2023-10-02 00:30:41
The activity was led by the artist’s widow, Colette Bonenfant, and by her great friend France Bernier, who devoted long hours to completing, revising and having the work published by the Histo-Graff house in Sainte -Félicité, near Matane.
As the book was published following the death of its author, which occurred on August 30, 2022, this launch was not like any other. It was an opportunity, for people who knew the author of La marche des poetes, to pay tribute to him within the framework of a mini book fair organized by the Saint-Ulric Cultural Committee, on the sidelines of the Culture days.
Starting idea
The idea for this work came from a long-time friend of the artist, France Bernier, who wanted him to make her life better known. “I thought he had such a beautiful pen,” she emphasized.
With the encouragement of the retired literature teacher from Cégep de Matane, Jean-Pierre Bérubé then took paper and pencil to write three, four and five pages. Along the way, he blackened 100 pages, then more than 200 pages. “He got caught in the game,” said Colette Bonenfant. Jean-Pierre learned he had cancer in June 2016. After France asked him to write this book, he would sit at the computer very early in the morning and, sometimes, he might write for five hours . Without telling me, I think it made him forget his illness. It was like an escape to remember lots of memories he had experienced: his love life, his artistic life, his defeats. It was a great gift for him to write this book. »
A life in 70 paintings
In 70 paintings full of anecdotes, the author born in Quebec recounts his childhood in Saint-Ulric and Matane. This achronistic life story relates his career which began in Matane with the group Les Quidams and which then took a turn towards entertainment and music teaching, which led him to travel around with his guitar slung over his shoulder and his warm voice in 23 countries.
Eight days before the 77-year-old died, his work was unfinished. His body worn out by illness, Jean-Pierre Bérubé no longer had the strength to type the words that would seal this literary testament. His daughter Émilie and her partner Luc were able to put down on paper the author’s last words which became the final words. France Bernier reworked the text to add it as a conclusion to the book.
Duty of memory
“I had a duty to release this book and make his journey known,” said Ms. Bonenfant. For France Bernier, the publication of this book was all the more important as she saw in Jean-Pierre Bérubé the generous man and the great, prolific artist who left 350 songs, seven albums and four books, including his biography.
During her lifetime, she had wanted a film to be produced regarding him, like the one made by Guillaume Lévesque regarding the poet and singer Lawrence Lepage from Rimouski. She had even approached the filmmaker. But due to lack of funding, the project might not see the light of day. However, in the absence of a documentary on his life and his work, Jean-Pierre Bérubé leaves one last legacy: his autobiography.
Prolific international career
His international career began in 1984 when Sylvain Lelièvre canceled a contract as a French teacher in Caracas, Venezuela. Jean-Pierre Bérubé then replaced him at short notice. This is how a long international career began.
“Jean-Pierre gave workshops through song for teachers,” explains the woman who shared his life for around twenty years. He was very popular. These teachers, who came from all over the world, asked Jean-Pierre to come to their country to give workshops to teachers or students, followed by concerts. He was welcomed like a king. » Ms. Bonenfant notably recounted some memorable travel anecdotes, including one in Russia, where the Canadian embassy car was waiting for the couple as they got off the plane.
No one is a prophet in his own country
The cantor with generous white hair did not disprove the adage which says that no one is a prophet in his country since he was better known internationally than in Quebec. The mayor of Saint-Ulric, a municipality where Jean-Pierre Bérubé had a residence and where he lived part-time, also deplored the fact that, according to him, he had not received the recognition he would have deserved in Quebec.
“The beauty of Jean-Pierre was the voice he had,” maintained Michel Caron. He might have been an opera singer, with his beautiful deep voice. It’s a shame we didn’t see him on the cultural scene in Quebec. We always saw the same people. Jean-Pierre might have easily emerged from the shadows if he had been invited to TV shows. People in Quebec did not know him; he was better known internationally. »
The elected official wanted to emphasize his personal attachment to the artist. “He stopped to greet me and shake my hand. He had a human side to him. » According to him, Mr. Bérubé had this way of looking people straight in the eye and making them feel important. “Jean-Pierre had a natural kindness. He leaves us beautiful things in memory. » In the opinion of Ms. Bonenfant, the autobiography of her late husband continues precisely this desire to make him better known in Quebec.
If Quebec did not give him the desired recognition, the singer-songwriter was calm regarding it, according to the one to whom he was married for 22 years. The population of Saint-Ulric has never forgotten the poet of Tartigou, the sector of the municipality where he had his pretty house the color of the sea, located below. Jean-Pierre Bérubé never doubted the love of his family. Moreover, the song White River, in reference to the White River which crosses the center of the village of Saint-Ulric, is only one testimony among others of the particular attachment felt by the character greater than nature in its corner of the country located at the start of the Gaspésie tourist region. For the Ulricois, Jean-Pierre Bérubé was and will remain their star.
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