Agriculture, Fishery, Culinary Heritage

Anglophone Heritage

The objective of the “Anglophone Heritage”  section of the “Identities ~ Traditions” project is to highlight contributions of the English- speaking community to Québec’s culinary culture, via the digital platform hosted by  the CRAAQ (The Québec Reference Centre  for Agriculture and Agrifood).  

This project will expand the data collection, digitization, archiving, and dissemination of agricultural, fisheries, food, and culinary documentary and archival heritage. The digital platform, including a specialized reference section, will facilitate access to this important heritage sector and increase awareness of its depth by bringing the collective memory of Francophones, Anglophones, and cultural communities together at one single site. 

Quebec’s Anglophone community is particularly rich in culinary and agricultural heritage. It’s important to highlight this heritage in order to fully appreciate it and to be able to transmit it to future generations. This community’s food traditions, ranging from food production to its preparation, have contributed to shaping Québec’s identity. 

In addition to improving the collection of items for the database, research will be carried out in the form of oral interviews with groups, individuals, and/or English-speaking institutions, with a particular focus on the role of food in family or religious traditions among various groups (Irish, Scottish, etc.) 

Part of the “Histoires de Gourmands” collection of the Fonds Coulombe and Jutras, currently held at the Côte-du-Sud archives, is in English; selected items from their English collection will be digitized and classified. Several articles will be produced on historical subjects, such as the contributions of different English- speaking communities (Irish, Scottish, American, etc) or, for example, and the use of pumpkin and squash in the recipes of Anglophone families. Topics may also include portraits of well-known historical Anglophone families An article will also appear in Quebec Heritage News.

Acknowledgments Thank you to: 

The Sillery Historical Society and to the Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network (QAHN), for supporting the development the English-language heritage component. 

The Côte-du-Sud Archives, which undertook the archiving work including classification, digitization and codification. Staff members participated in the research and development phase of the project and contributed to the development of certain general management tools for the “Patrimoines-Identités/ Identities – Traditions” initiative. 

The Musée de la Mémoire Vivante, for preparing and conducting the oral history interviews, and for being part of the research and development committee.