Le Capitaine Joseph-Elzéar Bernier (1852-1934). Issu d'une lignée de navigateurs, il naquit à l'Islet, le 1er janvier, 1852. Dès l'âge de 17 ans, il commanda son premier brigantin et, durant sa longue carrière, il fut en charge de pas moins de 98 navires différents. Il fit une vingtaine de voyages dans l'arctique.

Au cours de l'un d'eux, il prit possession, au nom du Canada, de toutes les îles septentrionales de ce continent de glace. Dans l'histoire des grandes explorations polaires, le nom de Bernier s'inscrit à côté de ceux de Hansen, Scott, Amundsen, Perry et Charcot.

Descendant from a long line of navigators, Captain Bernier was born at l'Islet on January 1, 1852. At the age of 17, he was in command of his first brigantin, following which he was in charge of no less than 48 different ships throughout his long career.

During one of some twenty voyages which he made to the Arctic, he claimed for Canada all the islands of this northern ice continent. The name Bernier is written into the history of great Polar explorations, along side those of Nansen, Scott, Amundsen, Perry and Charcot.

Dessin de la maquette qui reproduit jusque dans les moindres déstails, le navire du Capitaine Bernier. A la suite de longues recherches, elle fut réalisée aux ateliers Lucien Leclerc de St-Jean-Port-Joli, d'après les plans originaux du chantier Howalt de Kiel. Elle comporte également, les modifications que le Capitaine Bernier effectua avant ses derniers voyages dans le Grand Nord.

This drawing of the "Arctic" is taken from a detailed scale model of Captain Bernier's ship. The model was carefully achieved in the workshops of Lucien Leclerc, of St-Jean-Port-Joli, from original plans by shipbuilders Howalt of Kiel. Modifications which Captain Bernier had made to his ship, prior to his final voyages to the Far North, are also included in the scale model.

Propriété de l'Association des Marins de la Vallée du St-Laurent Inc.Il rappelle l'histoire de la navigation sur nos côtes, depuis les premiers découvreurs. Il regroupe les instruments anciens et modernes qui ont trait au métier de marins: les grandes batailles navales de l'histoire, les tragédies maritimes (Titanic - Empress of Ireland) ainsi que des pièces uniques telles que: la roue à gouverner de l'Étoile Polaire (Olga Constantinova), un des yachts de la famille impériale de Russie.

This museum is owned by "L'Association des Marins de la Vallée du St-Laurent, Inc.". It depicts the history of navigation, along our shore, since early explorers.

On display are: ancient and modern navigational instruments, history's great naval battles, plus marine tragedies (Titanic - Empress of Ireland). Also included are unique items such as the helm from the "Polar Star" (Olga Constantinova), one of the yachts which belonged to Russia's last Imperial Family.

In 1962, the Canadian Government erected a monument in memory of Captain Bernier. The Park hearing his name was later completed, adjacent to a museum where visitors can recall that this son of l'Islet was a renown explorer and scientist who has been honoured by such illustrious personalities as the President of France, the King of Belgium, the King of England, the President of the United States, and his Holiness, the Pope.