For some, she was a committed community volunteer, a seasoned musician and a dedicated teacher, but for Le Nichoir, Denise Paquette was a constant ally. Even after her death, through her works, the painter continues to support the mission of this organization she co-founded in 1996. 

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A posthumous exhibition for artist and co-founder of Le Nichoir, Denise Paquette

On Friday, November 3, friends of the late Denise Paquette gathered at the Stephen F. Shaar Community Centre for the vernissage of the exhibition. Shaar Community Centre for a vernissage of the works of this great lady, who passed away earlier in 2023. She was a member of the Hudson Artists Club for over thirty years.  

A posthumous exhibition for the organization she loved so much 

To honor her memory, the artists' group is exhibiting some twenty of her works, from the nonagenarian's private collection, throughout November in the lobby of the community gathering place. All the paintings are for sale to interested parties, with all proceeds going to Le Nichoir. 

Those close to Mrs. Paquette are categorical: the lady was a true lover of birds of all kinds. She had an aviary at home to accommodate these colorful bipeds. She even once owned peacocks. 

"She loved birds so much that when she moved to Saint-Lazare, which was on Hudson territory at the time, she helped found Le Nichoir with three other people. At the time, the organization was housed in a barn donated by her neighbor. She took care of the birds on site. Over the years, the organization grew to become what it is today, more than 25 years later," says Gisèle Lapalme, a good friend of the deceased. 

Le Nichoir's Director of Operations, Susan Wylie, confirms that the organization has grown considerably since its foundation. By 2023, the NPO needs $400,000 annually to pursue its mission of caring for and rehabilitating injured wild birds before releasing them back into the wild, as well as offering a helpline, a consultation service and education and awareness workshops in local schools. 

Le Nichoir employs four full-time and two part-time staff, as well as a team of 115 dedicated volunteers. 

Those interested in supporting the mission of this well-known Vaudreuil-Soulanges organization can do so by purchasing one of Denise Paquette's works on display. Prices range from $70 for small formats to $425 for large formats. 

On the evening of the opening, one canvas had already found a buyer.

Passionate about birds...and music 

According to those close to her, Mrs. Paquette had at least two passions in life: birds and music. "She taught guitar, flute and piano to many Saint-Lazare students.She practised in Laval, and when she retired, she moved to Saint-Lazare, where she began to express her artistic talent in 1993. Since then, she has exhibited widely, including with Les Amis de la culture, in Rigaud, at the Musée régional de Vaudreuil-Soulanges, in Saint-Lazare, in Laval, at Lac Masson and at Montreal's Marché Bonsecours," adds Ms. Lapalme. 

Her love of painting even led her to open her own art gallery in her Saint-Lazare home. The name refers to her second passion: the Galerie aux plumes de paon (Peacock Feather Gallery). 

"One of his most striking works is a life-size sculpture of a person playing the flute. It's located on the Quebec-Ontario border, in Rivière-Beaudette. Many of her works made reference to music in one way or another, or to animals.Her passions followed her right into her art (laughs).Her last exhibition was in 2016.Her medium of choice was watercolor and acrylic. She took a lot of classes with Pierrette Labonté, and you can see an evolution in her artistic style over the years," testifies Michelle Lanteigne, another friend of the deceased, who remained in good shape well into the last months of her life.

Mrs. Paquette drove her car until she was 89.The exhibition can be viewed during opening hours at the Stephen F. Shaar Community Centre in Hudson.Shaar Community Centre in Hudson. Alternatively, contact Michelle Lanteigne at [email protected] to book an appointment. "If you are interested in purchasing a work, you can leave your cash at the reception desk of the community center, which will then contact us," says Ms. Lanteigne. 

To find out more about Denise Paquette's work, visit the Talents d'ici platform at talentsdici.com. To find out more about Le Nichoir: lenichoir.org.