Madeleine Juneau facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sister Madeleine Juneau CND, CQ |
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| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Order | Congregation of Notre Dame of Montreal |
| Institute | Executive Director, Maison Saint-Gabriel |
| Personal | |
| Born | 10 November 1945 Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, Canada |
| Died | 26 June 2020 (aged 74) Verdun, Canada |
| Religious career | |
| Ordination | 1966 |
| Profession |
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Sister Madeleine Juneau (born November 10, 1945 – died June 26, 2020) was a Canadian expert in museums and a teacher. She was a Roman Catholic nun and part of the Congregation of Notre Dame of Montreal.
Madeleine Juneau received many important awards. These included the Medal of the Quebec National Assembly in 2011. She also got the Thomas-Baillargé award in 2012. In 2012, she received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. She was also named an Officer of the Order of Montreal in 2019.
Life Story
Madeleine Juneau was born in Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, Canada. This was on November 10, 1945. She grew up with two sisters and seven brothers.
In 1966, she became a nun with the Congregation of Notre-Dame. She started her career as a teacher. She taught first in Montreal. Then, from 1972 to 1982, she taught in Hearst, Ontario.
From 1984 to 1997, Madeleine Juneau worked at Maison Saint-Gabriel in Montreal. This is a very old and important historical site. She was the director of its educational programs. In 1997, she became the Executive Director of Maison Saint-Gabriel.
Maison Saint-Gabriel opened to the public in 1966. At first, it mainly showed the work of the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame. In the early 1990s, about 6,000 people visited each year.
Over time, Maison Saint-Gabriel changed. It became a place to learn about daily life in the countryside of New France. It also highlighted the King's Daughters. These were young women who came to New France to help build the colony.
By 1998, the number of visitors grew to 35,000. Many new and fun learning activities were added. These included a historical spice trail and a 17th-century garden. This garden had plants used for medicine. They also held auctions and told stories.
In 2009-2010, the museum got bigger. A building where the nuns lived was changed. It became the Catherine-Crolo Pavilion. This new area had a gift shop and a tea room. It also had space for activities, a restaurant, and meeting rooms.
Today, Maison Saint-Gabriel attracts over 75,000 visitors each year. It was named a historic monument in 1965. In 2007, it became a National Historic Site of Canada. The museum also won many big tourism awards in Quebec.
Madeleine Juneau was active in many community groups. She served on the boards of several organizations. These included groups focused on local economy and history. She was also president of the Board of Montreal Museum Directors for six years.
She passed away in Verdun on June 26, 2020. She was 74 years old.
Awards and Special Honours
Madeleine Juneau received many important awards for her work. In 2013, she won the Prix Gérard-Morisset. This is a top award from the Government of Quebec. It recognizes great careers in science and culture.
She received this award for her work at Maison Saint-Gabriel. She helped protect its old buildings and history. She also helped people learn about Montreal's heritage.
On November 28, 2016, she received another award. David Johnston, the Governor General of Canada, gave it to her. This was the Governor General's History Award. It was for a great museum exhibit. The exhibit was called "The Canadian Horse, a breed apart." It was shown at Maison Saint-Gabriel in 2015.
On June 22, 2017, she received a high honour from Quebec. Philippe Couillard, the Premier of Quebec, named her a Knight of the National Order of Quebec. The next day, she received the Meritorious Service Cross from David Johnston. This award is for people who do something with great skill. It must also greatly benefit Canada.
