Will there be an ice bridge between Quebec and Lévis this winter? Until the end of the 19th centurye century, the question returns to everyone’s lips every fall. Even before the arrival of the cold weather, this ephemeral passage inspires a first leisure activity, that of conversation. It is also the subject of bets: presence or absence, this year? And when it forms, the ice bridge becomes the scene of many other challenges.
The phenomenon remains relatively rare. Between 1620 and 1910, the surface of the St. Lawrence froze enough to create an immense bridge between Cape Diamant and the south shore only 83 times, or a little less than 30% of the winters. The oldest written records on this subject date back to the beginning of New France. In the Relations des Jésuites, Paul Le Jeune writes that in the winter of 1633, the Aboriginal people did not hesitate to cross the frozen river in front of Quebec.
The population of the city and the surrounding area appropriates this space as a place of leisure, the oldest of which is mentioned from the 18th century.e century: the promenade. A watercolor by George Heriot produced in 1798 shows a crowd on the icy surface in front of Quebec. In the foreground, a sled pulled by a dog — a mode of transport used by the poorest. To the right and left, beautiful and rich teams of two horses, whose owners are visibly on parade.
Time for winter pleasures
Walking, on foot or with a crew, remained a popular activity until the end of the 19th century.e century. But gradually, almost all board sports are practiced on the icy surface. We set up different places for skaters. Curling games are also held there. Small wooden cabins appear for those who want to warm up or put on their skates.
Tracks are also being traced for horse races, over impressive distances – “over a mile”, reports the newspaper. The Canadian in 1884. The punters are there. Even more surprising, the frozen space hosts ice sailboat or “skate boat” competitions. It’s about a platform mounted on blades and propelled by the wind using a sail. In February 1883, a race organized on a Saturday afternoon caused a stir because the provincial deputies participated in a subscription to offer prizes totaling $50. The start is given by none other than the President of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec and future Prime Minister, Louis-Olivier Taillon.
Music shows are not left out. In January 1866, the musicians of the royal artillery gave a performance on the ice bridge. A quadrille aptly titled ice bridge is composed expressly for the occasion. A few weeks later, we do it again with the 7e regiment of the Royal Fusiliers, whose tunes accompany a masked ball of skaters.
Gin and whiskey on ice
Added to all these activities is the possibility of having a drink. While some cabins simply serve as shelter, others serve as taverns. Some journalists use the term “caboulots” to talk about these drinking establishments. Commonly used at the time, this word designates a disreputable café or cabaret.
Not only do these drinking establishments bring alcohol and its ravages to the deck, but they are often haunts for lovers of games of chance. In the winter of 1885, newspapers reported the presence of a caboulot called “the Beaver cabin”, because it displayed a sign representing this animal. “ [S]According to ancient and traditional usage, the man with the wheel of fortune went to the spot with its Lares gods and invited walkers to offer them incense, that is to say, to turn the wheel. […] It is reported that enough whiskey was sold there on Sunday afternoon to float the cabin,” we read in the newspaper. The Canadian in January 1885.
With such activities, it is not surprising that the caboulots are criticized in the press in the Quebec region. They violate good morals and escape all regulations, since they are established on the river and not on dry land.
The turning point of the 20the century marks the end of the ice bridges at the foot of Cape Diamant. In fact, the first icebreakers then appeared in the Quebec region. The icy link, as fun as it is, poses a barrier to trade according to those who wish to keep navigation open during the cold season. The use of a frozen watercourse or lake as a place of leisure continues, however, whether it is the river at Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade or lakes Saint-Jean and Témiscouata.
Now, horses have given way to snowmobiles, but there are still walkers and skaters, and sometimes even an ice sailboat. As for alcohol consumption, who knows? No doubt we still indulge in excesses today in certain fishermen’s huts… Perhaps the caboulots have not disappeared, after all. The word could reappear in usage.