustache, 1950s

During the first year, Paul Tardif introduced the heritage of Old Saint-Eustache to Gilbert Gardner. Then in his twenties, Gardner knew little about the historic buildings in the neighbourhood. In this, he was not unlike most Saint-Eustache young people at the time, with the exception of those from farming families. He became fascinated by its rich history. From that time on, the two men decided to use the Fêtes as an opportunity to promote the neighbourhood’s heritage and bring the community together.

The mission of the Fêtes according to Gilbert Gardner, organizer. Watch the video in French, the written transcription is available in English.

Your friend goes on:

That’s all I’ll say for now – you can come along with me and my friends. Have you had beer before?

Your friend’s mother interrupts, calling her from the kitchen.

The Winds of Tradition Getting Ready for the Big Event!