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

A metallic memorial plaque honoring a six-year-old boy who drowned 50 years ago just west of Montreal has been placed near the creek where the tragedy occurred, but its origin remains a mystery.

The boy's younger siblings, now in their 50s, stood by the new plaque in Terra-Cotta Natural Park in Pointe-Claire, Quebec, feeling a mix of emotion and curiosity about the act of kindness.

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

The family recently discovered the plaque after Luc’s sister, Guylaine Nadeau, shared her older brother’s story in a West Island Facebook group. A comment on her post included a photo of the brand-new metallic plaque commemorating him.

Last year, Luc’s son had installed a wooden plaque at the site to honor his late uncle, but the new, sturdier plaque ensures that the tribute will last.

Guylaine expressed her gratitude to the anonymous person who helped preserve her brother’s memory.

"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 believes this unexpected act of kindness helps to heal the wounds left by the tragedy that occurred in the same woods five decades ago.

Father Recovered Son’s Body

On March 6, 1974, six-year-old Alain Nadeau was playing with friends near a creek in Terra-Cotta Natural Park, close to his home, when he slipped down the embankment and fell into the deep water.

He was pulled through a culvert by a current moving at about 40 kilometers per 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, recounting the story passed down to her since she was only two and a half at the time, while Luc was four.

Their father, a foreman for the Pointe-Claire parks department for nearly 30 years, assisted police and firefighters in the search for his son. Ultimately, it was their father who recovered Alain’s body from a nearby lake days later.

"It ate him up inside," Guylaine shared.

The family noted that their father had repeatedly requested safety barriers at both ends of the creek, as he believed it was an "accident waiting to happen."

That same creek, with the concrete pipe, remains 50 years later, though the water level is now much lower.

The City of Pointe-Claire said there is a removable fence to protect the area, but it is taken down during heavy rains and melting snow. The Nadeaus believe it is still too easy for children to bypass the fence and access the ditch.

City spokesperson Lucie Lamoureux mentioned that there is a possibility of constructing additional safety measures in the future.

Family Hopes to Rename the Park

Fifty years after Alain's passing, the anonymous kind act has reignited the family’s hope that the city will recognize Alain’s story in a significant way.

Guylaine, who now lives in Châteauguay on Montreal’s South Shore and hadn’t visited the park in 30 years, said that the city’s administration at the time did not offer enough support to the family after the tragedy.

However, she and her brother are touched by the support from the community today, as many are hearing the story for the first time and offering 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 hopes the city will rename the park in Alain’s honor, suggesting "Alain-Nadeau Park."

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

When asked if the City of Pointe-Claire would consider doing something to remember Alain, Lamoureux said the city will reach out to the family to discuss a meaningful tribute that they would be happy with.

Guylaine remains hopeful that the Good Samaritan who installed her brother’s plaque will eventually contact her, though she is unsure what she would say.

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