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Interview With Réjean Hamel

Black and white photograph of a man in a cassock posing in front of a log cabin partially covered with tar paper.

Date of the interview: 2019

Credits: Société d’histoire de Malartic

Title of the photograph: Father Renaud in front of the Canadian Malartic Mine’s kitchen then known as the “cookery”. People gathered there for Sunday Mass.

Date of the photograph: 1936

Credits of the photograph : Société d’histoire de Malartic, Jeanne and Raymond Lefebvre fonds

Here, Mr. Réjean Hamel illustrates the importance of Father Joseph-Albert Renaud in Malartic.

Interviewer: “Is it true that Father Renaud was responsible for Roc-d’Or’s fate?”

Réjean Hamel: “Father Renaud was responsible for almost everything that went on in Roc-d’Or and Malartic. Because in those days, he was the boss. Every morning, Father Renaud went to see the notary Taschereau. Opposite where Arcand’s store stood. Three or four of them met in those days. Miquelon and the priest. The priest was pretty… Well, here’s an example that shows he was the boss. The Émond Sisters had come here. A Quebec comedy duo of the 30s came as Ti-Gus and Ti-Mousse, Denyse Émond acting as Ti-Mousse. They performed at the Manoir Boutin. They filled the Manoir with their show. Next day, Father Renaud met with Mr. Boutin and insisted the duo go back on the bus right that evening, or else … One group collecting money here in town was enough. That’s how it was. So, the priest, in Roc-d’Or, that’s what it was like.”