Strikes, royal visits, sculptures and films: Schefferville has been the scene of historical moments that have marked memories.
In 1958, the National Film Board shot the short film Ti-Jean au pays du fer with a real time backdrop of the mining operations.
In 1959, the Queen of England Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visited the Gagnon mine at Schefferville, staying at the Montagnais.
1967 celebrated Canadian Confederation with a parade and exhibition.
1972: Metallos (union workers) went on strike. More than one sector were paralyzed (mines & railroad stopping the supply chain for several weeks).
1970 was the year of the 100 years of iron. The period costumes, donned by citizens including Mayor Marc Chénier, highlighted the inauguration of the Centennial Island. There was the creation of the crest, and several sculptures. A lady from the Innu community introduced us to one of their traditional cooking methods.
Germain Bergeron is the creative sculptor. Weighing 4 tons (8,000 pounds or 3,629 kg), this one bares all its masculine elegance from the top of these 22 feet (6.7 meters). This caused a lot of talk at the time during the inauguration. Nevertheless, a man being a man, these few people scandalized by the thing had to resign themselves to the fact that there were no modifications to the original work. Its initial location did not enhance it, it was moved and has since watched over the inhabitants of the 55th parallel.
Germain Bergeron is the creative sculptor. Weighing 4 tons (8,000 pounds or 3,629 kg), this one bares all its masculine elegance from the top of these 22 feet (6.7 meters). This caused a lot of talk at the time during the inauguration. Nevertheless, a man being a man, these few people scandalized by the thing had to resign themselves to the fact that there were no modifications to the original work. Its initial location did not enhance it, it was moved and has since watched over the inhabitants of the 55ᵗʰ parallel.
An island, specially fitted out for the occasion, served as the official site. Accessible to all, it was located near Wishart Street.
Designed in the workshops of the IOC mining company, the miniature locomotive and its wagons had their own track. As an engine, the workers used that of an old bus. Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau played the role of driver during the inauguration.
Jean Ganguet Larouche, also part of the Association des Sculpteurs du Québec, created his work from materials related to the railway. The songwriter came in person for the inauguration. Under the canvas, a huge piece of ore wedged between 4 rails illustrated the path of the railway to the North in order to reach the precious resource. The room studded with studs recalls the difficulties and the efforts to plant each of them along this considerable steel road.
