A translation by Judith Turcotte.
Throughoutmy childhood, the population of St. Lambert was predominately English. The French represented barely 15% of the population. Most of us became bilingual playing in the street and in the parks with our neighbours. I do not remember having to learn English. Today the young anglophones are bilingual thanks to bill 101.
I always liked participating in sports. At the time there were two organizations in St. Lambert. The francophones participated in the OTJ, the Organization des terrains de jeu at St. Denis Park. No need to write that the organization was identified with the Catholic Church. The young anglophones practised their sports under the auspices of the CSA, the Community Sports Organization, recognized by the Protestant Churches. My father registered me in the CSA to improve my English. We were a few francophones who played hockey with the CSA, which did not please the Clerics of St. Viator of my school, the Académie Saint-Michel on Lorne.
The games were played at 4:00 p.m. at Lesperance Park. Our classes finished at 3:00 p.m. enough time to get to our games. Our school then decided to extend the closing time to 3:30 to throw a wrench in the works. In protest, our parents had us put on our equipment and uniform at lunch time and we arrived in class in the afternoon dressed this way. The clergy understood and the closing hour changed back. I would learn later that the arrival of francophones at the CSA was not unanimous. That’s another story.
On the photo of my first hockey team, I am sixth on the second row with the blade of my stick in the air. I am standing next to Mr. Marcoux, the coach. The photo was taken at the Lespérance Park rink. I am wearing the pants my father wore when he was young. I was not happy to wear this antique while my fellow players wore pants more modern for the time. As protection for my legs, I wore soccer pads that had also belonged to my father.
At least the coach was a Franco! In the background was a circular staircase. In a recent presentation at the SHM, the presenter noted that in the early 20th century, this sort of access to upper floors was strongly promoted by the Catholic clergy. Apparently interior staircases was where neighbors could meet but was also a dangerous occasion for SIN! No wonder there are so many more Francos with Jesus in heaven than those despicable Anglos.