Meet the grand dame of ambitionMeet the grand dame of ambition
Note: The information in brackets describes the audio and visual content of the video that is not dialogue or narration.
[On-screen image: A woman, Claudette, sitting on a couch in her living room. There is a coffee cup and some cookies on a side table, frames on the wall behind her and a photo album beside her on the couch.]
Claudette: I’ve never done anything that I didn’t like doing. And anyway, I liked everything.
[On-screen image: An animated crown appears above Claudette’s head.]
[On-screen text: CLAUDETTE, THE GRAND DAME OF AMBITION. Presented by Desjardins]
[On-screen image: Claudette proudly displays a caricature of her from 2023.]
Claudette: My name is Claudette. I’m 85 and a half. I’ve been a Desjardins member for 72 years. I opened up my first account at 14. I was working for the nuns. I was paid a salary. It wasn’t much, but it was a salary. Five dollars a week back in the day.
[On-screen image: A photo of a younger Claudette wearing a red dress.]
Claudette: I’m a woman who appreciates luxury. The first fur coat I bought, I bought it through Desjardins. I would pay two dollars a week. It was the biggest purchase I ever made.
[On-screen image: A fur coat, a loan certificate from Desjardins and a change purse appear on the screen.]
Claudette: I met my husband when I was 18. One of my sisters introduced us. We got married in ’67. He was handsome, tall, thin. He was very good-looking. But what matters for me is what’s inside. Well, the outside a bit.
[On-screen image: A wedding photo of Claudette and Roger, followed by their wedding certificate from 1967. A second photo appears of the smiling newlyweds. Hearts appear above the image. Close-up of Claudette winking at the camera.]
Claudette: The first home we bought was through Desjardins.
[On-screen image: Claudette’s first home, a bungalow, appears in black and white on an animated, green and pink background with a sun. A bicycle appears on screen.]
Claudette: I think we borrowed $25,000. After that, we bought a second home through Desjardins.
[Cash register sound effects]
[On-screen image: On the same coloured background, we see Claudette’s second home appear. It’s a two-storey house with a garage. An animated sun and some plants complete the image.]
Claudette: My husband is the love of my life. He’s always been the love of my life. He was my first; he’ll be my last. I’ve always had ambition. I’ve always had dreams. To never lack money… to travel… to buy myself nice clothes…
[On-screen image: Claudette at a closer range, proud of what she’s wearing. Some animated green darts appear around Claudette’s shoulders.]
Claudette: The two dreams I really made a reality were graduating from sewing and hairdressing school.
[On-screen image: Claudette’s hand smooths over some patterned fabrics. We then see Claudette’s hairdressing diploma hanging on the wall.]
Claudette: From Monday to Friday, I would go to work. In the evenings, I’d go to my class until 11 p.m.
[On-screen image: The camera cuts to a close-up of a calendar, with Monday through Friday circled. A sewing machine and some fabric also appear on screen.]
Claudette: On Saturdays, I’d do hairdressing at the salon.
[On-screen image: On screen, we see a hand with hairdressers’ scissors and a hairbrush, all on a beige and salmon-coloured background.]
Claudette: I loved my work.
[On-screen image: Close-up on Claudette who gives a big smile to the camera.]
Claudette: I love to travel. My next trip will be to Austria with my daughter.
[On-screen image: Black and white mountain range with a resort in front. The animation also features some clouds, an airplane and a camera that flashes.]
Claudette: I love parties! For my grandson’s concerts, I’m always at the front, near the stage.
[On-screen image: A disco ball is animated at the top of the screen. We then see a picture of Claudette dancing with a young lady, as well as an image of an audience near a stage.]
Claudette: I take pictures, I take videos.
[On-screen image: Claudette aims her phone near the angle of the camera and takes a photo with a flash.]
Claudette: A lot of people come up to me and say, “Wow, ma’am, you’re so cool, you’re so cool, you’re so cool!”
[On-screen image: Stars appear above Claudette’s shoulders, and the floor lamp behind her lights up.]
Claudette: I love it!
[On-screen text: A BIG THANKS TO CLAUDETTE, the most vibrant of our 85-and-a-half-year-old members]
[On-screen text: Desjardins logo]
[On-screen text: A fee was paid to obtain this real-life testimonial.]
[Music ends]
End of transcript
