Chipman Gnome

In 1981 our Lawn and Garden group created a marketing campaign based on a ficticious character called the Chipman Gnome. All literature and promotional items featured a logo of a small gnome. "Gnome news was good news."



In January 1983, Graeme MacDougall's wife (I can't recall her name) created a small life size model of the Chipman Gnome, complete with his uniform and garden tools. It was presented to its creator Louis Caron as a going away gift when he was seconded to ICI in the UK.

The gnome was stored in Louis' attic until 2010 when it was given to a special and very loyal Chipman customer - JM Tremblay et Fils a garden centre in Matane QC.

During a trip to the Gaspé Penninsula that year Lucile and Louis stopped at the garden centre which he last visited over 30 years ago. To their surprise and amazment, they saw a giant 10 foot replica of the Chipman Gnome at the entance of the garden centre. The owner was so impressed with the concept of the gnome, that he had one of his sons who was an amateur sculptor to create this giant statue of the gnome.


The original owner of the garden centre passed away a couple of years before their visit in August 2010, but his four children now manage the business. In the photo below, three of of the four children stand in front of the giant statue.

Today this giant gnome can be seen at the entrance of the the town and serves as a landmark to visitors and customers.

So for those of you who might consider a trip to the Gaspé Penninsula, make sure you look for the giant gnome when you pass through Matane. This is now part of the Chipman history.