NDG resident creates huge Easter display to bring joy to children

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Chantal Massicotte used to work as a nurse in the intensive care unit at Ste-Justine Hospital and found it difficult to see children suffer.

“I saw children die and I saw parents so devastated that they were in a lot of pain,” the NDG resident said. “I saw bravery and courage from the little ones who gave (courage) to their parents. Children are stronger than parents (when it comes to) illnesses. It was difficult. After a few years I said, ‘I’m too sensitive to live that every day.’ Because in intensive care, if they are in the Ste-Justine hospital it is because they are not well. When I see the children running around and making a lot of noise, I am happy because they are in good health.”

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Massicotte has heard and seen many happy children making noise in recent weeks. In fact, right in front of his house. She lives on Chester Ave., a couple of blocks west of Cavendish, and these days his front yard is filled with a dizzying array of Easter decorations, complete with inflatable creatures of all kinds, including more than a few Easter bunnies.

She also makes large displays outside her house for Christmas, Halloween, Valentine’s Day and even plans to have an Alice in Wonderland theme on her front lawn this summer.

Serious holiday decorating began for Christmas 2020, when, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, authorities banned Santa Clauses from shopping malls. For Massicotte, it just wasn’t right that children couldn’t see Santa Claus. She then put on an extensive Christmas display in his garden.

“I’m a little bit like Peter Pan,” Massicotte said. “I do not want to grow up. “I want to keep my son’s heart.”

People often ask her why she makes these decorations in her garden and she tells them: “It’s because I want to bring joy to the children. It’s my purpose. “I love seeing the joy in the children’s eyes.”

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It also has a great location, as there are several schools and daycares nearby. And he said it brings happiness to children of all ages.

“There was an older lady walking by with her cane and she said, ‘Thank you very much. Thanks to you it gives me a reason to go for a walk and it’s good for me.’”

This is the largest Easter display I have ever put on.

“It’s so dark in our world,” Massicotte said. “It is war, inflation. So I said, ‘This year I want to do it big.'”

He said the kids call it The Bunny House and ask their parents, “Can we go to The Bunny House?”

Massicotte admits that some might think he’s a little crazy and say in French: “C’est ma douce folie.”

She has worked as a nurse and director of a CHSLD, but said there came a time when she decided she didn’t want to do just that.

“What I want is to be happy.”

He is currently developing a new business and although he did not want to reveal details, he said that a portion of the profits would go to good causes. She no longer works as a nurse, but she believes her roots in her profession are probably part of the reason why she goes all out during this vacation and tries to create something fun for the neighborhood kids.

“Maybe it’s my nursing background,” Massicotte said. “You know that the personality of a nurse is to help, to contribute something to others. And it’s inside me. What makes me happy is not receiving (gifts). I don’t feel comfortable receiving. I like to receive smiles from the little ones who run towards me to give me a big hug.”

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