Le Monastère des Augustines: Social innovation for the common good
Showcases historical heritage, in addition to offering a singular wellness experience.
From: CED - April 3, 2023
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| Organization: Le Monastère des Augustines Number of employees: 120 Region: Québec Program: Tourism Relief Fund (TRF) – Special initiative put into place to foster economic recovery within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The financial assistance is being provided to develop Le Vivoir, a rest area conducive to conversation, relaxation, reflection, reading, writing, and conscious eating, which enables Le Monastère to enhance its offering in order to be more attractive to Canadian and international tourists. |
Nestled behind L’Hôtel-Dieu de Québec is a heritage treasure from the 18th century: Le Monastère des Augustines. The Augustines bequeathed this haven of peace to Quebecers so that their tangible and intangible heritage would last through time. And to ensure their mission of taking care of body and soul would continue into the future.
« Le Monastère des Augustines is a unique concept in the world. It showcases historical heritage, in addition to offering a singular wellness experience », highlights Isabelle Duchesneau, Founding Director and Head of Strategic Development for Le Monastère des Augustines.
Keeping history alive
On August 1, 2015—precisely 376 years to the day after the arrival in Québec of three young Augustine Sisters who came to found the first hospital in the Americas north of Mexico, L’Hôtel-Dieu de Québec—Le Monastère des Augustines opens its doors to the public.
This project saw the light of day after more than 20 years of reflection. It was first necessary to find the best way to preserve and give this rich cultural heritage—including tonnes of archives, a chapel, the monastery of L’Hôtel-Dieu de Québec, etc.—its due value. This exercise led to the creation of the Fiducie du patrimoine culturel des Augustines, which preserves the values of this religious community and is responsible for sharing its legacy with the public. A non-profit organization, Le Monastère des Augustine, was added to the Fiducie with the aim of establishing and operating a living place of remembrance.
People have since gone there to take care of and regenerate themselves through a secular, contemporary approach. Fully restored and redeveloped, the building in Old Québec provides accommodation, a museum, an archive centre, cultural programming, a restaurant, a boutique, and holistic health services.
A unique societal project
Preserving a heritage site on this scale requires much love, benevolence and…lots of investments. And to ensure it remains sustainable, the uniqueness of what it offers must be maintained.
Le Vivoir, which came into being during the pandemic, is a good example of this. This concept of innovative restoration was based on the consideration of different needs expressed by clients but was also in line with the mission of the Augustines, pioneers in nutrition.
By honing its offering, Le Monastère is targeting “extended stay” clients who want to feel like they are “at home.” And this is precisely the aim of Le Vivoir: To provide a space where the warm, peaceful atmosphere is conducive to relaxation, conversation, and spending time within!
« By supporting this project, CED has enabled us to diversify our offering and optimize our guests’ experience. Contributing to such a project means much more than just providing financial assistance; it means contributing to a societal project, doing your share so that it can grow and evolve,” », Adds Isabelle Duchesneau.
A flagship tourism product
In recent years, wellness tourism and sustainable tourism have gained in popularity, and the health crisis accentuated this need. Le Monastère des Augustines is leveraging this trend to attract local and international clients.
« Le Monastère des Augustines has all the potential to become a flagship tourism product in Quebec. People will come to visit Quebec because they will have heard about the unique experience at Le Monastère and, in this way, the work of the Augustines will live on. We represent the first generation to have inherited this legacy. It is now our turn to pass it on to future generations,» concludes Isabelle Duchesneau.
The Augustines, a first generation of women entrepreneurs in Quebec
On August 1, 1639, three young sisters of the Order of Saint Augustine were sent by King Louis XIII to Québec as caregivers and apothecaries to establish the first hospital. In total, they founded 12 monastery-hospitals, which they managed until the mid-1960s. The community of Augustines was the first community of women entrepreneurs in Quebec. The Augustines practised mindful leadership. They were natural entrepreneurs, leading with a conscious focus on social innovation and sustainable development; they managed for the common good. The business model of Le Monastère des Augustines is today built around this model and with the very same values: hospitality, benevolence, commitment, sharing, and respect.