GENERAL
Alternate TitlesEdna Cormier Store, Dina Cormier Store
Business
348 Main Street, Shediac
The Edna Cormier Building is a two-storey Trading House style building in Shediac's business district.
The Edna Cormier Building was erected in 1903 for Acadian businesswoman Dina Léger-Cormier. It was designed to replace Dina's previous store, which had burned down the year before. The rebuilt structure exhibits a typical Trading House style façade and a flat roof with a gentle central curve.
In 1915, Dina passed the business on to her daughter, Edna Cormier (1883–1971). During her life, Edna was both a keen businesswoman and a prolific figure in the Shediac community. She was one of the twenty founders of the Caisse Populaire cooperative and the only woman in the group. She also helped create the Shediac Co-operative, and as noted in the book "L'histore se raconte" by New Brunswick historian Régis Brun, Edna's business expertise was vital for allowing the Shediac Co-operative to obtain certain goods in the 1930s, when rations were making it difficult to acquire many staples such as flour and sugar. Lastly, Edna was a member and later vice president of the town planning commission and supported college students in need through scholarships.
In recent years, the words "Édifice Edna Cormier" have been engraved onto the building's front facade to acknowledge her contributions to the town.
It was named the Edna Cormier Building after some renovations took place in recent years. It is located in the town’s business district, and features a flat roof with a symmetrical Trading House style façade. She was never married, but she was very involved in the creation of Caisse Populaire and the Shediac Co-operative. The book "L'histore se raconte" by Régis Brun recounts that the co-operative relied on Edna's expertise to obtain certain goods in the 1930s when rations were making it difficult to get staple foods like flour and sugar. She supported college students in need and was a member (and eventually Vice-President) of the town planning commission.
Municipal Register of Local Historic Places (2005/09/26)
ARCHITECTURE
Date of Construction1903
- Location in Shediac's business district
- Two-storey Trading House-style massing
- Flat roof with a gently-curved central portion
- Large display windows on both stories
- Symmetrical front façade with engraving reading "Édifice Edna Cormier"
OWNERSHIP HISTORY
Notable Historic OccupantsDina Léger-Cormier, Edna Cormier
SOURCES AND DOCUMENTS
Links/Related Content Photos![](https://ahnb-apnb.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Edna-Cormier-Building.jpg)
Photograph by the Town of Shediac, taken from the Canada's Historic Places website
Sources Contributors
Gabrielle Byrne