Maison Félix-Leclerc

Complete details can be found in the Réseau Mozaïk calendar.

History of Maison Félix-Leclerc in Vaudreuil

Maison Félix-Leclerc was built in two stages. The main building was constructed in the late 19th century by Michel Denis, known as Saint-Denis, who owned the land from 1858 to 1881 and by his son, Joseph, who owned the property from 1881 to 1931. This style of building is typical of Second Empire-style rural houses that were common at the turn of the 20th century.

The second portion was built at a later date. The house remained in the hands of descendants of the Denis family until the middle of the 20th century, when Émilien Denis owned it from 1931 to 1950. The house was then purchased by Félix Leclerc (1914–1988) in 1956. An internationally renowned Québec poet, writer, playwright and chansonnier, Leclerc has had a profound impact on the French-speaking arts scene. His work, inspired by nature and everyday life, deals with fundamental themes such as life, death, love and patriotism—hence his popularity in Québec and Europe. Leclerc began living in Vaudreuil in 1945.

« À Vaudreuil, aussitôt que le nom de Félix Leclerc est prononcé, il se trouve toujours quelqu’un pour évoquer d’autres souvenirs. » — Marcel Brouillard (Félix Leclerc, L’homme derrière la légende)

This was his third home in the area, and it is where he lived for an entire decade. Facing Lac des Deux Montagnes, the house is set on a large property that features several outbuildings. An old forge and a shed were built near the home. A small bridge leads to the rear of the property, where a shed and barn can be found in the thicket. This is where Leclerc kept a goat, a horse, ducks and Chinese hens, which inspired him to christen the barn L’auberge des morts subites. He wanted to transform it into a village theater and cultural meeting place. Although this dream never came to be, the barn was occasionally used as a rehearsal space for actors. The place also inspired a play by the author entitled L'auberge des morts subites.

The house and its site were indeed a source of inspiration for the author. At the time, Vaudreuil was a popular meeting place for creators and artists from across Québec and France. In 1958, filmmaker Claude Jutra (1930-1986) shot a few images inside the house for his National Film Board documentary entitled Félix Leclerc, troubadour. The décor and finishes of the house’s interior remain the same as those seen in the documentary.

After Félix’s departure in 1967, Andrée Vien and Félix’s son Martin Leclerc lived in the big white house with the blue shutters for a few more years. It was at this time that Martin developed his passion for photography and set up a darkroom on the first floor of the house.

History of the renovation of Maison Félix-Leclerc in Vaudreuil

In 1973, a local businessman bought the property at 186 Chemin de l’Anse. Unfortunately, over the years, the residence had fallen into a state of disrepair due to lack of maintenance.

In 1991, the City of Vaudreuil-Dorion cited the property in its heritage protection policy.

Finally, in the early 2000s, a group of citizens dismayed by the deterioration of Félix Leclerc’s former property created the Société de sauvegarde de la Maison de Félix Leclerc à Vaudreuil-Dorion (SSMFL). They worked tirelessly to finance and restore the house.

In July 2006, the organization finally succeeded in acquiring the property at 186 Chemin de l’Anse after lengthy negotiations. Maison Félix-Leclerc had thus completed the first stage of its mission.

The City of Vaudreuil-Dorion declared Maison Félix-Leclerc a heritage site in 2006. This includes the house, its grounds and outbuildings. The house was listed as a historic monument in 2009. The site became immovable heritage when the Cultural Heritage Act came into force in 2012.

_{(Source : Ministère de la Culture, des Communications et de la Condition féminine du Québec, 2009)}

Finally, in July 2012, a government grant of $566,500 was awarded by the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec as part of the Cultural Heritage Fund. The organization was then able to move ahead with the restoration of Maison Félix-Leclerc.

After tireless efforts and the participation of visionary citizens, Maison Félix-Leclerc opened its doors to the public in the summer of 2014—the year Félix would have turned 100. Martin Leclerc, has made a documentary, Le 186, pour la mémoire, about the restoration of the house where his father lived for 10 years. The film is also an opportunity to revisit the poet’s life in this part of Vaudreuil. The documentary is available on the NFB website.

In 2017, due to the organization’s difficult financial situation, the City of Vaudreuil-Dorion became the owner of Maison Félix-Leclerc. This helps ensure that the mission undertaken by the SSMFL is kept alive.

Biography of Félix Leclerc

Félix Leclerc was a singer-songwriter, poet, writer and actor. Like his friend Raymond Devos, he loved the French language and was keen to defend quality artistic creation. Committed to Québec sovereignty and the defense of the French language, he created several vibrant works in which he shared his emotions and, in some instances, his indignation. He was also a powerful voice for Québec nationalism.

« Tous ceux et celles qui font le métier une guitare à la main savent qu’il est le pionnier qui a ouvert le sentier, nous lui devons beaucoup. » — Richard Séguin

He is considered by many to be the father of Québecois song. With his simple, straightforward manner, Félix conquered Paris and then Europe. With nearly twenty albums to his credit, including over one hundred and fifty songs, Félix Leclerc is also the author of several novels and a dozen poetry and story collections. He created soap operas for both TV and radio and has about fifteen other plays to his credit, including several teleplays.

Félix Leclerc was instrumental in giving Québec music an identity, granting it recognition on the international stage. He ranks among the world’s finest singers of the French language, alongside Charles Trenet, Édith Piaf, Georges Brassens, and Charles Aznavour. He is also credited for inspiring some of the most renowned artists of our time, including Jacques Brel, Georges Brassens and Guy Béart, to pursue singing.

« Croyez-le ou non, c’est l’audition du premier long jeu de Félix Leclerc qui m’a orienté vers la chanson définitivement. » — Jacques Brel

In 1982, Université du Québec awarded Félix an honorary doctorate. The artist is also recognized by the ADISQ Gala whose Félix Awards bear his name. In honour of his work, Félix’s name also appears in many parks, streets, schools and other public places, including a 325-kilometre stretch of Highway 40 known as Autoroute Félix-Leclerc. Finally, on February 7, 2014, as part of the celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the poet’s birth, Félix Leclerc was declared a historical figure by the Government of Québec.