National Assembly commemorates Québec's first Parliament

QUÉBEC, June 21, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - To mark the 225th anniversary of parliamentary institutions, celebrated in 2017, National Assembly President Jacques Chagnon is pleased to announce the upcoming inauguration of a monument inspired by Québec sculptor Alfred Laliberté's original bronze Le député arrivant à Québec, depicting a Member of Parliament arriving in Québec City, housed in the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec.

"Unveiled on the National Assembly grounds, the monument Member of Parliament Arriving in Québec City commemorates the first Members' arrival in Québec City following the 1792 elections and constitutes a significant legacy of the 225th anniversary of our parliamentary institutions. By paying tribute to Québec's first Parliament (Bishop's Palace), located on Côte de la Montagne, and to the time when Québec City was the capital of Lower Canada, we are giving the current Parliament Building's many visitors and the citizens of Québec an opportunity to learn more about this important juncture in our democracy," said Mr. Chagnon.

The monument was made possible in part by a Government of Canada grant.

"The Government of Canada is proud to contribute to the creation of new monuments that highlight the defining moments in Quebec's history. The statue Le député arrivant à Québec (Member of Parliament Arriving in Québec City), erected as part of the 225th anniversary of parliamentary institutions, will remind future generations of the fundamental role that the first elected members played in shaping our country. I invite Québec City's residents and visitors to come admire this magnificent work, which creates a symbolic link to our past and encourages us to understand it better." The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage.

Inverness firm creates monument

The statue Member of Parliament Arriving in Québec City was created by the Inverness-based firm Atelier du Bronze, which also created La Rencontre (The Meeting), located at Québec City's Videotron Centre. The bronze will officially be unveiled in July 2018 at a ceremony attended by parliamentarians gathered in Québec City for the 44th session of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie.

Original bronze Le député arrivant à Québec

Created between 1927 and 1931, the original sculpture (57 × 28 × 23.5 cm) is part of the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec collection's Trades, Customs and Legends of Yesteryear series.

SOURCE Assemblée nationale du Québec

Laurie Gosselin-Bélanger, Communications Adviser, National Assembly of Québec, Telephone: [phone], ext. 71093, Email: [email protected]