The Chair / La Chaise is a short documentary about a youth-led project in Wakefield connected to the Generations Chair movement.
The project set out to create and permanently install a chair in the La Pêche municipal council chamber as a way of making space for children and young people in conversations about decisions that will shape their future. The chair functions both as a physical object and as a reminder that political decisions have long-term consequences.
In Wakefield, the project developed in a way that was closely connected to the land, the environment and the participation of local youth.
The documentary follows the final stages of the process, including the creation and installation of the chair, and looks at the intersection of artistic practice, civic engagement, youth participation and municipal life.
An early version of the film was presented on June 26, 2026 at Kaffe 1870 as part of STO Union’s New Light festival.
The final version of The Chair / La Chaise is currently in post-production and is intended for submission to film festivals before being made more widely available to the public.
The original initiative was developed and produced by Ilse Turnsen, in collaboration with members of Transition écologique La Pêche – Coalition for a Green New Deal, Noelle Walsh, students from Wakefield School, designer and studio lead cj fleury, and fabricators Mark McConnell and Melanie Weatherhead.
The chair is now permanently installed in the Municipality of La Pêche council chamber.
FEATURING:
Students from École Wakefield School
and
Ilse Turnsen (activist, organizer and producer)
Ilse Turnsen is a Wakefield, Quebec-based community artist, spoken word performer, and activist, active in local cultural and environmental initiatives. She has participated in public readings, poetry events, and community exhibitions in the Gatineau Hills, and is a member of Transition écologique La Pêche / Coalition for a Green New Deal. Turnsen’s creative work includes spoken word performances and contributions to local cultural programming.
Noelle Walsh (activist and contributor)
Noelle Walsh is a community organizer and climate justice advocate based in La Pêche, Quebec. She was a founding member of Transition écologique La Pêche – Coalition for a Green New Deal, a grassroots group advancing local climate action, education, and ecological justice. Walsh’s work focuses on mobilizing community engagement and supporting environmental initiatives in the Wakefield area and beyond.
cj fleury (concept, design, studio lead)
cj has explored collaboration with non-arts groups since the early 90s; linking human spirit and aha moments to agency in public space. Her practice has been braided into hives of grief, labour, ecology, education, immigration, feminist law, healthcare, and forestcare. Equally diverse in scale and media; the art has been expressed through flower petals, stone, bronze, performance, video and projected light. Of 20 public commissions, 2 Ottawa monuments are well-known rallying and vigil sites; on violence against women, and anti-poverty activism. In 2020, cj and Dr. Carol Wiebe co-founded Radical Connections, now part of Ottawa Art Gallery; to transform healthcare with all kinds of artists. Her art is held in the Canada Council Art Bank and other public collections. Her SYMBIOSIS project, with Eco Echo, was shown at the Canadian Museum of Nature.
Mark McConnell and Melanie Weatherhead : materials and fabrication
Wakefield Elementary School is an English-language elementary school in Wakefield, Québec, serving students from kindergarten through Grade 6 as part of the Western Québec School Board. The school is a vibrant community hub that emphasizes academic learning, bilingual skill development, inclusivity, and positive relationships among students, staff, families, and the wider Wakefield area. With strong parent involvement and community partnerships, the school supports a caring and respectful learning environment where students are encouraged to grow academically, socially, and personally.
VIDEO
Video shot and edited by: Nadia Ross
Nadia Ross is the founder (1992) and artistic director of STO Union (stounion.com), a company dedicated to the creation of multi-disciplinary works inspired by performance, live art, and theatre.
Ross’ projects consistently challenge what is a stage, and who or what can be on it. She has received awards and prizes, most notably Canada’s largest theatre prize, the Siminovitch, which celebrated her fierce vision and visionary practice. She is also the artistic director for New Light / Nouvelle Lumiere’s 2026 edition.
Photo by Nadia Ross of chair maquette by Mark McConnell
