In addition to repairing shoes, he glued the teeth on dentures

Frédéric Hountondji

Sunday, 24 September 2017, 08:00

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Sunday, 24 September 2017, 08:00

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As a shoemaker for 46 years, Mario Girard has not repaired shoes. Customers have brought in paintings of barbecue seats, motorcycle and ATV, furniture and even dentures.

At 62 years of age, Mario Girard, is the third generation in the business in Longueuil. And his son is now the fourth.

“The pleasure that I have to do this job is that, sometimes, we as servants are shoes that are really broken. And succeed in making a shoe that is clean, that is beautiful, that is portable, even for a great evening… it’s back to the old, almost nine, that’s my satisfaction, ” says he, supported by his twin brother, Sylvain Girard, with whom he manages a shoe store at the mall Place Longueuil.

For Mario Girard, to speak of the evolution of the cobbler comes back to talk about a profession that leads to all.

“It raises the heels, soles, sew tents, linens, barbecue, we repair seats and motorcycle and BIKE… I even got to glue a tooth on a denture ! I’ve already done two or three times. This is not my profession, but it must be versatile and to find a solution to the problems “, he insists.

His grandfather, Joseph Girard, began the tradition in 1927 at Arvida. His workshop was next to Alcan, and he took the opportunity to repair the ankle boots, gloves, aprons, and other effects to the plant.

“The millionaire “

In 1975, the father of Mario Girard, Gaston, has left the region of the Saguenay, and is located in Greenfield Park, Longueuil. He bought a shoe store in the commercial center of this district when he was barely 40 years old. He became very rich, nothing is that by repairing shoes and some have called ” the millionaire of shoes.”

“When he came to Arvida, he had nothing, not a cenne,” says Mario. I remember that the sister of my mother had loaned $ 5000 to my father to buy a shoe repair to Greenfield. “

He notes that ” it is from there that he made his fortune and it was always more “.

In fact, Gaston Girard had, testifies to the son, and a fifty shoe stores spread of Sherbrooke to Montreal via Trois-Rivières, Saguenay, Quebec and elsewhere.

A machine of 75 years

His whole family could enjoy his wealth.

Photo Frédéric Hountondji

Mario Girard and his son Danny Girard

“There were hotels, bars, boats. He was taking us on his boat and it was a beautiful life. His wife told me he was a millionaire, and it was true, ” says Danny, the son of Mario Girard, who is also a cobbler.

After 46 years in the shoe repair, Mario Girard has not noted major changes in the business.

For proof, the tools it uses are not different from those used by his father and grand-father. In his workshop, one can see a bench, finishing almost 30 years, which is mainly used to Polish the shoes, and the inevitable sewing machine dating back more than 75 years.

He had bought a used one and he uses it for more than 46 years. It always works wonderfully well.

“Shoes have evolved. Today, they are more synthetic. Before, it was leather and rubber, now there are more synthetic. This is why they released the glue cyanoacrylique. The other glue can stick to the synthetic, but not loud, and after it is defeated. They then invented the glue cyanoacrylique, which is stronger with an accelerator and soda “, he explains.

Without being a cabinetmaker, he repairs furniture, and even pots without a potter.

Next to the shoe store, Mario Girard has been the cleaning of clothes, sale and production of keys.

Today, the cobbler, whose business is endangered, has several strings to his bow… not to say, several laces to his shoes !

He considers his job essential

“As long as man has two feet, he will always be in need of shoes throughout his life. “

This is what replicates the shoemaker Danny Girard to express his hope in a profession that is disappearing. Since the age of 13, he came to see his father, Mario Girard, and his uncle is Sylvain Girard’s work in their workshop of shoemaking.

Its way

At age 16 he decided to drop out of school.

“I had always said that I would do to the shoe store and this is what I will do until the end of my life,” swears Danny, who believed that the trade schools of Montreal and Quebec would have stopped for more than 10 years to lecture on his favorite activity.

He acknowledges having spoken with teachers, who have reported that the considerable decrease in the number of apprentices in these courses no longer allowed to continue this program.

“Young people like more really getting their hands dirty and they want to have a job with a big salary on leaving, he. I like the shoe because it is an art, this is not a chain work. One has a result at the end of its work, and the client is happy. This is where my satisfaction. “