Tavibois facts for kids
The Centre Tavibois is a special place located in Hérouxville, Quebec, in the Mékinac Regional County Municipality. It's part of the beautiful Mauricie region in Quebec, Canada.
This center is owned by the Daughters of Jesus, a community of sisters. It offers many services all year round for people, families, and groups. You can find places to stay, eat meals at the Manor, use meeting rooms, and enjoy outdoor activities. For a long time, Tavibois has been an important spot in Mauricie for different kinds of events, both fun and serious. Starting in the mid-1950s, thanks to Bishop Albert Tessier, it became known as a meeting place for thinkers and artists. Today, it's very popular as a summer camp where young people can learn and grow.
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Finding Centre Tavibois
To get to the Centre Tavibois, you drive about 4.9 kilometers on Saint-Pierre-North road. This road starts from Quebec Route 153 in Hérouxville, Quebec. Then, you turn right onto "Chemin Tavibois." The center is very close to the border between Grandes-Piles, Quebec and Hérouxville, Quebec.
Even though it's near the Saint-Maurice River, about 3.8 kilometers away, Tavibois is part of the Batiscanie area. This means its water flows into the Batiscan River system. The land around Tavibois has many wet areas. It's where the South Mékinac River begins. This river flows through Saint-Tite, Quebec and joins the North Mékinac River.
Lakes and Rivers Nearby
The Tavibois area has three small lakes right near the center. They are called Lake Tavibois, Lake Leo, and Lake Tessier. Each of these lakes has a small dam to control the water. Further upstream, in the area of Grandes-Piles, you can find "lac à la truite" (Trout Lake) and Lake Gagnon. All these lakes drain into the South Mékinac River. This river flows east towards Saint-Tite, Quebec.
The Story of Tavibois
A long time ago, this land was used for farming and cutting down trees. In the late 1800s, a man named John McDougall bought this area. It included a place called Forges Saint-Joseph, where people dug for iron ore. An old furnace for melting iron was built there in 1870. Later, the iron mining stopped. After that, a sawmill operated there until the end of the 19th century.
How Tavibois Began
In 1951, three people bought the Tavibois land together. They were Bishop Albert Tessier, Dr. Avila Denoncourt, and Father Boivin. The land was about 300 acres and included a farm. At first, they wanted to create a fishing club and a quiet place for relaxing and thinking. They also hoped to start a community farm-school.
In 1956, the founders made an agreement about how to share the land. Since the Tavibois center was created, Bishop Tessier and Dr. Denoncourt welcomed the Daughters of Jesus community. The sisters helped take care of the place, develop it, and organize activities. The community center was then given to the Daughters of Jesus, who still manage it today.
Tavibois Today
The Daughters of Jesus community has owned this private land since 1966. Even though it's part of their community's history, the center is open to everyone. It's a place where people can come to think, relax, or find peace. Families can rent cabins for a low price. Visitors just need to bring their own bedding and food.
Many famous artists have visited Tavibois. These include Jordi Bonet, the French poet Gustave Thibon, Pierre Bourgault, Leo Arbour, and Lévis Martin. Dr. Avila Denoncourt, one of the founders, was also a very talented sculptor. You can see several of his sculptures at the Tavibois Center.
What "Tavibois" Means
The name "Tavibois" is a special kind of word called an "acrostic." It's made from parts of the names of the three people who founded the center:
- T for Tessier (Bishop Albert Tessier)
- AVI for Avila (Dr. Avila Denoncourt)
- BOIS for Boivin (Father Paul Boivin)
