ILLUSTRATION ANDRÉ RIVEST, THE PRESS
Saint-Gédéon de Beauce, 1885
ILLUSTRATION ANDRÉ RIVEST, THE PRESS
Ludivine catches meningitis.
“What’s going on with the little one, doctor?” »
“I think she has meningitis. »
” It’s serious ? »
“Most die from it. I don’t know the cure. Pray, madam. »
“Can she heal?” »
“I’m afraid not. An Austrian doctor discovered the cause, but there is still no cure.*”
*Dr. Anton Weichselbaum first described meningococcus, the bacteria that causes meningitis. The cure came years later.
ILLUSTRATION ANDRÉ RIVEST, THE PRESS
Ludivine has become deaf and blind.
“How is Ludivine?” »
“She is safe, but she has become deaf and blind…”
“The poor thing only communicates by crying and shouting. »
“What do you want, doctor, it breaks my heart, but with work in the fields and caring for the rest of the family, I can hardly do anything other than let her rock in the kitchen. We are struggling to escape poverty. »
Thirteen years later, the clergy convinced the family to send Ludivine to the Institute for Deaf Mutes in Montreal. Established on rue Saint-Denis since 1864, the Institute is run by the Sisters of Providence, a congregation founded by the widow Émilie Gamelin. Gamelin had to resolve to take the veil to continue his charitable works among the poor and the sick. His dedication earned him papal beatification.
ILLUSTRATION ANDRÉ RIVEST, THE PRESS
Ludivine is finally taken care of by the sisters.
“Come on, baby. The sisters will take good care of you. »
Previously little stimulated and isolated, Ludivine plunges into a new universe of kindness where she has no reference points. She demonstrated remarkable progress in a few months under the good care of the Sisters of Providence. She relearns how to communicate and take initiative.
PHOTO ARCHIVES THE PRESS
The Institute of the Deaf and Mute at the beginning of the 20th centurye century
Unfortunately, Ludivine died of tuberculosis in 1918 after eight years at the Institute, where many patients like her continued to be cared for with kindness.
The main building – in the Second Empire style, a popular architectural trend in Montreal in the 1870s – is expanding. Several wings were grafted onto it in seven phases, taking care to respect the overall harmony, until its final version, 73 years later.
ILLUSTRATION ANDRÉ RIVEST, THE PRESS
Evolution of the buildings of the Institute of Deaf-Muettes
The imposing H-shaped building is topped with a dome reminiscent of large Montreal establishments such as the Hôtel-Dieu and the Bonsecours Market. In the center of the main building is a large chapel and rich woodwork decorates the whole.
DINU BUMBARU ILLUSTRATION, PROVIDED BY DINU BUMBARU
Sketch of the Institute as seen today
Like many other buildings managed by religious communities, disaffection towards the Catholic faith weighs heavily. In 1979, the building was sold to the Quebec Accommodation Corporation, which housed the Montreal Health and Social Services Agency there until its dissolution in 2015. Since then, the building has been vacant and deteriorating.
As the building is owned by the provincial government and the City of Montreal sets the rules that would allow its renovation, the decisions are complicated.
DINU BUMBARU ILLUSTRATION, PROVIDED BY DINU BUMBARU
A dome covers the Institute.
Today, a citizens’ committee is demanding that the former Institute be transformed into social housing and a center that would house people suffering from deafness. They would thus reinvest this place which had great significance for this community.
The place would be called La maison Ludivine-Lachance, in memory of this little girl whose stay at this venerable institution saved her from a miserable life.
PHOTO BANQ ARCHIVES
Ludivine Lachance, deaf and blind, practiced gymnastics in 1914.
Gilles Read knows the needs of the deaf community well. He dedicated his life to improving the lot of his people. This big guy silently raises his voice and raises his hand to make us aware of the needs of his community.
For example :
GR “When a fire breaks out in a home, a deaf person cannot hear the alarm sirens. The place must be equipped with warning lights. »
ILLUSTRATION ANDRÉ RIVEST, THE PRESS
Only light alarms can signal a fire to deaf people.
GR “A deaf person must wait for a sign language translator to explain discomfort to a doctor. Emergency cases can turn into a nightmare. »
ILLUSTRATION ANDRÉ RIVEST, THE PRESS
A translator in the language of the deaf must be present to explain discomfort to doctors.
Several major problems would be avoided by grouping this vulnerable community together in the same building.
An estimate dating from 2017 put the value of the work at 50 million. Costs have probably doubled since then. It is estimated that 80 to 100 social housing units could be developed there. Is the cost too high? We dare not think of the time it would take to demolish the building and rebuild it anew. The real question is: how much is our heritage worth?
DINU BUMBARU ILLUSTRATION, PROVIDED BY DINU BUMBARU
The magnificent cornices of the Institute
The City commissioned an architectural firm to study the feasibility of developing the Institute without consulting the community. Time is running out and the building is deteriorating. Since 2015, deaf people have been waiting in silence…
In sign language: Good luck!
ILLUSTRATION ANDRÉ RIVEST, THE PRESS
In sign language: Good luck!
Who is Gilles Read
Today director of the Deaf Community Center of Metropolitan Montreal, Gilles Read has never stopped defending his brotherhood. A former resident of the Institute for the Deaf and Mutes on Saint-Laurent Boulevard, Mr. Read was at the heart of the prosecution against the Saint-Viateur clerics for sexual assault on more than 60 deaf children. The religious congregation was ordered to pay 20 million in compensation, a record sum in Quebec.
PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Dinu Bumbaru
Who is Dinu Bumbaru?
We mainly called on Dinu Bumbaru, a graduate in architecture and great defender of built heritage within Héritage Montréal, for his exceptional talent as an architectural illustrator. His drawings adorn this article.