Prime Minister Stephen Harper announces investments in grosse île and the Irish memorial national historic site

January 12, 2010

MONTMAGNY, QUÉBEC – Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced investments in Grosse Île and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site of Canada to restore and improve the site’s surrounding buildings and thus preserve an important chapter in Canadian history.
 
"This investment is a great tribute to our long-lasting relationship with Ireland,” said Prime Minister Harper.  “Many Canadian hopefuls lost their lives on this island, but those who survived contributed greatly to the foundation of our great country.  By investing in projects to improve our historic sites, our government is fulfilling its duty to educate the public about events that have marked our history.”
 
Grosse Île was a quarantine station for Québec City from 1832 to 1937.  It served as the key point of entry for immigrants to Canada until the First World War.  The history of the island is particularly marked by the events of the Great Irish Famine and the emigration of thousands of Irish men, women and children in 1847.
 
The year 2009 marked the 100th anniversary of the Celtic cross, which was erected on the island in 1909 to commemorate the Irish immigrants who are buried at Grosse Île.
 
Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada is making investments to protect and preserve national parks and historic sites across the country.



Backgrounder

CANADA’S ECONOMIC ACTION PLAN
Grosse Île and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site of Canada

The Government of Canada, through the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, is investing almost $3.5 million in Grosse Île and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site of Canada.
 
These investments will provide new and improved features to the site including:
interior renovations to the Catholic Chapel, such as coatings and finishes, furniture, electricity upgrades and the addition of a sprinkler system
the replacement of the wooden exterior of the disinfection building
the restoration of concrete surfaces, archive galleries, and a section of wooden window frames in the first-class hotel
installation of a new exhibit at the lazaretto, the last remaining building erected in 1847, which was converted into a hospital in 1848
opening of an interpretative tour in the village sector
improvements to the Mirador Trail with the addition of lookout points

In May 2009, the Government of Canada announced $1 million for urgent repairs required to preserve the buildings open to visitors, such as the stabilization of the assistant physician’s house.  The repairs were completed in December 2009.


Grosse Île and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site of Canada

This unique site is located in the St. Lawrence River off Montmagny, 48 kilometres downstream from Québec City.  It commemorates the importance of immigration to Canada, especially through Québec City, from the early 19th century to World War I.  As a quarantine station for the Port of Québec from 1832 to 1937, Grosse-Île commemorates the tragic events experienced by Irish immigrants at the site, especially during the typhoid epidemic of 1847.  More than 4 million immigrants of 43 different nationalities travelled through the port of Québec, which was long the main point of arrival for immigration to Canada.


The site consists of nearly 40 buildings, including the disinfection building, the first-, second- and third-class hotels, the lavatory, the lazaretto, the Anglican and Catholic chapels and several employee residences.


Grosse Île is a major tourist attraction in the Chaudière-Appalaches region, attracting thousands of visitors each year between May and October.  It is also a destination of choice for school groups in the months of May and June.
 
In May 2009, the Government of Canada announced a two-year fee freeze on entry fees to all national parks and national historic sites managed by Parks Canada.

For more information please visit http://www.pc.gc.ca