50 years after brother drowned, Montreal family seeks stranger who put up memorial plaque

A metallic memorial plaque commemorating a six-year-old boy who drowned 50 years ago just west of Montreal has been installed near the creek where he died —  but no one knows where it came from. 

Standing next to the new plaque in Terra-Cotta Natural Park in Pointe-Claire, Que., the boy's younger siblings, who are both now in their 50s, said they're overcome with emotion and curiosity by this act of seemingly random kindness. 

"Just the thought that someone would do that for probably someone they never even knew … that just out of the kindness of their heart they decided to do something like that, I think it's amazing," Luc Nadeau said.

The family only found out about the plaque recently after sister Guylaine Nadeau posted about her older brother's story in a West Island Facebook group. She received a comment which showed a photo of the brand new metallic plaque commemorating him.

Last year, Luc's son installed a wooden plaque at the site of the tragedy to honour his late uncle, but this new official plaque will see to it that the tribute stands the test of time. 

Guylaine says she wants to express her gratitude to the person that went out of their way to help keep her brother's memory alive. 

"We have no idea who did it, where it came from, and maybe they want to stay anonymous and that's great, but we really would like to thank them personally because it's wonderful, it's so appreciated," she said.

The family says this kind gesture helps mend the wounds left by the tragedy in those woods five decades ago. 

Father pulled son from water

On March 6, 1974, six-year-old Alain Nadeau was playing with some friends near a creek in Terra-Cotta Natural Park not far from his home when he slipped and fell down the embankment into the deep water. 

He was pulled through a culvert due to the current travelling at about 40 kilometres an hour. 

"The current was strong, the water level was high, so a six-year-old boy didn't really stand a chance and he was swept away," said Guylaine, repeating what she's heard from stories as she was only two and half at the time. Luc was four. 

The Nadeaus' father, who worked as a foreman for the parks in Pointe-Claire for about 30 years, assisted police and firefighters in the search of his boy. Guylaine says he was the one who recovered his son's body from a nearby lake days later. 

"It ate him up inside," she said.

The family says their father had asked repeatedly for permission and plans to put up safety barriers at each end of the creek as it was unsafe and an "accident waiting to happen." 

That same creek with the concrete pipe is still there 50 years later, though the water level is significantly lower. 

The City of Pointe-Claire says there is a removable fence that protects the area, but it is taken away during heavy rain and melting snow. The Nadeaus say it's still too easy for children to skirt the fence and access the ditch. 

Lucie Lamoureux, a spokesperson for the city, said there is a possibility of erecting some kind of structure in the future to enhance safety in the area.

Family wants park to be renamed after Alain

Fifty years after Alain's death, a stranger's kind deed has rekindled his family's hope that the city they once called home will recognize his story and honour his memory in a significant way.

Guylaine, who now lives in Châteauguay on Montreal's South Shore, and hadn't been to the park in about 30 years until recently, says the city's administration at the time did not do enough to support the family following the incident. 

But she says she and her brother are overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from community members today who are just hearing of the story and reaching out with their condolences. 

"I think people just want to know about it. It's an unknown story, people don't talk about it," said Luc. "Nobody really knows about it."

The family now wants the city to change the park's name to Alain-Nadeau Park. 

"Terra-Cotta is a brick factory," said Luc, referring to a clay extraction company that operated on the park's land for decades up until the 1960s. "It's not significant to anybody, so why not commemorate the life of a child that was lost?" 

Asked if the City of Pointe-Claire would do something to remember Alain, Lamoureux said she will be reaching out to the family to discuss how they can collaborate on a meaningful tribute that they'll be happy with.

Guylaine is still holding out hope the Good Samaritan who put up her brother's plaque will reach out to her — even though she doesn't yet know what she'd say.  

"It would be a straight shot from the heart," she said through tears.