Laval’s Olivier Gaudette, painter for the people, takes us back in time

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by Rhonda Massad

Olivier Gaudette paints what the people want.  He has completed work for the city of Laval at the Jean Paul Campeau Community Centre in Chomedy, a mural depicting the history of Chomedy and its most important symbols outlined by the residents in a city consultation as well as many other works.

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Olivier Gaudette
Olivier Gaudette always dreamed of doing what he loved for a living

The mural traces the history of Chomedy with emphasis on log workers, Maison Benjamin Papineau (bottom left) a farm house built in 1820, La Chapelle bridge, Chomedy coat of arms (kite) dating back to 1965 before the 13 other municipalities on Île Jésus into what is now. Today’s modern buildings can be seen in the centre of the mural.  You can also see Armand Frappier (black and white man mid right) Chomedy scientist who is honoured today at the Armand Frappier Museum for interpretation of bioscience and Electrical engineer Léo-Ernest Ouimet who in 1904 opened the first Canadian moving picture house with a projector of his devising shown in the mural on the bottom right.

“The city almost gives me carte blanche,” the 36 year old father of two Olivier Gaudette told The West Island Blog in an interview. “Citizens were consulted and they came up with a list of what was important to them.  I prepared a sketch based on that and the city gave me the green light.”

The project took about 14 work days to complete over the span of a month.  The base of the mural is rolled out in latex paint and then completed entirely with spray cans.

“For more precise areas I have adaptors for the spray cans to allow more or less pressure,” Gaudette explained, “I like working with spray cans because the colours are ready to go, no mixing as with other mediums. I keep about 200 colours in my car.”

Olivier Gaudette
Olivier Gaudette paints a mural on the walls of the Youth Centre to celebrate 10 years

Gaudette has worked on several city projects to date including murals at the Nature Centre, Labelle park, Cartier Arena and most recently the Maison des Jeunes in St. Dorothy commemorating it’s 10th year.

“I was a graffitist when I was young, I always dreamed of making a living doing what I love.”

Gaudette has a few ideas in the works for future projects with the city and hopes to get them underway soon.