Danou Charette, local artist and woodworker from Cantley, working on creating his unique wood furniture pieces. Photo credit: Danou Charette
Danou Charette, known simply as Danou, is an eco-friendly woodworker and artist who creates furniture and art pieces in his shop in Cantley. Recently, Danou products got the Manufactured in Quebec seal through the Les Produits du Québec program.
Produits du Québec is a non-profit organization, supported by the Quebec government. The program was based on the Aliments du Québec seal that has been indicating to consumers which food products are made in Quebec. Manufactured in Quebec is a certification that allows people to shop for locally made products. It is a guarantee to consumers, as the seal requires a thorough verification process.
“Obtaining the Manufactured in Quebec certification was an obvious thing to do for my business, knowing that my clientele is mostly local,” said Danou. “I’m proud to offer a second life to trees, to revitalize the wood of our forests, and to partner with other local businesses in the spirit of solidarity and reciprocity. I believe consumers can appreciate not only the quality of my product but of the thought that is put into it.”
Danou has been creating his minimalist and modern pieces since 2017 from reclaimed solid wood from Quebec forests. The young entrepreneur’s goal is to show consumers that it’s possible to buy responsible and sustainable products that are unique and beautiful.
“Wood is not a raw material, but a gift from nature that we have a duty to protect,” said Danou, who highlights that he uses wood that has already been cut or trees that have fallen to recycle it. Danou salvages any wood he can find, even pieces that others may have discarded. The non-standardized wood leads to unique and interesting creations.
Danou’s passion for trees and woodworking partly stems from his family connection to woodworking. His parents lived in a home surrounded by forest; his father was a wood sculptor; his grandfather owned a mill; and, his uncle was also a woodworker.
Danou offers workshop tours to the public by appointment and on open house days. This gives individuals a more in-depth view of Danou’s work and process. The woodworker does custom projects and, to discuss a custom piece, individuals can book a virtual consultation through the Danou website: https://danoucharette.com/