Claude A. Simard, RCA, was an artist of great talent. Unabashedly, he was a painter of beauty and joy that he found in numerous forms. The Simard’s gardens, first le Jardin du Bon Accueil at their home in St-Foy and then also at the home on Lac St-Joseph provided important sources of composition. Not the most ardent fan of winter, Claude brought his interest in flowers indoors where he painted a strong body of still life.

He was born in Quebec City in 1943. He graduated in 1966 from the Ontario College of Art and Design. Simard was elected to be a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in 1981, the very year that he had his first of 5 exhibitions with us at our original family art gallery, the Galerie Walter Klinkhoff.

Claude was an inspiration and mentor to many art students who took his courses at Université de Laval. As importantly, for me personally Claude and his wife Huguette, were good friends.