CUSTOS MEMORIAE

“ I am more a Guardian of the Memory, than I am a Gardener”. Those words penetrated my soul deeply. It was exactly what brought me in Normandy In the Fall of 2018. I visited Normandy to pursue my research, to create two commemorative paintings for the 75th Anniversary of D-Day. During a visit at the Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery of Beny-sur-Mer, I met the Gardner. As we were conversing, this humble man, spoke those words. To be a witness of the past, a “Guardian of the Memory”. translated to Latin, Custos Memoriae, is the “raison d’être” of BIA. Through the documentary series and my paintings, our mission is to communicate and preserve the Canadian Military Legacy.

“We are all Guardians of the Memory, when we participate in activities of remembrance.”

— Roger Chabot, CD

WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED SINCE 2016

• Commemorative painting of the 100 Anniversary of the Battle of Flers and Courcelette. Presented to the Museum of the Citadelle de Québec, 22 Septembre 2016.

• Commemorative Painting for the 100th Anniversary of the battle of Vimy Ridge “ No Greater Love” presented to the Canadian War Museum on 06 April 2017.

• Production of my first video series “In Search of Pegasus”, leading to the commemorative painting, “The Great Adventure” to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Canadian Airborne Regiment. Unveiled in Edmonton, 08 June 2018.

• Production of BIA 75th Anniversary of D-Day, Leading to the unveiling of two paintings commemorating 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion and the the Queens Own Riffles of Canada landing in Normandy the morning of 06 June 1944. “Out of the Clouds” was unveiled at Siffleur Falls, Alberta by a Veteran of 1 Can Para, mr. Lou Lemay, and “The Liberators” was unveiled in front of Canada House at Juno Beach, by the Governor General of Canada, the morning of 06 June 2019.

• Production of BIA FSSF 2019, in the Winter Line area of the Italian campaign of 1943-44, leading to the unveiling of the painting “Frozen Hell” at the FSSFA Menton Day reunion in Toronto, 05 December 2019, and donated to the Museum of the Regiments in Calgary.

• BIA COVID 19 special interviews to increase awareness and show support to our Veterans who may have felt isolated during the month of March and April 2020.

• BIA Special Program, unveiling ceremony of the painting, “Feed My Sheep” on 06 June 2020, by the General Chaplain of the Canadian Armed Forces, to commemorate the sacrifice of three Canadian Chaplains who died during the Battle of Normandy in 1944.

• DOCUMENTARY SERIES “BIA D-DAY Dodgers of Canada” We bring back to life the extraordinary feat of arms of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division and 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade during the Invasion of Sicily and the Italian Campaign of 1943-45 in a 17 episodes documentary series. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWPnS9LFGDhGeFpyQadUhlGxcc0u8rRb1 and a number of paintings, Including “The Red Patch Devils”.

• .The unveiling ceremony of the Painting “Stronger Together” that commemorates the Pioneers of diversity in the Royal Canadian Chaplain Services.

• NEW PROJECT IN MAY 2024 COMMEMORATING THE HEROIC ACTIONS OF CAPTAIN TONY SCOTTIE AND HIS PLATOON OF CANADIAN PROVOST IN THE LIRI VALLEY IN MAY 1944.