Every end of the year is an opportunity to think back to the months that have just passed. It is also the perfect time to look forward to the new year that is starting.
In this regard, from a historical point of view, some noteworthy anniversaries will be reported in Quebec in 2024. Here is a non-exhaustive overview.
The 250And of Quebec law
On June 22, we will celebrate the 250th anniversary of this act which constitutes one of the first great moments in Quebec’s constitutional history. Fourteen years after the fall of New France to the English and eleven years after the Royal Proclamation, which aimed to assimilate the Canadian population of French origin, the Quebec Act of 1774 embodies a momentary renunciation of assimilatory objectives on the part of the British authorities. It should be placed in the context of the revolutionary movement in the American colonies. London then wanted to attract the sympathies of the French-speaking population, in particular its elites, by abolishing the oath of proof and recognizing in particular the Catholic religion, the French civil laws and therefore the seigneurial regime: three important institutional and cultural particularities of the Canadian population of the time.
In 2024 we will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Law of Quebec, adopted on June 22, 1774. In the document pictured, Governor Guy Carleton presented the provisions of the new law to the inhabitants of the province of Quebec in 1774. Canadian History Museum
The 50sAnd of the Official Language Act
Adopted by the National Assembly and enacted on July 31, 1974, the Official Language Law, or Law 22, proclaimed French as the sole official language of Quebec for the first time. It is this last aspect that gives all its importance to this law, which will not last long…
Proposed by Robert Bourassa’s government to put an end to the linguistic crisis that Quebec has been experiencing since the end of the 1960s, it is however unanimously opposed. Francophones find it lacking bite while Anglophones find it discriminatory. It will be replaced by Bill 101, passed by the Parti Québécois in 1977.
50 years of Superfrancofête
Still in the linguistic field, the year 1974 was the scene of an important cultural event that demonstrated the excitement of the era and the impetus for affirmation of Quebec youth. It was the Superfrancofête, which took place in Quebec from 13 to 24 August 1974, in which representatives of several French-speaking countries participated. The opening show brought together none other than Félix Leclerc, Gilles Vigneault and Robert Charlebois on stage for a concert on the Plains of Abraham. It was then that they gave a now iconic show entitled I saw the wolf, the fox and the lionattended by more than 100,000 spectators!
After the sacking of the James Bay construction site by FTQ agents, Robert Bourassa’s government created the Cliche Commission on 27 March 1974, charged with investigating freedom of association in construction. Judge Robert Cliche chairs the commission, assisted by Brian Mulroney and Guy Chevrette. BAnQ
Some other notable birthdays in 2024
- March 21 will be the 50th anniversary of the sacking of James Bay by an FTQ agent. This coup d’état was at the origin, in the same year, of the creation of the famous Cliche Commission on freedom of association in construction.
- August 19 will mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Montreal patriot leader and politician Denis-Benjamin Viger.
- The 150th anniversary of the birth of journalist Olivar Asselin, November 8th.
- The 350th anniversary of the founding of Pointe-Aux-Trembles.
On November 8, we will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of the fiery journalist Olivar Asselin. BAnQ
In short, many grand prospective projects await to be revisited by historians in the coming year. Likewise, there are great opportunities to remember and better understand these events and people who have shaped our collective history.
In the meantime I wish everyone a happy new year 2024!
2024-01-01 05:00:00
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