*Follow our special coverage of the arrival of Hurricane Fiona on Canadian shores with our journalists in Gaspésie, Îles-de-la-Madeleine and Halifax*
Already threatened by the sea, Château Dubuc, cited as a heritage building in Gaspésie, was devastated by Hurricane Fiona on Saturday.
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In the afternoon, dozens of curious people who came to see the extent of the damage were present on the spot.
Built in 1916 by Julien-Édouard-Alfred Dubuc, a well-known businessman, Château Dubuc represented a good part of the industrial history of the municipality.
In recent years, the municipality has fought to save the heritage building from destruction.
Chandler’s former mayor, Louisette Langlois, gave a heartfelt cry last May in hopes of saving the castle from being washed away by the sea.
This long fight to restore the building began during the high tides of 2016 and 2017, when the castle’s protective wall was damaged, making it more vulnerable to bad weather. Later, in February 2021, the wall finally gave way, leaving the castle exposed. It was only a matter of time before the building was destroyed.
“It is a symbol of government inertia. The outgoing CAQ government injected $22 million to save Villa James [de Percé, le bâtiment désigné Espace bleu pour la Gaspésie], but here, we laughed at the world by offering $40,000 to save this villa which was of great importance. It’s a shame,” said Jean-Marie Fallu, president of Patrimoine Gaspésie.
NELSON SERGERIE/AGENCE QMI
For many, the destruction of Château Dubuc represents the collapse of a part of Chandler’s history.
“It is the loss of an important heritage asset. It was the last physical vestige of the great industrial epic [de la ville]“, lamented Mr. Fallu.
Maurice Rehel took care of the upkeep of the château for around twenty years. Today, he struggles to achieve the destruction of it. “Ten years ago, we could have saved [le château]but with the governments, it is too heavy”, he admitted.
“It’s a part of Chandler’s story that’s gone,” Mr. Rehel added.
For its part, the City deplores the disappearance of the heritage building, while emphasizing the efforts made to preserve it.
“We made a last effort by agreeing to take charge of Château Dubuc, conditional on a government subsidy. The Department of Culture still stuck with $40,000, which didn’t even pay the architects’ fees for the relocation. It’s laughing at us,” said the mayor of Chandler, Gilles Daraîche, echoing the words of Mr. Fallu.
– With the collaboration of Nelson Sergerie