The Naturaliste Canadien was launched in 1868 by Léon Abel Provancher, an important figure in Quebec's scientific history. It was aimed to be an organ for the diffusion of scientific findings and vulgarization:
Populariser les connaissances en histoire naturelle, provoquer les recherches, recueillir les observations, constater les découvertes et faire connaître les nouvelles applications que l'on peut faire des connaissances déjà acquises au profit des arts, de l'industrie et des besoins de la vie, tel sera le but de cette publication.
"Spread knowledge of natural history, provoke research, gather data (? research ? observations?), take note of new discoveries and make known the (aaarrrgh, need the "the" for euphony, but) new applications for existing knowledge (really akward here)to the benefit of the arts, industry, and all needs of life, such will be the aim of this publication."
— Provancher, inaugural issue of the Naturaliste Canadien Quoted in Desmeules, p. 13.
.... new discoveries and new ways to applay existing knowledge, for the benefit ...