Michel Cadieux, an artist and a man of passions

By Yvon Boucher (translation by Roland Deguire)

To carry out an interview with Michel Cadieux, the model designer and builder, is above all, meeting a man of passions. He is infatuated with history and archaeology.

This autodidact acquired his letters of nobility and recognition through all of Quebec from experiences on no less than eighteen archaeological excavations sites. Michel Cadieux made several historical models as his passenger waybill testifies. He reconstructed, in particular, a “Long house” in Ville de Lanoraie; an archaeological site that recalls the period of Jacques Cartier in Sorel; an excavations site on the plateau of the portageurs at Pointe-du-Buisson in Melocheville. Michel Cadieux as also realised the model reconstituting the events that took place at Beauharnois, in 1838, when the Patriots imprisoned Jane Ellice and her sister Églantine in the old presbytery.

Experimental archaeology:

Michel Cadieux’s speciality is experimental archaeology. Very young, he familiarised himself with various techniques which allow him today to offer his services by way of materials cultures productions workshops organizer.

Our designer-creator as also mastered the art of reproducing archaeological objects; a short visit in the basement of his house is enough to understand the moods of this artist with magical hands. We saw there the tools made of bone, potteries and other objects of great beauty, which brings to mind the oldest of times. He makes us travel through history and prehistory, and this, as much for his pleasure as our own.

Michel Cadieux is also a businessperson. He founded his own company, Archéofact enr., which enables him to make profitable, several talents: models designer-builder, activities organizer, reproductive in archaeological pottery objects, flintknapping and polished stone, native copper, bone and antler etc... His art, which was not always the case, allows him now, after several moons, to earn his living. Michel Cadieux built himself a solid reputation in our area as activities organizer and interpreter-guide, during six seasons, at Pointe-du-Buisson, in Melocheville. He was responsible; among other things, of an activity, which consisted in flintknapping in front of the visitors while trying to recreate the motions of the prehistoric flintknappers. Excellent pedagogue, he took the opportunity to explain the methods of fabricating the tools. Michel flintknapped in front of the visitors, the arrowheads, the drills, the scrapers, the knives.

Younger, he had made himself known for his interesting findings within the framework of underwater excavations in Coteau-du Lac. He had also collaborated in the excavations site at the Coteau-du-Lac Fort, under the aegis of Parks Canada.

This young man is the least we can say, possesses a very impressive curriculum vitae. The committee of June 12, 1843 is very happy for his extraordinary professional support.

(January 23th 1994)


*Any archaeological object can be reproduced.