Places of the heart

🔍 Saint-Hilaire, 1955.

A man devoted to his community

It would be easy to perceive Ozias Leduc as a stereotypical isolated artist at the foot of his mountain. The "wise man of the mountain" or even the "hermit of Saint-Hilaire" is in fact deeply devoted to his community. It's also important to note that Leduc, very busy with church decoration commissions, is regularly away from home for long periods of time.

Ozias Leduc becomes in 1924 municipal councilor, a position he held for 13 years. He's involved in a variety of projects, including those of Quebec's National Holiday and the preservation of Mount Saint-Hilaire. He is also the founder of the local beautification commission, whose mission is to "preserve the beauty of Saint-Hilaire". In 1925, Leduc writes a letter to the Premier of Quebec detailing the state of Mont Saint-Hilaire, deploring the disappearance of local orchards and maple groves as well as calling for the recognition of the mountain as a national park. For Leduc, the importance of the conservation of Mount Saint-Hilaire manifests itself through his implication in various agricultural, religious, educational and social organizations.

Although very busy with his artistic practice and his orchard, he accepts offers to participate in his parish's public life. At the school level, Leduc emphasizes the importance he attaches to education, which can be glimpsed through works such as The Reader. He eventually becomes president of the parish school board, a position he holds for two years. Not only does he take charge of administrative work, but also supports environmental and educational initiatives, such as the reforestation of public spaces and the acquisition of educational games.