Category Archives: Time Period

03/20/25

Stéphane Venne (1941–2025)

Stéphane Venne (1941–2025) was an influential figure in Francophone music, known for his evocative compositions that shaped Quebec’s cultural landscape. His songwriting reached audiences across the Americas, bridging the gap between French-language music and broader international recognition. His influence extended beyond his own performances, as his compositions were popularized by artists such as Renée Claude and Isabelle Pierre, ensuring their lasting impact on Francophone musical traditions (SOCAN Magazine, 2025).

Venne taught himself music and began composing at the age of 15. By the 1960s, he was writing and arranging songs for various Quebec artists, later launching his own performance and recording career. He released three LPs under his name between 1965 and 1967, helping to establish him as a leading figure in Quebec music, and later, his career gained significant momentum when he became head of production at Barclay Canada (1967–72), where he produced numerous hit songs, including “Le Début d’un temps nouveau” for Renée Claude and “Le Temps est bon” for Isabelle Pierre.

Venne was known for breaking down the barriers between traditional chansonniers and pop artists, adapting French versions of American hits for Quebec performers. His ability to merge lyrical depth with pop sensibilities made him a demanded songwriter and producer. He wrote over 50 songs for Renée Claude, including “Le tour de la terre” and “Tu trouveras la paix,” as well as numerous tracks for Isabelle Pierre and Emmanuelle, such as “Le monde à l’envers” and “Et c’est pas fini”.

In 1972, Venne co-founded the music production company Sol-7 and continued to develop his own work, including the orchestral album Stéphane Venne en dix chansons orchestrales recorded in Paris. He also played a pivotal role in promoting Francophone music through initiatives such as Superfrancofête (1974) and Chant’Août (1975). In April 1977, he launched CIEL-FM, the first radio station in Quebec dedicated entirely to Francophone music. He also served as president of SOCAN (1977–78).

Beyond composition, Venne contributed to film, composing music for Les Mâles, Les Plouffe (winning a Canadian Film Award for Best Song and Film Music in 1982). His music remains a vital part of the Francophone musical heritage, continuing to resonate with audiences through nostalgic reinterpretations and contemporary adaptations.

Sources:

  • The Canadian Encyclopedia. “Stéphane Venne.” Historica Canada, 2024. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/stephane-venne-emc
  • SOCAN Magazine. “Death of Stéphane Venne: An Outpouring of Tributes to an Exceptional Songwriter.” 2025. https://www.socanmagazine.ca/news/death-of-stephane-venne-an-outpouring-of-tributes-to-an-exceptional-songwriter
  • Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. “Stéphane Venne.” 2017. https://www.cshf.ca/songwriter/stephane-venne/
12/28/24

Hudson’s Bay Company

Hudson’s Bay Company was chartered on May 2, 1670. It began as a fur trading business as aresult of the increasing demand in beaver fur, and it would later become one of the largest furtrade companies in the world. As of today, Hudson’s Bay Company is a private business ownedby a holding company. The company was founded when French traders Médard Chouart desGroseilliers and his brother-in-law, Pierre-Esprit Radisson, after being rejected Quebec andFrench support, sought patronage of England by proposing a trading route that reached theinterior part of the continent. This route eventually gave traders easy access to fur resourcesfrom the local indigenous people. After being persuaded by Prince Rupert of the idea of a furtrade and its economic potential of that region, King Charles II agreed to finance a voyage toHudson Bay.
The first voyage happened on June 3, 1688 with Radisson setting out on the Eaglet and desGroseilliers on the Nonsuch. The Eaglet was damaged by a storm, however, the Nonsuchreturned a year later with a cargo of beaver pelts. Convinced by this return, later on May 2,1760, King Charles II granted a Royal Charter to Prince Rupert and his “Company ofAdventurers of England trading into Hudson’s Bay,” hence the Hudson’s Bay Company wasofficially established. This royal charter gave the company the control of trade and ownership ofall lands surrounded by the water flowing into the Bay, which was later named Rupert’s Land,this totaled to be more than 3 million square miles of land. This territory ultimately becameprovinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, southern Alberta, parts of British Columbia, northwest-Nunavut Territory, northern Ontario, and northern Quebec. It also covered regions of present-day Montana, Minnesota, and North and South Dakota. In fact, many parts of Rupert’s Landlater became known as “Métis Homeland” by the Métis people.
As a result of the fur trade, Indigenous people’s lifestyle and economy has changed; manycame to rely on European manufactured goods and food for survival, and led to an increasedcompetition among Indigenous peoples for European goods. Previously, Indigenous tradersmostly acted as the middlemen, as they brought furs from communities hidden further inland totrading posts. Later more indigenous people moved away from their territory in search of furanimals in order to obtain a better trade position.
Among the goods traded, beaver pelts were the most valuable to the settlers, and they wereconsidered the highest quality after trapping during fall and winter months. The indigenoustraders traded beaver pelts for metal goods like guns, also textiles and food. They had acurrency of the fur trade which was the Made Beaver coin, this was introduced in order tostandardize trade; one beaver coin was equivalent to one prime beaver skin.

Suggested Sources:

Arthur J. Ray, “Hudson’s Bay Company,” The Canadian Encyclopedia, Nathan Coschi, Leanna Fong, Sasha Yusufali, Nathan Baker, and Jessica Poulin (eds.). Published online, 2 April 2009; Last edited, 19 January 2013. Accessed online, 6 March 2025, https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/hudsons-bay-company

Harris, Carolyn, “Rupert’s Land,” Canada’s History. Published online, 26 October 2016. Accessed online, 6 March 2025, https://www.canadashistory.ca/explore/exploration/rupert-s-land 

“What is Rupert’s Land?” Rupert’s Land Institute. Accessed online, 6 March 2025, https://www.rupertsland.org/about/what-is-ruperts-land/ 

“The Fur Trade,” The Canadian Encyclopedia, Accessed online 6 March 2025, https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/timeline/the-fur-trade.

“Hudson’s Bay Company Beginnings,” ‌CBC History, Accessed online, 6 March 2025, https://www.cbc.ca/history/EPCONTENTSE1EP6CH1PA5LE.html 

Related Contents:

Métis People

Other Materials:

Film about Métis struggles with monopoly of HBC: https://www.nfb.ca/film/mistress_madeleine/

Synopsis (NFB): Part of the Daughters of the Country series, this film, set in the 1850s, unfolds against the backdrop of the Hudson’s Bay Company’s monopoly of the fur trade. In protest, some Métis engage in trade with the Americans. Madeleine, the Métis common-law wife of a Hudson’s Bay Company clerk, is torn between loyalty to her husband and loyalty to her brother, a freetrader. Even more shattering, a change in company policy destroys Madeleine’s happy and secure life, forcing her to re-evaluate her identity.