The Pioneer Trail at Coaticook Jeanne Bachand
JEANNE BACHAND
1897-1952
Jeanne Bachand was introduced to music at an early age by the sisters of the Presentation of Mary at the Coaticook convent, and went on to become one of Quebec’s first popular opera singers.
Between the 1920s and 1930s, she played leading roles in several operas. In 1926, together with Dr. Achille Comtois, she founded the Union musicale de Coaticook, in which she was the soprano soloist. She was a true pioneer in Coaticook’s musical development and would put on recitals in her garden to raise funds for various organizations in the area.
She was the daughter of a prosperous merchant, Denis Stanislas Bachand, who financially supported her musical endeavours. Bachand was the owner of the Bachand general store, founded in 1886 and considered the largest department store in the Eastern Townships. It featured groceries, a flour mill, a shoe section, and more. Bachand was also President of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society and Mayor of Coaticook in 1922-1923. The father and daughter both died in 1952.
GPS : 45.133609 N, -71.804171 O
ADDRESS : Près du Pavillon des arts, 116, rue Wellington, Coaticook
The voices of yesteryear at the heart of our landscapes
FIND OUT MORE …
Standing in front of Jeanne Bachand, by the Pavillon des arts http://www.pavillondesarts.qc.ca, you are now located at the heart of Coaticook’s commercial district. You can take advantage of the occasion to do some shopping or have a bite to eat on Child Street or Main Street. A list of nearby attractions and establishments can be found at www.tourismecoaticook.qc.ca.
History and heritage enthusiasts are invited to peruse the information panels, the street name displays, or the guide “Promenades architecturales Coaticook” at
www.coaticook.ca a wealth of information!
Enjoy a CHARMING and CULTURALLY REWARDING
journey on our lovely roads!