Louis St-Laurent
National
Historic Site

A man of law, of politics, but also and most importantly, a family man, the former prime minister of Canada, Louis S. Saint-Laurent, grew up and lived in Compton, in the Eastern Townships in the province of Quebec. Besides the family’s main house, this historic site also includes the exterior garden and his father’s general store and warehouse.

Upon their arrival, visitors are immediately immersed in the period’s atmosphere by entering Mr. Saint-Laurent Senior’s general store. By the wood-burning stove, an audio installation allows visitors to hear conversations as though they were there, while the everyday objects all around, from rubber boots to soap boxes, remind us of the versatility and importance of such businesses in the lives of the city’s inhabitants. As for the main house, it is a time capsule of real family memories that, skillfully presented thanks to explanatory panels and showcases integrated to the decor and furniture, give a strong impression of family life at the time.

It is in the warehouse transformed into a multimedia theatre that the visitor is fully immersed in the life of Louis Saint-Laurent. The scenography, a happy marriage of artifacts and graphics, comes to life thanks to an 18-minute show, entirely automated, combining slide projections, sound and light.