L’Imagier at 50, A Legacy of Art and Connection

Tashi Farmilo

To celebrate its half-century milestone, L’Imagier in Aylmer opened its doors to the community for an evening filled with nostalgia and gratitude, honouring 50 years of imagination, art, and shared memories.

The event, titled Au fil de l’imaginaire, marked the second chapter of a retrospective exhibition that retraced the creative journey of its founder, Pierre Debain, while paying tribute to Yvette, his lifelong partner and cornerstone of the institution’s spirit. Melissa Phillips, a member of the L’Imagier team, described the night as “reviving a memory,” a moment to reconnect with the legacy of two individuals whose vision helped shape the region’s artistic landscape.

Curated by their grandson Simon Debain, the exhibition weaves together the past and present, showing how L’Imagier has grown from a humble home into a vibrant centre for contemporary visual arts. The space, rebuilt in 2012, yet still echoing traces of the original Debain residence, stands as a living testament to continuity and community.

Guests were invited to rediscover Pierre’s intimate works, including sketches, charcoals, and pastels offered in small formats, symbolic of the accessibility and inclusivity that have always defined the centre. With conversation, reflection, and an atmosphere reminiscent of Yvette’s legendary hospitality, the evening became, as Phillips put it, “like bringing memory back to life.”