Chapdelaines

The Chapdelaines drum and bugle corps traces its origins back to the fall of 1959 when the Eclaireurs cadet corps was formed by Brother Léonard-de-Port-Maurice of the Christian Brothers, past  director of the Saint-Tharcisius high school.

Brother Jude, Brother Vaillancourt, Jacques Girard, Denis Boivin and Florian Rivard were also among the individuals who were associated with the corps. Over the next 10 years, they entertained regionally when in 1970, they reorganized as a bugle corps and were renamed the Chapdelaines. Among those who were involved with the corps included Florian Rivard, Jean-Paul Béland and Clément St-Pierre, President in 1977.

In 1984, the Chapdelaines entered the field of competition in the “Class C” division of the FAMQ, placing 11^th in the prelims and missed out of the finals the following year by one position, finishing in 6^th position. The corps moved up to the “Class B” division and went on to make the finals of the FAMQ championships over the next 3 seasons, finishing 5^th in 1986 and 1987 before a 3^rd place finish at the 1988 FAMQ championships.

They disbanded in 1989.

Maria Chapdelaine Historical Society website; Paul Legault (DCX)