Serge Malenfant (1958 – July 11, 2026) was a Canadian muralist, illustrator, and promoter of regional and national heritage, whose work was primarily associated with his hometown of Sherbrooke, Quebec.
He was the founder and president of MURIRS, a non-profit organization responsible for Sherbrooke's historic trompe-l'œil mural circuit in the city's downtown, one of the municipality's principal tourist attractions.
Biography
Early life and education
Serge Malenfant was born in Sherbrooke in 1958. The son of Henri Malenfant and Rita Massé, he spent his childhood on rue Montréal, located in the historic Vieux-Nord district. He began drawing at an early age and quickly developed an interest in heritage issues through his family. Among his best-known relatives was his older brother, Bernard Malenfant, founder of the ASTROLab in Lac-Mégantic.
While attending Montcalm Secondary School in Sherbrooke during the mid-1970s, he painted his first public mural in the school's corridors.
Sherbrooke murals
Around the turn of the 21st century, Malenfant developed a project to integrate art into the public realm through historic trompe-l'œil murals. As Sherbrooke approached its bicentennial, he presented the idea to Mayor Jean Perrault, proposing that downtown walls be transformed into an open-air art gallery. The city endorsed the project, allowing the first mural to be completed in 2002 at the intersection of Frontenac and Dufferin streets.
To carry out the initiative, Malenfant founded MURIRS, serving as its president and coordinator. His partner, Julie Tremblay, director of the foundation of the Séminaire Salésien, also became involved in the organization. During its early years, MURIRS struggled to secure funding because mural art did not qualify under existing government programs. To ensure the project's sustainability, the organization expanded its mission to include tourism development alongside cultural promotion.
Between 2002 and 2020, MURIRS created 18 historical murals covering nearly 29,200 square feet (2,710 m2) and depicting 443 figures connected with the history of Sherbrooke. The organization also developed conservation techniques intended to extend the lifespan of the murals, attracting interest from heritage specialists abroad.
The murals gradually became one of Sherbrooke's leading tourist attractions. According to Destination Sherbrooke, they accounted for approximately half of all requests received by the city's tourist information office. They also contributed to the preservation and promotion of downtown Sherbrooke's architectural and historical heritage.
In January 2020, Malenfant announced his retirement and the dissolution of MURIRS. On 3 March 2020, the City of Sherbrooke honoured him during a ceremony at City Hall. Among those paying tribute were former mayor Jean Perrault, Mayor Steve Lussier, and representatives of the region's cultural and tourism sectors, who praised his contribution to Sherbrooke's heritage.
During the ceremony, Malenfant stated that the murals had been conceived above all as a tribute to the generations who had built Sherbrooke. He also used the occasion to advocate for the preservation of the city's historic downtown buildings.
Retirement and later years
Following his retirement, Malenfant remained active in the fields of public art and heritage conservation. He became a member of the board of directors of the Sherbrooke History Museum.
In 2025, he served as a mural art consultant to artist Adèle Blais during the creation of FORTES, a mural dedicated to women who had left their mark on history. Installed in Whiting Alley in downtown Sherbrooke, the project combined monumental painting with augmented reality.
In 2026, Malenfant began preparing a book documenting the history of Sherbrooke's murals, their artistic techniques, and the historical figures they portray, with the aim of preserving their legacy for future generations. He also illustrated the short story collection La lutinerie, published that same year. In addition, he was working on an indoor mural honouring the speed skaters of Eugène-Lalonde Arena.
Death
Malenfant died on 11 July 2026 at the age of 67. He was riding a motorcycle when he was struck by a pickup truck on Queen Victoria Boulevard in Sherbrooke. The 34-year-old driver of the vehicle was arrested after police alleged that he had been impaired by drugs at the time of the collision.
His death prompted numerous tributes from cultural organizations, municipal officials, and heritage groups, all of whom highlighted his role in preserving Sherbrooke's history through public art. Among those who publicly honoured him were Jean Perrault, Marie-Claude Bibeau, Paul Gingues, Sylvie L. Bergeron, and his brother Bernard Malenfant.
References