Rollet

What now houses the library and neighborhood offices used to be the village school. The building has since been renovated, and a third floor has been added in the attic.

Whether welcoming travelers coming from or heading to Témiscamingue, the village of Rollet is a truly idyllic stop! If you’re missing any items or feeling hungry, be sure to stop by Place Talbot, a convenience store where customer service is a top priority!

Photo source: BAnQ

A 1932 view of Mr. Poirier’s farmhouse in Ste-Monique-de-Rollet. With so much work to be done, the whole family pitches in—except for the little girl sitting on the swing in the background!

Photo source: BAnQ

Stump removal on a plot of land in 1941. The arrival of mechanical machinery lightened the burden on the settlers, who previously had to do this work using animals or even by hand!

Photo source: BAnQ

Did you know? The settlers who founded Rollet originally named the place Rivière-Solitaire, after a nearby stream.

The town has also inspired several novelists, including Marie Le Franc, who described the settlers’ lives in 1934 in her book La rivière solitaire. See the cover above!

In July In July 2007, the colorful residents of the village of Rollet—with their huge hearts and boundless generosity—welcomed host Sébastien Benoît to show him their beautiful little corner of the country and pull out all the stops to win him over!

The closing party, held on a pontoon capable of accommodating about a hundred people—and joined by other boaters—certainly made an impression! It was an unforgettable experience not only for the guest artist but also for the entire film crew and the event organizers! Held in conjunction with the village’s 75th anniversary celebrations, the event was a resounding success!

While researching the Rollet colonization archives, Gaétane Maltais discovered photos taken of her grandfather’s farm, which she remembered fondly. The resulting artwork is, in fact, a reconstruction of the site based on her memories: the house, the humble farm buildings, and the vegetable garden.

Interestingly, the photo shown under the second tab of this point of interest is the one that inspired the artist.

Artist: Gaétane Maltais

Year: 2016

Material: Acrylic on UHD panel

A descendant of pioneers, Gaétane Maltais is a resident of Rollet. She has been painting as a hobby for several years.

1932: Founded under the Gordon Plan by settlers from Quebec City and the Sainte-Monique Mission

1933: Opening of the post office

1940s: A boom in economic activity driven by sawmills and logging operations

1954: Electrification

1961: Construction of the Sim’Or theme park

1964: Opening of a coffee stirrer factory

1967: Founding of the Sainte-Monique-de-Rollet parish

1975: Reopening of the school (closed in 1972) following pressure from a group of citizens who saw its closure as a sign of the village’s decline

1979: Incorporation as a municipality

1984: Founding of the Rollet Workers’ Cooperative, which revived a sawmill