Sister Marguerite Hudon

Sister Marguerite Hudon, s.g.m. (1918-1974) Marguerite Hudon is born on November 1st, 1918 into a large family in Rivière-Ouelle, county of Kamouraska. After entering the Grey Nun novitiate in 1940, she works for seven years as a cook at the Motherhouse and the Saint-Charles Farm. Assigned to the Châteauguay farm in 1949, she dedicates herself […]

Châteauguay, The Apiary

The Apiary An apiary is installed near the chapel and though its origins are unknown it appears to be quite old. The bees were used to pollinize the orchard’s trees and to provide honey for the Nuns and the staff of the manor. In 1920, the apiary was still of modest size, consisting of only […]

Châteauguay, The Maple Grove

The Maple Grove A large number of maples trees grew on Saint-Bernard Island in Marguerite d’Youville’s time. From the beginning, a sugar shack is mentioned where sap is collected to produce maple sugar and syrup. In 1895, the original maple grove is razed by a cyclone and again in 1910 by a hurricane. The sugar […]

Châteauguay, Women and Men

Women and Men The continual development of the farm is only possible thanks to the hard work of the Nuns and hired farmhands, who all live onsite. A house is built to lodge the farmer and his family: the Vallée and Chagnon families were employed for generations. Among the noteworthy Nuns who worked there are […]

Châteauguay, In the Fields

In the Fields Part of the tilled land is used for growing cereals such as wheat, oats, and buckwheat while a meadow produces hay for animal fodder. Over time, a vegetable garden is developed and eventually occupies a large space at the rear of the manor where a wide variety of vegetables are grown in […]