In collaboration with the Quebec Ministry of Tourism, Tourisme Cantons-de-l’Est, the Town of Cookshire-Eaton and the Maison de la culture John-Henry-Pope, the Productions de l’Inconnu dans le noir has launched the evening projection of Les Murmures du Canton (Murmurs of the Township), a video mapping project, at the Parc des Braves in Cookshire-Eaton. The wordless videos are to be projected as soon as it gets dark, Thursday through Saturday until mid-September. The purpose of this activity is to augment tourist attractions in the Haut-Saint-François.

Video mapping, also called architectural projection, is a multimedia technology that allows light or video projection by recreating oversized images on structures in relief, such as monuments. The Murmures du Canton videos are to be projected onto the walls of three historic Cookshire-Eaton buildings: Victoria Hall, Cookshire Elementary School and St. Peter’s Church. On average, between 14 and 16 images per second will scroll across the walls with a total of around 50,000 drawings. Three videos are projected simultaneously, but each offers different content.

“You can’t see everything the first time around, so it’s to invite people to come back,” said Sébastien Croteau, producer-director of L’inconnu dans le noir. Each show is about 30 minutes long, with two showings each evening. The animation and the drawings presented are chiefly about the history of the Eaton Township, but can also be reminiscent of the Eastern Townships in general. “We visit the Abenaki and the first American soldiers who came through here. After that, it’s the American and British colonization and you end up with images that pay homage to the flora and fauna of the region,” explained Croteau. He took two years to prepare this project and said he considers this work to represent his community involvement.
The idea behind this work is to offer more activities to tourists. “Evening activities that invite them to stay a night, so one more day,” added the producer.

In addition to being representative of the region, the project happens to be almost entirely local, said Croteau. L’Inconnu dans le noir is based in the Haut-Saint-François, and all the people who participated in creating the drawings presented in the videos also reside in the MRC. In addition, the cabins protecting the video equipment were built by cabinetmaker Gilles Guimond of Cookshire-Eaton.

“The Cookshire-Eaton cultural centre is a focal point for cultural outreach in the Haut-Saint-François. Visual arts, classical music and crafts are offered to citizens and visitors for their enjoyment. With the Murmures du Canton multimedia project, which will be projected on the walls surrounding the Parc des Braves, the organization is confirming its vocation and offering a show that is both modern and is witness to the history of the Cookshire-Eaton region, of its rich heritage and the waves of colonization that shaped its personality. I am delighted with such a project in the Mégantic riding,” said François Jacques, MNA for Mégantic and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of municipal affairs and housing.

To carry out this project, several volunteers did not hesitate to get involved. “It’s such a wonderful gift that you’re giving us this evening. We are very proud to have a committee that is involved,” said Cookshire-Eaton Mayor Sylvie Lapointe during the media premiere of the event.
For this project, the Government of Quebec invested $32,500 from the Entente de partenariat régional en tourisme (EPRT) in collaboration with Tourisme Cantons-de-l’Est. “A rich and diversified, original and authentically Quebecois endeavour allows Quebec to stand out from other destinations. In the current context, it is more important than ever to encourage the development efforts of the tourism industry, which, in a concerted manner, carries out regional development projects. I salute the excellent work of the promoters and their inspiring initiatives, which will contribute to a strong and lasting recovery,” said Caroline Proulx, Minister of tourism and Minister responsible for the Lanaudière and Bas-Saint-Laurent regions.

Les Murmures du Canton will be presented at nightfall from Thursday to Saturday, at the Parc des Braves in Cookshire-Eaton until mid-September. Officials plan to resume projections in the summer of 2022 and possibly even 2023.