The Musée régional de Vaudreuil-Soulanges recently launched "60 ans d'expositions" (60 Years of Exhibitions) to celebrate 60 years of existence. July 18, 1965 marked the beginning of a special relationship between the museum and the local and regional community, with the presentation of exhibitions and the implementation of various related activities. This date also marked the beginning of a new vocation for the former Collège Saint-Michel de Vaudreuil.

Since then, year after year, visitors have been invited to enjoy a unique museum experience in this listed heritage building, which has itself become a flagship object in the collection.

To celebrate 60 years of museum and cultural presence at the heart of the community, the museum offers a brief history of the exhibitions presented within its walls, and invites you to discover the different themes developed and the iconic objects from its collection exhibited over the years.

Édith Prégent curated the exhibition. As Pascale Jaurond-Lajoie, Communications Officer at the MRVS, explains, “in the early days, exhibitions at the museum consisted mainly of objects on display. For example, the museum has preserved a collection of pewter objects dating back to the early days of the museum, which are installed in each of the windows of the current exhibition room”, she points out.

Ms. Jaurond-Lajoie continues: “We cleared a fireplace in an entrance hall, which had been hidden from view for over 20 years. Two rocking chairs face it, with frames representing the seigneurial family”. There's also a beggar's bench, which several families kept and which could be opened for someone to sleep on,” says Pascale.

As the communications officer explains, "“60 ans d'expositions” is divided into sections that are inscribed on panels: Devenir, Grandir, Découvrir, S'affirmer, S'ouvrir vers le monde (Becoming, Growing, Discovering, Asserting oneself, Opening up to the world)" All the vintage photos are displayed in chronological order,” she concludes.

In short, this is a beautiful souvenir exhibition that will surely bring back many memories for some visitors.