Tribute to First Responders

Laporte’s ten panel, 5’ by 42’ mural located just south of McArthur Avenue along Vanier Parkway began as a ballpoint sketch during his mandatory 14-day quarantine upon arrival back home in Canada.

“We flew back when Trudeau was basically saying that everyone should come home, so we ended up in Hawkesbury at my girlfriend’s mom’s place to quarantine,” he said. “So that was when everything was hitting hard, everyone was on lockdown, so I was just drawing a lot.

“It was a way for me to pay some respect, but also get a little bit of work and basically just try to survive myself and see what I could do this year.”

While the focal point is the masked health care worker, Laporte also included illustrations of the Chateau Vanier condo towers which the mural is nestled under, as well as the Montfort Hospital, an ode to the long-standing mural his piece replaced.

“When the Ottawa Citizen was here last week, a paramedic was stopped at the light right here and they were taking a look at it as he was taking photos, so I was like okay they’re seeing it,” Laporte said. “They drive by here everyday, so I think it’s getting absorbed at least.”

Read the rest here: https://www.ottawalife.com/article/local-artist-turns-sketch-into-lasting-tribute