André Paiement


André Paiement was a Canadian playwright and musician. He was one of the most prominent Franco-Ontarian artists, playing a key role in developing many of the cultural institutions of the community.

Biography

Born in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, Paiement studied translation at Laurentian University in Sudbury, and got involved in theatre. Paiement, with a group of artists that included Robert Paquette, wrote and staged the musical Moé, j'viens du Nord, s'tie! in 1970. The artists subsequently formed the Coopérative des artistes du Nouvel Ontario, which evolved in a variety of directions. Some of the artists, including Paiement, established the professional theatre company Théâtre du Nouvel-Ontario. Others, including Paiement and his sister Rachel, formed the progressive rock band CANO-Musique.
Paiement himself was active in both the theatre and band projects. His stage productions included Et le septième jour..., À mes fils bien-aimés, La vie et les temps de Médéric Boileau, Lavalléville and an adaptation in Franco-Ontarian dialect of Molière's Malade imaginaire. He was also a key organizer behind the music festivals La Nuit sur l'étang and Northern Lights Festival Boréal.
Paiement committed suicide on January 23, 1978.

Works

Theater plays