Fernand Lindsay (1928-2009)

2002 Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Voluntarism in the Performing Arts

Actively and passionately involved in the arts for nearly 50 years, Père (Father) Fernand Lindsay, C.S.V., C.M., has imparted his love of classical music to thousands of young Canadians, particularly as the volunteer founder and artistic director of the Camp musical de Lanaudière and volunteer founder and artistic director of the acclaimed Festival de Lanaudière. As the mentor of literally thousands of students since his early days as a teacher at the Joliette Seminary in the 1950s, and as the volunteer founder and supporter of several choirs, music contests and festivals in the region, he has put Joliette and the Lanaudière region of Quebec on the international musical map.

Father Lindsay was born in Trois-Pistoles, Quebec, in 1928 and ordained into the community of the Clerics of St. Viator in 1953.

In 1957 he was appointed director of Les Jeunesses musicales de Joliette, and in 1962 established the Festival-concours de musique, a regional competition open to music students and teachers in the Joliette region. The event awards over $20,000 in prize money in differ¬ent categories each year, allowing many of the competitors to continue their studies at summer music camps and other institutions.

In 1967 he founded the Camp musical de Lanaudière, an international summer music youth camp of which he is still Artistic Director. Every summer the camp welcomes over 400 young people from across Canada and abroad for classical music lessons, workshops, concerts and outdoor activities in a beautiful natural setting. Also in 1967 he established the Centre culturel de Joliette, comprising a music school (now with some 30 teachers and 300 students) and an art gallery.

Father Lindsay is the founder (1978) and Artistic Director of the annual summer Festival de Lanaudière, which celebrated its 25th anniversary this year. The Festival hs become one of Canada’s most prestigious classical music destinations, with appearances by internationally-acclaimed musicians and annual attendance of up to 50,000.

Father Lindsay’s other volunteer involvements include Les Chanteurs de la Place Bourget (choir director since 1965), the Jeunesses musicales du Québec (president 1973–78) and the Jeunesses musicales du Canada (national vice-president 1971–78).

Awards and honours include: Member of the Order of Canada, 1987; Édouard-Montpetit Medal, 2001; Prix Calixa-Lavallée, 1993; Lescarbot Award (national), 1992; Ordre du Québec, 1990.