There is a quote, often attributed to Mark Twain, that seems to have been written for Saint-Jean-Port-Joli: "They didn't know it was impossible, so they did it." If we had to summar Si l'on devait résumer l'épopée de Médard, André et Jean-Julien Bourgault, ce serait par cette phrase. Imaginez le contexte : nous sommes dans les années 1930. La Grande Dépression frappe le monde de plein fouet. La misère est partout. Dans la plupart des foyers du Québec, la priorité est sim

In the collective imagination of Quebec, there is an image inextricably linked to our region: that of a small wooden schooner, sails unfurled, proudly perched on a chimney mantelpiece. These motionless vessels, which have nonetheless sailed around the world, are the legacy of a visionary family: the Leclercs.

The Socle team is immensely proud to announce the acquisition of a magnificent artwork at the BINGO KITCH event, recently held to benefit the Saint-Jean-Port-Joli Sculpture Biennial. Thanks to the silent auction held during this memorable evening, we had the privilege of winning the bid for the artwork entitled Petit ours Paysage (Little Bear Landscape), created by renowned artist Michel Saulnier.

Portraits of Creators / Inspiration by Le Socle In Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, wood carving is a tradition. But some artists have embraced this tradition, looked it in the eye, and decided to nurture it until it reaches for the sky. Today, for our Creator Portraits series, we focus on a gentle giant of our region: Michel Saulnier.

There was a time in Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, somewhere between the Great Depression and the arrival of electricity throughout the countryside, when Amazon didn't exist. When something broke, you didn't replace it; you waited. You waited for a man to pass by. A walker with a worn canvas bag and hands blackened by work. They called him the "Spoon Melter."

When we talk about business accelerators, we immediately think of Silicon Valley. We imagine tech startups in Palo Alto, mobile apps, computer code, and investors in ties (or hoodies) looking for the next global unicorn.

Setting a price for a heartfelt creation is one of the most difficult tasks for an artist or craftsperson. If the price is too low, you won't cover your costs and you'll burn out. If it's too high without justification, sales will stagnate. At Socle, we too often see talented creators who "fudge" their prices by vaguely comparing themselves to others on Instagram. However, to make a living from your art in Quebec, you need to transition from the status of a passionate c

Spring has barely arrived, but at Le Socle, the excitement of summer is already in the air. As an accelerator dedicated to artists and artisans, our mission is clear: to provide solid foundations and growth levers for those shaping the culture and heritage of tomorrow.

Le Socle enjoys exploring how technology can serve (or entertain!) artists and craftspeople. Recently, we asked ourselves a simple question: how does artificial intelligence "see" our local heritage? For this little test, we chose an essential icon of our region: The Goddess of the Sea of ​​Saint-Jean-Port-Joli. Pour ce petit test, nous avons choisi une icône incontournable de notre région : La Déesse de la Mer de Saint-Jean-Port-Joli.

There are pivotal moments in the life of an organization—instances where the vision finally meets the perfect place to flourish. For us at Le Socle, that moment has arrived. It is with immense pride and an excitement we can barely contain that we announce a major milestone today: Le Socle is coming! Starting March 1, 2026, we will be setting down our bags—and more importantly, our ideas—in our brand-new offices located at 254 Avenue de Gaspé West, in Saint-Jean-Port-Joli.

For too long, artistic career development has been synonymous with instability, dependence on government grants, and a glaring lack of entrepreneurial structure. Today, Le Socle is changing the game.

In the business world, we often hear that location is everything (location, location, location). But when it comes to art, culture, and creative entrepreneurship, location becomes much more than just an address: it becomes a muse, a driving force, and a community.

Choosing a company name is rarely a matter of chance. It's an exercise in identity, a promise made to those we wish to serve. When we founded our accelerator for artists and artisans from the regions of Quebec, several names were considered. Yet, only one stood out as the obvious choice, rooted in both our geography and our business philosophy: Le Socle.