Ten years ago in January 1998, the first edition of "Le Vieux Montréal" saw the light of day. Since then, regularly every two months, a fresh edition has been produced and distributed.
Ten years may not seem a long time in total terms. However, in the publishing world, it is a milestone and an achievement worth celebrating. How did it come about? Ten years ago, after the Annual General Meeting of 1996, the newly elected Executive of the ARVM decided unanimously that it was essential to establish some form of regular communication with residents to inform them of what their association was doing. A bulletin called "Avec une brique et un fanal" had been produced previously but never on any regular basis. The idea was to create a link with residents and between residents at a time when the population of the historic district was relatively small but rapidly growing, and at the same time foster a sense of "belonging" among the disparate elements of Old Montréal.
Long and animated discussions preceded the choice of name and format for the new Journal. After that, the huge challenge of financing it began. No member of the Executive and no contributor has ever been paid for their work. This has always been done on a voluntary basis. However, the cost of printing has to be covered and therefore paid publicity had to be found. In those early days, convincing potential advertisers to invest in the Journal was no easy task, and every edition required a lot of persuasive work. As time went by and the reputation of "Le Vieux-Montréal" became more established, this became easier. It was never the intention for ARVM to make money with the Journal, but it had to be self-financing. The amount of advertising therefore covers the costs of production. Unlike the majority of free publications (or of any publication come to that), the Journal is not overflowing with publicity inhibiting enjoyment of the articles.
The Team Ten years ago, the Journal was produced by a group of twelve people sitting around the Libbrecht's kitchen table. Corinne Libbrecht was responsible for the page layout and Paul Libbrecht was in charge of finding the advertising. The rest of us (Ronald Dravigné, Andrew Eddy, Danielle Lebel, Marie-Noëlle Lasserre, Gætan Trottier, Almas Mathieu, Marc-André Rochon, Rodrigo Avilès, Edward Malins and myself) wrote articles and gave liberally of our, often conflicting, advice. We also took care of distributing the end result, which was no small task! To call us a team is perhaps a stretch - but we were all extremely enthusiastic...! Members of the team came and went. Paul and Corinne Libbrecht returned to Switzerland which was a major loss. However we acquired Pierre Taillefer who made an important contribution and also Sophie Caudiu who became the Journal's first rédactrice en chef (editor-in-chief) a year after its creation. Sophie brought about an immediate and visible change in the Journal. Instead of having articles going every which way (not exactly contradicting each other but not at all in tune with each other), we acquired a "direction". With a soft touch but steel resolve, Sophie guided the Journal for a number of years establishing its solid reputation. In early 2001, Sophie took over the presidency of ARVM, on the condition that someone else take care of the Journal. The job of editor-in-chief fell to me and I soon discovered just what an enormous task it was. However hard one works, and however much time one gives to it, there is always more to do. Juggling this responsibility with a full-time job required not only great determination but the desire to have no free time! Despite its many satisfactions, in 2004, I was more than ready to hand over the reins to someone else.
And at the Present Time Fortunately at that time, there was another person more than capable of filling this key position. the present editor-in-chief, Françoise Espie- Bourseau. With her vast knowledge and expertise in the language, Françoise has taken the Journal from strength to strength, as well as augmenting its size. More people contribute to it on a regular basis, readership has increased dramatically and distribution has been correspondingly augmented. It has become a really professional production and one of which we can all be justly proud. And so, with this edition, we celebrate ten years of the existence of Old Montréal's Journal. In the years to come, may "Le Vieux-Montréal" continue to reflect the concerns and interests of our community, and most importantly, may it continue to be read. Bon anniversaire !
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