BY KEITH LACEY
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Michel Galipeau died surrounded by the art and people who inspired and loved him. The well-known artist, who had a studio on Durham St., died last Thursday following a battle with cancer. He was 52.
Rheal Fortin, owner of the advertising firm 50 Carleton, was a friend of Galipeau's for many years. He said this city's artistic community has lost a wonderful artist and even better person.
"Michel was a very easy going, very respectful person," said Fortin. "He respected other people for who they were and what they stood for and didn't try and pass judgment on people...he had a lot of friends and they will miss him  a lot."
More than two dozen local artists took time during the grieving process to contribute to painting his casket and there were more laughs than tears at one of the most memorable funerals he's ever attended, said Fortin.
"It was one of the best shows I've been to in a long time," he said. "It wasn't really a funeral, but more of a show or a roast...we cried, we laughed and we said goodbye in a colourful, very happy way to a man we all cared about."
Galipeau spent the last few weeks of his life continuing to paint and spending time with the people who meant the most to him, including his partner Dineen Worth and many friends from the artistic community, said Fortin.
"It's my belief he was one of the Canada's better painters over the last couple of decades," Fortin said. "The output of quality art he produced is definitely at that level.
"If he had lived in Montreal and been in touch with the right contacts, I firmly believe he would have achieved the status of being considered one of the country's top painters.
"Michel is one of the people I'm jealous of because he got to do what he wanted to do and that was be an artist and so few of us are able to say that," he said.
Will Morin, a local multi-media artist, said he knew Galipeau for many years and appreciated their friendship.
"Michel was a good person...he was very creative and generous," he said.
Six years ago Morin headed up a project to paint some murals to spruce up the downtown core across from the YMCA Centre for Life and he only had to ask Galipeau once to help out, said Morin.
"He was always willing to help people, especially if is meant contributing to the local arts community," he said.
Galipeau's funeral last Saturday was a special one he won't soon forget, said Morin.
"The who's who of Sudbury's artistic and francophone community were there and it was an amazing, amazing funeral," he said. "It was a fitting tribute to a man who influenced a lot of lives and made a lot of good friends."
A recording of the phone message Galipeau used when friends called was played at the funeral and brought a lot of laughs, said Morin.
"It was in French and very upbeat and playful with music playing in the background...that's how Michel was," he said.
