A vibrant splash of color captures our attention. It’s the La Bolduc Mural. The mural commemorates Mary Rose-Anne Bolduc. She was also known as Madame Bolduc or La Bolduc.
La Bolduc, born Travers, was a celebrated musician. She was a singer of French Canadian music. During the 1930s, she reigned as the Queen of Canadian Folk Singers. Many consider La Bolduc Quebec’s first singer-songwriter. Her unique style blended traditional Irish and Quebec folk music. She often sang upbeat and comedic songs.
The La Bolduc Mural is more than art. It’s a tribute to a local legend. It is located on Rue Desjardins. It sits at the corner of Ontario. The mural graces a wall of the Maison de la culture Maisonneuve.
Interestingly, this location has a poignant connection to La Bolduc. Before becoming a cultural center, the building housed the Institut du radium de Montreal. This institute specialized in cancer treatment. Sadly, La Bolduc spent her final days here.
Laurent Gascon, a Montreal native born in 1949, is the artist behind this masterpiece. He founded l’Escouade de la Muralité in 1971. His goal was to bring art to the streets. Gascon is renowned for his ceramic mosaics. The La Bolduc Mural is part of a series of portraits. It honors famous figures on Ontario Street. Vittorio, Paul Buissonneau, and Raymond Lévesque are among them.
La Bolduc’s journey began in Newport, Quebec. Her father, Lawrence Travers, was of Irish heritage. Her mother, Adeline Cyr, had French Canadian and Mi’kmaq ancestry. Growing up, La Bolduc and her eleven siblings spoke both English and French. Despite their poverty, La Bolduc attended school and became literate in French.
Her father was her only music teacher. He taught her fiddle, accordion, harmonica, spoons, and jaw harp. She learned Irish melodies and French-Canadian folk tunes. The family lacked records or sheet music. La Bolduc learned by ear and memory. By 1908, she was performing at the logging camp. There, she worked as a cook. Her father worked as a lumberjack.
At thirteen, La Bolduc moved to Montreal. She lived with her half-sister Mary-Ann. She worked as a maid for Dr. Lesage. Later, she worked at a textile mill. In 1914, she married Édouard Bolduc, a plumber.
The couple faced hardship. They lost children. They struggled financially. In 1921, they moved to Springfield, Massachusetts. They returned to Montreal a year later. During this time, La Bolduc entertained friends with her music.
Her big break came when she filled in for a missing violinist. Conrad Gauthier was impressed. He asked her to return. By 1928, she was a regular. She played the violin or jaw harp. She even did some comic acting.
Ovila Légaré recommended La Bolduc to Romeo Beaudry. Beaudry signed her to Starr Records. Her first record was a flop. But her second, featuring “La Cuisinière,” sold thousands of copies. La Bolduc became a star.
In 1932, La Bolduc formed her own touring troupe. They performed vaudeville and folk music. They toured Quebec and New England.
In 1937, a car accident injured La Bolduc. Doctors found a cancerous tumor. She underwent treatment. She returned to performing in 1938. La Bolduc died of cancer in 1941. She left behind a rich musical legacy.
La Bolduc’s songs reflected daily life. Her lyrics often included English words. This mirrored her upbringing in Gaspésie. Her music resonated with working-class audiences.
So, as you stand before the La Bolduc Mural, remember the woman. Remember her struggles and triumphs. Remember the Queen of Canadian Folk Singers. Her music continues to echo through Quebec.