Based on a small scale model designed by the famous Quebec sculptor and painter Armand Vaillancourt, ELEMA had the precious mandate to engineer this monument dedicated to the memory of humanist and trade unionist Michel Chartrand, who died on April 12, 2010.
Mr. Vaillancourt, who spent four years designing it, created a work in memory of Mr. Chartrand “… which illustrates the power of union solidarity, the strength of the pooling of resources and the working force.”
The work of art conveys an instant impression of solidity and provides a captivating view from every perspective. Above all, it is built with a permanence that will endure all time. The sculpture consists of 20 solid steel slabs weighing 24 tonnes each and measuring 9.75m (32 ft) high by1.4m (4’-8″) wide and 0.2m (8″) thick. These slabs are embedded in a reinforced concrete podium measuring 15.9m x 19.5m (64ft x 52ft) with a total volume of 640 m3 (22 600 ft3) of concrete and 75 tonnes of reinforcing steel. 240 individual anchor rods were used to tie the bases of the slabs into the concrete raft.
The lettering of the dedication of the sculpture was inscribed by laser cutting all the way through the steel slabs. The orientation of the inscription was intentionally reversed by Armand Vaillancourt so that it would be read correctly from the inside of the sculpture as opposed to the outside:
MICHEL CHARTRAND SYNDICALISTE 1916 – 2010
