André Paiement (June 28, 1950 – January 23, 1978) was a Canadian playwright and musician. He was one of the most prominent Franco-Ontarian artists, playing a key role in developing many of the cultural institutions of the community.
Biography
Born in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, Paiement studied translation at Laurentian University in Sudbury, and got involved in theatre.
Paiement, with a group of artists that included Robert Paquette and writer and broadcaster Denis St-Jules, wrote and staged the musical Moé, j'viens du Nord, s'tie! in 1970. Others, including Paiement and his sister Rachel, subsequently formed the progressive rock band, CANO-Musique.
Paiement himself was active in both the theatre and band projects. His stage productions included Et le septième jour..., À mes fils bien-aimés, La vie et les temps de Médéric Boileau, Lavalléville and an adaptation in Franco-Ontarian dialect (joual) of Molière's Malade imaginaire. He was also a key organizer behind the music festivals La Nuit sur l'étang and Northern Lights Festival Boréal.
Paiement died by suicide on January 23, 1978, aged 27.