In almost every municipality in Témiscamingue, you can still find at least one wayside cross today. There are around thirty of them in our region. In addition to these crosses placed along the roadsides, others are installed on mountains or in public places like Fort-Témiscamingue, or in the yards of private properties. A niche on the shaft of the cross is quite common. Some crosses rest on a pedestal and are surrounded by a white wooden fence.

Behind each wayside cross lies an intention:

1. Commemorative Cross: It reminds people of a specific event or site.
2. Foundation Cross: It symbolizes the establishment of human presence on new land.
3. Public Devotion Cross: It serves as a traditional gathering place.
4. Votive Cross: It represents a specific vow or wish. These crosses are planted to obtain a favor or are erected to give thanks for a favor received.

Wayside crosses can be classified into three models:

1. Simple wayside cross: Consisting of a post and crossbeam, sometimes with decorative elements on the ends.
2. Instruments of the Passion wayside cross: On the crossbeam, one can often find symbolic objects like the lance, sponge, hammer, nails, crown of thorns, etc.
3. Calvary: It depicts Christ on the cross, sometimes surmounted by a small building. Occasionally, the Virgin Mary and Saint John the Apostle are portrayed at the foot of the cross. Such crosses are mainly found in cemeteries.

Did you know that:

According to information from “L’âge d’or” in 2012, there was a job creation project in the winter of 1966 or around that time, which led to the erection of a cross in each concession road of Lorrainville.

Eight different types of wayside crosses have been identified in the Témiscamingue region. Discover them all.