Behind Ti-Cœur: an idea that came to life...
The story of Ti-Cœur doesn't quite begin today, but it doesn't go back that far either. It has its roots at Patio Drummond, back when small concrete figures, such as the famous garden gnomes, were a familiar part of the Quebec landscape and part of our collections. After a break of several years, the desire to bring back this playful spirit was still very much alive, but in a new form. More responsible. More in tune with who we are becoming.
It was in this spirit that we had the opportunity to collaborate with young industrial design students from Cégep du Vieux Montréal. Their creativity and fresh perspective allowed us to reinvent this symbol: no longer in concrete, but in recycled materials. It was a concrete way to give a second life to a material and turn it into something meaningful, in line with what our company believes in.
At that point, the little gnome didn't have a name yet. However, it already had a personality, a mission, and even a little bit of our history. As our thinking evolved, so did it. It became the symbol of our raison d'être: bringing concrete to life.
This is where Ti-Cœur's mission lies: to put humanity and life into what we create. To remind people that at Patio Drummond, concrete is not just a material; it is a way of building something solid, durable, and real, and of highlighting life itself.
Ti-Cœur was eager to meet people, and during this holiday season, we want to make his wish come true. This year, we have decided to offer Ti-Cœur to our valued customers so they can install him in their garden or keep him in plain sight in their office! Because bringing concrete to life also means ensuring that our decisions and initiatives can “live” in our customers' environment, like a small, discreet reminder of what Patio Drummond aspires to become: a company where sustainability is a commitment, where innovations are born from collaboration, and where teams, people, and the environment are at the heart of everything we do.
Ti-Cœur is introducing himself to you today, and you may see him a little more often. Every time you cross his path, we would like him to remind you that behind every slab, every block, and every project created at Patio, there are passionate people... Pationate 😉
Behind the scenes of Ti-Cœur production
In early 2025, Alisson Lemaire discovered the REproduit collective, a group of industrial design students at Cégep de Montréal. Led by Yolaine Turcotte, this collective is dedicated to creating products from recycled materials. Several ideas were proposed, and the choice fell on the Ti-Cœur garden gnome and plant labels (also featuring the little gnome)!
The production of Ti-Cœur began with sketches and drawings, which were then reproduced in 3D modeling clay, separated into two parts: front and back. Silicone was molded around these models to create the final molds.
The production process used recycled polystyrene granules from the Cégep's workshops. To make a solid and durable Ti-Cœur, 2 kg of granules are needed. These granules are transformed into sheets, which are then thermoformed on the molds and heated to take on the perfect shape. Next comes cutting, gluing the two parts together, sanding, cleaning, and installing the stakes. Each step requires precision and skill, demonstrating the care that the students put into the project.
Yasmine Lahrir guided us behind the scenes and explained how the machines work and the different stages involved in the process during our visit. Watch her video testimonial.
We also met Eve Bilodeau and Alice Leclair, who told us about the creation of plant identifiers, small markers for plants made from recycled biodegradable plastic granules. Once again, it all started with the design and drawing of the product, then the parts were carefully manufactured from recycled materials, following all the necessary steps to obtain the final product. Find out more details here.
We would like to thank the entire REproduit collective team for their creativity, commitment, and passion. Thanks to them, Ti-Cœur and the plant identifiers have come to life, and their energy inspires each of our projects.
Ti-Cœur joins the Patio team and visits the factory
The first step in fulfilling Ti-Cœur's mission—to bring concrete to life—was to discover the factory where concrete “comes to life” and get to know the Patio team.
How did we do it? The best way was to make it part of a Christmas team activity. We asked the teams to create a model for Ti-Cœur. Yes, Ti-Cœur, our little recycled plastic gnome, had to be decorated or staged to highlight his personality and mission.
Kits of elements were provided to get them started, but the teams could also pick up items from around the factory (even concrete was included!).
A session was held on Tuesday, December 16, and 12 teams were assigned to start the project. During the week, the teams were able to continue improving their creations, which allowed drivers and colleagues who were absent during the day to participate when they came to the factory.
On Friday morning, to make the challenge even more festive, a second phase was launched: a kit of Christmas decorations was given to the teams to refine and brighten up their models.
After the Christmas dinner, the Teksam team, named after one of the machines at the Patio factory, was declared the winner. Congratulations to them, and congratulations to all the participants for their magnificent creations, which demonstrate real commitment and great creativity.
The models will remain on display in the various departments throughout the year. The temporary Christmas decorations will be removed so that Ti-Cœur can remain with us all year round.
