“U” is for “University”

The Neighbourhood Next to the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR) 

This blog is part of a very special series created and written by Phyllis Knox, “Alphabetic Musings”, whereby she chooses a word starting with a particular letter from the alphabet and injects it with her storytelling magic.

According to Google, the word University means: an educational institution designed for instruction, examination, or both, of students in many branches of advanced learning, conferring degrees in various faculties, and often embodying colleges and similar institutions. 

The UQTR is situated in the St. Jean de Brebeuf section of our city at 3351 Blvd. Des Forges at the intersection with des Recollets near downtown Trois-Rivieres. Our fine university was established on March 19,1969 and was created through the merger of the Centre d’études universitaire de Trois-Rivières and “L’école normale d’état Maurice Duplessis” (named after Maurice Duplessis). 

As of April 2016, the University had: 

·         14,500 students 

·         788 from 50 different countries

·         88,000 diplomas given since its founding 

·         400,000 documents in its campus library 

Since 2004, our university has a satellite system set up with the University of Montreal for the School of Medicine, and in 2010, a new medical education pavilion was completed to accommodate it. Its Doctorate of Podiatric Medicine is the first in Canada and this makes UQTR the first French-language university in the world to offer the DPM degree. Up to 25 students enroll each year.  The Chiropractic school is the first university-based program in North America. Midwifery welcomes 24 students per year and is the only university to offer this program.

Hydrogen research encompasses basic Sciences, Engineering, and Social Sciences in order to promote energy transition.

The University also participates in various Canadian intermural sports, including swimming, golf, hockey. soccer, cheerleading, badminton, athleticism and volleyball, and they call themselves Les Patriotes.

There are many other interesting faculties within this establishment. In the 1980’s, I studied to become a teacher at our hometown university. I enjoyed learning about the theories surrounding the field of teaching, English lit, English grammar and so much more. I am thankful that an institution existed in such proximity. 

At this point, I would like to mention some of the alumni who have graced the halls of this wonderful institution of higher education. They are entertainers, politicians, teachers, writers, doctors and scientists.  

(There is no mention of me, Phyllis Knox nor is my grandson’s name mentioned within this grouping, oh well, EH!) 

· Fred Pellerin, a Canadian musician, writer and storyteller from Saint-Elie-de-Caxton (a small but wonderful town just a few miles north of Three Rivers. 

· Xavier Barsalou-Duval, a Canadian (Federal) Politician. 

· Hery Rajaonarimampianina Rakotoarimanana (first & middle names---44 characters & family name---19 characters ouf!), a Malagasy politician, President of Madagascar from 2014 to 2018. 

· Gilles Bouchard, a Canadian ice hockey coach. 

· Angèle Delaunois, a Canadian author (born in France). 

· Macsuzy Mondon, .a teacher and a politician (born in the Seychelles). 

· Jean Rioux, an educator, businessman and Quebec politician. 

· Michel Seymour, a Canadian philosopher and professor 

· Judy Stretch, a Canadian (Federal) politician and a member of the Legislative Assembly for Nova Scotia 

· Luc Tardif, a French-Canadian ice hockey executive and a native of Trois-Rivieres

Let us now take a walk back to the past, to a time some 70 years ago, back to the late 1940’s and early 1950’s. Such a magical time it was when the baby boomers were the rage and when there was a sense of renewal everywhere.  Whole neighbourhoods were being built as young families needed schools, stores and - above all - housing.  Spemont (named for the contractor, M. Frank Spenard and the fact that the designated spot was on a hillside overlooking much of the city) was one of the attractive areas chosen by the above-mentioned company to fulfill those needs. It became a 15-square block area that included rue Pere-Marquette running east to west on the northern tip and Rue Des Forges, Rue De Franchecille, Rue Bourjoly, Rue Fortin and Rue Des Groseilliers. 

There was a park as well as a swimming pool for summer and an ice rink for winter. City buses ran regularly on Des Forges (student passes were sold 5 for a dollar if I remember correctly) and there was a drugstore and a grocery store within walking distance. A railroad track running parallel to Des Groseillers gave me a love for trains...I will never forget the beautiful sound as the train engineer blew the horn as he reached the traffic crossing near l’hopital Cooke. The train ran north to Shawinigan, Grand'Mere and to La Tuque. It was a bonus for us to have that sound and we thought that it gave our area a special touch of life! Every one of those 70 plus-year-old houses is still standing today. The builders (Spenard & co.) did a fantastic job of building homes that would withstand the test of time. It is as though time has stood still in this particular part of the city. Through my eyes, I see kids playing hide &seek and tag as the neighbourhood was our playground. We were told to make sure to come home for mealtimes and above all, we had to be home as the sun set. It was a time of freedom, a worry-free time of pure joy and laughter. Our lives were filled with our brothers and sisters and friends and neighbours. My family all left Fortin Street, Spemont and T.R. in 1966, but we will never forget the wonderful years spent here! 

And this is where my two subjects intersect! Just beyond Rue Des Groseillers stood a forest. It was neither a large forest nor an old one (the trees were few and far between), but it was OUR forest. All the kids would meet and climb the trees, ride their bikes along the paths, swim in Rivière Milette and pick the berries that grew there. We would laugh and sing and tell tall tales. Unforgettable! Today, all that is gone. The generations after us would never – will never - experience that joy in that part of the city. C’est la vie, n’est-ce-pas?

The University now stands on that very site. As the world changes, so do our needs, whether for good or not. We need to go with the flow. Change is inevitable. According to the Canadian Encyclopedia, Three Rivers grew from 10,000 to 42,000 between 1901 and 1941. During the 1960s the population was in decline as people moved to the suburbs and neighbouring communities. Today, the estimated population of Trois-Rivieres is 138,839---up 4,000 citizens since 2016. If life in our city continues to increase at this speed, we must all foresee major changes in housing, roads, schools, and green spaces. Change happens, slowly but, surely.  

P.S. I am sure that you can feel the love I have tried to transmit to you through my words. Those wonderful, happy and joyful years of my youth could not have been spent in a better place even if I had chosen it myself. I am satisfied with the way my childhood and my teen years were lived in Trois-Rivieres, in a small bungalow on Rue Fortin in the Secteur Spemont. I am very grateful, EH! 

Phyllis (Knox)