Brownsburg-Chatham Cultural Centre hosts grand-opening

The Brownsburg-Chatham Pavillon des Jardins Cultural Centre delivered three days of art, music and sensory delight to the residents of Argenteuil on September 25, 26 and 27.  The festivities were part of the cultural centre’s grand-opening, which offered free entertainment to residents.
Located above Restaurant à la Table d’Hector in Brownsburg-Chatham, the cultural centre represents the first phase in the revitalization of Brownsburg-Chatham’s downtown core. The idea for a cultural centre was formed in 2007 with the organization of the Sociéte Culturelle du Pavillon des Jardins.  Working with the municipality of Brownsburg-Chatham, the provincial government and local businesses, the volunteer committee spent hundreds of hours fundraising and renovating the site of the cultural centre.
Three years later, the volunteer committee has used their $36,200 budget to transform the top floor of Restaurant à la Table d’Hector into an exposition hall and conference space. The 100-year old building belongs to Restaurant à la Table d’Hector and was purchased from the Municipality of Brownsburg-Chatham under the condition that the top floor be reserved for the cultural centre.
“Our challenge is to introduce the residents of Argenteuil to the culture and talent that is readily available here. Opening a high-quality restaurant and a new cultural centre are merely the first steps for our city,” said Brownsburg-Chatham Mayor Lise Bourgault.
Festivities began on September 25, with the opening of the cultural centre’s first art exhibit and continued on September 26, with entertainment, art, food and wine. The sisters of the Monastery of the Virgin Mary, were present to sell cheese, souvlaki and sweets that they produce in their monastery, which is located in Brownsburg-Chatham. Aux Cassis d’Argenteuil offered a selection of locally produced black-current wines that are grown and produced in Saint-Andre d’Argenteuil, while local farms, artisans, artists and musicians presented their wares to the nearly 200 people who visited the cultural centre throughout the day.
The featured artists included Pierrette Borris, Suzanne Borris, Linda Hébert, Mario Ladouceur, and Mylène Mondou.
An evening of music and fine-dining followed the days entertainment, with a musical performance by ‘Au Fils de Temps’, who performed a mixture of rock and blues in both English and French.
September 27, was a day dedicated to children, with theatrical performances by Coccinelle and the Tak-O-Tak theatre troupe.
“It’s important to realize the talent that already exists here. Our cultural capacity in Argenteuil has been very culturally closed. It is our goal to open it up and convince our residents of the opportunities that exist in our own community,” said Maurice Rochon of the Sociéte Culturelle du Pavillon des Jardins.