Once upon a time... Québec
February 22 – March 14, 2008

Festival du Bois du Maillardville, in partnership with Evergreen Cultural Centre, are presenting Once Upon a Time…Québec, a visual art exhibition of traditional French-Canadian arrow sashes and artifacts, to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the City of Québec.

Once Upon a Time…Québec is made possible by well-respected Québec artist and curator France Hervieux. Hervieux’s extensive collection of sashes provides a unique and rare opportunity for the public to view this typical French-Canadian art form steeped in history and culture.

The arrow sash is, in most cases, a woven sash decorated with geometric patterns. It was initially worn by French Canadian voyageurs for practical reasons, such as providing back support on a portage, or as an emergency rope. In later years, it became a symbol of identity – a mark of distinction and origin. For example, various geographic regions were represented by different colours. Métis people had their own colourful sash, tinted blue.

Once Upon a Time…Québec makes it possible for visitors to see different traditional French-Canadian and Métis sashes, to better understand the origins and learn more about Canada’s history.