Hundreds of families celebrate Easter at the Musée de la Civilisation
Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter
cassandra@qctonline.com
There was chocolate, an acorn hunt, a sugar shack, chocolate egg decorating, a live show and much more as the Musée de la Civilisation (MCQ) hosted its ninth annual family Easter celebration.
The museum started the festivities at 9 a.m. on April 19 by inviting families in need to a free private brunch, followed by privileged access to the weekend’s activities before the doors opened to the public at noon. “For the foundation, this kind of event is essential because it allows us to continue fulfilling our mission of promoting accessibility for children and families with special needs. It’s a privilege to see families come together and celebrate together in such a warm and festive atmosphere,” said the museum’s executive director, Julie Lemieux.
“It was a wonderful surprise when we got the invitation,” said Elizabeth-Anne Smith- Bélanger. “The brunch was exquisite. My two children loved the activities, especially the chocolate eggs, hunting for the acorns and squirrels and the sugar shack, but now, it’s time to head home to get ready for Easter tomorrow.”
Free access for these families was supported by the Fondation du MCQ. For 34 years, through different events, it has raised funds to make culture accessible to as many people as possible, particularly children and families from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Later in the day, the MCQ invited visitors to enjoy the free Easter activities for the price of admission. Despite the rain, families lined up around the corner.
Due to the bad weather, the outdoor sugar shack did not open April 19. It reopened on sunny Easter Sunday for families to savour maple taffy on snow, barbecued burgers, fries with maple and herb mayonnaise and other delicious treats. A maple taffy stand and a juice stand were also set up just inside the entrance, and hot chocolate was served on the other side of the atrium.
“The line moves surprisingly fast for its length,” said Mark Beaumont. “We are waiting longer to paint the chocolate eggs.” In the basement, children painted chocolate eggs with coloured white chocolate. Once decorated, some children savoured their works of art. Families had their pictures taken in the nearby photo corner.
Other visitors, especially children, rushed around the museum with a pamphlet in their hands, containing the five riddles of the annual Easter scavenger hunt. This year, they helped Eric the squirrel find his lost acorns and friends. “My children love the hunt,” said Valérie Julien. “It’s absolutely genius because we get to see different exhibits in a fun way.”