Where Art Finds a Home in Val-d’Or

In Val-d’Or, Quebec, where the story of the region is closely tied to mining, industry and the rugged landscapes of Abitibi-Témiscamingue, there are quieter places that invite visitors to slow down and look at their surroundings a little differently. Parc des Marais is one such place, offering a neighbourhood green space with an artistic story woven into its setting.

Rather than being simply another patch of green in the city, Parc des Marais has a connection to Val-d’Or’s cultural life. The park features four sculptures by artists Jacques Baril, Robert Saucier, Bill Vazan and Jean-Yves Vigneau. The works were created during the national symposium *Terre… minée. La fin serait-elle le commencement?*, held in Val-d’Or in 1993.

The symposium’s title, which evokes mined earth and asks whether an ending might also be a beginning, carries a particular resonance in a region shaped by mining. Here, art offers another way to consider the relationship between people, the land and the history of the place they call home.

For travellers exploring Val-d’Or, Parc des Marais offers a different kind of stop from the region’s larger outdoor recreation destinations and mining heritage attractions. Its appeal lies in the opportunity to discover public art within an everyday community setting, where a leisurely visit can become an introduction to the area's creative side.

Val-d’Or is often associated with the vast forests, lakes and outdoor adventures of northwestern Quebec. Yet its identity is also shaped by the people who live and create here. Parc des Marais provides a small window into that side of the city, reminding visitors that local stories are not always found inside museums or along well-travelled tourist routes.

Sometimes, all it takes is a short pause in a city park to discover another layer of a community. At Parc des Marais, sculpture and place come together to offer just such a moment in Val-d’Or.