Marc Fournier the city for the trade, the campaign to express himself

Entre deux tournages de District 31, Marc Fournier prend la route et file vers Saint-Étienne-des-Grès, où il a trouvé son pied-à-terre à la campagne. Parcours d’un passionné qui apprécie « le rapport aux gens»» quand il débarque dans sa Mauricie natale.

That day, he had just cleaned the chicken coops of the poultry farm of his stepfather."I take a helping hand on occasion, it changes my job [actor]," says the one who embodies sergeant-detective Yves Jacob about his participation in the family business.

Marc Fournier has found his playground, his plain space, his favorite place to decan and live to the rhythm of time."Far from the orange cones of the city!"», He quips.

Like many other city dwellers suffocated by pandemic confinement, it was at the end of winter 2020 that he felt the powerful need to get out of the city to breathe fresh air.

"It was my stepfather [Marcel Lampron] who gave me the signal.He said to me, "There is work on the farm and you can come if you want."Due to the COVVI-19, there was no shoot.I had a lot of free time.»»

Everything was done naturally."I already had a place to stay," he explains.A few years ago, I had helped build a small house adjoining agricultural buildings.I went there from time to time with my spouse and our two children.»»

Et il y avait la « shop à bois»» où le comédien, qui aura 49 ans le 4 février, avait pris l’habitude, bien avant la crise sanitaire, d’aller se faire la main en mettant à contribution ses talents d’artisan.

"I couldn't ask better," he agrees.I had access to a very beautiful workshop with all the tools to express myself, the saw of saw, the moldy, the sandblaster, the withdrawal, the wood knives.»»

A homecoming

You have to understand that it is a homecoming for the native of Cap-de-la-Madeleine who left the Trois-Rivières region, at 18, to study at Cégep, in Montreal in Montreal.

How to clean and protect a wooden dining table https: // t.CO/FPKTThyo72 https: // t.CO/EQO6IXB0EX

— The Kitchn Sat Apr 18 14:03:50 +0000 2020

« À l’époque, je voulais découvrir la grande ville, je me sentais à l’étroit dans mon patelin»», dit-il en rétrospective.We guess that his gaze has evolved over the years.

"I rediscover my region, I like this environment made of forests, lakes, rivers, Saint-Maurice, the large spaces.»»

But no question, at least for the coming years to come, to return to live full -time in your country of countries. « Je ne dis pas que c’est impossible, mais ma famille et moi — sa conjointe et lui ont deux enfants âgés de 13 et 18 ans —, on aime bien cet entre-deux, cette vie partagée entre la vie en ville et la vie à la campagne»», précise l’acteur qui habite dans le Vieux-Longueuil.

In Saint-Étienne-des-Grès, he stays on the second floor of a small house of 24 pi x 24 pi which houses, on the ground floor, the office of his stepfather Marcel.

"It's not luxury, it's a bit like our chalet.We have everything you need to be comfortable.»»

A wood craftsman

En Mauricie, « l’enquêteur Yves Jacob»» passe beaucoup de temps dans sa « shop à bois»» où il fabrique des meubles en pin avec des arbres qui ont été coupés sur les terres, à proximité.

Here he opens a parenthesis to talk about the orderly management of the forest and the importance of making selective cuts. « On veut qu’il y ait encore des arbres dans 50 ans»», espère-t-il.

He has fiber.He likes to know where the resource comes from.This allows him to explain to his customers the steps that enter into the manufacture of a table, a piece of furniture, a bed base.

It is mainly 30-35 year olds that place orders for him."They love wood because it's durable. Ils ne veulent rien savoir des meubles préfabriqués à la IKEA !»»

Certains se présentent à sa « shop»» sans savoir qu’ils vont se retrouver face à face avec l’enquêteur de police… « Après cinq ou dix minutes à jaser, ils me lancent comme ça : “Excuse-moi, es-tu Yves Jacob ?”.And it is at this moment that languages are delighted and the conversation takes a completely different turn.»»

In this regard, Marc Fournier knows very well that success and popularity can quickly become ephemeral."It can change quickly in this job, but for the moment, I appreciate how things are going in my life," he sums up.I am also lucky to have acquired the maturity necessary to experience this, with my character in District 31.»»

It was not without reason that he got attached to his Saint-Etienne-des-Grès."Here I am Marc Fournier, not Yves Jacob.I like contact with people, their ease of approach.And I take into account the advice of experienced people who pass to see me at the workshop.»»

His father's fishing chalet

In addition to having his pied-à-terre in the countryside, Marc Fournier has with his brother a small fishing camp in the wood.

"It was a round wooden chalet that my father bequeathed to us during his death," he said.My brother and I go there every summer.We have an emotional attachment.»»

The family fishing camp in the MRC de Mékinac, Haute-Mauricie, is not at the door."It takes me a good five hours to go there [from Longueuil]," he said.But it's worth it!Route 55 [which runs along the Saint-Maurice river] is so beautiful, with the forest and the mountain around.»»

It is this Mauricie, the one where he was going to tease the fish with his father, in another life, whom he wishes to transmit to his children.And obviously, they have already started walking in his steps. « Ils sont presque devenus de meilleurs pêcheurs que moi !»», lance-t-il avec une certaine fierté parentale.