Weighing a salmon at Estevan Lodge, c. 1950, Photographed by Robert Wilson Reford
© Reford Gardens, Les Amis des Jardins de Métis Collection, NAC 1997.10.258.40
Elsie and Robert Wilson Reford’s children and grandchildren were growing up! Here, their son Eric poses with his whopping catch. Like his great uncle Stephen, his grandparents and parents, he loved salmon fishing. And, also like them, he would weigh and measure his prizes.
Estevan Lodge remained the family’s private property until 1961. The gardens were opened to the public the following year. The Government of Quebec was the first purchaser, followed by Les Amis du jardin de Métis, who took it over in 1995. Today, Elsie’s great-grandson, the historian Alexander Reford, is the director of Reford Gardens. He oversees the conservation, restoration and development of the Gardens, whose reputation has spread well beyond Quebec.
Many of Robert Reford’s descendants have continued the tradition of vacationing at Little Metis, particularly, the MacDougall, Price and Pitfield families, who have spent their holidays in the village for more than 125 years