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Biography of Claude T. Picard

Claude T. Picard

Claude Picard was born in Edmundston, New Brunswick, on February 11, 1932. In 1946, he won a national award in art competition at the age of 14. He undertook a study tour of three years in Europe, from 1956 to 1959, mainly in Italy: Florence and Rome. He painted landscapes of his region, portraits, murals and historical scenes. Many of his portraits are in Ottawa: the Canadian Senate and the National Library; at the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick; at the University of Moncton; the New Brunswick Museum in Saint John.

In the early 60’s, he painted two murals for the church of Notre-Dame-des-Flots of Lamèque, NB. In 1966, he painted the mural “The Discoverer” for the Edmundston Community College. In 1985, he created for the City of Edmundston an historical mural entitled “Life in Madawaska from 1785-1985”. In 1986, he won the competition organized by Parcs Canada for the realization of six murals on the history of the Acadians, in permanent exhibit at the Memorial Church of Grand-Pré, NS. In 1992, he created four paintings depicting the history of the Acadian, for the “Museum of Citadelle Vauban” in Belle-Île-en-Mer, France; a mural “Forever young” for the Golden Age Club of Saint-Basile, NB; another mural “He imposed His hands” for the church of Saint-Jacques, NB. In 2001, a historical mural commemorating the founders of the study circles of the Caisses populaires in New Brunswick, was commissioned by the Federation des Caisses populaires acadiennes of Caraquet.

For many years, he has been painting portraits for the Sports Hall of Fame in Edmundston and Campbellton. He received twice a grant from the Canadian Art Council, in 1982 and 1992. He won the Gold Professional Award of the Society of Graphite Designers of Canada for his paintings appearing on the historical map “Acadian Odyssey of a people” in 1990. In 1992, he received the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada. In 1996, he received an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Art degree from the University of Moncton. In 2004 he was named “Personnalité Richelieu 2004” by the Club Richelieu of Edmundston. The same year, he won the Miller Brittain Award for Excellence in the visual arts offered by the Council of arts NB.

In 2005, six large historic murals depicting “Momentous Millestones of the Acadian people” are installed by the Association of the Acadian Museum of PEI in Miscouche. He received in 2005 the award “The saw-whet owl” from the Association of the Acadian Museum of PEI, Miscouche “for the Acadian cause”. On August 15, 2005, the first official day cover that reproduce his painting “The departure into exile 1755” is unveiled by Canada Post in Caraquet, NB. In 2005, the City of Edmundston honoured him “for his commitment to the advancement of the arts”.

In 2006, he was inducted into the “Art Hall of Fame”, Edmundston, NB (trahf Edmundston); was given the Louis Napoléon-Dugal (SAANB) award for his contribution to the promotion of French and Acadian culture in Madawaska. In 2006, a room where his 6 paintings are exhibited in the Acadian Museum of PEI in Miscouche is named “Galerie Claude Picard”.

In 2010, a retrospective of his work since childhood took place at the Galerie Colline of the Madawaska Historical Museum, University of Moncton, Campus Edmundston, NB. In 2010, a painting “La Bataille de la Ristigouche” is commissioned by Parcs-Canada, Québec. On August 28, 2012, he received the Medal of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.

Married to Jeanne Soucy, they have two daughters, Brigitte and Lucie. Mr. Picard passed away on September 13, 2012.

Université de Moncton campus d'Edmundston Société Historique du Madawaska Ville d'Edmundston Patrimoine Canadien