A MESSAGE FROM THE AUTHOR

​Luckily, when I began my extensive research into my family history, I was fortunate to find many photos from the last 150 years. They had been kept by my grandparents, parents, uncles, and other family members who had the wisdom to retain these family treasures and keep them safe. The most difficult task when compiling a collection of images is selecting the ones which will be included in the book and leaving others behind. Looking through the vast inventories, there were many pictures of people, some of places, others of just plain buildings, and some that I could not really make out (even my parents and living grandfather were not able to identify the individuals or locations). The photos you find in Buoyant Passages are the ones which I felt were most relevant and mostly included members of my direct family. As my wife Linda has shared many times… Pictures without people in them are generally boring!

When the book was completed, I felt something was missing, like I had not done enough to share with others all the great photos. But as my editor said, “It is a book, not a photo album”. Right! So, to fulfill my need I decided to use my website instead. The photos and short stories that you will find in this bonus material for my book Buoyant Passages include pictures that did not make the editing cuts, but which I find nonetheless interesting. They include an array of people, places, and yes, some ‘boring’ buildings which have relevance for me. I hope you enjoy the discovery.
Daniel J. Demers
​Maison Jean Demers, Rue du Petit Champlain.
Quebec City, Quebec
 
Built in 1689, it is one of the oldest original urban homes in Canada. It survived bombardments in its first one hundred years and has had important restoration in the last century. My ancestor Jean Demers who was the first to travel across the Atlantic from France with his wife-to-be Jeanne Vedie, built this home. As mentioned in the book, it now has a formal plaque highlighting its historical significance. 
​My great grandparents Demers with their kids
Circa early 1930s, Victoriaville, Quebec

My grandfather Raymond was the oldest and stands tall on the right with his father Emile next to him in this rare family picture. Great grandmother Evelina is third from the back left surrounded by her children. I love the formal dress and suits for the boys. No wonder that my grandfather lived his entire life with a suit and tie!  
​My great grandparents Hinse on their wedding day
September 21, 1909
 
Blanche Goulet married Joseph (Jos) Hinse and went on to have a large family. Interesting to see the serious and stern look of my great grandmother, which does resemble the look that her son (my 100-year-old still living grandfather Jean Hinse) tended to display in early photos. To our delight he has chilled greatly in the last 40 years and is now actually quite funny.  
Demers Barbershop
Victoriaville, Quebec
 
Below the hanging ‘Sprite’ sign is a simple inscription on the window ‘Demers – Salon Barbier (Barbershop)’. This is where my great grandfather Emile operated his business for years, followed by my great uncle Guy. I remember going dozens of times as a young boy in the 1970s and early 1980s. The building looked the same as in the picture.
​Grandfather Raymond and Grandmother Réjeanne Demers
Circa 1944, Victoriaville, Quebec
 
My grandfather adored her, and I know he always felt like the luckiest man alive to have found such a beautiful and wonderful love. The respect he had for her was immense and could be felt by everyone. For me, she was truly an exceptional grandmother and made everyone around her happier. She never complained… a quality which is I hope returns soon in many of us. 
​Jos and Blanche Hinse with their grown children
Circa 1950s
 
My grandfather Jean (right side) along with his brother Gaston flank all their sisters. Jos and Blanche sit proudly in the center in this rare family picture. By then they had moved into retirement and lived a quiet life with family, friends, and church. My grandfather has outlived everyone in this picture.
​The very much loved Boh-M cottage of the Hinse family.
Circa 1943, St-Ferdinand, Quebec
 
My great grandfather Jos Hinse proudly held on to this cottage as he got older for the entire family to enjoy. If you look closely, you can see him sitting at the top of the steps with great grandmother Blanche also sitting top right. My mother enjoyed that place with her cousins for years. She was not even born when this picture was taken, and her older cousins had already started to keep the grandparents busy.
​My father Claude with his grade school classmates
Circa 1950s, Victoriaville, Quebec
 
