About Us
Who we are
The Embrun Historical Society is a community-based, non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation, celebration, and education of Embrun’s francophone heritage. We are a group of dedicated citizens who are working to transform the Embrun Station into a local museum. Our focus is on protecting the stories, landmarks, and legacies that shaped our town, ensuring future generations can connect with and learn from the past. We believe that the Embrun community will benefit in learning its history, will rally around it and thereby be more resilient during challenging times. We are also a registered charitable organization.
Our Committee
Our Committee is made up of passionate volunteers from the Embrun community who are dedicated to preserving, sharing, and celebrating our local history. From organizing community events to curating exhibits and collecting stories, each member brings a unique perspective and skill set to the table. Together, we aim to honour Embrun’s past and keep its legacy alive for future generations.
Israel Michaud
Name: Israel Michaud
Role: President
Israel was born in Saskatchewan to parents from Embrun and has been a proud Embrun resident since the age of 10. Israel and his wife Annie attended elementary and high school in Embrun and are proud to share this experience with their two sons, Philip and Martin. Having traveled extensively for work, Israel developed an interest in history and a desire to learn about and promote our local heritage. Since before being involved in founding the Embrun Historical Society, Israel had already envisioned a local museum near the former New York Central Railroad. When the opportunity arose to save the train station, Israel jumped on board and plans to see the creation of a beautiful local museum for our community!
Jean Dignard
Name: Jean Dignard
Role: Vice President
Jean’s family has lived in Embrun for five generations. He and his wife Carol chose to stay here because of the great quality of life and it’s where they raised their two daughters, Anne and Sarah. Jean retired in 2017 after a 40-year career as a dentist, and he considers himself incredibly lucky to have loved what he did for so long. He’s always cared deeply about his community; he was a member of the Optimist Club for 30 years and has served on the board of the Centre J. Urgel Forget residence since 1983. Proud of his Franco-Ontarian roots, he’s passionate about the history of Embrun and the surrounding area. He’s also one of the founding members of the group that came together to save the old train station now known as the Embrun Historical Society.
Hélène Grandmaître
Name: Hélène Grandmaître
Role: Community facilitator
Hélène has lived in the Embrun area since 1983. She and her partner, Jean Saint-Pierre, chose this region so their kids could grow up speaking French. Three of their children and seven of their grandkids are still here. Embrun has always been at the heart of her connection to the region. She comes from the Grandmaître family, which has long been a strong voice for Franco-Ontarian culture. That pride runs deep, and she’s always felt a strong pull to give back. Getting involved in preserving the train station and the heritage of Embrun just made sense. These days, she helps with grant applications, funding requests, and anything else needed to support the project.
Olayou Carrière
Name: Olayou Carrière
Role: Treasurer
A proud Franco-Ontarian, Olayou arrived in Embrun at the age of 5. She completed all her schooling here, from elementary to high school, and chose to build her adult life in this very community. Today, her children are also growing up in this beautiful community.
Olayou has always had a deep passion for Franco-Ontarian history and culture. This passion led her to get involved with the Embrun Historical Society. For her, preserving and sharing our collective heritage is a way to honour those who shaped the community, while passing on this legacy to future generations.
Carole Patenaude-Granata
Name: Carole Patenaude-Granata
Role: Community Facilitator
Carole Patenaude-Granata is a Community Facilitator who is passionate about building authentic and lasting connections within communities. With extensive experience in citizen engagement and collective project support, she brings empathy, creativity, and a strong sense of collaboration to her work in service of the common good. Carole and her husband Tullio have been rooted in the municipality of Russell for five generations, where they raised their two children, Gian-Carl and Sabrina. Now a proud grandmother of three, Carole cherishes living in a vibrant Francophone community. Her commitment to community life is part of her family legacy—her father, Gaston Patenaude, served as mayor of Russell Township and played a key role in preserving the historic Station in Embrun.
Carole deeply believes in the power of human relationships to transform communities and
promote inclusion, participation, and well-being for all.
Francis Thériault
Name: Francis Thériault
Role: Community Facilitator
A Franco-Ontarian for nearly twenty years, Francis is a passionate advocate for the preservation of our province’s francophone heritage. Throughout his career as a teacher and interpretive guide, he has shared our history with thousands of people while taking part in various projects with several organizations to showcase the richness of our collective heritage.
By serving on the board of the Embrun Historical Society, Francis hopes to make a meaningful contribution to his community and help ensure the lasting legacy of francophones in Eastern Ontario.
Carole Gignac
Name: Carole Gignac
Role: Community Facilitator
Carole was born in Embrun and has lived there ever since. Married to François, they have three children and seven grandchildren. She worked as a school secretary at École secondaire catholique Embrun for 38 years before retiring in 2014.
A dedicated community volunteer, she was a member of the Optimist Club in the 1980s and served on the executive committees of several sports associations in Embrun, including 15 years with the Embrun Minor Hockey Association.
A proud Franco-Ontarian, Carole cares deeply about the history and heritage of her village. She is very happy to have joined the board of the Embrun Historical Society in the fall of 2025.
Denis Vanier
Name: Denis Vanier
Role: Community Facilitator
Born in Embrun and nicknamed “Pump,” I’m the youngest of three and had the privilege of growing up in this wonderful community. I completed all my schooling here and played many sports — hockey, baseball, tennis, volleyball, badminton, fishing, and snowmobiling.
My first job, delivering Le Droit newspaper on Notre-Dame Street, opened my eyes to the incredible historical richness of Embrun — a heritage I’ll never forget.
I’ve been a member of the Knights of Columbus since 1989 and got involved in the 1990s with the Junior C hockey team, the 72’s, as well as with the Embrun Recreation Centre and Leisure Committee. During the 1998 ice storm, I joined my cousins in helping power the homes of our seniors. I’m also an active volunteer with the Eastern Ontario Snowmobile Club — the only predominantly francophone club in the province.
The Embrun Historical Society is especially close to my heart, as it brings together my passions for the French language, history, and the living memory of our beautiful and growing community.
Let’s go!!
