Edition 2015
Nine students explored, in concert with the region’s key stakeholders and the communities adjacent to the Forillon National Park of Canada, namely Cap-aux-Os, Cap-des-Rosiers and l’Anse-au-Griffon, adaptive reuse and historic preservation strategies for the three Gavey Houses and Bartlett House as well as adjoining secondary structures including barns, sheds and ‘backhouses’ in the Grande Grave sector of the park. The goal was to find ways to generate complementarity and synergy between private enterprises, the public sector, and community initiatives to stimulate the development of both the villages and the Park. How might these strategies stimulate the viability of the otherwise fragile businesses and services situated on the perimeter of the Forillon Peninsula in ways that consider the needs of the residents? What mutually profitable projects could the Park and the neighbouring villages develop together?
The villages bordering the Park, such as Cap-des-Rosiers, whose harbour and half of its territory is actually within park boundaries, and Cap-aux-Os, which is actually surrounded by two of the Parks’ sectors (the South and Penouille or Peninsula) are struggling to survive. Tourism seems to have become the only possible development avenue for these villages. The owners of the motels, restaurants, hostels, souvenir shops and adventure tourism companies (sea kayaking etc.) depend to a large extent on the park. In the meantime, a great number of services in the area have disappeared.
Starting from an examination of houses that have yet to be interpreted and preserved and their sites, analysis of primary sources and oral history, and considering the ideas put forward by participants during a brainstorming workshop, the proposed strategies (commercial and community-based activities, etc.) have as their aim to augment and diversify the activities offered in the park while also sustaining commercial and community initiatives.
Dossier de presse
- Radio Canada – Bon pied, bonne heure!
- CBC – Built Heritage and Cultural Landscapes in the Gaspé
- Radio-Gaspésie – Patrimoine bâti
- Nouvelles de Cap-aux-Os – Un Parc ouvert sur la communauté
- Pharillon – École d’été en patrimoine bâti et paysages culturels in situ
- Le projet de création «La péninsule de Forillon» récompensé au colloque étudiant du CRAD
