User:Descendere/Bienville (Quebec)

Bienville is a former municipality of the city of Lévis, located in Quebec on the south bank of the St. Lawrence River, in the region of Chaudière-Appalaches. It existed for 61 years, from 1863 to 1924. The municipality was located in the centre of the former Seigneurie de Lauzon. Bienville was also a former Catholic parish known as Saint-Antoine-de-Bienville, which originally occupied the same area as the municipality. Bienville is bordered to the north by the St. Lawrence River, to the east by Saint-Joseph-de-Lauzon, and to the west by the parish of Notre-Dame in Lévis.

History
The town of Bienville was created in 1863. Before 1867, it was known as Saint-Joseph-de-la-Pointe-de-Lévy, the second part of this name having been given by Samuel de Champlain himself in 1625.

Bienville was an agricultural town, and it remains the ancestral home of the Bégin family, whose well-preserved farmhouse, built in 1860, is located directly facing the convent of Bienville, at the corner of Rue Saint-Louis-de-France and Rue Saint-Léon. The former city hall from 1904 to 1924 was located at 23 Rue Barras, now indicated by a panel in front of the stairs. In 1904, the town had a lacrosse team (lacrosse being a very popular summer sport at that time). The neighbourhood of Vieux-Bienville contains multiple houses constructed between 1875 and 1900 which have been declared heritage property by the city of Lévis

In 1924, in a substantial expansion of the city of Lauzon, the village of Bienville became part of Lauzon. Lauzon was amalgamated into the city of Lévis on September 1, 1989. The area was known as Lévis-Lauzon for two years before becoming known as the City of Lévis.

Saint-Antoine-de-Bienville
Following the initiative of the founding priest Antoine Gauvreau (1841-1911), a Catholic church was established in Bienville in November 13, 1895, called Saint-Antoine-de-Bienville. The church was designed by architect David Ouellet and was constructed in 1896. Before the amalgamation of 1989, the parish of Bienville straddled the two municipalities of Lauzon to the east and Lévis to the west. In 2002, Saint-Antoine-de-Bienville was named after Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue.

Closure of the church At 99 years old, the church required major, expensive repairs. The final mass was held on April 11, 2004, and the church was then permanently closed. The property was sold and developed into condos.

Bienville took pride in the presence of the Mother House in Canada of the Sisters of Charity of Saint-Louis-de-France, whose convent on Rue Saint-Louis-de-France was located next to the church of Saint-Antoine-de-Bienville. Until the late 1970s, this community was dedicated to educating girls.

Notable people from Bienville
Robert L'Herbier (Samson) (1921-2008). Singer and former vice president of Télé-Métropole.

Jacques Duval (1934-). Radio host, former racing driver, and automotive journalist.