André “Dédé” Fortin was born on November 17, 1962 in Saint-Thomas- Didyme in the Lac-Saint-Jean region, and left this world before his time on May 8, 2000 in Montreal. He came to Montreal in the early 1980s, settling in an apartment at 2116 Saint Laurent Blvd., which would become the centre of his artistic creativity. Upon arrival he studied cinema at the Cégep du Vieux Montréal and at the Université de Montréal, where he quickly developed talents as a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, filmmaker and actor. He later founded and led the renowned musical group Les Colocs, an integral part of his work.
Les Colocs soared to popularity among Quebecers, owing to their dynamism and festive nature. André Fortin’s tremendous talent propelled him to become a leading figure in the 1990s Quebec music scene, and he remains a major influence for Quebec musicians into the 2000s.
Only the first Colocs album was produced with help from director Robbie Finkel. Dédé Fortin himself created and produced all other albums with Jimmy Bourgoing as assistant director. Dédé also directed all Colocs videos, with the exception of “Julie”, which was co-directed by Pierre Lanthier. About la p'tite Julie some people say that André’s niece was the inspiration behind “Julie,” but it was actually a young woman he met one night at a show at the Spectrum…
Following his untimely death, Fortin was the subject of many tributes from Quebec’s arts scene and fellow Colocs members, including the posthumous album Suite 2116 (2001) and the biopic Dédé, à travers les brumes (2009). In January 2006, the village of Saint-Thomas-Didyme renamed the street where the artist was born “chemin Dédé-Fortin.”
Founded in Montreal in 1990, Les Colocs had a profound impact on the 1990s music scene in Quebec. The group is recognized today for its ability to blend different musical genres, its onstage dynamism and the charismatic presence of its leader and singer, André “Dédé” Fortin.
After several chance encounters, André Fortin gathered musicians one by one and founded the group in 1990. Over the next few years, Les Colocs regularly performed in bars and clubs across Quebec. In 1993 they landed a contract and recorded their first album, Les Colocs, which was met with phenomenal success around the province.
Les Colocs:
Second lineup:
Guest musicians:
Tour Assistants:
Main sound technicians:
Lighting:
Tour manager:
It was here in the early 1990s on the 3rd floor of the Edifice Godin, squarely on the corner of Sherbrooke and St. Laurent streets, that Les Colocs was born. In 2015, during the building’s centennial celebrations, former group member Jimmy Bourgoing disclosed to HOTEL10 administration that it all began within these walls. As tribute to the work of Dédé Fortin and to the mission of the foundation bearing his name, HOTEL10 opened up Suite 2116 to the public. HOTEL10 will donate 10% of each night’s stay to the Dédé Fortin Foundation in support of suicide prevention.
On May 8, 2000, André “Dédé” Fortin took his own life. To transform the tragic event into a constructive project and to continue the work of the beloved Quebec artist, his family created the Dédé Fortin Foundation in his honour.
Fortin’s death signalled the end of Les Colocs, now one of the most celebrated bands in Quebec’s history.
The Dédé Fortin Foundation organizes activities all year to raise money for projects focused on suicide prevention, including C’TANNÉE, ON FAIT L’TOUR!, a 10-day walk around Lac-Saint-Jean.
HOTEL10 will donate 10% of each night’s stay in Suite 2116 – Chez Dédé to the Dédé Fortin Foundation in support of suicide prevention.
”After André left, it was as if, one day, the moon never again lit up the night sky. A crucial part of our lives had disappeared.
With the passing of time, we’ve taken the time to look back. Through his work, life and heart, which we know so well, his light shines through.”
– The Fortin Family
Franco-Ontarian-turned-Montrealer, Marc Sirus is a multidisciplinary artist specializing in graphic design, illustration, lettering, painting and wall art. His colourful pop-art-inspired style helps create narrative works that are refreshingly unique. Marc Sirus dressed the door of suite 2116 – Chez Dédé.
Using collage and stencil techniques, artist Mateo calls into question how we see the world. His humanistic approach showcases a childhood nostalgia and a romanticism that is nearly absent from contemporary life. His raw materials are the forgotten images, photographs and travel documents collected in the search for timeless knowledge; his is a personal composition, a monologue of the soul. Mateo created the mural that decorates the interior of Suite 2116 – Chez Dédé.
"Great! A perfect combination of history and modern design. The rooms are beautiful, comfortable and tastefully decorated."
"Reasonable hotel where we felt very comfortable for one night. Valet parking for $35 . Great comfortable bed.The bathroom with huge shower leaves nothing to be desired. Coffee machine and fridge.
In the lobby a decent bar where there is freshly tapped beer at a reasonable price. Also a water station for filling water bottles.
Old Montreal is within walking distance in 20 minutes."
"We were very impressed by this hotel which had fantastic customer service with friendly, knowledgeable, and unusually caring staff. The hotel was modern and up to date and extremely clean. The room was very comfortable with very comfortable bedding and bathroom. We enjoyed coffee in the mornings at Cafe Origine attached to the hotel. The location was central, allowing walking throughout the city for exploring."
We had an incredible stay at Hotel 10 in Montreal! From the moment we arrived, the valet service made everything simple and stress-free. Our room was modern and spotless, with a very comfortable king-size bed and a clean, carpet-free space.
The in-room espresso machine was a nice surprise, and we weren’t disappointed! As most of you know, we love staying active, so we headed to the gym first thing in the morning for a great workout. The café also offered a delicious, healthy breakfast buffet that helped us start the day off right.
Thanks for another great stay! We truly appreciated the surprise room upgrade and all the attention and service we always get. Your whole staff, from front desk to cleaning ladies to valet is truly amazing, and dedicated and so pleasant. Je ne parle pas de l’odeur merveilleuse qui règne à chaque étage., Chacun de nos séjours nous enchantent et nous donnent envie de revenir très vite. Nous avons déjà réservé pour fin Août pour le retour sur campus de notre fille et apprécions véritablement vos tarifs “McGill”.
Love the hotel 10—been staying here whenever I come to Montreal for a very long time and the rooms are great and the location is amazing. Got in a bit early on my flight and they had my room ready :) always nice
Staff are amazingly friendly. Room was very clean, modern. Beds comfortable. Blackout curtains. Great cafe on the other corner of Sherbrooke. All around great stay. Will stay again if ever back in Montreal!
We were lucky enough to stay at the Loft Opus. It was a true journey back in time! A magnificent suite, subtly decorated with a jazz and 1920s–1930s theme. An absolutely unique place.
Set in a historic building brimming with character, this hotel blends creativity, art, and culture with immense elegance. Every space is filled with carefully considered details, and the themed suites offer a truly immersive experience. Special mention also goes to the suite inspired by Dédé Fortin, which is full of atmosphere and personality.
Everything is refined, warm, and sophisticated, without ever losing its artistic soul.
Even the pet-friendly policy is exceptional: being pet-friendly isn’t just a selling point, but something that’s been thought through down to the smallest detail.
An original and memorable experience, far beyond a simple night at a hotel!
The hotel was excellent ! The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. The room was huge and very clean. They replenished all the towels and cleaned up even though we were only there for 2 nights. Valet parking was easy. We felt very secure and would absolutely go back there again.
Wonderful welcome - all staff friendly and kind; very clean, nicely decorated and size room and bathroom. Love the valet parking. Really enjoyed our stay.
