About us

Eva Juul and Gabriel Safdie’s journey with Stanstead is one of vision, dedication, and deep-rooted community engagement. Though their life in the region began in Cedarville on Lake Memphremagog, it was a chance encounter with the abandoned Cinema House, The Border Theatre in Rock Island that sparked their transformative involvement in Stanstead.

From that moment, Gabriel imagined a cultural revival — not just the restoration of the theatre, but the reinvigoration of the entire area through arts and community. He invested in the theatre on the eve of the 2008 financial crash, marking the beginning of a series of projects that would shape the town’s cultural landscape.

Eva, with her steady presence and generous spirit, became the steward of their efforts — overseeing renovations, liaising with neighbours, and maintaining strong ties to the community. She played a central role in the development of La Galerie du Vieux Forgeron, curating exhibitions and hosting well-attended vernissages that became key social events in the town.

Together, they supported countless initiatives:

• The Stone Circle (Stanhenge), a large-scale granite monument inspired by druidic tradition, built with the help of community members.
• The Granit Museum, which Gabriel rescued and revitalized, bringing in a model train exhibit.
• Their buildings provided free space for non-profits like Phelps Helps and Tandem, supporting education and children’s clinical services.
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Gabriel and Eva co-founded the Centre des arts de Stanstead, helping it gain charitable status and curate an impressive roster of performances — from dance and music to theatre and poetry, including live Zoom poetry readings during the pandemic.

Most recently, they turned their efforts back to the Border Theatre, working to restore it as a live performing arts venue. Their advocacy led to a $2.1 million federal grant to support the project, with the vision of making it a hub for performance, film, and community events.

Their impact is seen throughout Stanstead — in sculptures, parks, festivals, and ongoing cultural life. For over 15 years, Eva and Gabriel have helped Stanstead to enhance and celebrate its creative soul, always believing in the town’s potential.