Eugène-Étienne Taché
Encyclopedia
Eugène-Étienne Taché was a French Canadian
surveyor, civil engineer
, illustrator
and architect
. He devised Quebec's provincial coat-of-arms
and motto Je me souviens
.
As the son of cabinet minister (and future premier) Étienne-Paschal Taché
, Eugène-Étienne Taché's early education was quite extensive, but also took place in various locations because of movements to the government. Thus he studied in both the Petit Séminaire de Québec
and at Upper Canada College
in Toronto, Ontario. In 1856, Taché took a three year course in surveying, and in the course of his education successively studied under Frederick Preston Rubidge
, Walter Shanly
, and finally Charles Baillairgé
. In 1861 he began working for the Department of Crown Lands, and in 1869 he became the assistant commissioner of Crown land
s for Quebec
, a position in which he was subordinate only to the elected minister of Crown Lands. He held this post until his death.
During his time as assistant commissioner, Taché also did extensive architectural work. Although he hadn't studied it formally, Taché learned a great deal from books and journals that he read. He designed the second-Empire style Parliament Building (Quebec)
with three towers in Quebec City
from spring 1876-1887.
He designed the new court house, and various other buildings, including a monastery. He devised the province's coat-of-arms
and motto, Je me souviens
("I remember"). Taché died in Quebec City.
In 1903, he was made a Companion of the Imperial Service Order
.
French Canadian
French Canadian or Francophone Canadian, , generally refers to the descendents of French colonists who arrived in New France in the 17th and 18th centuries...
surveyor, civil engineer
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
, illustrator
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
and architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
. He devised Quebec's provincial coat-of-arms
Coat of arms of Quebec
The coat of arms of Quebec was adopted by order-in-council of the Quebec government on 9 December 1939, replacing the arms assigned by royal warrant of Queen Victoria on 26 May 1868.The shield is divided into three horizontal fields:...
and motto Je me souviens
Je me souviens
Je me souviens is the official motto of Quebec, a province of Canada. The motto means "I remember".- Origins :In 1883, Eugène-Étienne Taché, Assistant Commissioner for Crown lands in Quebec and architect of the provincial Parliament building had the motto carved in stone below the coat of arms of...
.
As the son of cabinet minister (and future premier) Étienne-Paschal Taché
Étienne-Paschal Taché
Sir Étienne-Paschal Taché was a Canadian doctor, politician and one of the Fathers of Confederation.Born in St. Thomas, Lower Canada, in 1795, the third son of Charles Taché and Geneviève Michon, Taché studied at the Séminaire de Québec until the War of 1812 when he joined the 5th battalion of the...
, Eugène-Étienne Taché's early education was quite extensive, but also took place in various locations because of movements to the government. Thus he studied in both the Petit Séminaire de Québec
Petit Séminaire de Québec
Le Petit Séminaire de Québec is a private French-language Roman Catholic secondary school in the Vieux-Québec area of Quebec City which was originally part of the Séminaire de Québec...
and at Upper Canada College
Upper Canada College
Upper Canada College , located in midtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is an independent elementary and secondary school for boys between Senior Kindergarten and Grade Twelve, operating under the International Baccalaureate program. The secondary school segment is divided into ten houses; eight are...
in Toronto, Ontario. In 1856, Taché took a three year course in surveying, and in the course of his education successively studied under Frederick Preston Rubidge
Frederick Preston Rubidge
Frederick Preston Rubidge, , was a surveyor and an architect. He was born in England and emigrated to Upper Canada around 1825 where he took his training....
, Walter Shanly
Walter Shanly
Walter Shanly was a Canadian civil engineer, author, businessman, and politician.Born in Stradbally, County Laois, Ireland, the son James Shanly and Frances Elizabeth Mulvany, he immigrated to Upper Canada in 1836....
, and finally Charles Baillairgé
Charles Baillairgé
Charles Baillairgé was an architect, land surveyor, civil engineer, and an author.He was from a long line of sculptors, painters, and architects that began with his great grandfather, Jean Baillairgé....
. In 1861 he began working for the Department of Crown Lands, and in 1869 he became the assistant commissioner of Crown land
Crown land
In Commonwealth realms, Crown land is an area belonging to the monarch , the equivalent of an entailed estate that passed with the monarchy and could not be alienated from it....
s for Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, a position in which he was subordinate only to the elected minister of Crown Lands. He held this post until his death.
During his time as assistant commissioner, Taché also did extensive architectural work. Although he hadn't studied it formally, Taché learned a great deal from books and journals that he read. He designed the second-Empire style Parliament Building (Quebec)
Parliament Building (Quebec)
The Parliament Building is an eight-floor building and home to the Parliament of Quebec in Quebec City. The building was designed by architect Eugène-Étienne Taché and was built from 1877 to 1886. With the frontal tower, the building stands at 52 metres or 171 feet in height...
with three towers in Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
from spring 1876-1887.
He designed the new court house, and various other buildings, including a monastery. He devised the province's coat-of-arms
Coat of arms of Quebec
The coat of arms of Quebec was adopted by order-in-council of the Quebec government on 9 December 1939, replacing the arms assigned by royal warrant of Queen Victoria on 26 May 1868.The shield is divided into three horizontal fields:...
and motto, Je me souviens
Je me souviens
Je me souviens is the official motto of Quebec, a province of Canada. The motto means "I remember".- Origins :In 1883, Eugène-Étienne Taché, Assistant Commissioner for Crown lands in Quebec and architect of the provincial Parliament building had the motto carved in stone below the coat of arms of...
("I remember"). Taché died in Quebec City.
In 1903, he was made a Companion of the Imperial Service Order
Imperial Service Order
The Imperial Service Order was established by King Edward VII in August 1902. It was awarded on retirement to the administration and clerical staff of the Civil Service throughout the British Empire for long and meritorious service. Normally a person must have served for 25 years to become...
.
Works
- monastery of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary at Quebec (1895)
- porter’s lodge at Spencer Wood in Sillery (1890)
- Quebec’s pavilion at an exhibition in Jamaica (1891).