The Great Secret of Kebec
QuÉbec City burning
Description
You are in Québec City. Part of the city is burning in a great fire. You can see the gleam from the flames at the end of a street.
You pass a woman, who speaks to you.
Dialogue
Women
"Look, the city is burning! It’s crucial that you save the book that is said to hold the culture and the future of Québec City. You will find it in the Crémazie bookstore. Take this kerchief so you don’t suffocate. Quickly!"
You move towards the fire through the streets leading to the Crémazie bookstore.
Fire
Québec City experienced two devastating fires on May 28 and June 28, 1845. In all, more than 3,000 homes were burned, 14 people died, and nearly 20,000 were left homeless. Sadly, on October 14, 1866, another fire driven by strong winds completely leveled more than 2,000 houses, causing 5 deaths and putting between 18,000 and 20,000 people on the streets. In addition to these three fires, the Parliament of United Canada, located in Upper Town in what is now Montmorency Park, also burned in 1854. Between 1840 and 1900, Québec City suffered more than 20 major fires.
Octave CrÉmazie’s bookstore
Description
You are in the burning bookstore, looking for the mysterious book holding the culture and future of Québec City. Various objects inside the bookstore will give you hints for finding the mysterious book.
Dialogue
Pen and Ink
"The symbol you seek is not here, but the book will take you to it! Find it, take it and hide it in a safe place in the city. Somewhere prominent, but indestructible: the symbol of our strength!"
Book
"Don’t go out through the main entrance. The secret passage near the hawk will take you to a time of renewal for the city. There you will find a place where I shall be able to rest well protected for a long time!"
Octave Crémazie, Writer
Octave Crémazie, born Claude-Joseph-Olivier, poet, bookseller (Québec City, Lower Canada, April 16, 1827 — Le Havre, France, January 16, 1879). Recognized as the father of French-Canadian poetry, Crémazie opened a French bookstore in Québec City, but it was his poetry that made him famous, and awakened the nationalist fervour of his compatriots. Le vieux soldat canadien (1855) and Le Drapeau de Carillon (1858) made Crémazie a “national poet”.
Hawk
The hawk is like a messenger and teaches us to observe, to search our surroundings. The hawk helps us to take an opportunity in full flight when one presents itself, and can also help us examine our lives from greater height to better identify the obstacles in our flight.
At the PORT OF QUEBEC
Description
You are at the port of Quebec. You are now at the end of the 19th Century.
You see the first premier of Quebec, Pierre Joseph Olivier Chauveau. He is carrying documents and plans for Québec City and the Dufferin Terrace.
Dialogue
Chauveau
"What a beautiful city! I am sure that with all this new construction appearing at the turn of the century, Québec City will one day be recognized as a heritage jewel. These plans hold the future of the city!
Now go back to the secret passage to find the ideal place to hide the book."
Pierre-Joseph-Olivier Chauveau
Pierre-Joseph-Olivier Chauveau, lawyer, educator, politician, premier of Québec 1867-1873 (born in Charlesbourg, Lower Canada, on May 30, 1820; died in Québec City on April 4, 1890). Elected to the Assembly of the Province of Canada in 1844, he later held several Cabinet posts. Conservatives John A. Macdonald and George-Étienne Cartier chose him to become the first premier of Québec in 1867.
Dufferin Terrace
The Dufferin Terrace was built in 1879, on the initiative of the city engineer, Charles Baillargé, in honour of the Governor General of Canada, Lord Dufferin. It is 671 meters long, and is one of the main attractions in Québec City. Every winter, a huge slide is built there. In the summer, the Terrace comes alive with street artists, and it offers views of the river, the cannons and the monument to Samuel de Champlain.
Octave CrÉmazie’s bookstore
Description
You come back into the bookstore. The smoke is gone. You go through the trap door into the secret passage, which will bring you to where the book should be hidden.
Dufferin Terrace under construction
Description
You are on Cap Diamant, where you can see under the Dufferin Terrace. The cliff at your feet makes you realize that it would be quite difficult to hide a book here.
There is a hawk on the edge of the cliff, under the terrace. You can see its nest a little bit further down. The hawk speaks to you when you get closer.
Dialogue
Hawk
"Like me, you are a messenger and a protector of popular memory. From this spot, undisturbed, you can watch the development of the city over the centuries. To ensure your book does not fall into the wrong hands, you can place it here and then uncover your symbol. I will watch over it as if it were my own!
Now that the book is safe, go back through the secret passage to the bookstore. There, your symbol will appear, and the secret passage will be closed forever!"
Hawk
The hawk is like the Messenger who teaches us how to watch and observe everything around us. The hawk helps us seize, in full flight, any golden opportunities that come our way. It can also help us look at our lives from a higher plane to get a better view of the obstacles slowing down our flight.
Octave CrÉmazie’s bookstore
Description
You are again in the bookstore. The book is safe and the quest is coming to an end.
End OF phase 6
Congratulations! You have completed the sixth phase of your noble quest.
Egg: and the secret will be safe
To review the historical facts you have learned so far, don’t forget to check the book.
To discover more about "The Great Secret of Kebec", go to phase 7.
