Theme no. 12 of the exhibit "The Irish Presence in Rawdon, Yesterday and Today", held at the Centre d'interprétation multiethnique de Rawdon, Saturdays and Sundays between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. from March 2 to 30, 2025 (except on March 22).
Many descendants of the Irish founding families still live in Rawdon. At the time of the 2021 census, 1,185 persons (10.3% of the population) declared themselves to be of Irish origin. Given the many marriages between persons of different languages and religions in the 19th century, there is surely more Irish blood running through the veins of Rawdon’s inhabitants than official statistics reveal.
In the heart of the community, many of these families of Irish descent still bear the names of their ancestors. Among them are Asbil, Blagrave, Brown, Burgess, Burns, Carroll, Cassidy, Gray, Greene, Herbert, Jackson, Lane, Marlin, Morgan, Murphy, Rourke, Rowan, Shields, Smith, Tinkler, Wallace and Walsh.
Others, through marriage, will have taken the names of their spouses. Descendants of Bagnall, Daly, O'Neil and Woods live in Rawdon. Deep Irish roots are present in the Beauséjour, Desrosiers, Laliberté and Parkinson families. The Blouin, Breault, Girard, Nadeau, Préville and Simard families are also likely to have close ties with Irish descendants.
Heritage conservation
In present days, the past lives of the Irish founding families still vibrate at the heart of the community. Designed to replicate a village of yesteryear, Canadiana Village comprises some 50 buildings, including houses (farmers, notary, veterinarian, doctor), a sawmill and grist mill, a blacksmith shop, a school, a church, a presbytery, a general store and a covered bridge. With period furnishings and accessories, this village recalls the living conditions of the Irish immigrants who settled in Rawdon in the 19th century pioneer families.
The legacy of the Irish
Rawdon families descending from Irish founders have given to the community passionate authors, innovative entrepreneurs, exceptionally talented musicians, top athletes and, above all, hard workers. Names like Luc Beauséjour and Beverly Blagrave are worthy of mention.
The toponymy, the St. Patrick's Day parade and the Christmas trees lighting, with a majestic Irish fir sticking out from the lot, highlight their contributions and bring them back to our collective memory.
Over the generations, the eleven ranges of Rawdon Township have seen Catholics and Protestants, Anglophones and Francophones, Irish, English, Scots, French-Canadians and Indigenous people living side by side. A spirit of tolerance, cooperation and openness has developed.
It is therefore not surprising to find in Rawdon churches of several different denominations, an ecumenical cemetery, a multi-ethnic interpretation centre and representatives from over forty cultural communities.
