First logo of La Maison du fier monde. Écomusée du fier monde
Beginning of a museum project: creation of La Maison du Fier Monde (or Neighbourhood museum) by the Habitations communautaires Centre-Sud, a local resource group devoted to cooperative and public housing
First subsidy accorded to the project by the ministère des Affaires culturelles du Québec
Creation of a museum committee that brings together organizers and residents from neighbourhood cooperatives, including Michel Gendron, Gérald Lafleur, Bertheline Méthot, Jeanne Noël, Claude Watters and many others on an ad hoc basis; joining them is Pierre Mayrand, a specialist in museology at the Université du Québec à Montréal, as well as his students: René Binette, Hélène Blouin, Lisette Cloutier, Anne-Marie Faugère and Micheline Lortie
The carrying out of historical research about the neighbourhood, the results of which are published in December, constituting the first publication for La Maison du Fier Monde
1981
First exhibition, combined with a working class holiday: Du marché d’hier au musée de demain
Study trip to France on the topic of ecomuseums and working class housing thanks to the Office franco-québécois pour la jeunesse; eight members of the committee participate
1982
Publication of an outlining document: La Maison du Fier Monde, which describes the objectives of the project and its definition as an ecomuseum
Beginning of research into possible sites for the museum
Depositing of a request with the intention of obtaining a letters patent; in May, constitution of an incorporated organization by virtue of the 3rd section of the Companies Act, which gives it legal existence under the name: Écomusée de la maison du fier monde inc.
Founding general assembly and election of the first board of directors; the first president is Michel Gendron
The Maison du fier monde at 1930, Champlain Street, 1983. Écomusée du fier monde
1983
Feasibility study with a view to establishing the Écomusée in the former Plessis school; the idea of a thematic focus on working class history is developed
Opening of a documentation centre
Participation in the organizing committee for a colloquium of the Conseil des monuments et sites du Québec on the theme of industrial and working class heritage; at this time, a meeting with Hugues de Varine
1984
Trip to Belgium thanks to the support of the Agence Québec Wallonie Bruxelles pour la jeunesse
Situating of the Écomusée on the 3rd flood of the former Saint-Eusèbe school on Rouen Street (Carrefour Saint-Eusèbe)
Inauguration of the first permanent exhibition in the presence of Michel Gendron, founding member of the Écomusée, Manon Forget, City of Montréal, and Michel Laporte, elected member in Sainte-Marie, 1987. Écomusée du fier monde
1986-1990
The Exposer son histoire project, carried out in collaboration with Service aux collectivités de l’UQAM, the production of a manual that guides participants through putting on an exhibition as both sources and agents of a project; it is published in 1990 and awarded the Prix publication from the Société des musées québécois in 1991
1987
First permanent exhibition: Voyage dans le Centre-Sud
Studies trips to Suede and Great Britain in the context of the Exposer son histoire project; at this time, a meeting with Sven Lindqvist
Creation of the Gestion de la Maison du fier monde whose mission is developing activities that can help finance the Écomusée
First permanant exhibition Voyage dans le Centre-Sud, 1987. Écomusée du fier monde
1988
Steps taken toward obtaining the status of an accredited museum; the status of “recognized cultural interest museum” is conferred by the ministère des Affaires culturelles; the Écomusée is “on the doorstep of accreditation”
1991
First feasibility study into establishing the Écomusée in the former Labiolette bath, on de Lorimier Avenue
1992
Closing of the Généreux bath on Amherst Street
1993
Beginning of the Paysages industriels en mutation project, in collaboration with Joanne Burgess; an inventory of neighbourhood industrial heritage which permits the putting on of exhibitions (including one presented in Barcelona) and a publication
1993-1994
Discussions and studies with a view to establishing the Écomusée in the former Généreux bath
Signing of the contract of assignment of the Généreux bath to the Écomusée du fier monde, with Michel Gendron, co-director, André Boulerice, elected member in Sainte-Marie – Saint-Jacques, and René Binette, co-director, 1995. Écomusée du fier monde
1995
Press conference to officially announce the transfer of the Généreux bath to the Écomusée du fier monde by the City of Montréal and financial support of over 1 million dollars from the government of Québec for the necessary redevelopment
Work beginning of redevelopment work
1996
Inauguration of the Écomusée’s new permanent premises at the Généreux bath
