Since 2012, Gilles Létourneau has scanned the news on the North Shore and published his drawings in local newspapers and on social networks. Between the forest fires, the emergency decree on the caribou and the health crisis in the region, a host of subjects have captured the attention of the cartoonist in 2024.
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In May 2024, the government of Quebec announced its intention to create a “public flying team” made up of nurses and beneficiary attendants, which could number up to 1,500 people, to alleviate serious labor shortages. health work observed in certain regions.
Photo: Courtesy of Gilles Létourneau
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Last August, the head of emergency at Le Royer Hospital indicated that reductions in services at her emergency are inevitable. Dr. Stéphanie Thibault was saddened by the absence of solutions proposed by Quebec and the arrival “in dribs and drabs” of reinforcements.
Photo: Courtesy of Gilles Létourneau
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At the beginning of July 2024, the Minister of Health of Quebec, Christian Dubé, was passing through the North Shore to “get the facts straight” about the deployment of the flying team and the lack of manpower. works in health establishments in the region. The staff shortage is leading to repeated service disruptions in the region.
Photo: Courtesy of Gilles Létourneau
At the beginning of July 2024, the Minister of Health of Quebec, Christian Dubé, was passing through the North Shore to “get the facts straight” about the deployment of the flying team and the lack of manpower. works in health establishments in the region. The staff shortage is leading to repeated service disruptions in the region.
Photo: Courtesy of Gilles Létourneau
In May 2024, the government of Quebec announced its intention to create a “public flying team” made up of nurses and beneficiary attendants, which could number up to 1,500 people, to alleviate serious labor shortages. health work observed in certain regions.
Photo: Courtesy of Gilles Létourneau
Photo album: Santé Côte-Nord Parody Gilles Létourneau
A health system sick
Gilles Létourneau’s collection includes around 800 current affairs illustrations. This year, the cartoonist added numerous drawings related to the crisis plaguing the health system on the North Shore.
He was inspired by the visit of the Minister of Health Christian Dubé to the region, the concerns of doctors about reductions in services at the Baie-Comeau Hospital and the trickle arrival of members of the flying team.
I understand Minister Dubé’s point of view of trying to [limiter] private sector nurses. I partly agree with the minister, but there are shortages of nurses. Health is not too healthy these days. It’s cracking everywhere
he says.
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Many forestry workers gathered in Sacré-Cœur in September 2024 to take part in a parade to denounce the federal decree on the protection of caribou. Many people cheered on the convoy participants.
Photo: Courtesy of Gilles Létourneau
Caribou decree denounced
Last June, the Trudeau government began the consultation process which should lead to the adoption of an emergency decree to impose restrictions on the habitat of the woodland caribou in Quebec. The forestry industry will likely be affected. On the North Shore, the community of Sacré-Cœur, where the Boisaco cooperative sawmill is located, fears a devitalization of the municipality if the decree ends up being adopted.
The cartoonist shares the concerns of the forestry industry as well as those of Sacré-Cœur. He considers that there are not many large companies offering jobs in Haute-Côte-Nord.
The forestry industry is one of the only businesses on the Haute-Côte-Nord. Choosing between the woodland caribou and the human being who earns his living for his family, I will choose the father of the family or the mother of the family
indicates Mr. Létourneau.
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District 31 cast member and ultramarathon enthusiast Patrice Godin arrived in Havre-Saint-Pierre in April 2024 before beginning a range of training, including national fighter training. Two months later, he was dispatched to the Charles mining camp to fight fires north of Port-Cartier and Sept-Îles.
Photo: Courtesy of Gilles Létourneau
Patrice Godin fights the flames on the North Shore
For a second consecutive year, eyes were on the North Shore this summer when several forest fires broke out. In June, the flames forced the evacuation of part of the City of Port-Cartier. Then in July, the Town of Fermont was on evacuation pre-alert.
During this period, the writer and actor Patrice Godin produced a dream of ass
by joining the ranks of SOPFEU to fight the north coastal fires.
There, it wasn’t cinema or TV. It was reality. It seems that Patrice Godin really enjoyed this role of forest firefighter during the summer
says the cartoonist.
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On several occasions in 2024, the Union 138 Coalition mobilized for the construction of a bridge between Tadoussac and Baie-Sainte-Catherine. The group wishes to rally the north-coastal population as the studies on the bridge approach.
