The Espace René-Lévesque in New Carlisle has received museum recognition from the Quebec government, a step forward that will allow the organization to access more funding and give a new purpose to the childhood home of the former prime minister, which has been battered by decades of abandonment.
Established in 2018, Espace René-Lévesque had to wait until it was five years old before filing its application for recognition. The latter, initiated in 2023, is about to have a happy outcome for the institution: Espace René-Lévesque is about to enter the fold of museum organizations recognized by the Ministry of Culture and Communications.
The official confirmation letter is still awaited, but Minister Mathieu Lacombe, during a recent tour of Gaspésie, certified that the approval sought by Espace would be granted.
“For us, it changes a lot of things,” explains Gaétan Lelièvre, Chair of the Board of Directors of Espace René-Lévesque. “First, it’s recognition of the work we’ve done since our creation. It also gives us the right to submit applications for financial assistance in various support programs for museum institutions from the Quebec Ministry of Culture. If you’re not accredited, you don’t have the right to submit applications to the ministry for operating assistance or for assistance with preparing exhibitions.”
Espace René-Lévesque now has the means to achieve its ambitions – and the renovation and use of the childhood home of the founder of the Parti Québécois are at the top of its priorities. The latter, recognized as a historic monument in 1995, has belonged to the State since 2021 and the expropriation of the previous owner.
Opening next summer?
For the past year, a regional committee composed of the Collège de la Gaspésie, the City of New Carlisle, the Carleton-sur-Mer Journalism Festival, the MRC of Bonaventure, CHNC radio where René Lévesque got his start behind a microphone and Espace, have been thinking about the vocation to give to the heritage building.
“I hope that in the fall, the future of the house will be decided so that the Quebec government can begin the rehabilitation work on the building in 2025, ideally as soon as possible,” said Mr. Lelièvre. Restoring the house, left for decades at the mercy of bad weather and mold, would cost at least $800,000, according to the latest estimates.
If the construction site holds no surprises, the house where René Lévesque was born could open its doors to the public as early as next summer, New Carlisle Mayor David Thibault told Radio-Canada. Espace René-Lévesque, whose main building is 300 metres from the childhood home of the founder of the Parti Québécois, raised its hand several years ago to operate the building.
“The government owns museums, but it is extremely rare for it to operate them itself, especially in the regions. For us, it would be a return to the origins,” explains Gaétan Lelièvre. The initiators of Espace René-Lévesque initially wanted to set up in the house, but the seller did not want to give it up: so they opted for a building 300 m away. We have no choice but to agree: we have two spaces that must be complementary.”
The Espace René-Lévesque aims to connect the two sites with a landscaped route that could, in time, highlight other heritage buildings in New Carlisle – such as the office of René Lévesque’s father, a lawyer by profession.
As for the purpose of the childhood home, a scenario is emerging “although nothing has been decided yet,” Mr. Lelièvre is keen to point out. “There would be a museum space on the ground floor that could complement what we offer in our garden-museum. Upstairs, there would be premises capable of hosting creative workshops for journalists and artists.”
Between 3,000 and 5,000 people visit Espace René-Lévesque in New Carlisle each year. Although the ministry has not yet designated the organization responsible for managing the former premier’s childhood home, Espace René-Lévesque was reportedly the only one to show interest.
“The minister,” concludes Gaétan Lelièvre, “seems very favourable, as does the regional management.”