The Salle des Promotions’ journey is now unfolding as part of the Camille-Roy Pavilion’s transformation. Since its major renovation and opening to events in 2014, the venue has enjoyed undeniable popularity. Once seen as a well-hidden gem of Old Quebec, it is now being revealed in a new light in the Cité du Séminaire.
Driven by the Quebec government’s wish to turn the pavilion into a state museum—made possible by the NAT’s relocation to the Seminary—this transformation now places the venue within a broader heritage itinerary. However, it continues to belong to the Seminary and remains true to the spirit of the community that inhabits the Cité du Séminaire: opening this space to the public, fostering dialogue, and bringing people together to foster the intellectual, cultural, and communal exchanges that shape our lives.
The renewal of the Camille-Roy Pavilion is based on an architectural project that is both ambitious and respectful of the site. The scope of the work stems from the ability to highlight the building’s architectural richness while meeting the high technological requirements of its new role as a museum. Already known for having modernized and revitalized the Salle des Promotions and its surrounding spaces with a remarkable understanding of the site, architect Jean Brochu is now extending this approach—in collaboration with Bernard Serge Gagné—to the entire pavilion, while paying tribute to the artisans of both past and present.
Through this complex project, the building itself has become a window into its heritage. The antique ceramics, beams, moldings, columns, and the majestic lantern tower stand as testaments to its history, now on display for all visitors to the National Museum of Quebec History.
In this new museum context, the Salle des Promotions retains its unique purpose while benefiting from the renewed prestige of the Camille-Roy Pavilion. Organizers and guests who visit the venue discover a space that is part of a vibrant heritage complex—one that is now better known, more easily located, and poised to attract even more visitors. This proximity to the NAT enhances the visitor experience.
