Quebec City Armoury
| Grande Allée Drill Hall, Voltigeurs de Québec Armoury | |
|---|---|
Grande Allée Drill Hall, Voltigeurs de Québec Armoury
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| General information | |
| Type | Drill Hall / armoury |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival Chateau-style |
| Location | Quebec City, Quebec, Canada |
| Address | 805 Wilfrid-Laurier Avenue East, |
| Construction started | 1885 |
| Completed | 1888 |
| Destroyed | 2008 (fire) |
| Owner | Canadian Forces |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Eugène-Étienne Taché |
| Awards and prizes | National Historic Site of Canada;Canada's Register of Historic Places; Classified - 1987 Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings |
The Voltigeurs de Québec Armoury, formerly Grande-Allée Armoury (French: Manège militaire Grande-Allée, or simply Manège militaire), was built as a Gothic Revival drill hall for the infantry regiment Les Voltigeurs de Québec at 805 Wilfrid-Laurier Avenue East, Quebec City, Canada. Designed by architect Eugène-Étienne Taché and constructed between 1885 and 1888, it is a National Historic Site of Canada.
Partially destroyed by fire in 2008, the armoury has received a commitment from the Canadian national government to be rebuilt by 2016.
In the Canadian Forces, an armoury is a place where a reserve unit trains, meets, and parades.
"JE ME SOUVIENS" (1989) by André Gauthier, a 6’ X 9’ bronze 'haut-relief' bronze and granite wall memorial, was erected at Place George V in front of the armoury. Unveiled on November 11, 1989, the sculpture honours the memory of the soldiers from the Royal 22e Régiment (R 22e R) or Van Doos French Canadian regiment who were killed during the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War. The sculpture was inspired by A.T.C. Bastiens' painting "L'Avance" at the Canadian War Museum. The names of soldiers are inscribed in granite on the monument.
The Voltigeurs de Québec Armoury was destroyed by a fire on April 4, 2008. All but a rear wall and turrets beside the front door were burned. Les Voltigeurs de Québec Museum in the amoury which housed various artifacts from the regiment was also lost in the fire. However, officials estimate that 90 percent of the artifacts were saved due to the efforts of members of the regiment and local firefighters. The armoury was to have been one of the venues for the celebration of Quebec's 400th birthday. The armoury's wooden roof was one of the largest of its kind in Canada.
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