The name of this park was given in recognition of the contributions of a prolific literary figure who left a mark on the history of Sainte-Adèle and all of Quebec, Mr. Claude-Henri Grignon. The author of the major work Un homme et son péché was also elected mayor of Sainte-Adèle from 1941 to 1951.
This site features several facilities catering to athletes and families.
Claude-Henri Grignon (1894-1976) is the son of Wilfrid Grignon and Eugénie Baker.
In this family photo, you can see (starting from the bottom, left to right), in the first row: Raoul, Louis-Marie, René, Claude-Henri, Irène, and Jeanne. Second row: Alice, Blanche, Wilfrid, and Eugénie.
Born in Sainte-Adèle, Claude-Henri Grignon attended Collège Saint-Laurent. Not very motivated by classical studies, he preferred listening to the stories told by the village elders.Grignon began publishing in the newspaper L’Avenir du Nord in 1916 and contributed to several other magazines. His writings span various genres, including Les Pamphlets de Valdombre. His major work remains Un homme et son péché. This novel, published in 1933, earned him the Prix David. Film adaptations of the novel continue to bring to life the village setting at the turn of the 19th century.Elected Mayor
Claude-Henri Grignon was elected mayor of Sainte-Adèle in 1941. For a decade, he oversaw the affairs of his town. As county prefect, he held the presidency of the School Board and served as Trustee for the construction of the new church. Nothing escaped his attention!To bring the Belles Histoires des Pays d’en Haut to life, Fernand Montplaisir, Rolland Liboiron, and he had the idea to recreate the Village of Séraphin. The project came to life in 1967 and grew over the years. After 32 years, the site closed its doors.Claude-Henri Grignon passed away in 1976. In recognition of the author's contribution to his region, the town of Sainte-Adèle granted him the legal status of a historical figure. Several of Claude-Henri Grignon's writings were bequeathed to the municipal library that bears his name.
Dr. Wilfrid Grignon set up the first telephone call center in 1904 at his house on Morin Street. There were 11 subscribers at the time. Father Charles Auguste Blondin was present for the solemn blessing on the day of the inauguration. Photo: In Dr. Grignon's house, at 176 Morin Street, in Sainte-Adèle. Société d’histoire et de généalogie des Pays-d’en-Haut. Blessing of the new telephone exchange, L’Avenir du Nord newspaper, May 20, 1949, p. 1.
Ironically, it was Claude-Henri Grignon who, in 1949, inaugurated a new call center serving Sainte-Adèle, Mont-Rolland, Piedmont, and Saint-Sauveur. The new central office is located on Morin Street. The new building houses a telephone network intended to be automatic.
The Grignon family home in the early 20th century. This is where Claude-Henri Grignon was born.
Photo: Archives of the Société d'histoire et de généalogie des Pays-d'en-Haut
Claude-Henri Grignon passed away in 1976, leaving behind a colossal literary work. In recognition of his cultural, political, and economic contributions to his region, the town of Sainte-Adèle grants him the legal status of a historical figure.Claude-Henri Grignon's heirs donate an original manuscript of Un homme et son péché to the Sainte-Adèle municipal library, which bears his name. Claude-Henri Grignon's birthplace, located on Morin Street, is also part of a heritage citation by the town of Sainte-Adèle and is listed in the Quebec Cultural Heritage Directory.Photo: Claude-Henri Grignon in his attic. Collection: Antoine Désilets. Bibliothèques et Archives nationales du Québec. Antoine Désilets, 1969.
To bring to life the Belles Histoires des Pays d’en Haut, Fernand Montplaisir, Rolland Liboiron, and Claude-Henri Grignon had the idea of recreating the Village of Séraphin. In 1965, pharmacist Montplaisir acquired a piece of land and presented the plans to the municipal council of Sainte-Adèle. The houses and the layout of the village are replicas of the setting created by Claude-Henri Grignon.The village is located on the 3rd range, near route 11, on a vast wooded area of 50 arpents. After 32 years, the site closed its doors. The furniture and objects were sold at an auction held in May 1999.Photo: Image of the route to the village. Taken from the article “Séraphin will have his village in Ste-Adèle,” L’Avenir du Nord newspaper, Saint-Jérôme, April 5, 1967, p. 6.
The announcement of the play Un homme et son péché at the Théâtre Saint-Denis in Montreal in September 1942 leaves no doubt about the public's interest in the stories and famous characters created by Claude-Henri Grignon.
Photo: Collection of Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, Claude-Henri Grignon Fund.
Claude-Henri Grignon's most well-known work is undoubtedly *Un homme et son péché*. This novel, published in 1933, earned him the Prix David. The adaptations of the novel for radio, television, and then cinema continually bring to life the story of the miser Séraphin Poudrier and the various characters surrounding him. These stories give Sainte-Adèle the new nickname of the Pays d’en Haut. Photo: Book *Un homme et son péché*, éditions du Vieux chêne, Montreal, reissue 1935.
Claude-Henri Grignon was elected mayor of the Village Corporation of Sainte-Adèle in 1941. For a decade, he oversaw the destiny of his town. Sainte-Adèle entered modernity.Under his leadership, the first town hall, which included a fire station, was built on Morin Street. The mayor sought the participation of the Quebec government for paving the main streets of the village, including Morin Hill.Grignon also served as president of the Syndicate responsible for building the new church in 1952. He led the School Board and held the position of prefect of the Terrebonne county. Nothing escaped him; he was active in all spheres.Photo: Claude-Henri Grignon during one of his readings of Le Figaro, by the shore of Lake Rond. La semaine à Radio-Canada, August 31, 1952, p. 4. Text: Mr. Claude-Henri Grignon elected mayor of Sainte-Adèle, Journal L’Avenir du Nord, January 10, 1941, p. 1.
Claude-Henri Grignon attended Collège Saint-Laurent. Not particularly motivated by classical studies, Grignon began his journalism career by publishing in the newspaper L’Avenir du Nord in 1916, under the pseudonym Claude Bâcle. He also contributed to several other newspapers and magazines. As a literary critic and pamphleteer, his writings spanned various genres, including Les Pamphlets de Valdombre, a periodical he founded in 1936, which by 1943 comprised no fewer than 46 volumes.Photo: Les pamphlets de Valdombre. Vialibri.net.
Photo: Claude-Henri Grignon House, Morin Street, Sainte-Adèle. Christiane Brault, 2019.