Vieux-Aylmer Festival weekend
---Auberge Symmes Museum preparing to present special ode to the Ottawa River
In an effort to highlight local heritage during the upcoming edition of the Old Aylmer Festival, the Auberge Symmes Museum is preparing to host a weekend of fun-filled activities for people of all ages as an ode to the Ottawa River. Organized in partnership with Gatineau, a press release issued by the Auberge Symmes Museum on August 6 stated that the occasion will include a variety of entertainment avenues for all to enjoy between August 13 and 15.
On August 13, people will be invited to the museum’s garden for a special outdoor movie showing at sunset featuring a French film directed by Swiss-Canadian filmmaker Léa Pool titled La Passion d’Augustine. Encouraging people to bring chairs and arrive at around 8:30 pm, the event will open with a brief presentation on changes that occurred in socio-political spheres regarding education during the 1950s courtesy of local historian Roger Blanchette.
On August 14, from 1 pm to 6 pm with a final departure scheduled at 5:15 pm, the museum will host an internationally-acclaimed local entertainment group called Histoire Vivante – Live History – for the very first time.
Arriving in Aylmer following a tour of England last spring, the group will encourage people to help solve a mystery surrounding the museum by communicating with a number of historical figures from 1830. Free of charge and intended for people of all ages.
To cap off the weekend, on August 15 at 2 pm, people are invited to the museum’s gardens for a special afternoon of classical music next to the Ottawa River courtesy of a local quartet. Established in 2003, the group features an all-sibling act hailing from Gatineau including Cendrine and Jean Despax on violin, Maxime Despax on viola, and Valérie Despax on cello.
During the show’s intermission, Blanchette intends to hold a brief historical presentation explaining the importance of the Ottawa River over different periods of time. Also free of charge, people are encouraged to bring their own chairs and reserve tickets in advance.
Anxiously excited for the festivities to come, the museum’s Director General Anyssa Doiron says she looks forward to welcoming the community for what should be a special weekend. Stating that the occasion is an annually recurring event, Doiron said it will be the first time the museum showcases the stylings of Histoire Vivante.
As one of the museum’s first in-person activities since the start of the pandemic, Doiron said it will be great to connect with people once again. Emphasizing the importance of educating local history and its lack of promotion in the community, Doiron said it's crucial for the museum to be a platform for Outaouais residents to learn more about the origins of where they live. “We think it’s important to get the most people possible to hear about this story and understand the importance of the river over the years,” Doiron said.
More information about the free event is available on the Auberge Symmes Museum website - http://symmes.ca/ - and its Facebook page. People are also encouraged to call Doiron at (819) 682-0291 or email her at symmes.direction@gmail.com for additional details.
