OTTAWA, November 24, 2025 – The Vanier Museopark proudly announces the launch of its virtual exhibition Bado: The Francophonie Through Pencil Strokes, highlighting more than 40 years of cartoons by artist Guy Badeaux, better known as Bado. A true witness of his time, Bado has published over 10,000 drawings in Le Droit newspaper since 1981, tackling current affairs with both humour and sharp insight.
Through this exhibition, visitors are invited to consider the unique role of cartoonists in society and to revisit key moments in the history of Ottawa’s, Ontario’s and Canada’s Francophonie. More than 180 digitized cartoons are presented, covering themes such as the fight to save the Montfort Hospital, the creation of a French-language university in Ontario, the recognition of bilingualism in Ottawa, and the challenges facing Francophone minorities across Canada.
“With this project, we want to showcase the work of a major Canadian cartoonist and highlight his unique perspective on issues affecting Francophone minority communities. In 2019, the Museopark hosted the temporary exhibition Bado: The Francophonie Through Pencil Strokes in its gallery. The virtual version we are launching today draws inspiration from that exhibition, but brings it online to reach a much broader audience, thanks to the support of Digital Museums Canada.”
— Yves Turbide, Executive Director, Vanier Museopark
In addition to tracing the history of Francophone struggles over recent decades, the exhibition offers privileged access to Bado’s creative world. Visitors will discover how his ideas take shape and explore how editorial cartoons contribute to Canada’s media landscape. The exhibition also provides fresh insight into the role cartoons have played in the Francophone press, and the impact they continue to have in defending language rights and fostering public debate.
“Through Bado’s pencil, the exhibition revisits milestones that have shaped the identity and vitality of Francophone minority communities. It offers both a historical and artistic perspective, showcasing a vast array of drawings that combine humour, social critique and collective memory.”
— Yanick Labossière, Curator, Vanier Museopark
This virtual exhibition was developed with the support of Digital Museums Canada, an investment program managed by the Canadian Museum of History.
Discover the Bado: The Francophonie Through Pencil Strokes virtual exhibition today on the respective websites of Digital Museums Canada and Vanier Museopark.
About the Vanier Museopark
The Vanier Museopark is a non-profit organization in the heart of Vanier, a working-class neighbourhood near downtown Ottawa, which celebrates the community’s rich heritage and history. Through exhibitions, talks, workshops, school programs, and interpretive tours, the Vanier Museopark helps curious people of all ages and cultures discover and learn about the habits and customs of the local Francophone community. The Vanier Museopark is Ottawa’s only French-language museum and one of the few Canadian museums devoted entirely to the Francophone community outside Quebec. The Museopark operates an authentic sugar shack in the heart of an urban maple forest, the only one of its kind in Canada. It also hosts the Sugar Festival, an annual event that promotes maple syrup culture, showcases Franco-Ontarian and Indigenous artists, and is a hugely popular family activity. Proud of its roots, the Vanier Museopark has been a fixture of the community since it was founded in 2004. www.museoparc.ca
– 30 –
For additional information:
Annick Normand
Communications & Marketing Manager, Vanier Museopark
communication@museoparc.ca