Update: Quebec Voltigeurs: Vow to rebuild armoury

Voltigeurs vow to rebuild armoury1887 drill hall 'We have lost our home but we haven't lost our spirit'MARIANNE WHITE, Canwest News ServicePublished: 5 hours ago

Members of the country's oldest French-Canadian infantry regiment vowed yesterday to rise from the ashes of the landmark Quebec City Armoury overlooking the Plains of Abraham that was destroyed by a massive fire.

The historic drill hall, built in 1887, has been burned to the ground, with only the brick wall facade and two towers still standing and facing the Quebec National Assembly.

"Right now we are down on one knee, but we will get back on our feet," said Brig.-Gen. Christian Barabé, commander of land forces for the Quebec area.

Update April 07, 2008

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QUEBEC -- Canada's oldest French-language military regiment got some good news yesterday when it was discovered that a large part of its archives were spared from a devastating fire that ripped through its 121-year-old armoury.

The imposing Voltigeurs de Quebec drill hall is now little more than a soot-smudged facade and a couple of soaring turrets, its once-sweeping ceiling collapsed into the rubble.

Soldiers wearing camouflaged uniforms marched to the landmark hall yesterday morning for a pep talk from their commander and to help carry out souvenirs of the unit's history as military police continued their investigation into the blaze.

While a chunk of regimental and Quebec City history was lost to the rampaging blaze, Lt.-Col. Eric Gosselin said a lot was rescued through the efforts of firefighters, who quickly focused their attack on flames crackling around the museum.

"They have helped us enormously to recover a good part of the collection and the artifacts that were stored at the museum," Gosselin, who is the regiment's commander, told reporters.

Some officials estimated that as much as 90% of the archives were saved, including statues, flags and documents that went as far back as the Northwest Rebellion led by Louis Riel in 1885, and the two world wars.

Gosselin said Quebec City's fire department had "passed the torch" to military police based in nearby Valcartier to investigate the fire which began Friday night.

No cause has been determined but passersby reported hearing an explosion in the building before flames started shooting skyward.