Anishinabe artist Simon Brascoupé to create artwork at Montfort
Ottawa, August 1, 2023 – The Montfort Foundation and Hôpital Montfort are very proud to announce the signing of an agreement with Aboriginal artist Simon Brascoupé, to design and install a work of art in the main entrance of the hospital.
The creation of the artwork will be a collaborative process, involving various artisans and artists. Montfort staff and members of the community will be invited to observe, discover and learn during the process. As a first step, a series of traditional native drums of various sizes will be handcrafted by Algonquin artisans, respecting a tradition that goes back thousands of years.
Drums are traditionally used to accompany song and dance, and are also used in ceremonies. Their powerful rhythms are reminiscent of a heartbeat of Mother Earth.
The artisans will produce smaller drums, so that the public can learn how they are made, in a workshop held on the Montfort site. The drums will then be painted by Indigenous artists. Once completed, the drums will be suspended in the air above the main entrance, welcoming visitors in a symphony of colours.
The agreement was signed on July 28 by Mr. Marc Villeneuve, President and CEO of the Fondation Montfort; Dr. Bernard Leduc, on what was his last day as President and CEO of the Fondation Montfort; and Mr. Jean-François Leclerc, President and CEO of the Fondation Montfort.
The next steps in this artistic process will be announced shortly.
About Simon Brascoupé
Simon is an Anishinabeg artist from Kitigan Zibi, who lives on Algonquin territory here in Ottawa. He has created several works of public art. His artistic vision is to have a significant presence in public art and institutions to showcase Algonquin and indigenous art and culture. Simon’s work has been exhibited in the U.S., Canada, Europe, China, Japan and Cuba.
About Montfort
Located on unceded Anishinabe Algonquin territories, Hôpital Montfort is Ontario’s Francophone Academic Hospital, offering exemplary person-centred care. The hospital serves over 1.2 million people in Eastern Ontario, in both official languages. In 2022, it earned Accreditation with Exemplary Standing from Accreditation Canada for the third time, and is the first francophone host as the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario’s flagship Best Practice Spotlight Organization (BPSO).
With its main partners, the University of Ottawa and La Cité college, as well as other post-secondary programs, Montfort is preparing the next generation of Francophone healthcare professionals. Since 2015, it has joined the ranks of Canada’s top 40 research hospitals through the activities of the Institut du Savoir Montfort, its knowledge institute. Montfort strives to become “your hospital of reference for outstanding services, designed with you and for you.” In 2019, it was named one of the world’s top 1000 hospitals.