Photographer unknown, Four female swimmers holding a piece of kelp, Kamouraska, Quebec (detail), 1916. Gift of Mrs. Charles Wagner, MP-1980.32.2.63, McCord Stewart Museum

Summer Holidays!

Have a look at these photographs capturing the smiles of vacationers enjoying the sun.

June 18, 2021

Vacations are a timeless joy. Whether they’re spent close to home or further afield, there’s a feeling of freedom and relaxation that can’t be matched. Since the invention in 1888 of the Kodak, the first camera that was both portable and easy to use, holidays have invariably meant holiday snaps. Road trips, days at the cottage, fishing and swimming jaunts, country hikes, sailing excursions – all appear again and again in photo albums immortalizing these happy times.

In Quebec, holiday destinations have scarcely changed since people started taking snapshots: vacationers still flock to the Gaspé Peninsula, with its famous Percé Rock, the Charlevoix hills, the lakes of the Laurentians and the Eastern Townships, and – for those who really want to get away from it all – the shores of the majestic St. Lawrence.

Maurice Hallett, Barbara Taplin and her sister Vera Hallett enjoying a picnic near Montmorency Falls, Quebec, 1938. Gift of Pierre Hallett, M2008.13.2.144, McCord Stewart Museum
Photographer unknown, Swimmer, Métis-sur-Mer(?), Quebec, 1906. Gift of Mrs. Anson C. McKim, M2003.36.3.73, McCord Stewart Museum
Photographer unknown, Three young ladies from the Braithwaite family, Tadoussac, Quebec, 1905. Gift of Patrick McG. Stoker, M2004.160.42.23, McCord Stewart Museum
Photographer unknown, Esther Dubuc on the beach, Tadoussac, Quebec, 1914. Gift of Châteauguay Perrault and Valérie Migneault Perrault, MP-1999.18.1.332, McCord Stewart Museum
Photographer unknown, “Fishing at Lake Nicolet”: Mr. Gagnon, Châteauguay and Gustave, Saints-Martyrs-Canadiens, Quebec, 1916. Gift of Châteauguay Perrault and Valérie Migneault Perrault, MP-1999.18.2.64, McCord Stewart Museum
Arthur Lee(?), Buster and Herbert Lee ready for scout camp, Montreal, 1939. Gift of Gilbert Lee, M2008.104.2.100, McCord Stewart Museum
Photographer unknown, Four female swimmers holding a piece of kelp, Kamouraska, Quebec, 1916. Gift of Mrs. Charles Wagner, MP-1980.32.2.63, McCord Stewart Museum
Photographer unknown, “On the way to the rock”: Pauline Christin at Percé Rock, Percé, Quebec, 1925. Gift of the Cardaillac family, M2001.8.33.157, McCord Stewart Museum
John G. M. Le Moine, Alex, Bear, Chase and Alex on top of the mountain at L’échafaud aux Basques, Baie-Sainte-Catherine, Quebec, 1927. Gift of Anthony G. Lemoine, M2013.96.10.49, McCord Stewart Museum
John G. M. Le Moine, Ruth, Dot and Charlie at the island of Le Pèlerin du Jardin, Saint-André, Quebec, 1929. Gift of Anthony G. Lemoine, M2013.96.10.113, McCord Stewart Museum
Photographer unknown, “On vacation at the cottage O.K.”: Gilberte Christin on the veranda, Les Éboulements, Quebec, 1930. Gift of the Cardaillac family, M2001.8.35.235, McCord Stewart Museum
Photographer unknown, “Two shots for 10 cts”: Gilberte Christin and her friend Yvette, Les Éboulements, Quebec, 1930. Gift of the Cardaillac family, M2001.8.35.250, McCord Stewart Museum
Robert E. Cooper(?), “Some of the gang staying at Broadview,” Lake de l'Achigan, Saint-Hippolyte, Quebec, 1930. Gift of Marjorie D. Cooper Gawley, M2004.94.33.65, McCord Stewart Museum
Robert E. Cooper(?), “An afternoon nap,” Lake de l’Achigan, Saint-Hippolyte, Quebec, 1930. Gift of Marjorie D. Cooper Gawley, M2004.94.33.79, McCord Stewart Museum
Robert E. Cooper(?), “Going in”: Olga, George, Gordon and Ken at Lake Memphrémagog, Magog, Quebec, 1935. Gift of Marjorie D. Cooper Gawley, M2004.94.36.167, McCord Stewart Museum
Robert E. Cooper(?), “Hot Footed”: Bob and Albert at St. Lawrence Park, Brockville, Ontario, 1938. Gift of Marjorie D. Cooper Gawley, M2004.94.37.80, McCord Stewart Museum
John G. M. Le Moine, Bob Coristine, Dorothy Fox, Bubbles O’Brien and Catherine MacPhail at anchor near the island of Le Pèlerin du Jardin, Saint-André, Quebec, 1932. Gift of Anthony G. Lemoine, M2013.96.10.175, McCord Stewart Museum
Robert E. Cooper(?), Marge and Gissie on the shore of the St. Lawrence River, Longueuil, Quebec, 1933. Gift of Marjorie D. Cooper Gawley, M2004.94.36.52, McCord Stewart Museum
Robert E. Cooper(?), “We eat”: Marjorie, Idamae and George having a picnic, Rawdon, Quebec, 1934. Gift of Marjorie D. Cooper Gawley, M2004.94.36.76, McCord Stewart Museum
Photographer unknown, Margery Paterson and her friends at Lake Nantel, Saint-Faustin-Lac-Carré, Quebec, about 1938. Gift of J. Ross Paterson, MP-1999.3.2.173, McCord Stewart Museum