Joseph Allard, also known under his pseudonym Maxime Toupin, was a composer and fiddler of the late 19th and 20th centuries.
Joseph started playing violin at the young age of 9 and would help his father with fishing duties. He went to the United States to develop his playing style and became known as The Prince of Fiddlers.
Joseph Allard participated in various competitions around Canada and the United States, winning many of them over the years. He represented Canada in a worldwide competition in Maine (1926) with five other fiddlers and won second place.
Joseph Allard died in his hometown of Chateauguay in 1947 and was buried in Saint Joachim cemetery without a tombstone.
Châteauguay named a street in its musician’s district and a park on Boulevard d’Youville in Allard’s honour.
Photo: Library and Archives Canada, Public domain
