Forces Motrices, it the story of our collective identity. 

Once upon a time… the displacement of men and women, of yesterday and of today. Where do we com from ? Can we still say that we comme from some place in particular or are we the result of a series of displacements ? Forces Motrices ask these questions while recounting some edifying tales about the construction of the trans-Canadian railway.​

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Forces Motrices, is the story of migrations.

That of all the men and women that came from here, from Ireland, England, China, Africa, Italy ... from all over the world, to build together the railroad crisscrossing Canada from east to west.

 

Forces Motrices, is the story of a will to any test.

The one that has crossed forests, mountains, wild canyons, ravines, torrents, rivers and swamps.
The one that pierced, sanded, filled and restructured.
The one that has transcended the differences in cultures, languages, organizations, to allow this disparate multitude of workers to achieve together a feat as incredible as the construction of the Trans-Canada Railway.

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Forces Motrices, is a performance. 

That of a musician, Erik West Millette, and a painter, Charles Acek, both passionate about the History of Trains, by the huge undertaking that represents the construction of the Trans-Canada Railway.
It is also that of a sound designer, Antoine Bédard, and a writer and interpreter, Denis Lavalou. They transport us, for the moment of the performance, in construction sites, becoming beating drums, coyotes, tame wolves tied to sledges, horse carrying workers, mountain pierced by rails, intrepid flow of the St. Lawrence River ...

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With :

Charles Acek - painter

Denis Lavalou - Tale narrator 

Erik West Millette - musician

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Text - Denis Lavalou

Sound creactor - Antoine Bédard

Music - Erik West Millette

Painting - Charles Acek

Artistic direction  - Sylvie Teste

Tryptic metal construction - Michel Fordin

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A production Les Escales Improbables de Montréal.

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With the participation of Audiotopie for the digital lutherie.

 

We warmly thank Claire Fournier and Eric Pouliot-Thisdale for their preliminary researches and their availability  during the creative process. We also thank the archives of the Canadian Railway Museum who guided us in our research.  

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At last but not least, thank to Patro Le Prevost.