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Gilbert Gardner as seen by Christian Giraldeau

A photograph, edited to look like a comic strip, of a man with a beard and long brown hair. He is wearing a coat, a burgundy scarf, and small round glasses. He is examining a roll of film. On the lower left corner are the words: "Gilbert Gardner".

Image: Photographer unknown (graphic design by Audrey Fauteux-Robillard), 1976.
Private collection of Monique Villeneuve.

Audio excerpt: Interview with Christian Giraldeau, one of the organizers of the Fêtes du Vieux Saint-Eustache, by Sandrine Contant-Joannin, ethnologist, 2023.
Excerpt length: 1 minute, 22 seconds. Patrimoine culturel Vieux-Saint-Eustache collection.

Christian Giraldeau was one of the organizers of the Fêtes du Vieux Saint-Eustache between 1974 and 1976; his main role was to create various types of content for the event. During these three years, he collaborated with Gilbert Gardner, founder and organizer of the Fêtes du Vieux Saint-Eustache. He describes him in the excerpt of the interview transcribed below:

Christian Giraldeau (CG): But it was great because if there was anything you needed, you’d tell Gilbert and the next day, you had it, you know. Gilbert already had an established network, he had connections, you might say, and it was really easy working with him.

And uh he also had another side… We were… we considered ourselves to be artists then and uh… while he was the manager, you know? He’d be like, “OK, yeah, that sounds great, lots of fun, but it’s not doable, forget about it. Let’s move on.” And that was fine, we liked that too. And if it was doable we’d think “OK, let’s give it a try. But you know, I’m not going to put $5,000 on it.” But he made things possible, Gilbert. It was great. You know, we’d propose something, let’s say, that seemed off the wall…

Sandrine Contant-Joannin (SCJ): Like the barn, for example!

CG: Well exactly! Listen…

SCJ: That took some doing …

CG: No kidding! Not just the barn, there were several buildings. The barn and I’m pretty sure there was a house there. We didn’t burn down the house, but we burned down the barn. That was something! Got it at an auction, won it at an auction.