Movies

Our Gaspe Moments __[|Mr. Euclide Plourde]__

Euclide Plourde liked fossils. Fossils were introduced to him by his father at the age of about 16. From then on fossils were his life; they remained an important part of his life until he died. In his 1923 book //L’Île Percée//, John Mason Clark, the director of the New York State Museum, wrote that Mr. Antoine Plourde, Euclid's father, “...helped to rifle the rocks of their fishes ever since the place was discovered by the geologists of forty years ago...”. Euclide shared his father’s passion, and assisted the same researchers and many new visitors as well, including groups from the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. Euclide Plourde guided and worked with René Bureau in the cliff, as well as with the first permanent teams to be stationed at the site in the mid-1970’s. He remained active until his death in 1979. Throughout most of the 20th century, scientists and fossil collectors visiting Miquasha maintained close contact with local fossil digging experts. The history of this famous site would not be complete without the stories of these men who familiarized themselves with the cliffs and shared their knowledge with outsiders. They were known for their keen ability to steer expedition teams toward the "fishier" sites, and would even take part in the fossil digs.

[|The First Female Teacher]

In the late 1880's, education was delivered to students in log homes scattered along the coast and female teachers were unheard of. On August 19, 1889 a young woman by the name of Gracie Moir was signed to a contract to teach in an elementary school for the Municipality of Shoolbred for one year. By so doing she paved the way for other women seeking a career in the teaching profession on the Gaspe Coast.

[|A Student's Reflection] These are the thoughts of one of our students, Marco Boutin, on the place he calls home.

[|Music Video] Our song was a collection of one-liners, each a mental image offered by our students about the Gaspe - their home - which was merged into one song, edited, and presented as "Never Forget, Never Let Go".

And since every good song deserves a video...

Is there a more picturesque setting on this planet than the Gaspe coast - its ancient mountain range standing watch over its peaceful coastline, beaches curling their way below red-rock faces of the lowland falling into the sea, birds nesting on weathered cliffs, its quiet coves...

This place has its own story to tell.

Our students sought out the locations and shot the video that would tell this story, their way.

Put to our own music, this is how we feel about this land that we call "Our Gaspe Home".