What Should We Wish for Each Other? (A short message from Vincent)

Hello everyone,

As we come to the end of 2025 - which, honestly, flew by at an unbelievable speed - I often catch myself thinking: the older I get, the faster time seems to move. I understand my parents a little better now… and my grandmother Paule too, who used to say this to me with a small smile and her almond-shaped eyes.

Let’s be honest: this year put us through quite a lot. Stress, uncertainty, self-questioning. The tsunami triggered by tariff policies south of our border had a very real impact - on our clients and on us alike. The first two quarters were heavy, sometimes even discouraging.

But I clearly remembered what the pandemic had taught us: we are smart, we are hardworking, and we always find solutions. With an enormous amount of work, an amazing team of new recruits, and the incredible commitment of our existing team, we pushed through.

Was it easy? Not at all.
Exhausting? Absolutely.

But the essentials were there: keeping everyone employed, maintaining the benefits we offer our team, and above all, continuing to represent our artists with excellence and to support them during a more fragile period.

Then summer arrived - and it was magnificent. Summer goes by fast in Québec. And then came fall, and the Holidays… which always pass far too quickly. I feel like I blink at Halloween and suddenly we’re already at Christmas and New Year’s.

Preparing Christmas cards, organizing the Christmas draw, Black Friday and Holiday promotions - without forgetting the necessary and frequent absences of our younger colleagues during exam season, combined with the well-deserved vacations of permanent staff… let’s just say things move fast at the gallery during this time of year.

To give myself the illusion of slowing time down, I allowed myself a little guilty pleasure this year: starting my Christmas playlists earlier than usual - and the same goes for romantic, kitschy Christmas movies (yes, I’m that person in the family, and I fully embrace it 😄). On top of that, the snow arrived early, at the same time as our outdoor decorations at the galleries, which also helped me get into the true holiday spirit sooner.

That said, the real highlight of the Christmas season remains unchanged for my family: the two activities with Le Pignon Bleu. Buying Christmas gifts for nearly 200 children from the organization and delivering Christmas baskets to their families - that alone is pure joy. And being able to count on our employees and friends to take part, year after year, is deeply moving.

There’s also a family tradition we started a few years ago: a big cooking day to prepare tourtières and pâtés (both carnivore and vegetarian versions). A wonderful excuse to spend time together - especially since my parents spend Christmas under warmer skies. That day is always special.

Then comes our New Year’s Eve celebration at home. Our families are small, but we love being surrounded. Friends, children, friends of the children, children of friends, dishes prepared by everyone, fireworks over the lake, and simple - but hilariously fun - games. At our place, it quickly turns into the Olympics of the dishcloth game and Hitster!

So, what do I wish for 2026?

To once again experience our annual highlights: the friendly triathlon we organize, the VIP evening of La Nuit des Galeries, the activities with Le Pignon Bleu, the family cooking day… and that famous December 31st surrounded by our extended family.

I wish to continue having projects.
I wish to have the health to bring them to life.
But most of all, to continue being surrounded by my family and by the family I’ve chosen: my friends, my colleagues, and our artists.

What do I wish for you in 2026?
I wish you happiness. It’s not a destination, but a journey. So enjoy every encounter and every opportunity that comes your way along that path.

Thank you for being there in 2025. We already look forward to continuing the adventure with you, your family, and your friends.

See you very soon,
Vincent