1996 - Skatepark d'Arvida - Cartier st-Jacques

A nostalgic exploration of memories from adolescence spent growing up in Arvida, in the city of Jonquière, Québec during the mid-1990s.

Set against a working class neighborhood shaped by industry, nature and winters . With it's distinctive slang (la la ) plenty of nature, freedom and lots of space.

The project revisits a time when identity was forged outdoors at skateparks, schoolyards, and improvised shacks in the forest. An era influenced by skate culture and punk rock (skate punk) music of bands like NOFX, Lagwagon, Minor Threat , Grimskunk, Pennywise, Guttermouth, Black Flag, Millencolin, Blink.

That skate park was our gritty sanctuary, where we gathered like some sort of weird tribe. First loves, first fights, first everything. There was this mythical ramp at the back, nobody ever dropped it because it was built way too steep. But It taunted us. After a while of partying there, we’d climb the building at the back, grab the empties that we're thrown on top of the building, and snag more drinks and cigarettes. Still remember Minor Threat on a cassette tape. Tried to recreate that sense of so many thing happening all at once.