The new exhibit space for the Musée régional d’Argenteuil Regional Museum is now complete and will open to visitors soon.
On Thursday, May 23, an inaugural ceremony was held for the exhibit space, which is in the former Christ Church in St-André-d’Argenteuil.
The completion of the exhibit space follows five years of preparations which began after the museum lost its former space at the Caserne-de-Carillon National Historic Site due to flooding in spring, 2019. Parks Canada still has not yet completed renovations necessary so that facility may reopen. The Argenteuil museum temporarily stored its collection in other municipal facilities and did not have a public exhibition space for the past five years.
Following the loss of the museum’s space, municipal and community partners began to search for a solution. In 2023, the municipality of Saint-André-d’Argenteuil, which has owned the former Anglican church since 2020, offered the museum the building as an exhibit space and to carry out any restoration work required.
“This was a major mobilization of the community and its partners,” Museum President Luc Lépine said.
Under the authorization of the municipality, restoration of plaster, floors, painting, and interior redevelopment work was done inside the old church in 2023 and early 2024.
Museum Director Jean-Christophe St-James said the historic integrity of the building has been maintained. Christ Church was designated as a historic building by the Québec Ministry of Culture in 1985 when it was still being used for religious services.
Inside the new museum, there are five exhibitions. One exhibit traces the history of Argenteuil through its rivers, another exhibit portrays the history of the Abbott family in St-André-d’Argenteuil, historically known as St-Andrew’s East. Notable members of the Abbott family included Canada’s fourth Prime Minister, Sir John Caldwell Abbott, and pioneering physician and medical researcher Dr. Maude Abbott. One of the other exhibits focuses on Christ Church and the Anglican community in St-Andrew’s East, and another exhibit explores Argenteuil in maps and stories using virtual materials. Another exhibit is about the Hubert shoemaking business which operated for decades in Carillon. Outside, a historic cemetery behind the church is where Dr. Maude Abbott is buried.
Museum historian Robert Simard is pleased the museum has a new exhibition space and appreciates all of the work and support that went into the project.
“Thank you to everyone for their confidence,” Simard said.
St-André-d’Argenteuil Mayor Stephen Matthews said the museum reflects the importance of saving local heritage for future generations. He said a second phase of upgrades to the building is yet to be completed and will include the construction of a ramp to make the facility fully accessible and upgrades to the restroom.
The overall cost of transforming the church into a museum exhibition space was $490,000. Out of that amount, $270,000 was invested by the Municipality of Saint-André-d’Argenteuil and its partners. The museum itself paid $220,000 for the development of content and the creation of exhibitions. Both the municipality and the museum were able to benefit from financial aid representing more than 90 per cent of the cost of the project.
Financial assistance was provided by the Municipalité régionale de comté d’Argenteuil, the Québec Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Québec Ministry of Culture, and the federal Community Revitalization Fund.
The new Musée régional d’Argenteuil Regional Museum exhibition space at the former Christ Church will be open on June 8 for visitors to discover at a special event. Regular visitor hours at the museum begin on June 1 when the facility will be open from 10 am to 5 pm from Wednesday to Sunday until September 1.
Musée régional d’Argenteuil Regional Museum is located at 163 route du Long-Sault (Route 344) in St-André-d’Argenteuil.
Inside the new Musée régional d’Argenteuil Regional Museum. Photos: James Morgan