New permanent exhibition: All the lifelong day! The triumphs and tragedies of a working-class neighbourhood
These achievements receive the Orange award from Sauvons Montréal for renovation quality and the preservation of the Généreux bath in 1996; the Award of excellence from the Société des musées québécois in 1997, the Interpretation award from the Association québécoise d’interprétation du patrimoine likewise in 1997, as well as the Montréal architectural heritage award in 2002
Obtain the status of an accredited museum by the ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec
Ordre du fier monde, récipiendaires : Sammy Forcillo, conseiller municipal de Saint-Jacques, René Binette, muséologue et codirecteur de l’Écomusée, Felice Vaccaro, architecte, André Boulerice, député de Sainte-Marie–Saint-Jacques, et Michel Gendron, codirecteur de l’Écomusée, 2007. Photo : Julie Landreville, Écomusée du fier monde
2000
Drafting of the Bilan et stratégie de développement document
Inaugural address at the history museum of Catalonia, in Barcelona, in the context of launching the exhibition titled El Jardi Mecanic, Barcelona-Montréal, vides y llocs en transformacio
2001
Conference presented at the Maison de la métallurgie in Liège and at Mundanéum in Mons, in Belgium; invited by the Fondation Roi Beaudoin in the context of a campaign titled Passé composé. Musées et mémoire locale sur les relations entre les musées et les communautés locales
Conference presented in Lyon during the Entretiens Jacques Cartier
Set up of the Écomusée’s annual auction
2006
Celebrating 10 years of the Écomusée at the Généreux bath
Creation of a donation fund
Ordre du fier monde, recipients: Sammy Forcillo, Saint-Jacques city councillor, René Binette, museologist and co-director, Felice Vaccaro, architect, André Boulerice, elected member in Sainte-Marie – Saint-Jacques, et Michel Gendron, co-director, 2007. Photo: Julie Landreville, Écomusée du fier monde
2007
Creation of the Ordre du fier monde
2008
Adoption of a new policy for the acquisition, management and conservation of collections (museum collection)
Conference presented at San Sebastian during the colloquium titled Activaciones patrimoniales e iniciativas museísticas ¿Por quién? Y ¿para quién?; followed by an eponymous publication in 2009
2009
Drafting of a new five-year strategy plan
2010
Adoption of programming criteria and procedure updates
Adoption of guidelines and a sustainable development action plan
2011
The Écomusée’s 10th annual auction
Adoption of an ecomuseum collection policy
Study trip to Germany on the topic of industrial heritage with the Association québécoise pour le patrimoine industriel and the Goethe-Institut
Participation in a mission called Culture, citoyenneté et développement social in Wallonie-Bruxelles, Belgium, with the support of the Offices jeunesse internationaux du Québec
2012
Renewal of the permanent exhibition
Adoption of a partnership policy
Celebrations surrounding the 30-year anniversary of the Écomusée’s incorporation
2013
Participation in a seminar on participatory inventory and local heritage at Gemona del Friuli, Italie
Conference presented at Suresnes, France, during the colloquium titled Utilité et pérennité des collections; followed by an eponymous publication in 2015
René Binette at The Best in Heritage, Dubrovnik, 2014. Photo: Domagoj Režić
2014
Conference presented at Dubrovnik, Croatia, during The Best in Heritage; followed by an eponymous publication in 2014
2015
Conference presented at Lisbonne, Portugal, during the colloquium titled Patrimonialização e sustentabilidade do património
Conference presented at Marseille during the Rencontres professionnelles of the Fédération des écomusées et musées de société titled La participation, avenir des musées de société?
Drafting of a new five-year strategy plan
2016
Conference presented at Milan at the Forum des écomusées et musées communautaires during the International Council of Museums congress
Celebrating 20 years of the Écomusée at the Généreux bath
Drafting of a communications plan
2017
The Écomusée’s 10th Ordre du fier monde
Célébrons le patrimoine avec l’Écomusée for the 90-year anniversary of the bain Généreux
2018
Creation of a new permanent installation Nourrir le quartier
Participation to an exchange with the écomusée du Val de Bièvre (Écomusée du Grand-Orly Seine Bièvre), in France, about the ecomuseum collection
Conference presented with the École du Louvre at the Musée des civilisations d’Europe et de la Méditerranée, Marseille
2019
Obtaining the accreditation of museum institutions from the Ministry of Culture and Communications
Record sales at the 18th annual auction
2020
40th anniversary of the Écomusée : a look back at the major stages in the development of our institution.