François Gourd

François "Yo" Gourd is a Canadian political figure and entertainer, who has been involved in the Rhinoceros Party of Canada and the entartistes, two satirical political movements.[1] He was also the Rhinoceros Party candidate in Saint-Michel in the 1979 federal election.

In 1983 Gourd opened a bar called Les Foufounes Électriques, along with Norman Boileau and Bernard Paquet — two of Gourd's friends from a musical theatre of which he was a member. They were interested in creating a space for showcasing burgeoning alternative musicians and different types of art.[2][3] According to Gourd, the bar did not turn much of a profit and he sold his share in the club after five years. By the end of the 1980s, Boileau was the only remaining owner.[2][3]

In the period that followed, he became involved in cinema.[2] His films included Masturbation libre, le manifeste in 2007.[4]

In 2006, he founded the second iteration of the Rhinoceros Party, the successor to the historical Rhinoceros Party dissolved in 1993. As the party's candidate in the September 17, 2007 federal by-election in Outremont, he listed his profession as poet[5] on his nomination papers. He received 145 votes (0.61%).[5] The party's activities included protesting against the construction industry.[6]