As an only child, I was always fascinated by big families. One of the great joys of my childhood was when all my uncles, aunts and cousins got together in the Duncan homestead for Christmas.

One of the really big Mont-Tremblant families arrived here from the United States. The ancestor of the Émond family we know today immigrated to Québec in around 1897. Octave Émond lived in Vermont and worked in the coal mines when he began to suffer from silicosis. Following his doctor’s recommendations, he sought to settle in an environment where the clean air would lengthen his lifespan. When the family arrived at Lac Mercier, there were already four children, including Octave junior, who was 14. At the age of 19, young Octave married Eliza Dubois, who was from Saint- Janvier, and 15 children were born of that union:

1. Léon (1903), who lived for only two years;
2. Henri (1905), who married Mariange Poirer; they were to have ten children, most of whom spent their lives in Mont-Tremblant;
3. Lucille (1906), who married Fernand Ranger, who built part of Gray Rocks;
4. Félix (1908), a mechanic, who married Marie-Paule Léonard; several of their four children lived here;
5. Louisa (1909), who worked for the Wheeler family for a long time; she was to have a daughter from her union with Lucien Légaré;
6. Paulyte Marie (1911) married Albert Campeau, then after his death remarried Paul Gareau; they had four children, most of whom lived in Mont-Tremblant;
7. Celina (1912) married Alfred Aubin, a very active builder in Mont-Tremblant and Saint-Jovite; they had two boys plus a girl whom they fostered for years;
8. Flore (1913) married Raymond Cloutier, plumber;
9. Édouard (1915) married Yvette Lajeunesse; they not only had 17 children, but they took in a young boy who was like a brother to their children;
10. Aline (1917) married René Calve from Ste- Thérèse;
11. Octave (1918) who lived for only three days;
12. Octavie (his twin), who lived for only 15 days;
13. Alvina (1919) married René Therrien; they had four children;
14. Léon (1921) married Lorette Cusson; they had ten children;
15. Octavie (1922) married René Sigouin of lac Mercier; they had five children.

What an enormous family!

The Émonds are known as the owners of many pieces of land.

We also know them as farmers, builders and excavators. Who doesn’t know of the Émond sand pits? They were the first to use a loader for sand at a time when truckers loader by the shovelful. Speaking of which, Claude (son of Édouard) tells with great emotion of the time when he would have died in a sand slide, had it not been for the rapid actions of his brothers. Édouard was also the first in the area to mechanize the milking of cows.

The Émonds are known for their welcome; there are many people who lodged with Édouard and Yvette until they could find a place to live.

The Émonds also knew how to throw a party! Dr. Pierre Pilon tells me of Émond family parties. They weren’t satisfied with being among relatives, but invited the parish priest, the doctor, friends…

The Émonds also left good memories wherever they worked. Lucile Wheeler had great affection for Louisa, who raised her and her brothers. In the beginning, Louisa spoke only French and was called “Lisa” by the children. The children, for their part, spoke only English, but each learned the other’s language. According to Lucile, Louisa made them a delicious tomato stew that she – Lucile – has never succeeded in reproducing.

All that to tell you that this lovely family continues to be very active in business in our area and very active in our community. In fact, the Émond family has largely remained in our wonderful part of the world over the generations and it’s highly likely that you will run across an Émond even if you are only passing through.

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