Subseries

This subseries documents the letters exchanged between Jean-Claude Poitras and his professional associates for a period of over 30 years. It is comprised of letters, faxes and greeting cards from Poitras himself and various correspondents, several rough drafts of letters written by the designer, and one photograph. The subseries covers the period from 1970 to 2005.

The subseries chronicles Poitras' professional relations with various politicians and members of Canadian and Quebec institutions. For example, one letter documents his 1972 encounter with Claire Kirkland-Casgrain, the Minister of Cultural Affairs, when he was working at Eaton's as a designer. There is also a letter from Canadian Senator Serge Joyal (1998), greeting cards from Quebec Premier Lucien Bouchard and Quebec Lieutenant Governor Lise Thibault (1999), and an undated letter from Carole Goudreault, the wife of Jean-Claude Scraire, chairman of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec.

Some missives document Poitras' interest in and coverage by the media. An undated letter from a journalist working at The Gazette requests his help writing a special supplement for the paper, while another letter chronicles his appearance on the Canal Vie television show La santé en vedette (1998). In a letter sent to Roger D. Landry, the president and publisher of La Presse, Poitras expresses his appreciation for the work of journalists Viviane Roy and Pierre McCann. The designer also sent a letter to the CRTC in support of the Musique Plus application for an operating license for Perfecto, a channel dedicated to fashion and design (2000).

In addition, the subseries documents some of Poitras' awards and accolades and his involvement in various networks and organizations. For example, a letter from Hydro-Québec Chairman André Caillé congratulates him on having been named "Personality of the Week" by La Presse (1997). There are congratulatory messages sent after Poitras was awarded the Griffe d'Or for lifetime achievement in 2000, including one from Bernard Landry, at that time Deputy Premier and Minister of State for the Economy and Finance (2000). There is also correspondence documenting his involvement on the Matinée Fashion Foundation board of directors and participation in various events, lectures, and charitable causes. Finally, the subseries contains several letters from suppliers.

Although this collection is comprised essentially of business correspondence, there are also rough copies of letters hand written by Poitras in a style that is often sensitive and personal, and at times poetic, in which he shares his thoughts about the unpredictable nature of life, occasionally even quoting some lines from the song Me voici donc, by French singer Anne Sylvestre. Some messages, including a fax the designer sent while on a trip to Bali, chronicle his relationship with his wife Colette Chicoine and her professional endeavours.