My Park, My Plains
- Description
- Reviews
- Citation
- Cataloging
- Transcript
To mark the 100th anniversary of the National Battlefields Commission, My Park, My Plains provides a lively, humorous, and moving account of defining historical moments and various uses of the Plains of Abraham over the years. Through an interplay of archival images and original footage, the film recounts the battles fought there, reminds us that people once golfed, went horseback riding, and applauded Buffalo Bill there, and lets us roam through this site where skiers, Sunday strollers, and families on toboggans harmoniously mingle with hundreds of thousands of people who come each year to attend grand celebrations and festivals. The Plains of Abraham have always been a choice meeting place for Quebec City's visitors and locals, and today more than ever, this historic urban park is a prime location for remembering, relaxing, and dreaming.
Citation
Main credits
Laganière, Carole (film director)
Laganière, Carole (screenwriter)
Fee, Kathleen (narrator)
Rocher, Anne-Marie (film producer)
Other credits
Direction of photography, Philippe Lavalette; editing, France Pilon; original music, Christian Clermont.
Distributor subjects
Environment and Conservation - National Parks in Eastern Canada, History - Canada - Historic Homes and Sites, History - Canada - Historical Overview, History - Canada - Quebec, Media Education - Advertising, Tourism - Historic Sites, Tourism - Québec, Urbanism - Québec, Urbanism - Urban Life, DocumentaryKeywords
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The Plains of Abraham
have always been
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an important meeting place for
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Quebec City\'s residents
and visitors.
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Nowadays, people out for a
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Sunday stroll,
sports enthusiasts,
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tourists, and lovers of nature,
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culture, and history, all
happily gathered here.
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In 1908 during Quebec
City\'s Tricentennial,
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the National
Battlefields Commission
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was created to establish
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this site as the first historic
Canadian National Park.
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This was the site where in 1759,
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America fate was played out.
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On these heights, named after
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Abraham Martin who grazed
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his cattle there in
the 17th century,
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the French army was defeated
by the British in 1759.
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The following year, the
French triumphed over
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this same enemy but it
was too little too late.
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New France and most of
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the continent now
belong to the British.
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This historic urban park was
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the fruit of a worldwide
trend at the end of
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the 19th century of
creating in the heart of
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the city green spaces
to refresh the air.
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The idea was to provide
cleaner air for citizens to
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breathe for the sake of their
physical and mental health.
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From the early days
of the colony,
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the Plains of Abraham
intrigued scientists.
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Hidden Natural Resources would
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eventually contribute to
the advancement of science,
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but the location also attracted
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someone else, the military.
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It was a strategic site and
key to the defense of Quebec.
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Modification was
therefore essential,
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and so a temporary and
a permanent Citadel
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as well as block
houses were built.
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Fortunately, the Citadel
was never attacked,
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and the chances now
that the Canadian Army
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might one day needed
are very slim.
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The Marcelo towers were built
in the early 19th century,
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and we\'re along with the citadel
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designed to counter
potential attacks from
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the Americans who as early as
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1775 had tried to take Quebec.
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Of the three towers
that have been restored
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over the years two are open for
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visitors to become familiar with
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their architecture and with
Military life of long ago.
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As the 19th century progressed,
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the function of the
Plains evolved from
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a defensive to a
recreational role.
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All traces of the military
buildings began to
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vanish such as the arsenal,
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the Ross rifle factory,
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and the military barracks,
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that served the
Canadian war effort
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during two world wars.
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However, before being torn down
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these barracks were used to
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house homeless
families from Quebec.
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In those sad times this
place of misery even had
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a nickname [inaudible]
or Fleatown.
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There weren\'t only
military buildings on
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the site in 1908 when
the park was created.
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Numerous structures
built for a variety of
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uses spoiled the harmony the
designers were hoping for.
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Among them was the observatory
which was torn down and a
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prison which later became part
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of the Musee de National
des Beaux Arts du Quebec.
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Work on the first
aesthetic improvements
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lasted from 1909 to 1917.
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Based on plans drawn up by
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landscape architect
Frederick G Todd,
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who knew the importance
of combining
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the historical significance with
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the natural beauty of the place.
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This same principle guides
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the maintenance of
the site today.
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It took nearly 50 years for
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Battlefields Park to evolve
into what it is today.
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Although it was slowed
by two world wars,
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the work carried on with zeal
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following the crash of 1929.
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As Battlefields Park
was turned into
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a huge construction site
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sponsored by the
federal government.
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It was at this time that
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development started
on Gilmorehill.
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Near the cliffs the British
scaled to reach the Plains
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on the morning of
September 13th, 1759.
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The impressive workforce made
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available was put to
good use building
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a reservoir under
the Plains which
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supplies drinking water
to areas of Quebec City.
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For those who like flowers,
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in 1938, the Joan of
Arc Garden was created.
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In the center stands a gift
from an American sculptor of
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an equestrian statue of
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the heroine who was
canonized in 1920.
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This oasis an attraction for
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strollers and a place to relax
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contains thousands
of plants almost
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all grown in the
Parks or greenhouses.
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Not all confrontations on
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the Plains have been at gunpoint.
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There have been horse
races and hockey matches.
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The Stanley Cup final
was even won here twice.
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From 1874, the well-to-do
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could enjoy a round of
golf on the Plains.
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The Quebec Golf Club where
a neighboring farmers cows
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cropped the grass had to
be relocated in 1915,
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to ensure visitors safety
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during redevelopment of the park.
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Today, sports and leisure
are still an important part
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of the park\'s daily activities
and have dedicated areas.
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It\'s nice to know that what
was once a place of warfare
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is now a place of peaceful
healthy exercise.
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People have always gathered
on the Plains of Abraham.
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As early as the 19th century,
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the military presented
grand formal reviews here.
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Agricultural affairs,
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shows, and outdoor
celebrations were organized.
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What a sight it must
have been in 1897 to see
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Buffalo Bill\'s Wild West Show
with its Native Americans,
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cowboys, and Arab riders
performing on the Plains.
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Battlefields part continues
in the tradition of
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the Plains as an
important meeting place.
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From its beginnings in 1908,
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the park hosted military parades
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and the pageantry of
the Tricentennial.
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The stage was set for the future.
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What followed were
gatherings on a grand scale,
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crowds of impressive numbers
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proud to participate in events of
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historic significance
for the city
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of Quebec and for the country.
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Whether attracted by festive
music, cries of protest
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or a simple desire for fun,
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millions have converged on
00:11:49.690 --> 00:11:52.734
the Plains of Abraham
throughout the years.
00:11:52.735 --> 00:11:56.004
They had experienced
important moments
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that will remain extra
in their memories,
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making Battlefields
Park their park,
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and the Plains of
Abraham their plains.
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Considerable effort
has gone into making
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Battlefields Park one of the
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most beautiful in North America.
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At 100 years old,
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its vitality is unquestionable.
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It\'s a place where
we can dream, play,
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and reminisce. An urban park,
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a place of memories that
belongs to those who visit.
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It\'s truly irresistible.