Discover Laval’s history through the Heritage Walks

“The Heritage Walks are anything but a history lesson!” she says right off the bat. Instead, it’s a fun and interactive way to meet the figures who shaped Laval, all while admiring the many historic buildings that still stand there. Actors guide participants along the route, recounting the history of their character’s family and teaching us more about their way of life.

The Heritage Walks offer an opportunity to meet Fleurette and her twenty-six children, Ti-Jo Connaissant and his many trades, to visit the Abord-à-Plouffe and the “cageux,” and to encounter several other characters, each more colorful than the last.

What’s more, the characters come to life right where they actually lived. “We try as much as possible to blend into the surroundings,” explains Sylvie Lemay. “We make arrangements with the current owners of the historic homes. It’s part of the process: the tour takes on greater historical significance right where history was made!”

Sylvie Lemay came up with the idea for these Heritage Tours after years of artistic creation in Laval. In addition to acting in films and television series, most recently the film Une colonie, Sylvie has worked with several cultural organizations in the Laval area and is still considered a leading figure in this field.

More than ten years ago, along with two other partners, she had the brilliant idea of showcasing Laval from a different perspective. Drawing on historical information compiled by the Office of Arts and Culture as part of the Laval Heritage Route, she created Les Virées patrimoniales, an open-air theater experience. Groups are invited to gather around an experienced guide and immerse themselves in the history of legendary neighborhoods such as Vieux-Sainte-Rose and Saint-Vincent-de-Paul. The perfect blend of historical information and the actors’ charisma brings the Laval of yesteryear back to life!

The challenge was to bring Laval’s history to life by striking a balance between historical information and theatrical entertainment, as Sylvie explains.

“In Quebec, we’re all traumatized by history class,” she laughs. “A lot of people are afraid that history is ‘boring’! On the contrary, our tours offer more than just a historical perspective. There’s also the contemplative aspect, the entertainment, and the outdoor experience. And our tours are aimed at tourists as much as they are at Laval residents,” she adds.