Award winning photographer and author, Jean-Marc Carisse, was born and raised in Ottawa, Canada.  He's a recent recipient of LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA SCHOLAR AWARD 2022.  Carisse has captured, through his lens, political, cultural & social scenes in Ottawa and worldwide for over the past 50 years.  

He was official photographer for the Office of the Prime Minister for many years, having served prime ministers Pierre Trudeau, John Turner and Jean Chrétien, as well as freelancing for political leaders Mulroney, Clark, Graham, Dion, Ignatieff and Justin Trudeau.  He has also photographed consecutive Prime Ministers from Pierre Trudeau to Mark Carney, US Presidents from Ford to Biden and a large number of world leaders.  Many of his photographs have appeared on the covers and pages of biographical and autobiographical books (including his own coffee table book "Privileged Access w/ Trudeau, Turner & Chrétien" (Warwick 2000),  magazines including Time, Paris Match and Maclean's, as well as TV documentaries and biographies.   Carisse also captured many performers, comedians, singers, artists, actors, icons and heroes, on stage and off, formally and informally.  These include Nelson Mandela, Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, Princess Diana, Pope JP II, Queen Elizabeth, Al Pacino, Rudolf Nureyev, Tom Waits, Fidel Castro, Leonard Cohen, Yousuf Karsh, the Dalai Lama and Mother Teresa, to name a few. 

 

He earned a BA from the University of Ottawa, with a concentration in Visual Arts.  The Preservation Centre of Library and Archives Canada holds approximately 400,000 negatives taken and authored by him. 

​

His photo exhibit "My Trudeau Years" in 2002 and 2003 at Library and Archives Canada, which had been extended twice by popular demand, reflected his professional relationship with Pierre Elliott Trudeau and their mutual respect .   In the summer of 2000, weeks before his passing, Trudeau met with him and agreed to be photographed once more on his last day at Heenan Blaikie law office in Montreal, personally choosing his poses.  It was their last meeting and sitting.  He passed away weeks later. Carisse photographed the Trudeau State Funeral, reflecting that it was one of the most moving events he’s ever attended in his career. 

Picture description

 

Jean-Marc Carisse with:                                            

1. Yousuf Karsh - photo Carisse collection c. 1982

2. J. Chrétien, J. Turner & P.E. Trudeau - photo F. Charbonneau 1994

3. Stevie Wonder, 1986

4. Paul Anka, photo Ernesto Distefano / George Pimentel Photo 2013

5. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, 1994

6. G8 Offical Photographers (France,  Canada, Germany, Italy & USA, 1998

7. In San Francisco, 1968

8. Son, Marc and Wife, Patricia, in Havana, Cuba.  Vernissage "On the World Stage", 2005

9. Patricia Carisse, wife, 2005

10. Presentation to Rich Little, as Mayor Larry O'Brien and Gord Atkinson look on, 2007

11. US President Bill Clinton greets Carisse at the White House - Official White House photo: Barbara Kinney, 1997

12. Expo '67, 1967

13. Brigitte Bardot (CP Photo,  Fred Chartrand)

14. P.M. Pierre Trudeau, 1970's 

15. G7 Official Photogs, Germany, USA, France, Italy, Canada, UK, Japan, 1995

16. Gilles Villeneuve, racing champion, circa 1980

17. Malak Karsh, 2000

18. Eartha Kitt, 2007

19. Rudolf Nureyev & Celia Franca

20. Robbie Robertson 2011

21. Léo Carisse & Alberte Carisse (my/mes parents)

22. Pyramids, Egypte 2000

23. Gov. Gen. Julie Payette 2018

24. Lutz Luhman & Thor Moxness  (1985 - 2014)

25. President Nelson Mandela, 1998

26. Fats Domino, 1987 

27. Stratton Stevens, Justin Trudeau, JMCarisse, Mtl. 2004

28. JM & Marc Carisse ...circa 1996

29. Fidel Castro...1998

30. JMC, Volkswagen, Los Angeles, Calif. 1968

​