preserve the history of the founder and
patriarch of the family, Albert Gilles.
Born in Paris in 1895, Gilles learned cop-
per embossing from his aunt and brought
his skills to the U.S. in the 1930s. He
first created works of art for automotive
executives in Detroit and for the rich and
famous in California. When Pope Pius XII
commissioned Gilles to create an ornate
chalice of gold and silver to commemo-
rate the 300th anniversary of Montréal,
Gilles immigrated to Canada and turned
his talent toward religious subjects. One of
his most famous works is the main door
of the Shrine of Sainte-Anne de Beaupré,
an intricately embossed all-copper door
that depicts Biblical scenes.
“We welcome 80,000-100,000 visi-
tors of many faiths each year from all
over the world,” explains Palmyre Gilles
of Copper Art Studio and Museum.
“Many faith travelers are inspired by
Christorama, the museum exhibit of
my father’s 50 hand-embossed copper
panels depicting the life of Christ. I have
seen some even moved to tears.”
Visitors can also see Albert Gilles’ work
in area churches. “Many tour groups visit
our studio and museum before continu-
ing on to the Basilica of Sainte-Anne de
Beaupré just 10 minutes away. My father
designed the massive and intricately
decorated copper door of this basilica as
well as some interior accent pieces.”
When asked what visitors like the
most about visiting her family’s studio
and museum, Gilles replied, “Maybe
what they most enjoy … and admire, is
to see our family carrying on 91 years
of tradition, from father to daughter to
granddaughter.”
Food Québec City offers more restau-
rants per capita than any other city in
North America. It has its own culinary
identity that combines formal French
cuisine with rich, meat-heavy Québec
staples. You can try local delicacies such
as smoked meat or tarte au sucre (sugar
pie) made with Québec’s famous maple
syrup. At Saint-Benoit Abbey in the
Shrines of Québec
Québec’s National Shrines was founded in 2009 to promote awareness and tourism of the five Catholic shrines located
in the Canadian province. Visited by more than four million pilgrims and tourists each year, the following sites offer a
glimpse into the history of the Christian faith in Canada and North America.
stands as evidence of the perseverance and faith of the
early pioneers and pilgrims wh o settled in Canada.
Shrine of Sainte-Anne de Beaupré
Founded in 1658, this shrine, the second-oldest pilgrim-
age site in North America, is dedicated to Saint Anne, the
grandmother of Jesus. With more than 350 years of his-
tory, this cathedral welcomes almost 1 million visitors annu-
ally from all over the world, regardless of race or religion. It
is located 20 minutes outside of Québec City.
Ermitage Sainte-Antoine de Lac-Bouchette
Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal
This shrine, founded in 1904, is the largest in the world
dedicated to Saint Joseph. Visitors are treated to beautiful
music, exhibits of more than 200 nativity scenes from 100
different countries, and unmatched views of Montréal from
the shrine’s mountainside location.
This shrine was founded in 1907 and is located 250 miles
north of Québec City in the midst of a breathtaking land-
scape of evergreens and rolling hills. Visitors can take a
guided tour, visit the museum, hike parts of the 130-mile
Kapatakan Trail or simply enjoy the tranquility of nature
surrounding this shrine.
For more information about the Shrines of Québec, contact
Francois Jean Viel at [email protected] or visit
sanctuairesquebec.com.
This shrine is located in the Mauricie region on the shores
of the Saint Lawrence River and is dedicated to Mary, the
mother of Jesus. Welcoming more than a half million pil-
grims every year, the site includes a chapel built in 1714
and a modern basilica, completed in 1964, with beautiful
stained glass windows.
Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral
A UNESCO World Heritage site, Notre-Dame de Québec
is located in Old Québec City and was founded in 1647.
The first cathedral and Catholic place of worship founded
north of Mexico, it was instrumental in the development
of Québec, Canada and North America over the years and
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April/May 2018
Our Lady of the Cape