Quartier: Verdun || Intersections: Verdun, Willibrord
Mise en service: 1978 || Architectes: Jean-Maurice Dubé
Artiste: Antoine D. Lamarche || Autobus: 107
Barbara Duarte de Lima, 31
Manager at Happy Tree Yoga, Designer, Entrepreneur
Barbara was born and raised in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Her father was a banker and as such was often transferred from one city to the next. Her family finally settled in Uberlândia in 1990 where she stayed until she came to Montréal in 2005 to study French and start the skilled-worker immigration process.
After 8 months in Montreal she returned to Brazil to start the permanent residence process from there. For 3 and years and a half she dedicated herself to her dream of returning to Montréal as a permanent resident. A dream that became a reality on June 17th, 2009.
Last year, she founded Cadeauté, an idea that had been brewing since 2006 when she was still in Brazil. The name came to her during a class about Francophonie and mainly relates to gratitude. To “cadeauter” someone is to give a gift to someone, while “cadeauté” means “gifted”. She feel gifted for having had all the (happy and sad) experiences in her life as they have given her the opportunity to learn, grow and become a better human being for those around her. Cadeauté is an exploration through colours and design where words fail.
“My tattoo is my declaration of survival. It was done two weeks after my father passed away from cancer in 2010. After losing my mother at an early age having to overcome many challenges growing up due to her absence, and fighting depression for most part of my life, I wanted to have something on my skin to remind me of my journey – where I come from and where I’m going to. Brazilian writer Machado de Assis’ phrase “Desta terra e desse estrume é que nasceu esta flor” in his Memórias Póstumas de Brás Cubas spoke to me in such a deep way that created in me a strong desire to recreate it.”
“Le bonheur, c’est savoir ce que l’on veut et vouloir passionnément.”