This time it’s the right one!

Hallelujah! The Saint-Sulpice library finally has a new vocation. After years of procrastination and ideas nipped in the bud, this heritage site will host the Maison de la chanson et de la musique du Québec starting in 2026.

The announcement was made with great fanfare on Thursday in the presence of Premier François Legault, Minister of Culture and Communications Nathalie Roy, Mayor of Montreal Valérie Plante, and President and CEO of Bibliothèque et National Archives of Quebec (BAnQ), Marie Grégoire.

But the one to whom we owe this smoking gun is without a doubt Monique Giroux who, with the non-profit organization she created, Écho Sonore (name borrowed from the song The people of my country), carried out this project, which fits perfectly with this heritage site. It is a bit like the icing on the cake of the Quartier des Spectacles, the final brushstroke on the painting of the Latin Quarter.

This woman’s perseverance, with the unfailing support of Luc Plamondon and dozens of artists, enabled her to reach the summit of Everest. Before the press conference, his girlfriend asked him if she realized what was going on. “There, I realize,” said Monique Giroux after the performance of Catherine Major, France D’Amour and Ilam.

It was in the presence of a trio of monuments made up of Gilles Vigneault, Louise Forestier and Claude Dubois that the DNA of this House was unveiled, the cost of which is estimated at 50 million dollars. Quebec will provide the lion’s share, while the City of Montreal and the profits from the sale of land belonging to the Library and National Archives of Quebec (BAnQ), which Hydro-Quebec wishes to acquire, will make up the rest.

In addition to this amount, the government will inject $7 million annually to ensure the operation of this hopefully teeming place. Because in addition to being a center of manuscript and sound archives, it will serve as a place for exhibitions, conferences and a laboratory. A multifunctional room will host shows by the next generation or artists who want to “test” equipment.

François Legault, who came to the conference with his spouse, Isabelle Brais (the latter obviously has affinities with culture), seemed frankly happy to reveal the main lines of this project. He recalled that four years ago, he had asked Nathalie Roy to develop concepts that would aim to enhance the pride of being Quebecers.

We understand from this that the creation of the Maison de la chanson et de la musique du Québec is in line with that of the Espaces bleus, which also have the mandate to include the renovation and preservation of heritage buildings.

This initiative is, in my opinion, the best that this government has adopted in terms of culture and heritage. We should make it an absolute rule.

BAnQ, which remains the owner of the building, is committed to setting the stage with a project called The soundtrack of Quebec. Citizens will soon be asked to choose the 50 greatest Quebec songs of all time. From this list, we will produce 50 capsules that will be webcast.

Fifty songs that will sum up our musical heritage… This is a fascinating and perilous exercise.

The Saint-Sulpice library has been inanimate since 2005. Over the years, we have witnessed a real saga. Remember, in 2015, The Press revealed that the Liberal government of Philippe Couillard had tried to sell it to the private sector. The thing caused an uproar. With reason.

Then, there was this concept of a techno laboratory which would have been carried out in collaboration with BAnQ. Once in power, however, the Legault government dismissed this idea.

For a while, we thought about using this building, classified as a heritage building since 1988, to house the works of the Riopelle Foundation. But the place, too bright because of the presence of stained glass windows, turned out to be a bad choice.

In March 2021, the Parti Québécois proposed to create a Museum of the History of Quebec there. As for Québec solidaire, it has imagined a “den” of Québec literature.

At the same time, in a column on this “Maison de la chanson” that Monique Giroux has dreamed of for twenty years, I wrote that the Saint-Sulpice library would be a wonderful “case” for this project.

Guess the gods of music were listening.

This announcement comes at a time when Quebec song is going through a new storm, this one linked to the steamroller that is the digital industry. Data published Wednesday by the Observatory of Culture and Communications sent chills down the spine.

Less than 10% of the music listened to in Quebec on the major platforms is of Quebec origin.

In other words, the material of Quebec artists is completely drowned in the rough seas on which sail the giant liners like Spotify or Apple Music.

Ève Paré, president of ADISQ, shared this observation with me a few weeks ago on her return from Ottawa, where she had gone to sound the alarm during the hearings surrounding Bill C-11. This very important project aims to refresh the outdated law that governs the broadcasting of our songs.

It is really time that we intervene and find ways to revalorize this mode of expression that passes through our guts and our tongue. There is a deep reflection to be had. Where are the fiery Plamondons who will dare to make a splash? Seems to me we’re ripe for another battle.

What if the future Maison de la chanson et de la musique du Québec announces its colors and stirs the cage by organizing general meetings on the future of our music and our song over the next few months?

Come on, Monique Giroux! As Louise Forestier said during the press conference: “You’re capable! »