Senators' Statements

Honourable senators, allow me to thank Senator Carignan for his ability to express the French language so eloquently in this chamber. Thank you, Senator Carignan.

The French novelist André Maurois said, and I quote:

Art is the effort to create a more humane world alongside the real world.
I believe that theatre, which we celebrated on World Theatre Day on March 27, does just that and quite admirably. This performance art, a collective effort, a true meeting place for all manner of artistic disciplines, is one of the last places in our modern society where people come together and see reflections of our life embodied by living breathing human beings.

Although it can be seen as entertainment, theatre is certainly not meant to be based on consensus. Theatre disturbs, moves deeply and questions our connection with the world. It reveals with great depth the human soul and spirit, the darkness as well as the vitality that allows us to better understand our contemporaries.

Honourable senators, today I would like to pay tribute to the contributions of three outstanding women, each of whom blazed her own exceptional career trail.

First in the spotlight is the remarkable contribution of director Brigitte Haentjens, winner of a 2017 Governor General's Performing Arts Award, who generously shared her cash prize among five up-and-coming young creators.

Inhabited by questions regarding identity, sexuality and power, this symbolic figure of Canadian theatre is acclaimed for her original and avant-gardist productions. Since 2012, Brigitte Haentjens is the artistic director of the NAC French theatre.

I would like to take a moment to congratulate the National Arts Centre and its CEO, Peter Herrndorf, on their recent announcement of a brand-new indigenous theatre department to showcase the work of First Nations creators.

This week, Canada, Quebec and Acadia lost two dedicated artists. Janine Sutto was a passionate, hard-working performer who loved her craft and her fellow theatre people. She was an inspiration to generations of artists throughout her very long career, and will surely inspire generations more.

We also lost a friend and colleague this week, Aurore Thériault, who was trained at the National Theatre School and very active in the arts and culture scene. She left us far too soon.

Producer and cultural manager, this great community enthusiast devoted her life to the distribution and consumption of Acadian arts, whether it be for theatre, literature or film.

She was recently involved in welcoming immigrants, and her final post on Facebook was an African proverb, "Hope is the pillar of the world." We will remember that when we think of her and all those who have the courage and the mettle to work in theatre and share their world with us. Thank you.