FORTES Mural

This artwork features portraits of strong women who, each in their own way, made significant contributions to society. Created by committed artist Adèle Blais, this artistic composition brings together multiple frames in a variety of styles and formats.

This type of installation may seem simpler to create than other murals, as each piece was crafted individually in the studio. Yet the final result is striking—both original and impressive.

From left to right, you can see the portraits of Jeanne d’Arc, La Bolduc, Irma LeVasseur, Ada Blackjack, Maggie Sirois, Anna Canfield, Claudette Colvin, Thérèse Casgrain, Eva Tanguay, Maude Abbott, and Hedy Lamarr.

Jeanne d’Arc (1412-1431): This French heroine, a war leader beatified and later canonized, is a symbol of resistance and courage.

La Bolduc (1894-1941): A self-taught musician considered the first singer-songwriter in Quebec.

Irma LeVasseur (1877-1964): The first French Canadian woman doctor, she dedicated her life to healing the sick and founding children’s hospitals in Quebec.

Ada Blackjack (1898-1983): The sole survivor of an expedition on Wrangel Island, she was nicknamed the Robinson Crusoe of the Arctic.

Maggie Sirois (1865-1920): The strongest woman in the world, whose feats equaled those of Louis Cyr.

Anna Canfield (1772-1825): A forgotten pioneer, whose skills and vision allowed her to buy land and safeguard the future of Sherbrooke.

Claudette Colvin (1939–present): The overlooked heroine who refused to give up her bus seat, nine months before Rosa Parks.

Thérèse Casgrain (1896-1981): Politician, activist, and pioneer of women’s suffrage in Quebec.

Eva Tanguay (1878-1947): Queen of vaudeville in the early 20th century, and a forerunner of major American show-business stars.

Maude Abbott (1868-1940): Cardiac pathologist, physician, and curator. Author of the Atlas of Congenital Cardiac Disease (1936), a groundbreaking text in cardiac research.

Hedy Lamarr (1914-2000): Actress and inventor, whose innovation laid the foundation for modern technologies such as Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth.

One of the most remarkable Quebec figures featured in this artwork is undoubtedly Thérèse Casgrain (1896-1981). 

She played a central role in Quebec’s history by leading the fight for women’s right to vote, achieved in 1940, and became a symbol of empowerment and equality in the province.

Among the women depicted in the artwork, who can be credited with each of these three quotes?

A) Freedom and democracy are never guaranteed.

B) I make my little happiness by singing about my misfortunes.

C) I was sent to save France.

A) Thérèse Casgrain (1896-1981) – feminist activist: Freedom and democracy are never guaranteed.

B) La Bolduc (1894-1941) – Francophone singer: I make my little happiness by singing about my misfortunes.

C) Jeanne d’Arc (1412-1431) – French heroine: I was sent to save France.

External to the BaladoDiscovery application – The Adèle Blais app offers an artistic and educational experience specific to the FORTES mural, in addition to showcasing other portraits created by the artist. This application notably uses augmented reality to highlight the colorful and symbolic paintings of Sherbrooke-based artist Adèle Blais.

Users can explore her works and discover stories narrated by well-known female voices. The artist also invites you to explore her creative process through this application, available for free on iOS and Android.