Growing Up in Verdun
An Art Project by Verdun Youth about Growing Up in Their Neighbourhood
Funded by Canada Summer Jobs, Growing Up in Verdun was a six-week project. The aim was to involve four youth participants between the ages of 16 and 20 in an outdoor art exhibition presenting the realities of growing up in the Montréal borough of Verdun. This exhibition allowed the public to reflect on the different cultures and backgrounds that thrive in their neighbourhood. Additionally, visitors had the opportunity to participate in an interactive art space, where they showed their creativity depicting what growing up in Verdun meant to them.
This outdoor public art exhibition took place on July 20th, 2022 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wellington Street, right in the heart of Verdun.
Meet the Team
Project Coordinator
Jiestine Horlador
Jiestine Horlador is a recent McGill University graduate having received her Bachelor of Education Major in French Immersion Elementary Education. She has experience in community organizing and event planning through her involvement with the Filipino student association at McGill. This summer, she is working at Y4Y Québec as a Public Art Project Coordinator which will allow her to explore a different role before she launches her full-time career in teaching in the fall. In her free time, she loves to cook, discover new restaurants, and hesitantly, go for runs.
Youth Artists
Adam Conners
Adam Conners is a nonbinary animator and cartoonist who uses personal experience to create striking art pieces that represent their thoughts and emotions. Born in Brampton Ontario, they recently moved to Terrebonne after graduating from David Suzuki Secondary School. Struck with culture shock as an English-speaker only, they have looked for new ways to express themselves outside of language. In the past they have written and created visuals for personal and public projects, including video games, webcomics, and animatics. Outside of their artwork, they spend their time forming close friendships with people, investing themselves in stories through video games and literature, as well as stepping out into the fresh air for inspiration.
Abdur Rahman Philogene
Abdur Philogene is a 17-year-old aspiring artist, photographer, and entrepreneur. He goes to Horizon High School and looks forward to showcasing and growing his talents with everyone.
Katrine-Sophie Paquette
Katrine is 18 years old. She's always had a passion for art of any form; she started with music at six years old, did a little drawing here and there, and started taking pictures at 13. She also has a passion for activism, where she mainly fights for feminist and LGBTQ+ causes. Growing up in Verdun is a project Katrine can relate to as she grew up in Verdun herself. Katrine is currently a student in the television program of Cégep de Jonquière in Saguenay, the only place in Québec where that technique is offered.
Zawadi-Bunzigiye
Zawadi Bunzigiye (she/they) is a multi-disciplinary artist based in so-called "Canada". In her art, she likes to focus on home, the body, the journey towards freedom. She is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in Creative Writing.
