Paul Sincennes, Francine Tanguay and Carole Hébert, all three Vaudreuil-Soulanges residents, were deeply affected by the suicide of a loved one, and decided to put their artistic talents to work to raise funds to support the cause of suicide prevention and the Centre de crise et de prévention du suicide Le Tournant. 

It was in 2016 that Notre-Dame-de-l'Île-Perrot resident Paul Sincennes began working with wood. “That was also the year I retired, so I had more time. I started woodworking in my workshop at home. In February 2018, I got in touch with Francine Tanguay, an artist from Coteau-du-Lac, after being put in touch thanks to a Tournant user who knew us both,” says the man surrounded by his two collaborators. 

A turning point in their lives 

After talking, Paul and Francine realize that they have both experienced the suicide of someone close to them. For Paul, it was his son who committed an irreparable act in 2014, while for Francine, it was her sister, 21 at the time, who decided to end her life in 1978. By her own admission, it took her years to recover from this tragedy. 

Ten years after his son's death, Mr. Sincennes still hasn't accepted his son's decision, but he respects his son's choice. “At the time, Le Tournant took good care of me and my loved ones following this event. As soon as someone loses their life by suicide, Le Tournant staff get in touch with the bereaved. So it was only natural for me to get involved in making this resource better known in the region. After I left, my therapy became my job. When I retired, I set myself the goal of increasing Le Tournant's visibility, as the organization didn't have the financial resources to hire a marketing specialist. Le Tournant really represents a turning point in our lives,” he sums up. 

Francine Tanguay didn't use Le Tournant's services at the time, but she supports the organization's mission 100%. “I think it's extraordinary that it exists so that people who are going through the same tragedy as I am can turn to it in these difficult times. It gives me great pleasure to help Paul in his mission to raise funds to ensure the organization's continuity and increase its visibility.” 

As for Carole Hébert, she lost a brother-in-law to suicide. She also adds her touch to Paul and Francine's creations by adding miniature items. Carole has lived with Francine since the death of her husband.

“Since my husband left, Paul calls me every day to check up on me. There hasn't been a day since we've known each other that we haven't chatted. He's really a big-hearted man who's always in a good mood. His joie de vivre is contagious,” says Francine. 

A presence at local events

From the very beginning of his involvement in raising awareness of Le Tournant, its staff and services, Paul Sincennes began attending community events to introduce interested parties to his items. In exchange for donations to the organization, they could go home with a piece of wood to brighten up their home. 

Over time, the pieces offered by Mr. Sincennes evolved and, above all, became more colorful, thanks to the talents of Ms. Tanguay and Ms. Hébert. “I met Christiane Lévesque, the general manager of the Festival des couleurs de Rigaud and the Seigneuriales de Vaudreuil-Dorion, who agreed to welcome me to these annual events so that I could raise awareness of the cause. Each year, I'm still present at a dozen or so of these annual events. Humbly, I believe I've succeeded in raising awareness of suicide prevention and making sure people know about Le Tournant and its services.” 

Since December 2024, Mr. Sincennes has been collecting violins that are no longer in use, and Francine Tanguay transforms them into works of art. “We start from nothing, and thanks to her talent and great imagination, she turns them into marvels. She's a self-taught painter and sculptor. She takes everything and turns it into something beautiful in three dimensions. It's completely crazy and very beautiful. “

By 2025, Paul will have completed ten years of volunteer work for Le Tournant. He has no intention of stopping, just like his accomplices Francine and Carole. “As long as we have our health, we'll do it. I must emphasize my wife's great understanding and support. I spend a lot of time with my tools in my workshop,” he confides. 

Francine agrees. “It's Carole who cooks our meals. Sometimes she has to drag me out of my basement workshop (laughs). I can spend hours there. It relaxes me. I can't see the time go by when I'm wielding the brush. What's more, I'm doing it for such an important cause. You never know when your loved ones will need to consult Le Tournant,” she concludes. 

To support the organization financially, you can visit its website to make a donation. You can follow Paul Sincennes on his official Facebook page to see his creations and find out when he'll be appearing at regional events. 

Many other resources in the region 

The Suroît region is home to other support services for local men and women suffering from psychological distress, health problems or other issues that could lead to suicide. 

These resources include: 

- Le Versant; 

- Via L'Anse; 

- La Passerelle; 

- Le Pont du Suroît: 

- L'Accueil pour Elle; 

- Open area for 12-17 year-olds; 

For more information, visit the Tournant website. Staff can be reached at 450 371-2820. Le Tournant's crisis and prevention line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 450 371-4090 or toll-free at 1 833 371-4090.  

To read also: 

- Le Tournant: an organization that has been saving lives for over 40 years 

- Putting death expertise to work for the Shift