Léon Bouchard
Born on March 2, 1920 in Sainte-Hedwidge-de-Roberval.
Was a lumberjack and truck driver, a soldier from 1941 to 1943, a carpenter, poultry farmer, blueberry picker, strawberry grower, machinist and municipal councillor.
Later became co-founder and, for 22 years, president of his regional veterans’ association, working to help servicemen obtain their pension rights.
After retiring in the early 1980s, built himself a log cabin and began exploring the surrounding woods.
Observing the shapes of trees and rocks, he began considering the possibility of preserving certain scenes from his own life in sculpture.
Went on to create a sculptural environment on an estate he called “Happy Hollow” (“Le P’tit Bonheur”).
Videos of Léon Bouchard
My Talent
“I discovered at a fairly young age that I had a talent for sculpture. At the age of 18, I was a log driver. I stood guard along the river. We often had little to do. With my pocket knife, I would whittle wood. That's how it all began. After that, I worked in construction for a long time. It wasn't until I retired that I really had time to develop my talent.”
The Veterans' Association
“I served in the army from 1941 to 1943. Then, 30 years after the war, we decided to form a veterans' association in the region, because our pension rights weren't being recognized. One New Year's Day, I met a veteran who had gotten his pension with my help. He said to me, 'I wish you a Happy New Year, but above all, I wish you happiness. Happiness is something you have to make yourself. Never rely upon others!'”
My Home, "Le P'tit Bonheur"
“When I worked in the forest, I was always the boss on the construction sites for our winter camps. I said to myself, "When I retire, I'm going to build a cottage." So I began gathering various materials, and when the time came, I built myself a real log cabin.”
Sculpting the World Around Me
“After I built my cottage, I began taking life a little more slowly. I studied the trees and rocks. In the water and on the ground, I would see interesting shapes. That's when I started to sculpt the world around me. It has sort of become my trademark, and it was what originally attracted people's attention. In my work, there's no such thing as perfection; there's just an interest in life.”
Léon Bouchard
Gallery of Léon Bouchard
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In the foreground, cook's helper Léon Bouchard in a lumber camp, 1934. He was 14.
Photo from Léon Bouchard's collection
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.1.2
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Léon Bouchard in a lumber camp, 1940.
Photo from Léon Bouchard's collection
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.1.3
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Léon Bouchard and Rita Privé on their wedding day, April 1945.
Photo from Léon Bouchard's collection
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.1.4
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Serviceman Léon Bouchard in
1943.
Photo from Léon Bouchard's collection
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.1.5
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Léon Bouchard (left) during military training, 1943.
Photo from Léon Bouchard's collection
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.1.6
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Léon Bouchard and his wife Rita Privé on Léon's eightieth birthday in 2000.
Photo from Martin Bouchard's collection
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.1.7
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The cottage at P'tit Bonheur, built by Léon after he retired in the winter of 1994.
Photo from Martin Bouchard's collection
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.1.8
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Kosovo or
The Pity
Granite, steel, paint, varnish
1999
CMCC 2008
This moving granite sculpture, made by former soldier Léon Bouchard, was created in memory of the women and men who died during the war in Kosovo in 1998 and 1999. "Once, we made war between countries. Today we make war within the
same country."
This sculpture of “a nurse holding a wounded man” rests on a stone plinth on which the artist has sculpted the faces of monsters, as well as a hare and Japanese macaques from the Saint-Félicien Zoo.
The artist is shown with the work on his estate P'tit Bonheur near Saint-Hedwidge-de-Roberval, in the Lac-Saint-Jean region.
Sculpture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (wood) and sculpture of St. Hedwig (stone), patron saint of the village located near P'tit Bonheur.
Jean-François Blanchette, August 2007
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.1.9
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Sculpture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (wood) and sculpture of St. Hedwig (stone), patron saint of the village located near P'tit Bonheur.
Jean-François Blanchette, 2005
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.1.10
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Léon Bouchard and his stone sculpture
L'Accomplissement (The Accomplishment) in the municipal park at Ste-Hedwidge de Roberval.
Jean-François Blanchette, 2007
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.1.11
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Nativity Scene at P'tit Bonheur
1991–1998
Granite, paint, varnish
Jean-François Blanchette, August 2007
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.1.12
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Le chef du syndicat (Union Boss): a wooden sculpture made with a chainsaw — part of a series on forestry unions.
1999
Jean-François Blanchette, August 2007
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.1.13
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Wooden giraffe at P'tit Bonheur.
Jean-François Blanchette, August 2007
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.1.14
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Anne, la roche qui protège (Anne, the Rock which Protects): a stone sculpture at P'tit Bonheur.
Jean-François Blanchette, August 2007
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.1.15
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Yellow cat with black paws on a turtle: stone sculptures at P'tit Bonheur.
Jean-François Blanchette, August 2007
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.1.16
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Forest scene: stone sculpture at P'tit Bonheur.
Jean-François Blanchette, August 2007
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.1.17
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Groundhog
Polychrome granite, paint and varnish
Marie-Louise Deruaz
CMCC IMG2008-0080-0074-Dm
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Pattern for a moose carving.
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.1.19
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Pattern for a beaver holding a bract of leaves.
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.1.20
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Preparatory drawing for a wooden bas-relief.
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.1.21
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Preparatory drawing for a wooden bas-relief.
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.1.22
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Preparatory drawing for a wooden bas-relief.
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.1.23
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Léon Bouchard working on a sculpture of a female moose giving birth, 1998.
Photo from Martin Bouchard's collection
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.1.24
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Léon Bouchard in the midst of carving
Notre-Dame des aînés (Our Lady of the Elders), 2004.
Photo from Martin Bouchard's collection
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.1.25
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Léon Bouchard carving a small mammal, August 2008.
Jean-François Blanchette
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.1.26
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Léon Bouchard carving a small mammal, August 2008.
Jean-François Blanchette
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.1.27
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Léon Bouchard carving a small mammal, August 2008.
Jean-François Blanchette
CMCC Archives
2009-H0015.1.3.1.28
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