Meet Odile Rompré-Brodeur, National Trust Conference volunteer since 2016

Meet Odile Rompré-Brodeur, National Trust Conference volunteer since 2016. Odile lives in Montreal and is currently an administrative assistant at Habitat 67.

I got involved with the National Trust because after my master’s internship at the National Trust, I decided to apply as a volunteer for the Hamilton conference in 2016. I loved my experience.

I was able to network with heritage stakeholders, participate in a variety of sessions and learn about innovative projects, as well as discover new historic sites outside of my province. It was such an enriching experience that I was a volunteer for four consecutive years–it was only the circumstances of 2020 that changed my plans to continue.

I care about historic places because I always found it fascinating to find traces of a city’s past in the buildings, in the typo-morphology, and in the site. Historic places tell a story to society and help us understand its evolution. They are a reflection of society’s past and present, and I strongly believe they are necessary to understand our environment.

A historic place that matters to me is the Missisquoi Museum in Stanbridge East Québec, close to where I grew up.  This national museum, established in a mill dating back to 1830, includes Hodge’s General Store built in 1841. In recent years, I’ve learned more about the Alexander-Solomon-Walbridge barn in Mystic. It is the oldest polygonal barn built in Quebec and it is the only one with 12 sides and a multiple-gable roof.  These were the first historical sites I remember and which ignited my passion for history.

The place that every Canadian should see at least once is Cap Mont-Joli at the heritage site of Percé. It offers a breathtaking view of the surrounding landscape (cliffs, Mont Sainte-Anne, Rocher Percé, île Bonaventure) and historical sites.

My idea of “heritage” is that all places and buildings have a story. The story can be personal, local, regional, Canadian or international.