Photo: Courtesy of Gilles Létourneau
Opening up the North Shore
Once again this year, elected officials and the Union 138 Coalition raised their voices to demand a bridge over the Saguenay and the completion of Route 138 in the Lower North Shore.
Moreover, when the navigation officers and engineering officers were on strike last June at the Tadoussac and Baie-Sainte-Catherine crossings, the Union 138 Coalition made itself heard.
The cartoonist hopes that the governments of Quebec and Canada will facilitate the opening up of the region. I find that the North Shore is the most neglected region of Quebec, despite all the natural wealth and electricity that we offer.
he says.
Baie-Comeau hockey fever
Many North Shore residents remember that last May, the Baie-Comeau Drakkar made it to the playoffs of the Maritimes Quebec Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). However, the team lost in the final against the Drummondville Voltigeurs.
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The Drummondville Voltigeurs beat the Baie-Comeau Drakkar last May and won the Gilles-Courteau trophy in the final of the playoffs of the Maritimes Quebec Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The Voltigeurs swept the series in four games and obtained top honors in front of their fans at the Center Marcel-Dionne.
Photo: Courtesy of Gilles Létourneau
At a time when the greater Baie-Comeau region was vibrating to the rhythm of the playoffs, Gilles Létourneau took out his pencil to parody the team’s head coach.
It was one of their best seasons ever. I wasn’t the only supporter who had high hopes. [Quant à leur défaite]that’s life
he says wisely.
Other North Shore news
In 2024, several other reports from - Côte-Nord were the subject of a parody by Gilles Létourneau, including the homelessness experienced in the region, the agreement reached between Quebec and the Innu of Pessamit as well as the portrait of a funny priest at the Sacré-Cœur church in Port-Cartier.
It was just for fun. I find the priest sympathetic. It is in this sense that I made the caricature. To find caricature ideas, I have no choice but to read a lot of news articles, including those from -
comments the artist.
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Last February, Quebec and the Innu of Pessamit signed a $45 million agreement. The money that will be paid to Pessamit will be used in particular for the construction of housing. This community, which has just over 2,000 people, only has around 1,000 housing units on its territory. This is too little, according to the former head of the community, Marielle Vachon. This signing is part of a reconciliation process, according to the government.
Photo: Courtesy of Gilles Létourneau
Tribute to those who have left us
The cartoonist also used his pen to pay tribute to North Coast residents who have left their mark on the region, whether through their accomplishments or their inspiring journeys.
Among the deceased personalities drawn is the 18e Prime Minister of Canada, Brian Mulroney, the pioneer of Innu-aimun music, Philippe McKenzie and the Baie-Comois artist Jérémie Giles.
With caricature, we can parody and denounce. But I also use it to pay tribute to well-known north-coastal artists and other people who come to my interest
he indicates.
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The 18th Prime Minister in Canadian history, Brian Mulroney, died surrounded by his family on February 29, 2024. He was 84 years old. He was born in Baie-Comeau. Many North Coasters consider that the man put the North Shore “on the map”.
Photo: Courtesy of Gilles Létourneau
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Having become an essential figure in Innu culture, considered the pioneer of Innu-aimun music and recognized as one of the first indigenous folk singers in the country, singer-songwriter and poet Philippe McKenzie died in July 2024 at the age of 70.
Photo: Courtesy of Gilles Létourneau
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Multidisciplinary artist Jérémie Giles died in September 2024 at the age of 97. Friends and members of the artistic community of Baie-Comeau bear witness to the mark left by the painter on the city, where he lived for a long time.
Photo: Courtesy of Gilles Létourneau
Having become an essential figure in Innu culture, considered the pioneer of Innu-aimun music and recognized as one of the first indigenous folk singers in the country, singer-songwriter and poet Philippe McKenzie died in July 2024 at the age of 70.
Photo: Courtesy of Gilles Létourneau
The 18th Prime Minister in Canadian history, Brian Mulroney, died surrounded by his family on February 29, 2024. He was 84 years old. He was born in Baie-Comeau. Many North Coasters consider that the man put the North Shore “on the map”.
Photo: Courtesy of Gilles Létourneau
Photo album: Important figures CN – gilles letourneau parody
According to Gilles Létourneau, 2025 risks still being full of news for the North Shore. The cartoonist, who lives in Ragueneau, wishes to parody news articles for many years to come.
I’m going to get back to work, I’m going to sharpen my pencils and I’m going to prepare my eraser and my papers. I’ll keep my eyes peeled again. I’m going to make them until I get tired of making them
he concludes.
