Gordon Parsons.

by Carolyne Weldon, Local Journalism Initiative
Three Gordon Parsons books chronicling the history of local pioneer families and communities will soon be available in French thanks to efforts by the Bury Historical and Heritage Society (BHHS). The books The Community of Canterbury, Quebec, The Village of Gould Station, and The Early Settlers of Knicky Knocky & Herringville, Quebec, currently available in English only, will be translated by the end of 2026.
The announcement was made at the BHHS’s annual general meeting on March 10 at the Bury Armoury.
According to Society president Praxède Lévesque, the initiative is important given the changing demographics of the local population, which now includes a large proportion of French speakers.

“More and more Francophones are moving here and settling in and around Bury,” she said. “They’re interested in learning about the history of this or that place or home.”

She added that at the summer market held at the Canterbury Centre, many people expressed interest in reading Mr. Parsons’ books, which the Society was selling, but they regretted not being able to read English.

Funding for the translation and publication of the three books comes mainly from a donation generated by the sale of the Bury Recreation Centre ($17,000), with an additional $1,500 donation from the Bélanger-Gardner Foundation. Additional funding may come from the Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network. A request to this effect is currently being processed.

The French-language editions of the books will be published and distributed by the BHHS.
“Mr. Parsons is delighted,” said Ms. Lévesque. “He has granted the Society all rights to the French-language editions, as well as the sales rights.”

She added that it remains to be determined whether the Society will hold a launch for each book individually or a single launch for all three. “We’re going to invite Mr. Parsons for the occasion,” she said.