My dad is standing first in the second row from left on the lower step. With his short tidy haircut, he looks a little serious, and maybe even intimidated. He was far from that outside school, but always enjoyed class and learning new things. He went on in 1963-64 to complete his specialisation course in electricity at the Victoriaville Trade School. Not attending university did not slow him down as he flourished in his career with General Electric and beyond. He worked hard! 
​The Bishop family house in Hibbs Cove, Newfoundland

I had to include this picture of the iconic home where my wife Linda’s mom was born. It was the residence of the Bishop family for decades and situated a few hundred metres from the cove which was always busy with cod fishing and salting. This picture was taken a few years prior to it being taken down before the start of the 21st century. 
​My mother Martine with her grade school classmates
Circa 1950s, Victoriaville, Quebec

My mom is standing directly in the middle with pigtails and white bows to tie her hair. Unfortunately, there are not a lot of pictures of mom as a child. Look at how they are all holding their hands – something the teachers felt was proper for the class photograph. Mom never really liked school and my grandfather had to transfer her to a convent in later years in the hope that the nuns could contain her rebellious side. It did not work! 
​My father Claude with his three sisters
Circa late 1950s, Victoriaville, Quebec
 
This was taken in the living room of my grandparents’ house where I visited hundreds of times as a child. Dad is standing behind the youngest, Micheline, with the oldest, Ginette, sitting on the chair with Louise next to her. I know all three of my aunts very well. My brother Steve and I spent countless hours at their homes when we visited Victoriaville and enjoyed getting away from our parents and sleeping over at our aunt’s places from time to time. We did the same with mom’s siblings Marie-Claude and Luc. So fortunate to have wonderful uncles and aunts.
​With my identical twin brother at the Demers cottage
Circa early 1970s, Lac Elgin, Quebec
 
Guess which one is me? Our first experiences in nature and with water was at my grandparents’ cottage on Lac Elgin. We are standing on the porch with the classic screen door that slammed with a powerful sound. I was too young to recall much from that time, but it was loved by all the Demers children. Unfortunately, they sold it off shortly after this picture, but it planted a seed in me that has lasted ever since. 
​Grandparents Jean and Madeleine on their wedding day
October 26, 1946. Victoriaville, Quebec
 
This photo is unique. My grandparents are surrounded by their elders. From left is my grandmother’s mother Leonie Blanchette, next to her is my grandfather's father Jos Hinse. From right is my grandfather’s mother Blanche Goulet, with my grandmother’s uncle Jo Coulombe next to her. I have not found many photos of my great grandmother Leonie in my research.
​My wife Linda’s mother Irene with her family 
Circa 1936, Hibbs Cove, Newfoundland

Another very rare find. This was taken close to their home on the shores of Conception Bay. As I describe in the book, it was pretty much all rock and water at that time. From left: Irene, her father Herbert Bishop standing with sister Marjorie in front, her mother Annie Dawe standing with brother Donald, and on the right is older brother Claude. I was fortunate to know all of Irene’s siblings (and their children) quite well. 
My grandfather’s famous Jukebox
2023, Oakville, Ontario

The early 1950’s Seeburg 100 Select-o-Matic. It was gifted by my great uncle Gaston Hinse to his brother, my grandfather Jean Hinse, then to my uncle Luc Hinse, then to me twenty years ago. It still works fine, is regularly used, and will stay in the family. It holds fifty two-sided 45 RPM-7 Inch vinyl records from the 1960s to the 1980s. If you look closely, you might be able to view the song titles – from the likes of the Stylistics, Elton John, Nazareth, McCartney & Wings, to Van Halen, Phil Collins and the Eagles. 
​A milestone – Five Generations
March 2023, Victoriaville, Quebec

The arrival of my niece Camille’s daughter came on the day before my grandfather Jean turned one-hundred years old in November 2022. My brother Steve wanted to capture the milestone with some photos. He made the happy trip from Montreal to Victoriaville with my mom Martine, his daughter Camille, and his granddaughter Amelia. I included this photo because it is cool (and very rare) to have five living generations, but also to recognize the importance of family.

DANIEL J. DEMERS