laurÉat valliÈre

           The unfortunate part was I could not speak one word of French.  This fact steered me to the Berlitz School in Toronto for conversational French.  After six months, I could say a few things and tell people what I wanted and what I wanted to accomplish.

           The visits to Québec grew in number as I rushed to get copies of and information on this wonderful person.  He was retired but he still had the desire to do things.  His daughter Aureat took care of him. His son Robert was still doing works in wood.

           Since I did not come up with a publication right away a French Canadian took on the task.  I knew nothing about it but still continued to do my work.  The gathering was not just photos, which were one album after another.  The visits to the various churches where I took hundreds of photos continued until I have now all I wish in my home.

           His son Robert came to live with me for a short while until his sister died.  We were going to have workshops on my farm near Elgin Ontario but that idea was terminated.  So from 1969 to 1975 the accumulation of information swelled my records.

           The St. Thomas Église in Québec City is just full of Lauréat’s work. Statues full figure on the walls.  The pulpit, the communion table, the choir loft and decoration on each row of seats could fill a book on its own.  The older church in his hometown had many works done by him. His Sacré-Coeur (polychrome) is a shining delight, as are the other decorations all executed in wood.  What a beautiful work of art the whole building became since the erection.  Statues on the outside are his also.  I just photographed as many things as I could and sorted them out later. Other craftsmen did work in this church under the company that Vallière worked for so many years.

           The book that got published is in French and does a good job of telling you about all the carvers in the Québec area.  The company hired these experts over the contract time as well as different architects.

           Notre-Dame-de-Belleview College has some of the more modern designs and took me by surprise when I found them.  The Ways of the Cross are real modern in comparison to what is in the older churches.  Still it is the same subjects to be carved and used in the church services.

           You can’t stop admiring the bas-reliefs in their entire splendor.  How else could you tell a story then by making a relief of it?  I have page upon page of close-ups on these subjects as they sit there in full colour to enjoy.

           On the island of Orleans there is a small church that has figures in the niches, which were taken down for repairs.  I was there at this time and could take photos of them in the shed where they were stored.  They are polychrome in gold and I am sure needed another redoing soon.  St. Famille church is one of the oldest churches in Québec

           The font Baptismal in the churches is important works that need adorning with St. Jean Baptist anointing a person on their knees Usually Jesus.

 

 

 

Vallière was not limited in the Québec area for his work but did statues in Three Rivers as well.  The priest let me in the church to photograph them and I added them to my records.  I was shown other part of their small museum, which is full of interesting artifacts.  Little did I know that my family came from this very area back in the early days?

           When I talked to Elzéar Soucy about Vallière he was so pleased to learn he was still alive and well as could be expected.  They had fond affection to each other for they both lived and worked at the same time.

           I do not know why I was prompted to get to these artists but something must have told me time was running out for them as well as for me to get the information.

           After the death of Valliere in 1974 his records were broken up and parts given away to members of the family.  The cost of getting them copied was nothing in comparison to the trips I made back and forth to get the material back to the family.  They gave me the only copy they had and let me promise to get them back in one piece.  I am glad I did it at that time. I could not do this job now.

           I want to thank the family and friends who helped me get this much material together which I am now able to put Online for you to enjoy.  I enjoyed it many years ago and will for years to come.  Those were the blessed years in my life.

           A writer from Québec took over the task of writing about the artisans of Québec making me come to a stop in trying to make this man and his work known throughout Canada.  I am glad I waited since 1975 to maul over what to do now.

           Now is the time for me to do a work in English in the hope that it will get translated into French.

           I have not contacted the family for years since this breach of promise to let me publish his life.  The photo album only touches his craft and his dedication to church work.  I thought when I discovered Louis Jobin who died in 1925 that he was the last of the carvers.  Little too did I know I was going to meet and learn about Elzéar Soucy who lived and worked at the same time.

           It has been a long waiting period but I feel that I can say I am doing a good thing under the set of circumstances I live under in 2003.

           Enjoy this wonderful work and get to the churches of Québec and see so many of them in place shining like stars in the night.  I was thrilled to have known the family and sorry that we no longer speak or communicate as I had hoped.

What do you do and what do you say when you find one of the last wood carvers in Canada.  Yes, it was a red-letter day when I was told that Mr. Vallière lived in St. Romuald Québec.  That very day I hired a taxi and made my way to his home.  They were surprised to see me and welcomed me like I was family.

Lauréat Vallière 1888 - 1973