Updated yesterday at 9:00 am.
An unforgettable encounter
PHOTO PROVIDED BY NADIA SÉVIGNY
Nadia Sévigny with photographer Éric Deschamps
Last summer I had the opportunity to meet my favorite wildlife photographer. His name is Éric Deschamps, better known as Éric Nature. This photographer's mission is to enlighten us, make us aware of and amaze the nature that surrounds us through his great photos, his magazines and now his YouTube channel. In this way, it draws people's attention to its beauty, but also to its fragility and the importance of caring for and protecting it. With his great respect for nature, he allows us to experience magical moments and has awakened my interest in animal photography even more. It was an unforgettable meeting!
Nadia Sevigny, Laval
The happiness of living here
PHOTO PROVIDED BY MARIE JOSÉE SIMARD
What a joy to live in Quebec, writes Marie Josée Simard, who has been with her partner Marie-France for 26 years.
I am 62 years old and in good health. I have been with my partner Marie-France for over 26 years and thank God we feel respected and accepted in our community. What a joy and privilege to live in Quebec and experience relative peace. Every morning I wake up with a smile on my face and enjoy my life! Simplicity, balance and well surrounded by love! Happiness is easy if you think about it!
Marie Josée Simard, Saint-Charles-Borromée
Happy reunion
PHOTO PROVIDED BY LUC JODOIN
A photo taken at the La Souche song box shortly after it opened in 1969
1969 was the year that left us a little box full of songs: La Souche. We were six or seven young people aged 16 or 17 who had started this very small company. We passed the hat on to pay our artists who sometimes didn't show up. Martin then took over the guitar and his sister Linda sang “Blue Flower” songs. The CEGEP sent us to several places and I lost track. We saw each other a few times after that, but I had no contact with them for several years. We finally met again in 2023 and I felt reconnected with the privilege of having known her. Even after 40 or 50 years of absence, the contact was natural. Sometimes in life we have bad encounters, but sometimes we also have good ones. We said to ourselves that maybe there would be a Strain 2.0. We will see !
Luc Jodoin, Bolton-Est
Rediscover the river
PHOTO PROVIDED BY CHARLINE JOURDAIN
Spectacular sunset over the St. Lawrence River
After careful consideration and after ruling out excursions, spectacular sights, good restaurants, etc., my family trips in Bas-Saint-Laurent were what really made me very happy. For my children and grandchildren, there is nothing more pleasant than the cries of a baby too impatient for a bottle, a beautiful little owl put off by a hair wash, and a teenager refusing to give up his search for pieces of glass along the river. And my children, who take the time to dream of a greener future. I can only hope it happens again!
Charline Jourdain, Boisbriand
Fall in love with Nunavik
PHOTO PROVIDED BY ISABELLE CHARBONNEAU
Illustrator Isabelle Charbonneau in Kuujjuaq, with Marie Blanchard and Isabelle Larouche
For me, 2023 was a year full of wonderful surprises, including one that had a profound impact on me. As a youth illustrator, I was chosen by Marie Blanchard of Editions du Grand Élan to illustrate a text by Isabelle Larouche about Nunavik. That's why I illustrated the villages of Nunavik, its fauna, its flora and all sorts of details related to the region. But most of all, I illustrated the incredible story of Johnny May, the supply pilot who was allowed to drop candy over villages at Christmas!
This work required more than two years of work and revision to respect every aspect of the Inuit people and of course their participation. Thanks to a sponsorship from Air Inuit, we then had the extraordinary opportunity to travel there, to Kuujjuaq, to conduct the launch! When I got off the plane onto the tarmac I had the incredible feeling of being immersed in my drawing, it was a crazy feeling! I even had the opportunity to meet the famous pilot Johnny May in person!
Entering Nunavik after dissecting it in photos for so long was wonderful and far exceeded my expectations. The warm welcome of the Nunavimmiuts, their incredible culture, the discovery of this special nature as far as the eye can see: all of this contributed to me falling in love with this little-known region. And besides, I'm not the only one who's interested, as this album is already on reprint after just two months! For me, his adventure only began after I finished this book. Nunavik and its wonders never cease to amaze me!
Isabelle Charbonneau, Saint-Jérôme
The persistence of Pierre-Luc
PHOTO PROVIDED BY KATHLEEN JACQUES
Pierre Luc
What made my husband and I happy this year was that our son received his engineering degree in software engineering from the École de Technologie Supérieure. Due to acute myeloid leukemia, he had to stop his studies in June 2020. After chemotherapy treatments and a bone marrow transplant, he was able to resume his life. We salute his courage and perseverance. We are grateful to all the staff who treated him at Charles Lemoyne Hospital and Maisonneuve-Rosemont.
Kathleen Jacques, Boucherville
To change lives
What made me happy in 2023? Having found the courage to leave a paid job in the public sector, but with no motivation to offer my services to a non-profit company. This new job gives me the opportunity to contribute more to my community and fills me with happiness. I am poorer financially but much richer in human experiences. My mental load was drastically reduced and the bond made me a more positive, calm and present mother and life partner. Thank you, 2023!
Chantal Miner, Gatineau
Know your happiness
What has made me happy in 2023 compared to the bombarded populations on the planet is the privilege of living in PEACE, benefiting from drinking water, well-stocked food tables and energy for travel and heating. I am very lucky to live in Canada and Quebec.
Marie Papillon, Brossard